As we hit the summit of Whernside after a leisurely social run of the Yorkshire 3-Peaks, I noticed that a sub-6-hour finish was on the cards. We’d set off with no particular time in mind, but suddenly, this completely arbitrary goal became the only thing that mattered and I threw myself downhill with reckless abandon. Bouncing from rock-to-rock and niftily swerving around the swathes of hikers completing the route, I reached the bunkhouse with minutes to spare. No-one cared.
But the INOV8 Trailfly Max did. Or at least they were there for it. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to test them out for what they are designed for: longer runs and ultras. I can happily report that they seem to tick this box very comfortably.
The Trailfly Max are part of INOV8’s Trailfly range, which includes:
- Trailfly Zero – zero drop, fast training/racing
- Trailfly Speed – fast training/racing
- Trailfly – everyday training
- Trailfly Max – longer runs and ultras
Out-of-the-box, they looked good and unmistakably INOV8, but not particularly ground-breaking. The Trailfly Max (men’s) are available in three colourways. I tested the blue/lime/black colourway, though the standout is arguably the loud navy/red/yellow design, which shows a bit of design flair and looks like something out of a thermal imaging scan. Women’s options are slightly more limited with just two colourways.
Features
- Designed for hard and rocky ground.
- 6mm drop
- Graphene enhanced rubber grip
- “Boomerang” footbed for bounce and energy return
- Stack height: 35.5mm Heel / 29.5mm Forefoot
- Weight 300g
- Choice of width fitting (standard or wide)
- RRP: £150
Pros: What’s good about the INOV8 Trailfly Max
INOV8 introducing the wide fitting options has been fantastic for me. I am one of life’s slab-footed monsters and many INOV8 shoes in the past just haven’t been an option (I could barely even get a pair of Mudclaws on, let alone do any running). With the Trailfly Max in wide, there is plenty of space in the forefoot without needing to size up – though I did out of habit and it probably wasn’t necessary.
To provide comfort during long runs there is a good amount of padding around the ankle and tongue which remained comfortable throughout all of my runs with no rubbing or sore spots. The Boomerang footbed certainly is bouncy: I did a very scientific “finger-press-test” against a pair of Trailfly Ultras I own and there is a noticeable difference. This feels great during a run, with a comfortable cushioned feeling no doubt helped by the large stack height (35.5mm Heel / 29.5mm Forefoot). Over longer runs this level of comfort provides welcome relief from relentless pounding of the trails.
The 4mm Graphene-Grip lugs are a pretty standard depth for trail shoes and perform well. Whilst designed for hard and rocky ground, they seemed to grip well in most circumstances, and also felt comfortable on the roads (we have to get to the trail somehow). Time will tell on the durability, but the use of graphene should provide good longevity and, based on my experience of other graphene-infused soles, I’m optimistic.
The upper seems to provide good breathability and comfort and showing very limited signs of wear.
Cons: What’s not so good about the INOV8 Trailfly Max
When running on a camber, I found the feel to be slightly awkward, with my foot rolling within the shoe. This is likely due to the stack height and additional width, although as I mentioned earlier in this review I could have probably had a smaller size which may have helped with this.
They’re not a shoe I’d choose for any fast, technical descents. I think with the “Boomerang” footbed and overall stack height, you don’t really get that ground-response to help with the confidence of a fast descent.
The overall look of the Trailfly Max is good, but I would perhaps saying a little “standard” (other than the navy/red/yellow colourway). I personally prefer the knitted-upper of the Trailfly G280, but that’s just personal preference.
Conclusion
Interestingly, this is one of the few shoes I’ve worn that has attracted genuine curiosity from other runners. People want to talk about them—which says something about the buzz surrounding the Trailfly range.
The Trailfly Max isn’t trying to be a do-everything shoe. It’s made for comfort over distance, and in that, it delivers. If you’re heading out for a long day in the hills—or lining up for your next ultra—it’s a dependable, cushioned shoe that I’d have no hesitation in picking out.
If ever there was a shoe that “does what it says on the tin,” this is it.
Dan Stinton is a former Editor of RunUltra. He’s a Peak District based runner collecting mud and scrapes in and around Glossop, and he likes nothing more than escaping into the Dark Peak and then writing about how difficult it was.
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