ActiveHiking & WalkingInov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boot review: super materials make super bootsLashings of wonder-material Graphene in the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots add up to good news for walkersWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Mark Mayne)T3 VerdictComfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene propsReasons to avoid-No waterproof membraneWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveHiking & WalkingInov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boot review: super materials make super bootsLashings of wonder-material Graphene in the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots add up to good news for walkersWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Mark Mayne)T3 VerdictComfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene propsReasons to avoid-No waterproof membraneWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Lashings of wonder-material Graphene in the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots add up to good news for walkers
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)T3 VerdictComfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene propsReasons to avoid-No waterproof membrane
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
T3 VerdictComfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene propsReasons to avoid-No waterproof membrane
T3 VerdictComfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.
T3 Verdict
Comfortable, precise, fast and grippy are all adjectives that can be applied to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. The only real issue is a lack of waterproof membrane, which will put many off – although it does increase breathability at the same time.
Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene propsReasons to avoid-No waterproof membrane
Reasons to buy+Very grippy+Lots of flex without being sloppy+Good energy return+Double Graphene props
Very grippy
Lots of flex without being sloppy
Good energy return
Double Graphene props
Reasons to avoid-No waterproof membrane
No waterproof membrane
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Welcome to T3’s Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots review. Inov-8 has an enviable reputation, a serious commitment and pedigree in proper fell running (the ultrarunning, mountainous kind), and also a parallel drive to find new and super-technical materials to bond into its footwear. The company’s Graphene sole unit made a big splash and won several awards (including a T3 Award), and it’s back with more of the same in the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot.
Not content with repeating that Graphene sole trick, Inov-8 has gone a step further, adding the super-strong wonder material to the foam in the midsole too. So how do the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boots stack up in the real world? Has the maker of many of today’sbest trail running shoesrepeated its trick to create some of thebest hiking boots, too? Read on for the full Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot review…
Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot review: design and build
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
The other big news is the massive groove running across under the arch of the foot. Dubbed an ‘adaptor-flex’ groove, the aim is to increase agility without compromising stiffness where it’s needed. After all that excitement, there’s a danger that the relatively straightforward upper will be an anti-climax, but the engineered knit and TPU panels look entirely up to the job. Indeed the ankle is relatively high-cut for such a high-performance boot, and well-upholstered. The lacing is as simple as possible up to the top of the tongue gusset - just holes punched through the TPU armour – but finishes with an alloy hook fastening to cinch that ankle tight.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot review: comfort and performance
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
The Graphene-infused G-FLY foam does indeed offer lots of energy return and general bounce, just as claimed. Whether it’s massively better than competitor solutions is hard to quantify, especially given varying thicknesses used in different boots/shoes, and also different road/off road applications, but it’s pretty darn good. There’s plenty of plushness to the ride, without feeling bloated and imprecise, which can certainly be an issue with some designs.
As in previous iterations, the G-Grip sole grips almost startlingly well once it’s bedded in a little, especially on potentially slippery hard surfaces. The 4mm lugs deliver a predictable and robust grip on grass and mud too, although this comes as little surprise, given Inov-8’s fell running pedigree.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
The only fly in the ointment is the lack of waterproof membrane, which does mean hitting a deep puddle will equal wet feet. The TPU does provide some protection around the sides of the boot, but not really on top. That said, there’s a breathability benefit in losing the membrane, especially for drier, summertime adventures.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot review: verdict
There are many positives to the Inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boot. It’s comfortable, provides acres of bouncy energy return, laces sensibly, weighs very little, and grips like the proverbial to a blanket. On the downside, there’s that missing waterproof membrane, a fact that will bother some more than others, and is an important consideration if you’re venturing off the beaten track into boggier terrain.
It’s not hard to imagine that Inov-8 has a membrane version in the works, which would result in a very capable lightweight hiking boot that’d be very tough to beat. In the meantime, we’ll have to put up with double Graphene innovation and the resulting comfort on the trail, which is no hardship at all. If you want breathability and comfort wrapped in a light weight package, and where speed is the overall focus, then these will see you right in all but the soggiest terrain.
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Today’s best Inov-8 Women’s Rocfly G 390 Hiking Boots dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Inov-8 Women’s Rocfly G 390 Hiking Boots deals
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