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7.9 oz.
34mm in heel, 28mm in forefoot (6mm drop)
Picking it up on moderate terrain
Powerflow Elite midsole, ripstop upper, G-Grip outsole, Boomerang Lite footbed
Available now for $195
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TAYLOR: In an ever-changing world, consistency feels refreshing.
Not complacency, though.
If I were to give an honest assessment of Inov8’s history, perhaps the latter occurred, and it realized it. The company found itself in that often-referred-to proverbial setting. Stuck between a rock and a hard place can be a dang tough place to be. From then until now, I think Inov8 has pretty much tried it all with a few successes and several more battles.
Over the last year or so, it's shown consistency. Inov8 has leaned into both heritage and who it aspires to be. Again, there have been some challenges here, but I think that the Inov8 Trailfly Pro is a prime example of its hard work. It is a timely addition to the trail running space. From design to staying true to its identity, whether this thing performed or not, Inov8 is at least oriented in a positive direction now.
TAYLOR: First, I'll acknowledge that the Inov8 Trailfly Pro enters a cutthroat category as a lightweight trail racer. Shoes like the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, The North Face Vectiv Sky 2, and Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 already occupy many of the top slots.
In many ways, this design is similar to another fan-favorite, the Norda 005 (a truly groundbreaking trail shoe from 2025). While I don’t think they are neck-and-neck contenders, I do think the Trailfly Pro succeeded in bringing Inov8 identity to a tried-and-true package.
What I mostly mean is the upper construction. As with all Inov8 trail shoes, the Trailfly Pro uses a foot-shaped last. Most other shoes in this category are known for a slim fit, but the Inov8 Trailfly Pro boasts a broader forefoot, which allowed my foot to splay. I wouldn’t say it’s truly wide, but it is accommodating, and the foot shape helped me feel nimble and in control.
The rest of the shoe was more fitted for comfortable lockdown. Even the forefoot, with its wider base, offered some really nice security.
Like with other Inov8 models, I went up half a size, and it was absolutely the right move.
As for upper materials, the extremely lightweight ripstop material provided a consistent fit (no stretch) and was remarkably durable, as was the heel collar. The extra padding and moderate structure allowed for a dependable, comfortable fit and lockdown. Inov8 even went the extra mile by accommodating the malleoli (ankle knobs) with a slightly offset heel collar for more natural movement.
Inov8 has finally arrived on the trail racing scene in a big way.
As with most shoes these days, it’s the midsole that demanded most attention in the Inov8 Trailfly Pro. Supercritical TPEE has become increasingly popular for race-day options. For a shoe with a lower stack height than many race-ready trail shoes on the market, this was the right move. TPEE offers great energy return, a cushioned sensation, and a longer life than other super foams.
The overall ride was smooth and nimble. As a runner around 170lbs, I definitely felt the ground underfoot, but it was more in a functional/sensory way as opposed to sinking all the way through the midsole. The Trailfly Pro doesn’t have any other rock plates or propulsion tech. There were also some intentional outsole grooves added. So, this was a very flexible shoe too. As we’ve mentioned with many other lower stack trail shoes this year, for the most part, it was actually refreshing to have that sensation.
While the back half could feel a little squirrely at times, the forefoot really brought a smooth and stable toe-off, which felt great for uphill, downhill, and flats all the same.
Lastly, the G-Grip outsole was lighter and tackier than ever. Initially, I was worried about durability, but it seemed that after a film layer wore off, it was business as usual for the truly grade-A rubber compound.
TAYLOR: Working in the opposite direction, the outsole actually gave me a little trouble. As mentioned, I was initially concerned about durability. My fears were settled in that department, but the design seemed to lack performance.
Hardpacked surfaces and most singletrack were just fine. Any time I needed to dig into softer ground, sand, dirt, etc., it just didn’t have much bite. I really think it's because there are either too many lugs or the lugs are too broad to sink in. Four millimeters is a solid standard lug length. So, there’s a short list of reasons why it lacked purchase power.
I mentioned previously that this was a very flexible shoe. Those who love low-stack shoes may really like that. While I can get along with some flexibility and ground feel, the Inov8 Trailfly Pro felt like it overreached in that department. Honestly, I wanted a little more structure underfoot (via either more rubber, slightly denser foam, some sort of light plate, or fewer flex-grooves) for better power transfer in a race-day option. This shoe can handle speed, but I think only a select, extremely strong-footed crowd will be able to fully harness it.
Lastly, just give me the gusset. I’d take a quarter/half an ounce just to keep the tongue in place. It’s one less thing to think about if you’re ripping it on the trails. While I thought the midfoot security was solid, a gusset would never hurt that.
TAYLOR: This might sound crazy, but I actually had fun in the Inov8 Trailfly Pro. It has been at least a handful of years since I’ve used that adjective for the brand. The Trailfly Pro is easily Inov8’s best trail shoe to date! Even though we were very surprised by the overall performance, it doesn’t quite rank up there with the elites of the category… yet. There are really only a few tweaks I would personally make, and none of them are major.
The combination of a lightweight build, functional anatomical fit, and exciting materials makes for a shoe that will wow those who frequent anatomical footwear, and there’s no doubt that it will bring new customers to the brand.
Personally, the best-case scenario is the mild to moderate hard-packed terrain at uptempo efforts. Those who want a good amount of ground feel but still want the fun-factor modern foams, the Inov8 Trailfly Pro could be it!
While this shoe did feel different from what Inov8 has offered, it doesn’t feel like the Inov8 Trailfly Pro is out of left field. My biggest hope is that they follow this one up. Keep leaning into that identity and keep pressing the pedal.
You can pick up the Inov8 Trailfly Pro in October 2026 for $195 at Inov8 by using the shop link below.
Mike FOctober 5, 2026
This shoe looks so incredibly light. It's significantly lighter than the Prodigio Pro and closer to something like the Agravic Speed 2 (not the Ultra). I'm curious how the foot protection and energy return on he Trailfly Pro compare to that shoe. Obviously, the Speed is far narrower in fit and heel platform. The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 is another shoe you compare this to, but the Sky 2 has a lower stack and a plate to get to around the same weight. S/Lab Pulsar 4 is heavier and has far less energetic foam than a TPEE foam. So what is a true comparison with the Inov8 here? Is it really only the 50% pricier Norda? The Kjerag 02 probably has less protection.
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Taylor Bodin is a trail and ultra runner living in Estes Park, Colo., with his wife and daughters. As the head of the Dirt Division at Believe in the Run, trail running is pretty much the only hobby he can manage right now and loves it. Every so often, he will pop off a race or FKT attempt because competition is pure and the original motivator for him getting into running anyway.
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