Inov-8 recently released its Rocfly G 390, its first hiking boot with a Graphene-enhanced foam, which the brand said will “supercharge feet” for long-distance hiking, multi-day trail walking and thru-hiking. The boot is lightweight and breathable and delivers “endless cushioning and bounce.”
Discovered in 2004 by scientists from The University of Manchester, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics, Graphene is considered to be the strongest yet thinnest material. By infusing it into the brand’s G-Fly foam, Inov-8 said it “promises a revolutionary underfoot experience that allows hikers to feel fresher for longer.”
Inov-8’s athlete ambassador James Forrest, shown in the photo, recently tested the boot and set a record time for a solo and self-supported hike of Great Britain’s National Three Peaks—a 500-mile trip that he finished in 16 days, 15 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Forrest, who holds multiple long-distance hiking records, commented that the “foam is amazingly springy and cushioned, almost propelling you forward with good rebound and energy return. The rubber is ultra grippy and the upper gives out-of-the-box comfort. Being non-waterproof, they dry really quickly and breathe well, too. My preferred approach.”
Inov-8 first used Graphene in 2018 when it launched Graphene Grip rubber on the outsoles of its hiking, running and fitness shoes. Earlier this year the brand launched G-Fly Graphene foam, which “delivers 25 percent greater energy return when debuting it on its Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max trail running shoe.” Building on that success, the company is now using the technology in its Rocfly G 390 hiking boot.
Inov-8 founder Wayne Edy, whose UK Lake District-based company remains the only company to use Graphene in sports and hiking footwear, said: “We continue to carve our own trails, daring to be different from the rest and leading the way with innovation. The Rocfly G 390 is our latest example of that, delivering world-first technologies in a boot that will help hikers feel fresher for longer and supercharge their feet for endless adventure.”
G-Fly foam is not the only patent-pending technology used in the Rocfly G 390. It also includes Graphene-Grip and Adapter-Flex. The latter is positioned in the 10mm underfoot groove that allows the feet to “adapt, react and mold to uneven terrain with agility.”
“I’m immensely proud of the huge team effort behind this new boot. We’ve worked incredibly hard with The University of Manchester and leading footwear industry veteran Doug Sheridan in developing new innovations, something we plan to supercharge even further in 2022 and beyond,” continued Edy.
The Rocfly G 390 weighs 390g and has a 6mm drop (heel to toe differential). For more product information, go here.
Photo courtesy Inov-8
