The Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 Provides some Great Updates

A few years ago, Inov-8 went hard into the trail running shoe game. In 2020 they introduced the Terraultra G270, which proceeded to win multiple awards.

Upon further testing and several thousand miles, Inov-8 continued to step up, including rebranding the Terraultra by changing the name to the Trailfly G270. I tested the Terraultra (check out the review) and was excited to try these.

Read all our reviews on Inov-8 here!

Our test pair is the Blue/Nectar color in men’s size 9.5,which weigh in at 9.5 ounces. Glancing over the shoes, not much has changed with the outsole, tread pattern, stack height/drop and weight of the Trailfly versus the Terraultra. Some of the biggest changes are in the upper, where Inov-8 made adjustments to construction that allow for a wider toe box. Additionally, the tongue picked up some padding and became more form-fitting.

In my review of the Terraultra there were a number of positives, including ankle hold. Shoes that miss this mark are worth noting, and therefore worth avoiding. Given the mud, water, snow, and technical terrain that we put our shoes through, ankle hold is as important as grip, and cannot be overlooked. The Trailfly boasts advancements to the ankle cut and heel padding, and along with the newly modified tongue, all are designed to improve ankle hold.

Initial fit is good, with room in the toe box and a secure feel all around. I laced up, utilizing the upper eyelet to ensure best ankle hold, and headed out. First run was easy and short, which allowed me a couple of street miles before reaching the trails. There was a little mud mixed in but overall the Trailflys handled as expected. The grip was great, the ankle hold was exceptional, and the comfort was decent. There is almost no break-in period with these shoes, as they loosened up within the first 5 miles and felt good.

My second run was much longer with an emphasis on climbing and descending. Pushing the miles allowed me toget a feel for the insole and long-term ride of the Trailfly, which is designed for longer runs. Through 20 miles and nearly 5K of gain, the Trailfly easily handled the mud, rocks and anything I threw at it. As good as the grip is, the ankle hold and comfort are worth noting, for they are very good.

A third run consisted of a little of everything, including some fast flat sections, along with lots more mud, while my fourth run saw hill repeats. As the miles add up the shoes get more comfortable, even if they also get a lot muddier!

There are a lot of trail shoes that boast a comfortable and/or stable ride, but they are often klunky and not lightweight. On the flip side, there are lightweight shoes that don’t hold your ankles well and lack long run support. After 50+ miles, I would suggest that Inov-8 has found the recipe to give runners the best of both worlds.