
My favorite trail shoes I've encountered yet, and possibly the best value you'll find in a trail shoe overall. I've run in the Hoka Mafate Speed 4, Altra Experience Wild, Altra Timp 5, and North Face Vectiv Infinite 2, and the only shoe I've actually ended up sticking with is the Trailfly. It seemingly combines the best aspects of the aforementioned shoes (the nimble/fast feel of the Mafate, the foot shape/roomy toe box of the Altras, the slightly lower stack height/better ground feel of the Vectiv) while avoiding their pitfalls (cramped toe box in the Mafate, durability/longevity issues with the Altras, lack of responsiveness/dynamism of the Vectiv).
Inov8 really nailed the foot shape and underfoot feel of this one - snug heel and midfoot with a roomy toe box is perfect (at least in the 'standard' width, I can't speak for the 'wide'), and the midsole and Boomerang insole complement each other perfectly, with the former providing firm, focused ground feel while the latter provides a subtle softness and lot of flexibility, responsiveness and energy return that are crucial when my runs dip into the longer range (i.e. 1 hour plus). The stack height of this shoe (total actual stack height as opposed to what Inov8 lists is actually about 29/23 mm) is also perfect IMO - high enough to provide adequate cushion while low enough to provide good ground feel.
These shoes have also held up surprisingly well in rain and snow. I initially thought I might need to snag a pair of Mudtalons or Trailtalons to deal with the oncoming Wisconsin winter, though so far these shoes have held up just fine as fall turns to winter here.
My only cons: heel lock is not great in this shoe (a runner's loop helped with this to some degree), so I've occasionally had hot spots in my heel, and as a shallow, vain American, I can't help but comment on the near total lack of style points in this shoe, of which Inov8 will win none. However, I'll cut them some slack here and say that I do like the white colorway - holds up surprisingly well while still letting the trails paint them enough to get 'em a little dirty. Overall, I'm amazed at how underrated Inov8 seems to be in the US, and this shoe should be in the conversation re: the best value/option for a daily trainer that can hold its own in longer efforts if needed.
Quality: 5
Value for money: 5