Review: Roclite 288 GTX

They are actually waterproof? Cause I own a pair with GoreTex vents and they leak like Niagara Falls…

I can stand in a stream, water up to the laces, and they don’t leak. Hope this lasts. I have had other GORE-TEX shoes (like the Montrail Susitnas) that are waterproof for a season, and then they start to leak after a lot of use.

That sounds like a great boot but will it be enough support for heavy backpack use – like the Meindl Island Pro ?

P.s Great article, thank you.

I feel like I “discovered” Inov-8 about the same time as the GJ, and have been a huge fan for the last three or four years. I own three pair and seldom race in anything else. I’d love to try these, and in general tend to believe in the claims the company puts forward; no one makes lighter or grippier shoes than Inov-8, and I can say that with total objectivity, as we don’t represent them!

Stefan — Depends what you’re used to and what you need for “support.” Regular hiking boots now feel overly clunky to me. I have not used them in years. Even for mountaineering, I try and go pretty light on the footwear. The Inov-8s will not have near the support of something like the Meindl Island Pro. But they weigh so much less that, for me, the more minimal protection and less ankle support is worth the trade off.

Stephen – Thank you for the information on this and the backpack! I will have to find both products in a real-world-shop and test them.
Thumbs up.

I will agree with Stephen that sizing seems to run large. This boot feels like endurance last and not performance last.

I bought these and I love them! I use them with my Spiky Ice Cleats for a lot of my trail running. If your on the fence, take my advice and just spend the extra couple bucks on something thats high quality.

What happens when you walk through a river higher than your shoe laces? Do you have a gator that will prevent water from getting inside the shoe? But what if that doesn’t work? Do you have to empty the shoe of the water because it won’t drain?

Bernice — A gaiter won’t help there much (in a river), and yes, you would have to dump the water out as they do not drain well.

I bought a pair of these a year ago but was not able to make my first backpacking trip in them until last week. I love them. They are light, comfortable, and reasonably water resistant—there were dozens of stream crossings on the thirty mile hike I just took. When day hiking in Big Bend last year, I noticed the soles can be penetrated easily by thorns. I cut some inner soles of Titanium foil to protect against thorns and also to spread the shock of sharp rocks. My inner soles seem to work well. I also added some memory foam inserts on top of the factory inner sole.

Would this type of shoe be good for backpacking with a heavier pack? My pack usually weighs around 40lbs. I was concerned that my feet might get too much of a workout with this more flexible natural type shoe and wear out too quickly, however I have been wanting to try something like this or a Flyroc 310. I have only read reviews on Inov-8 shoes for lightweight backpacking.

I have wider feet. I measure to a 10E Any thoughts?

Caleb – I doubt these would be comfortable unless you have really strong feet, til your pack weight is under 30. I got a pair of even lighter inov8 boots a couple yrs ago; they have so much flex that my feet hurt after 5 miles carrying 24 lb, even with green superfeet. I’ll try these and the older ones again this year, with a bit more foot strength and a pack weight of 14 lbs.