Review: Inov8 Roclite G 345 GTX

Key Information

Price (at time of writing): R2799
Weight: 345g per shoe (Size 9). 690g per pair.
Women’s version: Yes

Intro

The question often gets asked by beginner hikers: “Which is better — trail shoes or hiking boots?” The correct answer is, “it depends on the hike.” That being said, if you could pick a shoe with almost all of the benefits of both, wouldn’t that make the decision so much easier?

The Inov8 Roclite G 345 GTX might just be that answer. It’s a lightweight, water-resistant, high-ankle trail shoe fitted with Inov8’s latest Graphene sole, which, amazingly, increases both grip and durability.

Construction

The shoe’s upper is a mix of hard-wearing synthetics, with a lighter mesh over the forefoot. The laces and lace-loops are made from durable yet lightweight paracord. All these subtle design choices add up to a tough, dependable, and impressively light hiking shoe.

Water Resistance

The Roclite G 345 GTX features a GORE-TEX lining that does a great job of keeping moisture out while still allowing your feet to breathe. Even on long, sweaty hikes, I never felt like my feet overheated — a rare quality in waterproof footwear.

Fit & Comfort

The Roclite G 345’s offer excellent out-of-the-box comfort. I went on multiple 16km+ hikes on varied terrain with no break-in period and experienced zero blisters or discomfort.

The fit works best for medium to low-volume feet, but even with my wide feet, sizing up slightly delivered a great fit. It’s a solid all-rounder in the comfort department.

Support

Usually, one has to sacrifice support when choosing a lightweight trail shoe over a traditional boot — not so with the G 345. The raised ankle collar provides solid protection from twists and knocks while offering a reassuringly stable feel on uneven terrain.

The POWERFLOW midsole delivers excellent cushioning and energy return, while the META-PLATE shank adds underfoot protection from sharp rocks without compromising ground feel — perfect for technical trails.

Grip

And now for the pièce de résistance: Graphene! The element that sets Inov8’s G-range apart from every other shoe brand. They were the first to blend Graphene with rubber, creating a sole that is both sticky and exceptionally durable.

Graphene is the thinnest material known to man and more than 100 times stronger than steel. Mixing it into the outsole rubber significantly improves abrasion resistance without compromising grip — allowing Inov8 to create a sole that’s tacky like a climbing shoe but with the lifespan of a harder compound.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first — it sounded like marketing hype — but after hiking with them, I noticed the outsole lugs barely showed any wear. Another hiker logged over 1900km in a pair of G 345’s and still had good tread left. That’s remarkable longevity!

The grip is confident on all terrain, from slick mud to rock slabs, and the deep lugs provide reliable traction on climbs and descents alike. This is easily one of the most exciting innovations in technical footwear in years — and the awards Inov8 has collected are well deserved.

Cons

The only gripe I have is the colourway. The old-school brown feels slightly mismatched with the otherwise cutting-edge tech of the shoe. Fortunately, there are other colour options, but they’re not currently available in South Africa (hint, hint — Inov8 South Africa!).

Conclusion

The Inov8 Roclite G 345 GTX is a rare combination of lightweight agility and boot-like protection. With its waterproof GORE-TEX lining, ankle support, cushioned midsole, underfoot protection, and graphene-enhanced grip that lasts seemingly forever — all at R2799 — this shoe is a serious winner.

This shoe was provided by Inov8 for review purposes and can be purchased online from Drifters.