Inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2 Review: A Refined All-Round Trail Shoe

Introduction

The Inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2 takes a smart approach to updating a popular shoe. The original TrailFly G 270 was a hugely popular choice for trail runners looking for a bit of everything, and the V2 keeps that formula largely intact while adding a handful of focused improvements.

It costs £150 or $170 and weighs 255 grams (9 ounces) for men in a US 8. The drop is zero millimetres and the lugs are four millimetres, so this is a shoe built around a direct, ground-contact feel rather than deep cushioning.

The updates from the first generation include a redesigned upper with more stretch and breathability in the forefoot, an improved ankle cut with extra heel padding, and a new slimline tongue for a better fit. The lightweight upper is also built to be 25 percent more durable than before. Everything else stays close to the original: a Powerflow Max midsole foam for comfort, a softer Boomerang footbed, and Inov-8’s graphene-enhanced G-Grip rubber outsole.

Fit and Comfort

The recommended advice is to go true to size, and testing backs that up. The shoe offers good step-in comfort with balanced heel and tongue padding, ample wiggle room in the toe box, and enough space up front to prevent toe bashing on steep descents. Getting a snug hold across the midfoot is easy without any lace pinch, and longer test runs of two-plus hours produced no blisters or hot spots.

This is a shoe that comfortably disappears on the foot, which is exactly what most runners want from a versatile trail option. The extra flex in the upper makes for a slightly roomier fit, the reworked tongue and padded collar add a cradled feel, and the overall comfort is a clear step up from the first generation.

Ride and Performance

The ride is distinctly Inov-8: pretty direct, fairly firm, and unmistakably zero drop. Runners used to softer, more cushioned trail shoes may find it less forgiving, but anyone who prefers a more ground-contact, controlled feel will appreciate it. On road sections and harder compacted trails the firmness is noticeable, yet the Powerflow Max foam is soft enough that a 10K stretch on tarmac would be entirely manageable.

On softer terrain the shoe really comes into its own. The midsole is not overly soft, so it does not combine with muddy or grassy ground to feel slow and clumpy. Instead it feels light and nippy, quick to pick up pace downhill and easy to turn over uphill, unlike clunkier trail shoes that feel like a burden on climbs. Flex grooves in the outsole work with the foot to swallow lumps and bumps while still giving a sense of control and decent stability.

Grip and Durability

The graphene-enhanced G-Grip outsole is arguably the standout feature. It grips extremely well across slippery rocks, wet tree roots, compacted trail mud, loose-but-firm surfaces and grass, and it is soft enough on road sections that the lugs never feel harsh underfoot.

The only real limitation is very sloppy deep mud, where the four millimetre lugs are outmatched; runners who regularly face that terrain would be better served by something more aggressive like the Salomon Speedcross range. Durability is another strong point. Inov-8 shoes are known for being robust, and with the graphene-infused rubber and proven midsole, this is a shoe expected to last well beyond 500 miles.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is evolution rather than revolution. If you already own the first-generation TrailFly G 270 and they are still going, there is little reason to upgrade right now, since the changes are small and subtle. But when the time comes to replace them, the V2 is the obvious successor.

The direct ride and zero drop are worth thinking about too. If you favour plush, highly cushioned trail shoes, this may not be the right fit. Also be realistic about terrain: it handles nearly everything except deep, wet mud.

Buying Advice

With more than 30 miles of testing across road, compacted river paths, rolling forest trails, wet and muddy fields, and steep twisting coastal paths in both dry and wet conditions, the TrailFly G 270 V2 proved itself as a genuine do-it-all option. It copes with short road-to-trail runs, short and fast trail excursions, and rolling trail Ultras alike.

It does not fit into a single niche: it is not an aggressive mud shoe and not purely a road-to-trail specialist. Instead it ticks a lot of boxes and excels in several areas, making it an ideal single-pair solution for runners who tackle varied terrain and do not want a different shoe for every type of run.

Conclusion

The Inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2 is a winning trail shoe. The excellent grip, strong durability, light and agile ride, and balanced cushioning all carry over from a well-loved original, while the upper tweaks meaningfully improve comfort. For anyone seeking a general-use trail shoe that can handle most of what the trail throws at it, this is an easy recommendation.