Roclite 319 Review by Mark Lundblad

Roclite 319 Shoe Review

The Specs:

· 4-arrow Shoc-Zone with lateral and medial posting
· 12 mm differential / 6mm foot bed
· Comfort fit (generous fit) & Unisex offering only
· Roclite outsole with the Inov-8 fascia-band· Endurance rubber outsole
· Weight: 319g / 11.3oz (US men’s 9)
· Cost: $105.00 retail

The new Roclite 319’s are now out on the store shelves and I’ve been able to put my test pair through the ringer over the last few months. The new Roclite 319 is a nice replacement to the discontinued Roclite 320 and in some ways the discontinued Roclite 305.



I’ve put a good 400 miles on my 319’s and I’m very pleased with the results thus far. They still seem to have more miles left than in them, thanks to the endurance rubber outsole and keeping these shoes on mostly soft surfaces. I’m somewhat surprised as the dual density midsole seen in the former 320 was replaced with a softer single density midsole in the 319. I expected quicker wear and breakdown of the midsole but so far so good. I like the wider fit than the 320 especially in the toe box. I heard from many other 320 end-users that they felt the same way. It was a little too narrow in the toe area. If you have higher volume foot you will probably be pleased with the fit of the 319.

The 319 last is basically the same as the Roclite 295, so it has a similar fit. It differs from the 295 in that this shoe has 4-arrow cushioning so you do have lots of cushioning/shock protection but slightly less real trail feel (responsiveness). The single density midsole lends to a softer more cushy ride. The upper construction gives the 319 a more supportive feel as it wraps well around your foot so this helps to compensate for the higher12 mm platform. There is plenty of upper protection from anything the trail will throw at you. However you can expect a little less breathability in this model due to the upper. The medial and lateral posting gives this shoe some extra support. The 319 is billed as Inov-8’s “transition” shoe, for those who are new to having a slightly more minimalist shoe and for those runners who might be used to overly cushioned or supportive trainers.

The 319 has a similar feel much like the old Roclite 305 since they both have 4-arrow cushioning and single density midsole. It does however stand apart with the extra support and more roomy last. I also hope that runners who have enjoyed wearing the 295, Flyroc or Terroc models will also appreciate the new 319 fit. I believe with all the barefoot excitement in the market currently, that this shoe might be a good choice for those who could benefit with a more gradual transition from a more to less approach with their footwear choices.

I wear the 319’s mainly for training purposes. I do appreciate having it in my arsenal of shoes for days my legs and feet might need a change from my more responsive and lower profile Inov-8 models. This shoe is perfect for long trail efforts on various terrain and the trade off in the higher heel to toe differential is compensated well by the supportive ride. My main concern when trying this shoe was this higher differential and the increased potential for rolling my ankle on technical trails. However this has not been a problem thanks to the construction of this model and the wider platform.

I’ve heard only one bit of negative feedback thus far, in that the medial collar of the shoe rubbed on the inside ball of the ankle for one wearer. Perhaps this issue could be fixed with a thicker insert or foot bed? One thing that some Inov-8 customers may not know is that we offer 3mm inserts in addition to our more popular 6mm insert that comes with most of our models. This helps to dial in that more precise fit. I’ve found that this model runs true to size much like Roclite 295, Terroc or Flyroc models. If you are in between shoe sizes opt for ½ size down.