Inov-8 has released a new product in its hugely popular Graphene-Grip range of shoes, the TRAILROC G 280.
Graphene, which is claimed to be 200 times stronger than steel, first hit the inov-8 shelves in the summer of 2018 and has since become a staple part of the brand's hiking, fitness and running products.
Produced from graphite, graphene is made via a process which won the founding scientists a Nobel prize in 2010 and has since seen the technology used in sports cars, medical devices, aeroplanes and now sports footwear.
Combing graphene with the rubber-infused outsole produces tough grip along with a high level of strength and durability.
In the TRAILROC G 280, that outsole includes specially shaped 4mm studs to pierce through the top-layer debris and loose rocks found on trails.
As well as a Graphene-Grip outsole that was developed in collaboration with scientists at the University of Manchester, the TRAILROC G 280 is designed to be the company's most cushioned underfoot ride to date, combined with a new flexible rock plate that both protects and gives a kick of spring-back energy with every stride.
Luckily the technology doesn't affect the weight of the shoe, coming in at just 280g.
Worn by Hallvard Schjolberg when winning the 85km Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun earlier in 2019, the new TRAILROC G 280 is built for off-road runners tackling long distances on hard-packed trails.
According to inov-8 COO Michael Price: “Graphene is the future, mark my words. It has limitless potential and we feel proud to be leading the way in a sports footwear revolution.
“By utilising graphene we have solved a long-standing problem for end users who had to choose between a softer rubber outsole that grips in all conditions and a harder rubber outsole that is more durable. Now they can get it all in one rubber outsole boasting the ‘world’s toughest grip'."
He added: “Sales of our graphene-enhanced products have been incredibly strong and by 2020 they will account for more than half of all inov-8 footwear sales.
“The TRAILROC G 280 is our latest highly-anticipated addition and we won’t be stopping there. We have a number of very exciting graphene innovations in the pipeline.”
The TRAILROC G280 is priced at $150 and comes in just one colourway for men and one for women at the moment.
To find out more head to inov-8.com.
