Inov-8 is a British footwear company, and it has now come up with material by mixing graphene with nitrogen for making trail running shoes. It adds a nitrogen-injected foam called “Flyspeed” to improve the new Trailfly Ultra G 280.
The 280 launches as “the bouncy one” in Inov-8’s graphene-enhanced Trailfly lineup, which also has “the fast one” (Ultra G 270) and “the protective one” (Ultra G 300).
“The nitrogen foam we’ve created gives an amazingly lighter, softer ride for those runners looking for that,” explains Wayne Edy, Inov-8 founder. “It debuts on our new Trailfly Ultra G 280 shoes, which we can’t wait to get on the feet of trail and ultramarathon runners. It has great cushioning while at the same time delivering incredible bounce and a feeling of being connected to the trail.”
The Trailfly Ultra G 280 is Inov-8’s first nitrogen-infused trail runner design. Brooks Running has the Caldera 6, and Puma has the Fast-Track Nitro multi-terrain running shoe.
The company says Flyspeed foam testing demonstrated an energy return of 65 to 68 percent, 20 percentage points higher than the standard foam midsole against which it compared.
The shoe keeps a balance by being light, having a breathable stretch-knit upper and traditional laces. This keeps feet comfortable with a foamy tongue and broad toe box. The new material adds grip and durability to the 4-mm outsole studs, while an 8-mm diagonal groove across the center of the outsole helps the shoe flex and better adapt to the ground underneath.
The new Trailfly Ultra G 280 will be launched this week for US$185. It will be available for both men and women.