For years, British brand Inov-8 was the go-to for fell runners and anyone who loves rocky ground. With the TrailFly Speed V2, it takes on modern trail racing head-on: 274 g on the scale, POWERFLOW PRO foam, graphene G-GRIP, 4 mm drop. As a RunMorph coach, I put it through its paces on dry, hard, rocky terrain. Here's what you need to know before you spend your 160 euros.
Inov-8 TrailFly Speed V2 Review: Graphene Grip, +50% on Wet Rock
8.5/10
Inov-8 TrailFly Speed V2: the technical racer for hard ground
The TrailFly Speed V2 is the second version of a shoe built for one specific job: running fast on dry, rocky, technical trails. It's not a do-it-all trail shoe that does everything at 50%. It's a racing shoe that owns its specialization. This is exactly the niche where Inov-8 built its legend, and the V2 fixes the V1's weaknesses in three areas: grip, foam and upper durability.
RunMorph's advice. If you're looking for a shoe for short trail races or intervals on trails, the TrailFly Speed V2 is an excellent choice. But if you're targeting ultras or muddy ground, check out our review of the Hoka Mafate 5 or the Salomon Speedcross 6 instead. The right tool for the right job: that's the foundation of a training plan that actually gets you somewhere.
© Inov-8, official photo used for editorial purposes
Objective technical data
| Brand | Inov-8 |
| Model | TrailFly Speed V2 |
| Release date | January 2026 (V2) |
| Type | Fast trail, hard and rocky terrain |
| Drop | 4 mm |
| Stack height (forefoot / heel) | 17 mm / 21 mm |
| Weight (size 42) | 274 g |
| Foam | POWERFLOW PRO |
| Carbon plate | No (flexible META-SHANK rock plate) |
| Outsole | Graphene G-GRIP, 4 mm lugs |
| Upper | Engineered mesh + KPU overlays |
| Recommended distance | 5 km to trail half marathon (up to 30 km) |
| Official price | 160 euros |
Who is the TrailFly Speed V2 for?
The performance-minded trail runner on dry trails
If your playground is rocky trails, Provence single-track and parched ridgelines, the TrailFly Speed V2 was made for you. The low drop (4 mm), low stack (21/17 mm) and firm foam keep you as close to the ground as possible. You feel every rock, every bump. That's what gives it its precision in corners and its efficiency at fast paces. As a coach, I see plenty of runners used to road daily trainers who expect plush cushioning when they move to fast trail running. Forget it here. This is a racing shoe, not a hiking shoe.
The racer from 10 km to trail half marathon
274 g is light for a trail shoe with this level of protection (META-SHANK against rocks, reinforced KPU against tears). You can post a fast time at a 21 km practice trail race, a modern cross-country race or the Marathon du Mont-Blanc 10K. The Saucony Peregrine 16 plays in the same category, but with more cushioning and less precision. The TrailFly Speed V2 is snappier and more direct. For racing, it has the edge.
The runner who wants to feel the ground
Inov-8 has always championed an approach close to minimalism. The V2 sticks to that philosophy without going overboard. The Boomerang footbed (TPU beads) adds a little bounce without dulling ground feel. If you come from barefoot running and want a trail shoe with a bit more protection but still very sensitive, it's a good gateway into trail racing. On the other hand, if you want high-stack foam and a pronounced rocker, check out our review of the Hoka Speedgoat 7 instead.
© Inov-8, official photo used for editorial purposes
Comfort, ride and grip
First step-in: the TrailFly Speed V2 has a standard fit, neither too narrow nor too wide. The mesh is airy, the tongue thin, the lacing classic. The whole thing is very clean, no frills. On pavement before hitting the trail, you immediately feel how firm the foam is. POWERFLOW PRO is a responsive, durable foam, but it offers little cushioning compared with what you find on today's road daily trainers (Pebax, FF Blast Max). The goal here is different: transfer energy, not absorb it.
On the trail is where the shoe makes sense. The graphene G-GRIP (independent measurement: +50% grip on wet rock compared with the V1) holds remarkably well on dry ground, granite and limestone. The 4 mm lugs are perfect for hard terrain with a few loose sections. But as soon as you hit thick mud or slushy snow, the TrailFly Speed V2 shows its limits: the lugs are too short and the foam too firm to stay comfortable for long.
Downhill precision is one of its strengths. The low profile, low drop and side TPU cage (KPU overlays on the toe box and rearfoot) give reassuring lockdown. You can place your foot precisely and trust the shoe in scree. That's classic Inov-8 DNA, and the V2 stays true to it.
How it stacks up against the competition
The TrailFly Speed V2 targets a specific segment: short to mid-distance technical trail racing on hard ground. Here's how it compares with the benchmarks reviewed on RunMorph.
Vs the Saucony Peregrine 16 (145 euros, 270 g): the Peregrine 16 is more versatile, more cushioned and easier to wear for the average runner. The TrailFly Speed V2 is more direct and faster, but demands better technique. On dry, rocky trails, the Inov-8 wins on precision.
Vs the Asics Fuji Lite 6 (130 euros, 250 g): the Fuji Lite 6 is lighter but less protective. The TrailFly Speed V2 offers better stability in scree thanks to its TPU cage and rock plate. For races over 15 km, the Inov-8 is easier on your feet.
Vs the Salomon S/Lab Genesis (200 euros, 260 g): the S/Lab Genesis plays in a different price league, with premium construction and Quicklace. The TrailFly Speed V2 delivers 80% of the result for 40 euros less. If your budget is tight, the Inov-8 is a very pragmatic choice.
Vs the Hoka Tecton X 3 (230 euros, 264 g): two opposite philosophies. The Tecton X 3 bets on high-stack foam, a carbon plate and a pronounced rocker to eat up long distances. The TrailFly Speed V2 bets on ground contact and precision for short, punchy races. Choose based on your goal, not on what's trendy.
© Inov-8, official photo used for editorial purposes
How to fit it into your RunMorph training plan
The TrailFly Speed V2 is built for two very specific uses in your training plan:
Quality sessions on trails. Short intervals (30 seconds to 2 minutes) on dry climbs, threshold intervals on a technical loop, tempo runs on runnable single-track. The low weight (274 g) and firm foam let you run really fast, which is rarely the case with a max-cushion trail shoe. It's the ideal weapon for building trail-specific power.
Short to mid-distance races. Modern cross-country, short trail races (10-21 km), vertical kilometers on hard ground, dry uphill races. Beyond 30 km, the firmness starts to show and the cushioning falls short for an average-build runner.
To structure your trail season around this kind of shoe, take a look at the RunMorph trail training plan. It combines easy runs (in your comfort shoe), quality sessions (where the TrailFly Speed V2 shines) and long runs (where you'll switch back to a more cushioned shoe, like the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 or the Hoka Mafate 5).
RunMorph Coach verdict
As a coach, I see too many runners buy a cushioned trail shoe thinking it'll be good everywhere. The result: they're average at fast racing, average at ultras, average at everything. The TrailFly Speed V2 does the opposite. It owns its specialization: fast running on hard ground. And it does that very well.
Its three strengths: precision (low drop, low stack, TPU cage), grip on dry ground and rock (graphene G-GRIP) and snap (firm, responsive POWERFLOW PRO foam). Its two limits: no cushioning for long distances and limited grip in thick mud.
If your playground is the Mercantour, the Vercors, the Calanques, the garrigue scrubland or the dry trails of southern France, it's a very smart investment at 160 euros. If you run on wet lowlands in Brittany or Normandy, look at the Saucony Peregrine 16 or the Salomon Speedcross 6 instead.
RunMorph score: 8.5 / 10. An honest, specialized shoe that does exactly what it promises. It's the first Inov-8 model in the RunMorph catalog, and that's no accident: the British brand remains one of the most credible names in technical trail running.
© Inov-8, official photo used for editorial purposes
Key takeaways for your training
- Built for technical trail racing: this isn't an everyday shoe, it's a weapon for workouts and short races on hard ground.
- 4 mm drop and 21/17 stack: plan a transition phase if you're coming from high-stack shoes like Hoka. Start with short runs to get your calves and Achilles tendons used to it.
- Graphene G-GRIP excels on dry ground: formidable on granite, limestone and parched trails. Avoid it in thick mud or slushy snow.
- Excellent downhill precision: the TPU cage and META-SHANK rock plate let you place your foot confidently in scree.
- Solid value for money at 160 euros: you get 80% of the performance of an S/Lab Genesis for 40 euros less.