ROCLITE PRO G 400 GORE-TEX of making the shoe

THE MAKING OF THE ROCLITE PRO G 400 GORE-TEX

DESIGNER'S INSIGHT

The new ROCLITE PRO G 400 GORE-TEX. is our toughest-ever hiking boot, bringing together a Graphene-enhanced outsole and Schoeller ceramic coated upper for the first time. Graphene is the world’s strongest material and ceramic technology is so tough that is already trusted to help protect the International Space Station.

But how do you exploit all this toughness and still design a boot that remains lightweight (in this case just 400g), flexible and agile? We spoke to INOV8 Design Manager Graham Jordison to find out. Graham was INOV8 founder Wayne Edy’s first recruit when the brand was born in 2003 and is driven by a continued desire to innovate. He told us:

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When setting out to design the ROCLITE PRO G 400 GORE-TEX, we looked to create the ultimate 3 season hike boot that pulled together premium, technical materials and innovative design that would result in a lightweight performance package.

For ground-up developments, we always start with the outsole, as confidence of grip is key, especially when out in fast-changing terrain and environments. To do this, we drew upon the already very capable ROCLITE cleats and the properties of the Graphene-enhanced rubber compound to evolve the sole to the next level.

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With the majority of the weight being in the outsole, the elasticity and toughness of our Graphene-enhanced compound meant we could reduce the base thickness of the sole without sacrificing durability. This coupled with adding multifaceted edges and channelling to the cleats provides optimal performance in varying conditions.

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Evolving the META-PLATE was the next challenge. For this we wanted to create a complete chassis that provided anatomically aligned, flexible underfoot protection in the forefoot and external stability and support in the rearfoot. This results in a fit that feels protective but retains agility and a proprioceptive underfoot feel.

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For the upper, we wanted to keep this relatively simple and utilize technical, lightweight materials. All too often durability and protection are a trade-off for weight and flexibility. This is where we looked to a material that has not been used in hiking footwear before. A lightweight ceramic-coated single layer synthetic upper would help determine the balance between flexibility, comfort, breathability, durability and protection. We worked with Schoeller on developing this.

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To complete the upper, we wanted to focus on comfort and ease of access. A soft Lycra cuff protects the ankle, while bespoke speed-hooks work to intuitively lock and unlock the foot in place. These small details result in a premium technical boot that looks ready for serious adventures, and is also deceptively light and comfortable for multiday use.

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