Why was I interested in trying the INOV-8 Roclite G 345 boots? First, let me start this by saying, I hate stiff boots. Maybe it’s my Barney Rubble feet, or maybe it’s the thousands of miles I put on my feet road marching in the military.
Did I Mention That I Hate Stiff Boots?
Stiff boots are like foot coffins in my opinion. So naturally, I gravitated to the Solomon 3d, then to the 4d boots. The Solomon’s are very comfortable and easy on your feet right out of the gate much like a running shoe. Unfortunately, they have three very big issues. They leak the first day you wear them, the tread wears off very quickly in rocky terrain, and they are not very durable. I can deal with wet feet from time to time, I can also deal with them not being very durable for their price point. But my last pair made it four months and the tread was worthless. I’ve also worn the Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM, which I absolutely loved for comfort, but they leaked, and the tread was not great.
INOV-8 Roclite G 345 GTX Boots
I have posted several times on Rokslide that I hate stiff boots and was looking for the next lightweight boot that would make it a year in the woods and a couple of members reached out to me about the Inov-8 brand. Looking at the specs I settled on the Roklite 345 GTX. They had all the same basic features of the other boots I had tried. The one thing that intrigued me was the graphene-enhanced G-Grip. They claimed it was the world’s toughest and most durable grip. That’s quite a claim–challenge accepted. More info here.
First Impressions
I received the boots in early October 2019 and have been wearing them several times a week and most of my trips while spring bear hunting and summer scouting. When you pull them out of the box you worry a bit because they are FREAKING light. The boots have zero break-in time and are very comfortable.
I’ve taken them on some long backpack hunts, hiking, and through mud, snow, and rain. To date, they haven’t leaked and still look relatively good for the mileage on them. The most impressive part to me is the tread is still great and the grip is fantastic. If I had one complaint with the boot, it’s the laces. I have a hard time keeping them tight and they are very small and hard to tie with cold fingers, and I ended up breaking one. Maybe a flat lace would hold up better, or just put in a little bigger lace?? But a simple fix is 550 cord. I also would love to see a zero-drop boot from them.
Roclite G 345 Sizing
Size-wise, I ordered an 8.5 which is the size I normally wear, and they fit perfectly. I will add that they seem to run on the narrow side. If you have a fat foot, I would size up at least a half size.
These boots also did fairly well when hiking with a load of meat in the backpack. Yes, they do flex and bend more than a stiffer mountaineering boot but those are the trade-off. You have to know your own limitations. I would not go sheep hunting with these boots. But for scouting and hunting in Idaho, these boots will work great until the snow forces me to use something more substantial.
Boot Specs:
| Best Use | Trail Running, Hiking |
| Footwear Height | Over-the-ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Type of Waterproofing | GORE-TEX waterproof breathable membrane |
| Upper | Thermoplastic urethane |
| Lining | Polyester |
| Midsole | EVA/rubber |
| Support | Thermoplastic urethane |
| Outsole | Graphene/rubber |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 8oz |
Conclusion
For the price, I didn’t expect the boot I received. I am very happy with them and would definitely recommend them to hunters who don’t like wearing ski boots while hunting. It looks like they have an update to the 400 GTX coming out in 2020. The 400 GTX sounds like a step up in stiffness over the Roklite 345 for those that want a little more ankle support. Learn more and order yours here.
You can comment on this review or ask Ryan questions here.
Don’t forget to check out these other lightweight boot reviews as well.
