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Inov-8 discontinues their award 370 boot-why?
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Inov-8 discontinues their award 370 boot-why?
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Jan 12, 2008 at 11:55 am #1226695Roleigh MartinBPL Member
@marti124
Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikersI emailed Inov-8 this email today. I'm wondering if anybody has comments/knowledge on why they think the Inov-8 Roclite 370 has been discontinued. Have anyone used /known other users of this boot? Feedback?
Why did you stop making your award winning (by 2 top places) boot, the Roclite 370?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2008/gear/forest.html
Shows it as the best of the year.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/inov_8_roclite_370_390_boot_orsm07.html
Shows it as the favored boot of the publisher for Backpacking Light.
The 370 has the advantage of being lighter, more breathable, and quicker to dry if the inside of the boot gets wet (these 3 advantages are against the 390 which you still make).
I was planning on making this boot my boot of choice for my John Muir Trail hike in 2008, but seeing it no longer made makes me think that actual feedback from users is negative enough to counter the awards you won.
Roleigh Martin
Edina MNJan 12, 2008 at 12:30 pm #1415846Where did you read that this shoe would be discontinued? It hasn't even been released.
Suggestion: if you do get de chance to buy a pair, try before you buy. I've got a pair of 390's (can live with the gore-tex since I want to use them in the snow) and up to now I'm not entirely convinced.
Jan 12, 2008 at 3:11 pm #1415859Roleigh MartinBPL Member@marti124
Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikersGood question, Tom. Like I said, I emailed their sales department. I find it strange the boot has already won two awards if it has not been released yet though.
Jan 12, 2008 at 3:48 pm #1415860Afaik, awards are mostly presented at the beginning of the season or at outdoor trade shows where the products are presented. The products are often only available half a year later.
Do you want to say that you've read somewhere that they will discontinued or were you thinking that they were discontinued because they weren't mentioned on their website or nowhere to be found?Jan 12, 2008 at 3:54 pm #1415861Maybe the product was not carrying its weight related to profitability. Award winning does not always make money. It will be interesting to see the reply to your email.
Jan 12, 2008 at 4:02 pm #1415862Roleigh MartinBPL Member@marti124
Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikersI was thinking "they were discontinued because they weren't mentioned on their website or nowhere to be found?" and because they had won two awards — thinking that at one time they had to have been made available. I'll update you all if I hear from Innv-8. Saddly, I see that REI does not even sell the Inov-8 390 anymore — had the 370 never gotten released, I was going to try the 390s as a fallback.
What I'm looking for is a very breathable mid-height hiking boot that is close to 1 pound apiece in weight. The MERRELL
Passage Ventilator Mid Boots I did not like the way they felt on my feet (two many obtrusions from the inside top toe-end of the boot–I like the toe-end ceiling to be relatively smooth of a boot. I wore the Keen Event Mid-height Targhee last year for a 15 day hike in SEKI and it was okay but (a) the seam came loose for about 1" during a 2 week hike and (b) the toe-end ceiling had a bump in it that I had to cover with the teflon shoe-blister pads by Engo that go onto the shoe but not the foot. REI, instead of agreeing to fix the seam, just gave me my money back (I was satisfied with the boot otherwise). I may go back to the Keen mid-height Targhee for 2008.Jan 12, 2008 at 5:43 pm #1415872AnonymousInactiveHi Roleigh,
From your description of requirements, it sounds like you might want to check out the Montrail Namche. It's a great boot for the type of hiking you describe @ $99.95/pr.
The Iniv8 390 is a good winter boot for snowshoeing. I've been delighted with them, so far this year. I'll find out how they perform as a wet conditions boot this spring.Jan 12, 2008 at 5:55 pm #1415873Roleigh MartinBPL Member@marti124
Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikersVery impressive — and available for $79 here:
http://www.onlineshoes.com/productpage.asp?gen=m&pcid=75202
Actually it is as low as $70 for mens:
http://www.telemarkski.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=GM2009!mon01
Lower for women's at Altrec.comJan 18, 2008 at 7:17 pm #1416712Roleigh MartinBPL Member@marti124
Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikersI received lots of information from Inov-8 regarding their Roclite 370. Passing on relevant paragraphs consolidated into one posting here.
> To: [email protected]
>
> Why did you stop making your award winning (by 2 top places) boot, the
> Roclite 370?
>
> http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2008/gear/forest.html
>
> Shows it as the best of the year.
>
>
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/inov_8_roclite_370_390_boot_orsm07.html
>
> Shows it as the favored boot of the publisher for Backpacking Light.Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:06:24 -0500
From: "Thomas Mikkelsen"
Hello Roleigh,Thanks for your interest in the 370 and for getting in touch with us
about your concerns!Fear not, the Roclite 370 is in full production, and will debut in
Spring this year. In the meantime, I can share with you the extremely
positive feedback we've been getting about the 370's cousin, the
Roclite 390 GTX.That boot has done extremely well, and was used by both US based teams
in the recent X-Alps competition in Switzerland.As for why the boot was featured in Backpacking Light and NG
Adventure, both of these magazines attend the Outdoor Retailer show
which offers a showcase of all the new products coming from the
industry. Sometimes, they simply won't wait to cover a product if they
are really excited about it, and this sometimes leads to what you are
experiencing now.> I'm curious why REI stopped selling your 390 GTX. Do you know why it is no
> longer listed at their web site?REI is definitely selling the shoe, it's simply an artifact of their
system: when the sell out of a style, it is removed completely from
their portal system until they get new stock in.>
> But my interest in the 370. I'm curious how long the boot would take to dry
> if it got completely wet (say you slipped into the stream when crossing the
> stream). I would imagine the 370 would dry a lot faster than the 390 GTX.Yep, without a doubt, the 370 will dry faster since it doesn't have
the GTX liner. By the way, this boot is rooted in para-gliding, and
the GTX is used as much for warmth at altitude as it is for water
proofing.> As an avid backpacker, the ideal mid-height backpacking boot would have the
> following features> 1. A size 9 boot would weigh less than or equal to 1 pound.
I think you just described the entire 30 style line from inov-8.
>
> 2. The boot would be mid-height. It would provide adequate ankle support
> for someone packing with less than 15 pounds of base gear weight in their
> packback (food and water ignored).I *personally* don't necessarily agree with this conventional wisdom.
We've had many through hikers used the ultra-low-heeled Flyroc 310
quite successfully. The line as a whole provides ankle support by
bringing the heel lower to the ground, unlike a big traditional,
overbuilt boot which typically has a large heel lift. That heel lift
increases the risk of turned ankles and thus enforces the ankle
support requirement.>
> 3. the boot would be highly breathable enabling the foot to stay cool and
> could be worn all day long, even at night at camp, eliminating the need for
> camp sandles.Check.
>
> 4. the boot would have inner material that is comfortable but quickly drys
> if the boot falls into the water during stream crossing. Ideally, if
> towel-damping the inside of the foot, and wearing dry socks, the boot could
> dry off within 1-2 hours of walking in the hot, dry sun.Check.
>
> I would think any boot meeting these measures would grab the attention of
> backpackers.It has: Scott Williamson, 2-time PCT Yoyo, second time in Flyroc 310,
and won't use anything else. Andrew Thompson, AT Speed-hike record
holder, also in the 310. Jonathan Basham, Colorado Trail Speed Record
Holder, did it in the Roclite 315.Also, as you can see from coverage such as NG and Backpacking Light,
the 370 is getting a lot of attention.> Personally, I think ultra-breathablility, along with full support, rapid
> dryness, and dual use as hiking/camp shoes are the most desirable features.I think you've described the Flyroc 310. It's not a boot, but meets
all of your requirements. There is also a GTX version, though I
understand your preference for eVent.>
> Anyway, thanks for responding. I wish your company much success. I'd love
> to see a company design and sell the dream shoe that backpackers dream for.Thanks for the wishes, give that Flyroc 310 a try. I know it isn't a
boot, but it does sound like something you'd enjoy. Just be sure to
ease into them as the lower heel can cause some muscle and joint
soreness for a few weeks. If you've been wearing typical boots and
shoes, you haven't been fully utilizing them and they'll need some
time to adapt.Roleigh, just a follow on thought: I suggested the Flyroc 310 as an
alternative to the 370 because it is available now, that's all. The
370 is of course, that much more in line with what you describe as
your ideal boot since it is, after all, a boot. ;-) Cheers, -Thomas.> Thomas, any idea what part of the Spring 2008 the 370 will be out?
Roleigh, I believe it's scheduled for April. -Thomas.
Apr 28, 2010 at 10:46 am #1603157I know this thread is quite old but I did notice that this boot is no longer available on their site. 390 is still there though.
May 1, 2010 at 9:26 pm #1604802Yeah. If it were still available, I'd have ordered them last night. Can't find a size 10 anywhere.
May 1, 2010 at 10:22 pm #1604821Zombie Runner has some Inov-8 370 in stock
I don't know the current situation with the 370… but I do know that Inov-8 made a corp. commitment to continue to manufacture shoes without functional change until they were no longer profitable. I am greatful that the Flyroc 310 that I purchased a month ago are functionally the same as my first pair purchased in 2005.
–Mark
May 2, 2010 at 4:37 pm #1605030AnonymousInactive"Zombie Runner has some Inov-8 370 in stock
I don't know the current situation with the 370… "
I suspect they are still discontinued because Zombie Runner doesn't have the very popular size 10, which is exactly the situation I encountered last fall with Inov-8 when I was trying to order them at the source. I talked with them and they said that no more size 10's would be forthcoming because the line had been discontinued. That still seems to be the case. A phone call to Inov-8 would resolve the question, I guess.
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