In April 2022 we launched the PARKCLAW G 280 – the ultimate road-to-trail running shoe. Designed to give runners more confidence to turn off the road, escape the grey, and discover the joys of the trails.
This revolutionary new hybrid running shoe is a result of a huge team effort between INOV8 and the Graphene experts at The University of Manchester, incorporating ground-breaking new technologies into its design. INOV8 Footwear Design Manager Graham Jordison and Footwear Product Manager Bodil Oudshoorn give us the full lowdown on how this was achieved.
When did you start designing the PARKCLAW G 280 and what was the objective of the shoe?
The design process started around 20 months ago. It was a longer process than usual since we wanted to create a fully ground-up design, building on what we learned from the PARKCLAW 260. Our objective was to also include our new Graphene-enhanced G-FLY foam which would really enhance the experience for the road-to-trail runner.
Building on from the existing PARKCLAW 260; what did you do differently and why?
The G-FLY Graphene foam is both responsive and durable, meaning you get energy back from your midsole at every step. Many road running shoes have a foam that breaks down quickly and it has led to a throw-away culture. The G-FLY foam has been designed to make your shoes last longer and to help you perform for longer.
For the PARKCLAW G 280, we slightly tweaked our G-FLY compound versus previous uses to make it a little softer, giving runners the plush feel of a road shoe with the aggressive grip you need on the trails.The existing PARKCLAW is built on a road shoe chassis. By creating a completely new G-FLY midsole, we were able to really focus in on creating an outsole that delivered optimal performance on loose gravel and hard pack terrain while also being well suited to road. We did this while also being mindful of what our end user loves about the previous versions of the PARKCLAW shoes.
What is Graphene-enhanced G-FLY foam, how does it benefit the road-to-trail runner?
The G-FLY Graphene foam is both responsive and durable, meaning you get energy back from your midsole at every step. Many road running shoes have a foam that breaks down quickly and it has led to a throw-away culture. The G-FLY foam has been designed to make your shoes last longer and to help you perform for longer.
For the PARKCLAW G 280, we slightly tweaked our G-FLY compound versus previous uses to make it a little softer, giving runners the plush feel of a road shoe with the aggressive grip you need on the trails.
Talk to us about the Graphene-Grip outsole?
By using the Graphene-enhanced rubber compound we were able to make smaller cleats that cut through the top surface of a trail. The rubber’s harder-wearing property means the cleats retain their performance capabilities for longer. When it comes to road, the high number of multi-directional cleats – 98 on each shoe – are positioned to provide a balanced and smooth ride.
The high coverage of cleats provides a good level of trail protection, but we also wanted to ensure the ride felt natural and responsive. To do this we retained the anatomically positioned META-FLEX groove and incorporated a longitudinal groove, which helps the foot adapt to contouring.
What other features did you build into the shoe?
The high coverage of cleats provides a good level of trail protection, but we also wanted to ensure the ride felt natural and responsive. To do this we retained the anatomically positioned META-FLEX groove and incorporated a longitudinal groove, which helps the foot adapt to contouring. We have also included our BOOMERANG footbed in the PARKCLAW G280. It has been an amazing piece of technology that really enhances the underfoot comfort and ride, while the resilience of the compound used really comes into its own on longer runs.
Can you run in a road shoe on the trails?
Wearing purely road-specific shoes for trails is not ideal. You may have features in the upper that work well for several runs but you’re not going to get the confidence-boosting grip that brings so much enjoyment on trails. That’s why the PARKCLAW G 280 has been designed – so end users can run on the roads, turn off them, and transition to the excitement of hard-packed trails.
