Bucking the trend, the ROADFLY is built different to many other road running shoes.
Purposely stripped of a carbon plate and without the giant stack heights, it offers a unique natural feel with the benefits of greater comfort and foot health. Put simply, it reconnects runners to the road.
But how did we design it? In this Q&A blog post we go behind the scenes with Luke McConnie, our Senior Footwear Designer.
DESIGNING THE ROADFLY
1. How exciting was it to design a new road running shoe following our hiatus from the road scene?
The road range was long overdue a refresh, and we wanted to bring the same much-loved new anatomical fit from our trail shoes to the road category. It was important for us to create a shoe that would be accessible to all runners, regardless of ability, offering comfort, flexibility and performance for everyday runs.
2. What influences from the team's in-depth trail running design experience did you apply to the road shoe?
We applied the same core philosophy from our trail designs to the road shoe, ensuring it was engineered to allow the foot to perform as nature intended. Since road shoes don’t have to be as protective as trail shoes, we were able to dial up both the breathability and flexibility.
3. What are the key differences and thought processes between a road shoe and a trail shoe?
The key design differences revolve around the terrain they are built for. Trail shoes have rugged outsoles with deep lugs for grip on uneven surfaces, and they incorporate protective features like rock plates and reinforced toe caps.
Road shoes, being designed for smooth surfaces, are lighter, more flexible, and focus on agility since they don’t require as much protection. This makes road shoes feel faster and more responsive.
4. There's so much carbon technology in road shoe design right now, the ROADFLY bucks that trend. Why is this?
Carbon plates certainly have their place at the elite level of the sport when speed is the priority. However, to fully unlock the potential and effectiveness of plated shoes, you need to run at an optimal pace. Not every shoe requires a plate, though.
The ROADFLY breaks that trend by focusing more on natural running, allowing the foot to guide the shoe, rather than the shoe guiding the foot. We wanted the first shoe in the lineup to reflect this philosophy, making it the most accessible option. It's a shoe anyone can pick up and feel great running in.
5. What is your favourite part of the design and why?
The most memorable part from a design perspective was the implementation of the logo. The ROADFLY marks the first INOV8 shoe to prominently feature the talon motif as its primary logo. The talon design went through numerous iterations, so it's cool to finally see it realized on the product.
6. Did you use any influences from outside the running sphere in the design of the ROADFLY?
An unconventional influence came from the biomorphic midsole sculpting, as seen on the TRAILFLY and other models in the range. Biomorphism draws inspiration from abstract shapes, images, sculptures, or patterns that resemble living forms.
7. This road shoe is the first of four you've designed for the ROADFLY collection going into 2025. Can you give us a sneak peek into the designs of the other three shoes?
We're currently working on several exciting offline projects that fall outside the typical design and development path. While I can't reveal too much about our 2025 launch just yet, I can say that if you're a fan of diverse midsole stack heights and drop options, we've got you covered.
