Roclite 345 GTX- Scottish Munros?

Tweaker

Trekker
Like the look of Roclite 345 GTX and they get glowing reviews BUT do they

1. provide support underfooot(preventing foot bruising) over prolonged rocky terrain over Munros? ie Torridon ,Skye etc
2. are they waterproof enough and not wet out under boggy conditions ?(Think peat hags)
3. Do you need a gaiter to provide waterproofing ?( wet trousers)
3. They just seem so light and well flimsy......

Anyone with real world use can you give me a heads up please to how they perform in the real world?

TIA
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Dunno the exact model, but have done many multidays in Scotland including Munros Torridon, Aonach Eagach, Fisherfield, Cairngorms ( and a bit of Cuillins) in non waterproof Inov8s. Either Roclite 295s or Terrocs. I find them more comfortable than boots.

I wouldn't trust any GTX membrane on fabric footwear, it always wets out on the end. I use Terrocs GTX 345s on Dartmoor in winter. I don't expect to keep my feet dry all day though, just warmer than non gtx shoes.
 

Tweaker

Trekker
Yes agree with non gtex for footwear- be it Ultra marathons or mountain boots. I use non g tex zamberlans for munros and La Sportiva Ultra Raptors for Ultras. Did WHW Ultra in Ultras changed socks twice -95 miles no blisters. Reading UL posts on light weight footwear/boots (Roclite 345 GTX) and got me wondering. In such a light weight model are they waterproof unless water comes over the top or are they so flimsy due to low weight. If water comes over the top unlike a conventional gtex lined boot do they dry out very quick? Normal mountain boots with gtex only really dry out when back home no chance in the field.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Well, my Terroc gtx do dry quicker than a gtx boot. but nothing like as fast as a non lined trainer.
As I don't wear boots hiking, except occasionally in wet/deep snow, I gave up on dry feet years ago. I wear waterproof socks in winter if it looks really wet.
 
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cathyjc

Thru Hiker
Like the look of Roclite 345 GTX and they get glowing reviews BUT do they

1. provide support underfooot(preventing foot bruising) over prolonged rocky terrain over Munros? ie Torridon ,Skye etc
2. are they waterproof enough and not wet out under boggy conditions ?(Think peat hags)
3. Do you need a gaiter to provide waterproofing ?( wet trousers)
3. They just seem so light and well flimsy......

Anyone with real world use can you give me a heads up please to how they perform in the real world?

TIA

I've not worn Roclite 345 but have had several pairs of the Roclite 288 (previous iteration of this style of Inov8).

1. The supplied insole is flimsy - I change this for an insole involving some "gel" - helps with lumpy ground.
The "softness" of the sole allows you to "feel" the ground better. You need to develop stronger supporting muscles to compensate for the lack of "stiffness/support" that you get with traditional leather boots. I hate wearing heavy stiff boots now after getting used to lighter more flexible footwear.

2. They start out plenty waterproof but the GTX inevitably degrades and the wet gets in. The 288 are very wide in the forefoot and if I go up a size then there is plenty space for a waterproof sock.

3. Gaiters - to use or not - same as any other mid height boot = a personal choice.

4. Yes, they are flimsier that heavy leather boots. All lightweight gear is less durable than heavyweight gear - take your pick. The uppers wear out much quicker than the soles - I retire my boots to "on road/track" walking when the uppers are decaying, in an effort to "finish off" the sole - I've yet to get the sole worn flat …..

Not sure how much of this is the same with the 345 but ?? - maybe someone else can comment ?

PS I am a self confesssed "Munro Bagger" :D
 
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Robin

Moderator
Staff member
I have a pair of 345s. I’ve only used them on local walks. They are very comfortable. I’d hesitate to use them on harsh rocky ground as I reckon the uppers are not that robust. I can’t confirm this, but I suspect the gtx liner would get saturated quickly as the open space mesh around the toe will hold water. That was my experience with the 320s (finer mesh though, a better boot IMO). One way to largely get round the problem is to cover the toe area with SilNet. I’ve done this to some Salomon X-Ultras to great effect. On my TGO Challenge in 2017, my feet stayed perfectly dry. I’ve done the same to the 320s but haven’t tested how effective it is on those. Unfortunately the 345s have a more open mesh so I suspect using SilNet will be less effective and look horrible. Hope that helps.
 
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WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Like the look of Roclite 345 GTX and they get glowing reviews BUT do they

1. provide support underfooot(preventing foot bruising) over prolonged rocky terrain over Munros? ie Torridon ,Skye etc
2. are they waterproof enough and not wet out under boggy conditions ?(Think peat hags)
3. Do you need a gaiter to provide waterproofing ?( wet trousers)
3. They just seem so light and well flimsy......

Anyone with real world use can you give me a heads up please to how they perform in the real world?

TIA
With regard to your first point, here's a link to our last trip, 150km with 8 nights worth of food at the start and usually carrying 2L or more of water each. As you can see from the photos, there's a lot of rock/stony ground (and the photos overstate the amount of grassy ground as they're the photos that were the best looking ;)).
I wore a pair of Roclite 295s; the soles took quite a battering (but if you're looking at the G 245 GTX, the sole should be more durable) but the uppers are fine and my feet were never sore. Our longest day was 36km with over 1,000m of ascent and 2,300m of descent - enough to really put pressure on your feet.
That said, we're used to hiking on hard ground in trail runners; it may take a few walks for your feet to toughen up.
 

Baldy

Thru Hiker
Like the look of Roclite 345 GTX and they get glowing reviews BUT do they

1. provide support underfooot(preventing foot bruising) over prolonged rocky terrain over Munros? ie Torridon ,Skye etc
2. are they waterproof enough and not wet out under boggy conditions ?(Think peat hags)
3. Do you need a gaiter to provide waterproofing ?( wet trousers)
3. They just seem so light and well flimsy......

Anyone with real world use can you give me a heads up please to how they perform in the real world?

TIA
I've had Inov8's and found them too soft. Adidas terrex have a much stiffer sole and better support (imo).
 

OwenM

Thru Hiker
I have a pair of 345's and previously I had 295's. I got the 345's as they were low boots rather than the trainer style of the 295's this gives some padding to the ankle bones. I think I must have sticky out ankle bones because I do tend to catch them on rocks and roots. Also I trashed the 295's on a trip to Knoydart last year, ripping the uppers quite badly.

I've not had that much use out of the 345's yet, the last time I was out in very wet conditions I was wearing ski touring boots that was the weekend before lockdown. I find them very comfortable and hold the foot better than the 295's, less rolling of the foot. But I suppose that very much depends on the shape of your foot. The previous incarnation of Inov8 boots had very soft rubber in the soles so they wore out very quickly, these (the 345's) are supposed to have some harder wearing compound to counter this, only time will tell if it works.

As I said I've not used them very much only half a dozen days out in the Ochil's and so far they have been dry. Not been in any deep bogs, not had water over the tops so can't say how quickly they will dry out once the inside is wet. This is something that did concern me when I brought them. Having had other gore-tex lined boots I've always found the liners prevent the water from getting out so the boots take forever to dry, again only time will tell.

Underfoot you do get a bit more feel for the ground, not as much as in the 295's which were very thin soled. I find this better than wearing very stiff soled traditional mountaineering boots which can make your gate very clumsy and awkward. It's a compromise, the 295's were very thin but you felt every stone. The 345's are a bit stiffer but still let your foot flex, the only way to tell if it suits you is to try them.

If you plan doing a lot of bog trotting then gaiters would be a good idea, I'm not sure which gaiters would fit best maybe something like the "Dirty girl" gaiters.
 

Tweaker

Trekker
345s totally p*** wet through after one hour test walk in wet fields.
Currently drying waiting to be returned.
Only way to keep dry feet is quality non membrane lined leather boot ( and yeti gaiter for severe weather) in Scottish type environs.
Read rave reviews on 345 - not my experience. Avoid. Comfy granted but useless as a serious outdoor boot for inclement weather.
 
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