If you're not already convinced that the Trailroc 235 is the trail shoe for you, perhaps you're wondering what that Trailroc 245 is like.
If only there were someone on the Internet to compare these two Trailroc options for you so that you can decide which one to add to your shopping cart.
Well, lookie here, folks!
Aside from a handful of key features, the Trailroc 235 and 245 are very much the same shoe:
- The anatomic last is the same, thereby ensuring that the fit is the same.
- The materials and construction are essentially the same.
- Both of my orders arrived with 3mm foot beds instead of the specified 6mm foot beds (FYI).
- And, the Tri-C™ is functionally the same.
So, I'll keep this fairly succinct and focus on a few differences that are not overly obvious in pictures.
If I had to point out one major difference...
By simply comparing specs online, you might think that the 3mm heel differential is the biggest difference between the 245 and 235.
Sure, yes, why not? With the 245 having a one arrow Shoc-Zone™ and the 235 having a zero, these two Trailrocs cover two phases of the minimal-shoe transition spectrum (assuming one abides by such spectrums).
However, when you set aside those specifications and put the shoes on your feet, the most conspicuous difference will not be in the heel — it's the rock plate protection in the 245's MetaShank™ gen3 midsole. Wow!
I mean, it would take a pretty sharp rock, probably one that's attached to a high-speed drill, to inflict any kind of damage on your foot through the 245's sole. And, you know that rock plate is there when you step. It doesn't poke your feet through the insole, or anything. You can just feel the lack of feeling on the ground.
(Note that my reaction to the 245's rock protection may be somewhat exaggerated, since I am not used to wearing shoes with a rock plate. But, as far as I can tell, there's a lot of protection in those 245s!)
As a consequence of extra rock protection, the Trailroc 245 shares only a fraction of the 235's flexibility. Don't misunderstand, there's a fine and flexible forefoot in the 245.
Basically, flexiblity starts at those embedded lime-green shapes marking the Meta-Flex™ line and exists forward through the toe. But, the rest of the sole is quite dense.
So, the Meta-Shank™ rock protection should really be the deciding factor for you here. Do you want a tough midsole that will keep pretty much every sensation of pointyness away from your feet? Or, do you want a shoe that twists and folds readily?
The 3mm differential in the 245 is really not as noticeable as I thought it would be. And, I consider myself fairly sensitive to those things.
In fact, if you take a close look at the picture below, you'll see that the heel area of the 235 seems almost more built up than that of the 245. There's just extra EVA around the heel to allow for the "ZERO" on the back, I think. It is not indicative of the heel height.
Let's conclude with this video and some bonus pictures.
So, was this close to being a brief post? Be honest. Well, I hope I've imparted something useful, at least.
I'll just leave you with this video from Inov-8 that reiterates the concept of the Tri-C™ outsole. There's also some great trail imagery. And, you might like to scroll down for a few extra pictures of the Trailroc 245, too. It's blue, by the way. Did I list that as a difference?
Thanks for reading!