You can get away with your regular backpack, shirt and jeans when hiking but your footwear - might be sandals, rubber shoes, boots, or trail running shoes can spell a happy times on the trail or just plain pain disaster.
Inov8 rocklite 295 in Dulangan River of Mt Halcon |
The boss Inov 8 in action |
Inov8 race ultra 290 in Balagbag River |
It was my first time to come across the brand. I never heard of it before. The first model I have was the Inov-8 rocklite 295. What impressed me and sold me was the outsole. You can tell that I will have the greatest traction and grip that can help you finished the brutal trail and unimaginable obstacles you will find on the mountain trail.
I have not put the shoes in break in period. I wear it right away in Mt Talomo - Mt Apo traverse. For anyone who have finished that traverse can tell that it have a challenging and brutal trail. That time, there was a lot of section where the shoes was subside on the ankle deep mud. There was a lot of time you need to walk on the mossy covered trunk trees. Passed trough a lot of roots and wet and dried leaves and the rocky trail of Mt Apo to cover all your imagined trail sections.
I finished the trail with the shoes passed in flying colors. Rest for 2 days then hike up again in the jungle forest of Mt Kalatungan.
Inov8 Race Ultra 290 |
I have hiked with the shoes in most difficult mountain in Mindanao except in White peak as it hit by Storm Pablo at that time. I know it can survive the trail of Guiting Guiting and Mantalingajan the two mountains mentioned by every one else as the most difficult mountain we have.
Since I have first hand experienced with the brand. I recommend it to my team. The only downside is , Inov8 is not widely available here. There is only one store that carries it at the moment - it was Sportshouse and not all the models are available here.
If you need a new shoes, or planning to switch shoes, I highly recommend you try Inov-8. Our team have hiked with it on most of the mountain in Benguet and we are not disappointed. You just need to find the model that fits you. We all have different foot type - wide, flat, thin etc. We all have preferences - color, looks and budget.
If your looking for recommendation in facebook group about the shoes - please check if the person who recommends you to buy something actually used it on the toughest mountain, not only in batulao or any rizal mountains - you can easily get away with your regular rubber shoes on it.
What we can recommend, what ever shoes you choose to wear, make sure that it have a good grip otherwise - epic fail.
Team Inov8 In Mt Tangbaw of Mt Purgatory |