:D Barefoot Running

[eLBee!]

I am looking forward to the 220pk being a bit more widespread as I could only find from beyond extreme, and I would like to try them on before I buy.

They look great shoes! Let me know how you get on with them

OK - a first short and easy 7 mile road run in the f-lite 220's, and here are my Initial impressions:
Snug around the ankle but with enough room and 'looseness' in the forefoot for the foot to be able to do it's thing. In a way it 'feels' like a more substantial shoe than the 230, but that may just be the newness of it. You can tell that the rubber compound is different, but the ground 'feel' is pretty good. I'll reserve judgement on them until the materials have lost their 'newness'.

The upper is very similar to the x-talon212 and will 'soften' significantly with use, and the forefoot is higher volume than the 230 (also very similar to the x-talon)
This will be great news for people that find the 230 too low profile.
Now the odd bit.
Measuring the actual soles against the 230 - they are the same - but wearing them, the 220's FEEL broader. I suspect that is because there is more nett room with the extra volume.

I want to wear these a bit more, because I'm making a comparison with my 230's that have 450 miles on them, and ALL inov-8's soften and become more flexible with use, and in fact improve with use from the perspective of allowing the foot to work in the way it was designed to !!
I also want to wear them in the wet - the 230's are fabulous for traction in turning sharp 90 degree bends at 6 min/mile in the wet. One of the best shoes I've ever worn from that perspective - and I an intrigued to find out how well the 220's compare.

That said, I could feel the joints in the asphalt and any surface imperfections much in the same way as I can in the 230's, and the ability to 'stealth run' and scare the bejeezus out of swaggering chavlings was very much in evidence

[Graham Chapman]

Thanks eLBee,

Appreciate your mini review of the 220s. They could be just what I am looking for especially if they are a little broader in the forefoot.
I've found them at Beyond Extreme, but nowhere else, can't even find them on the Inov-8 website yet. I guess they will feed out to other suppliers soon, hopefully some here down south too.

barefoot running experiment

[Inov-8 Insider]

Thanks eLBee,

Appreciate your mini review of the 220s. They could be just what I am looking for especially if they are a little broader in the forefoot.
I've found them at Beyond Extreme, but nowhere else, can't even find them on the Inov-8 website yet. I guess they will feed out to other suppliers soon, hopefully some here down south too.

barefoot running experiment

Its now on our site. HERE
More dealers will be stocking this, the F-Lite 230 & Roclite 285 as the demand for minimalist "natural running" shoes is starting to be on their radar

[Inov-8 Insider]

Thanks eLBee,

I've found them at Beyond Extreme, but nowhere else, can't even find them on the Inov-8 website yet. I guess they will feed out to other suppliers soon, hopefully some here down south too.

You could try these Guy's, they have just taken delivery and the owner is a Pose coach so some good advice.
Faster-Feet
Tel: 0845 652 4327
Fax: 0845 652 4328
Mob: 0779 555 1099
email: [email protected]

[Mud]

No offence to anybody.

But it does strike me as a bit ironic that this thread about nice-and-simple barefoot running is one of the most shoe-techy-geeky ones ever to emerge.

I'm glad I just wear normal shoes. Can't remember what they are now.

Brown ones.

[Hanneke]

You could try these Guy's, they have just taken delivery and the owner is a Pose coach so some good advice.
Faster-Feet
Tel: 0845 652 4327
Fax: 0845 652 4328
Mob: 0779 555 1099
email: [email protected]

I know the guy from Faster Feet, he tought me how to run uphill and I get my shoes from him

[Stolly]

No offence to anybody.

But it does strike me as a bit ironic that this thread about nice-and-simple barefoot running is one of the most shoe-techy-geeky ones ever to emerge.

I'm glad I just wear normal shoes. Can't remember what they are now.

Brown ones.

I agree. This thread is all about flogging inov8's under the cunning disguise of pretending to be talking about running with no shoes at all

[Inov-8 Insider]

I agree. This thread is all about flogging inov8's under the cunning disguise of pretending to be talking about running with no shoes at all

Thats very cynical
I'm not trying to Flog anything just give advice to folks who ask the question about barefoot/minimalist shoes.

[Derby Tup]

Yes it is slightly ironic that the self-confessed tea boy for a trainer company has three times more posts than anyone else

Pesonally I'm worried about scott b. Has all this talk of sticky rubber, footbed removal and the 'ultimate racer' been simply too much for him

I'm also surprised some wag hasn't signed up yet claiming to work for Walshes

[Graham Chapman]

I find it quite refreshing that a representative from a shoe manufacturer is prepared to get involved in discussions and be so helpful. Yes, I know it's marketing, but it's also good customer service.
The fact that the company is British and seems to be going out on a limb to embrace topical and (as viewed by many) controversial ideas is a bonus.