:D Barefoot Running

[Inov-8 Insider]

I wish Inov-8 will make a trail shoe like this: http://www.newbalance.com/products/MT100/
It has more support in the arch than in the heel, for midfoot strikers.

Spyros
It's worth noting that an Arch is an extremely strong structure, it's fairly difficult to break an arch by pushing down from above.
If you want to break or weaken an arch you would push it from underneath.
Now think of your feet, the arch of the foot is one of the strongest parts of our body.
If you put stiffners or supports under the arch of your foot you are not allowing the muscles/tendons/ligaments to work as nature intended.
We will leave other companies to go down the route of supportive, heavily cushioned, pillared & posted footwear.

Lots of companies are now jumping on the barefoot/minimalist band wagon because of all the press & current buzz.
Inov-8 have always since the company formed in 2003 stuck to our princiles of letting the foot perform as nature intended.
Were driving the wagon that others are now jumping on

[Spyros76]

Another preview of minimal Inov-8 shoes http://www.gobroncobilly.com/?p=255
and an ultra light shoe my Mizuno: http://www.mizunousa.com/equipment.n...t=10run1-track

[bfluc]

You might have read or heard something in the medias about this study

The Effect of Running Shoes on Lower Extremity Joint Torques
http://www.pmrjournal.org/article/S1...367-7/abstract

another study got published in Nature

Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal...ture08723.html

Dr. Lieberman gives a summary of their findings, which they try to explain in simple terms on this website:

http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/index.html

Have fun running barefoot or not!

Luc

[Terry the Tortoise]

Another preview of minimal Inov-8 shoes http://www.gobroncobilly.com/?p=255
and an ultra light shoe my Mizuno: http://www.mizunousa.com/equipment.n...t=10run1-track

The Mizuno Universe is supposed to be an awesome shoe. POSE and minimalistic runners rave about them. Shame you can't get them in the UK

Why isn't there a trail "racing flat" out there? The Mizuno Universe, AdiPro Zero and Asics Pirahna are all sub 140g. Would it add that much weight to replace the sole unit with some lugs

[Spyros76]

I would also like to see a Roclite lighter than the 285

[Inov-8 Insider]

I would also like to see a Roclite lighter than the 285

Its not just about lightness after all the shoe has to stand up to the rigours of training racing.
What were trying to do is offer different levels of "under foot protection" & choice.
Thats what out arrow system is about.
4 arrow is our maximum level of " cushioning" and may be for a runner who is use to a more built up shoe.
3 arrow is taking you lower to the ground so you have a better feel, the difference between the front and the heel is 9mm. So you have a slight raise but not as much as our competitors.
2 arrow is what we have on all our fell shoes and Roclite 285/ F-Lite 230. These are lower to the ground so more responsive and offering greater feel for the terrain. The heel height is lower.
1 arrow is our lowest shoe , this is what the new X-Talon 190 & F-Lite 195 have, Lower to the ground, no differential & very flexible.
0 arrow We will have shoes with NO eva, just a sole and upper for a pure minimalist experience. I did a 10k road race in a prototype 0 shoe at Christmas.

[Spyros76]

Today i run 21km in fireroads with the F-Lite 230. Felt very comfortable, no need for a more "trail shoe" as the roclite or the mudroc.

[Terry the Tortoise]

[QUOTE=Inov-8 Insider;301953]Its not just about lightness after all the shoe has to stand up to the rigours of training racing.
What were trying to do is offer different levels of "under foot protection"
Thats what out arrow system is about.

I don't think anyone's knocking the great work Inov-8. Inov-8 do a fantastic job of offering a shoe for anyone for any surface. I'm just suprised there's no out and out "racing" shoe for off-road racing. I dont expect a "racing" flat to have an amazing shelf-life and the same would be true of a trail racing shoe. Most people who own "racing flats" only get them out for the "big" races. I've had my own for over 3 years now and have used them for trail racing in drier conditions, and they're holding up very well.

[Inov-8 Insider]

[QUOTE=Terry the Tortoise;301961]

Its not just about lightness after all the shoe has to stand up to the rigours of training racing.
What were trying to do is offer different levels of "under foot protection"
Thats what out arrow system is about.

I don't think anyone's knocking the great work Inov-8. Inov-8 do a fantastic job of offering a shoe for anyone for any surface. I'm just suprised there's no out and out "racing" shoe for off-road racing. I dont expect a "racing" flat to have an amazing shelf-life and the same would be true of a trail racing shoe. Most people who own "racing flats" only get them out for the "big" races. I've had my own for over 3 years now and have used them for trail racing in drier conditions, and they're holding up very well.

Terry
The F-Lite 195 may well be that shoe your looking for or if you want a very low, very flexible XC/Fell shoe then the X-Talon 190 could be the answer.
We are still working on "The Ultimate Fell Shoe".

Were definitely on the minimalist/barefoot tack.
Trust me

[Terry the Tortoise]

[QUOTE=Inov-8 Insider;301966]

Terry
The F-Lite 195 may well be that shoe your looking for or if you want a very low, very flexible XC/Fell shoe then the X-Talon 190 could be the answer.
We are still working on "The Ultimate Fell Shoe".

Were definitely on the minimalist/barefoot tack.
Trust me

Haha...I know you're working hard over there. Just an impatient bunch us runners