Inov-8

[plodding bear]

I just struggle to see how some brands can sell perfectly good shoes at less than £60 - 70, and others have to charge over a ton for shoes which whilst admittedly very good, aren't all that much better and by general consensus don't seem to last as long as their rivals.
I liked inov8 when they appeared a few years back, they were good basic shoes that did the job; but now there's so many different pairs, different 'sports' catered for, I can't help wondering if they've somehow lost sight of the values they used to espouse. I know they're a business, but they used to be a business with running at heart. Now they are just another business with profit at heart it would appear.

[Witton Park]

Not competitive = not as cheap as Walshes? I know they're creeping up there, but given the latest breed of new brands in road running all coming in at £100+ (Newton, for instance) still can't really fault the price of them. You pays your money, you takes your choice...

That's like saying an Audi isn't competitive compared to a Skoda

Walsh don't seem to be that bothered anymore. They haven't updated their shoes for so long and the new trail shoes they did were on a par with the likes of the Wave Harriers, Swoops and Kanadias - hardly innovative.

The Inov-8 shoes are very good shoes - they might not be for everyone but you can see that someone is making an effort to create great shoes and yes, they will make the occasional dog.

I first saw them in Europe about 5 years ago in Scarpe & Scarpe, Italy alongside the big brands and thought they would progress.

Good luck to them. I know how much investment is involved just to bring one product of this type to market and it's of mortgage proportions.

[RaceTheSweeper]

I bought Inov8 a few years ago and thought them expensive then but I was told I needed them for the grip. Anyway, I ended up injured as they had great grip but no cushioning. I went back to trail shoes and bambi on ice running. Cost isn't really an issue to me it's more "do they have a model that does the job with me in mind?". I have paid over £100 for my last 4 pairs of road shoes but they work for me.
Went to a well know stockist in Sheffield to try to find a pair of fell shoes that in races I didn't spend most of my time on my butt. After some excellent advice I ended up with Inov8 333 and they are fab. Lugs that big that it's great cushioning and I have yet to slip over in them.
As a matter of point on cost - I havnt got a clue. Bought other stuff too and just entered my pin. When looking for essential items I try not to look at the price as it might influence my choice.

[Witton Park]

I just struggle to see how some brands can sell perfectly good shoes at less than £60 - 70, and others have to charge over a ton for shoes which whilst admittedly very good, aren't all that much better and by general consensus don't seem to last as long as their rivals.
I liked inov8 when they appeared a few years back, they were good basic shoes that did the job; but now there's so many different pairs, different 'sports' catered for, I can't help wondering if they've somehow lost sight of the values they used to espouse. I know they're a business, but they used to be a business with running at heart. Now they are just another business with profit at heart it would appear.

Do we need to ask why an Audi A4 is more than a Citroen C5?

Before you sell a shoe, design and development. Tooling costs - do you have half sizes, fittings, are they true sizes or cheats. What materials are used? There are meshes and meshes.
I can tell you that the sole on the Adidas Kanadia will cost pin money compared to the sole on a Salomon. The mesh used in the Kanadia is likewise quite crude. They are good value for money, but horses for courses.

Volume - another consideration. The Kanadia must sell 100s of 1000s of pairs across the world so the tooling per pair is insignificant. The overall makeup of the shoe is also quite simple and so a more basic factory will be used with lower labour charges and overheads.

Factory - does it meet CSR standards.

In terms of life expectancy, you have to look at many performance athletes. They want the best grip, the lightest upper, durable enough - there are always compromises and improved durability in a shoe will perhaps mean less grip, less flexibility and heavier shoe.

You take your pick, there are plenty of options out there but I would suggest Inov-8 have got it about as right as anyone in the off-road market at the moment.

[IainR]

Spotted on Facebook that Rat Race are doing a one-day only 35% discount on Inov8 stuff today, discount code FBINO35
http://www.ratrace.com/inov8/

Big investment would probably lead to a saloman style of shoes. Targetting the mass markets. Maybe no bad thing as I honestly can't see how having 6 different types of essentially the same shoe can be that good a business strategy.

[ZootHornRollo]

I just picked up 2 pairs of the new Roclite 309 for £60 a pop at Sportshoes, so there are bargains to be had if you shop around !

Too right. Don't think I ever paid full price for a pair of Inov8s - £70 was the most I forked out, for some Roclite 295s and that was £25 off the RRP at the time.
Course, if you must have The New Model Right Now, then you pay for it ....

[southernsoftie]

That's like saying an Audi isn't competitive compared to a Skoda

Walsh don't seem to be that bothered anymore. They haven't updated their shoes for so long and the new trail shoes they did were on a par with the likes of the Wave Harriers, Swoops and Kanadias - hardly innovative.

The Inov-8 shoes are very good shoes - they might not be for everyone but you can see that someone is making an effort to create great shoes and yes, they will make the occasional dog.

I first saw them in Europe about 5 years ago in Scarpe & Scarpe, Italy alongside the big brands and thought they would progress.

Good luck to them. I know how much investment is involved just to bring one product of this type to market and it's of mortgage proportions.

That wasn't necessarily my view, WP. The impression I get from some folk on here is that inov8 rip people off because they don't sell their shoes as cheap as - for instance - they can pick up a pair of Walshes. Well, if you want to pay Walsh money, get a pair of Walshes (as I have). If you're prepared to pay more, and like what that extra £ gets you, then go for inov8, or any of the other more expensive brands.

I only go to inov8 for my road shoes, where £80 doesn't seem so steep. Even then, I only bought my last pair of fLite 230s because I won a £70 rollover on the bonus ball at work!

[IanDarkpeak]

Too right. Don't think I ever paid full price for a pair of Inov8s - £70 was the most I forked out, for some Roclite 295s and that was £25 off the RRP at the time.
Course, if you must have The New Model Right Now, then you pay for it ....

As an ex retailer that tells me that the shoes are priced to sell in the sales. true of what ever you buy, windows, carpets, cars, running shoes, etc.

if a "product" is widely availably at a reduced price then thats almost certainly the price it was designed to sell at. The initial or RRP is just there to add value to a product so it presents itself as a Bargain when it's "reduced"

[ZootHornRollo]

As an ex retailer that tells me that the shoes are priced to sell in the sales. true of what ever you buy, windows, carpets, cars, running shoes, etc.

if a "product" is widely availably at a reduced price then thats almost certainly the price it was designed to sell at. The initial or RRP is just there to add value to a product so it presents itself as a Bargain when it's "reduced"

yes quite possibly right.
The only thing I feel a bit bad about is that these were obviously online purchases - though maybe one or two were from small retailers' websites.
I love shops like Needle, etc but you do tend to find their prices are top whack. And they are not exactly local to me, as I live in London!

[Fell & Mnt]

As an ex retailer that tells me that the shoes are priced to sell in the sales. true of what ever you buy, windows, carpets, cars, running shoes, etc.

if a "product" is widely availably at a reduced price then thats almost certainly the price it was designed to sell at. The initial or RRP is just there to add value to a product so it presents itself as a Bargain when it's "reduced"

As an Ex Retailer surely you would know that Inov-8, Walsh, Salomon, Nike, Asics are manufactureres & wholesale/distributors.
They sell their product to retailers:Sports shoe, Blands, Wiggle etc.

Example: Wholesale price= £50 retailers buy stock then we add a percentage to cover overheads( rent/lights/rates/staff wages & profit) then add VAT @20%
Hence the retail price seen on our shelves.
Some brands & styles are sold as loss leaders so the amount of profit is not the same.
Some are brands that don't warrant a bigger mark up ( because the product is *r*p) but will hit a price point.
Some are brands & styles that aren't in demand so your better getting something for it just to turn it over or sell it through.

I'm afraid if you want good products and a good retail experience ( service, advice etc ) then there is a cost.

Good on inov8 for securing their investment, they are a company that definitely seems to be given consumers & retailers what they want.
The money men wouldn't invest if they didn't think they were a sound, profitable & forward thinking company.