Brand new in box. inov-8 F-Lite™ 195 W/RopeTec. Color Black/Red. Take note that this shoe is 1/2 size larger than other shoe. So this is suitable for size US 9.5 feet. This model is selling at $199 in Singapore.

Product Information:

Get ready to push your body to its limits by stepping in to the active performance of the inov-8® F-Lite™ 195 W/RopeTec!

Performance upper constructed of fast drying mesh for optimum breathability.

TPU lacing system is attached to upper and offers a more even support throughout the foot.

Reinforced medial and lateral upper sections provides heightened protection for rope climbing.

Met-Cradle™ webbing provides forefoot security, while allowing for natural fluid movement.

Contoured and lightly padded tongue and collar for enhanced comfort.

Breathable fabric lining offers a great in-shoe feel.

Removable, 3mm foam insole supplies light cushioning.

1 Arrow Shoc-Zone™ - Midsole cushioning constructed for highly responsive underfoot sensitivity. Ideal for runners with strong feet and calves, and an efficient gait.

Midsole Thickness:

Heel/Forefoot: 9mm/ 6mm.

Differential: 3mm.

F-Lite sole delivers maximum traction on hard pack terrain.

Sticky rubber outsole, based on climbing rubber technologies, for maximum traction on wet surfaces and unstable terrain.

Meta-Flex™ groove on the outsole is aligned with the metatarsal to maximize forefoot pliability.

RopTec™ technology features a large contact area on the outsole that promotes better grip and stability during activity.

Fascia Band™ - A replication of the plantar fascia ligament provides increased thrust power and reduces fatigue.

Performance last offers a precise fit and ensures reduced movement during wear.

Last construction based on the average runner's foot, allowing for a good fit regardless of gender.
Imported.

Measurements:
Weight: 10 oz
Product measurements were taken using size UK 10.5 (US Men's 11.5, US Women's 13), width Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.

Inov-8 F-Lite 195 Review

One pair of shoes that I’ve had kicking around in my collection for quite a while is theInov8 F-Lite 195. I was thinking 3mm drop compared to the 4mm set-up on the Free wouldn’t be a massive step down for me. However, as I’ve been discovering the difference between even a modest amount of cushioning in the Free is quite big compared to the stripped back design of the Inov8 F-Lite 195. After about three or four runs I decided that these shoes with their lack of cushion were causing me to run a bit apologetically, so they became my go-to casual walking shoes rather than being integrated into my regular running shoe mix.

Zero drop experiment

That was many months ago now and a recent period of not much running prompted me to try doing most of my runs in zero drop or near zero drop shoes. No philosophical shift, just another experiment to see how I’d go. I also spent most of February based in the bush so the surfaces available were all a bit more forgiving than the hard cityscape.  That’s meant running in the Saucony Virrata, which I recently reviewed, the Inov8 195and the Skechers Go Bionic for all of my runs.

Stronger feet

Since I last ran in these shoes I’ve focused on working on adding some additional strength to my feet, doing most weekly gym sessions barefoot and specifically choosing exercises that would involve placing considerable weight over my forefeet. I’ve also been practicing doing running drills and fitting in the odd barefoot run where there’s been a grass oval available to train on. All of these measures seem to make running in the Inov8 195 a little easier than it was before.

A few niggles

I’ve done runs as short as 20 minutes and up to 40 minutes without major aches and pains developing. I have, however picked up a niggle or two that suggests full time zero drop running, even at modest training volumes wouldn’t be a great idea for me in the long term. As such the experiment has come to an end as I start working back to getting in better shape.

Cushioning

The cushioning is very modest so you need to be aware of potential stone bruising and general wear and tear under the metatarsals in particular. I tried not to run in these shoes on consecutive days to give my feet a chance to recover.

CrossFit and gym shoes

If you look on the Inov8 website the 195 is positioned as a CrossFit shoe – part of the rubber sole is even cut-out with the intent of improving the ability of the wearer to climb ropes. I’m not a rope climbing kinda runner but the plus of this feature is the forefoot and rear-foot is completely decoupled perhaps making for a closer approximation of barefootedness than some other minimal offerings.

Sole

The sole is a simple rubber affair with what has been proven to be hard wearing tread – I tend to find walking just as hard or harder on running shoes than running and while I’ve not done many running miles in these shoes I have used them as my daily kicks for about a year.

Fit

The fit of the 195s is relatively forgiving, with minimal structure and no big overlays around the forefoot, so there’s a reasonable amount of room to move. I’ve noted over time that my little toes have started to wear the upper a little, so there’s probably an argument to be made for a fraction more room in the width. In terms of vertical volume the shoe accommodate my high arch without issue if I loosened up the laces.

Surfaces

My first experimental jogs in the Inov8s were on hard city surfaces. While smoother movers than I might be able to make this combination of hard/hard work for them I found it a struggle and would generally suggest saving them for natural surfaces – especially if you’re unaccustomed to wearing shoes with very minimal cushioning.

Purpose

If you were minimally inclined and experienced then this shoe could be an option for some easy running. I have seen some runners racing on the track and road in these shoes but I wouldn’t suggest doing this from a performance perspective. The lack of stiffness means the shoes won’t help much to extract sustained speed and the lack of cushion on the road could lead to sore paws. An exception could be made for trail running where the softer surfaces and need for better connection to the ground counteract the need for pure speed.

Conclusion

It’s pretty hard to find much wrong with the Inov8 195s, they’re a simple shoe that for smooth movers might provide a viable option for minimal training on natural surfaces. However for the majority of runners it’s likely these treads will be better suited as a gym or circuit training shoe. Their good grounding and lack of structure make them a great option for extracting the maximum benefits from your strength training. I’m fortunate to be able to train in a gym that permits barefooted weight training, but in most cases this won’t be the case, so looking at a range of minimal shoe options such as the 195 for strength training is a worthwhile endeavor.