Inov8 F-Lite 235

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Inov8 F-Lite 235 Review Facts

There are lots of running shoes available on the market, but something that a lot of people look for in a pair of these shoes is the ability to do a lot more than simply run with them. Inov8 created a pair of running shoes that are designed for people who like to do CrossFit and cross-training- the F-Lite 235 shoes. A lot of people were genuinely pleased with the overall performance and feel of the shoes, saying that they are comfortable and lightweight, while also containing all the necessary technology that will allow for them to have as much stability as they need while doing such exercises. The upper of the shoe contains a mesh material that will provide a lot of breathability, and the overlays will help to make the feet fit snugly into the shoe. The heel is also fortified with PowerHeel technology, which will keep your feet stable as you lift heavy weights. And, the cushioning that is available in the forefoot will allow you to sprint, jump, and a whole lot more. People praised these shoes on their c[easyazon_link identifier="B073VS3KZC" locale="US" title="Inov-8 Men's F-LITE 235 V2" tag="edgehunting-20"]Inov-8 Men's F-LITE 235 V2[/easyazon_link]omfort and flexibility, and an added bonus is that the shoes come in a wide range of colors for you to choose from. They are, overall, a good option for anyone who is interested in CrossFit.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • There is special technology in the upper part of the shoe to make it extra comfortable

  • The shoes conform well to the natural contours of the foot

  • If you do rope climbing, technology in the shoe helps to protect your feet from rope burn

  • The heels are much more solid than the rest of the shoe, giving you a very stable platform

Cons
  • According to some people, the shoelaces were not as long as they usually are
  • A few people complained about a lack of durability in the upper

Outsole

Since these shoes are intended to be used for cross-training, it is no wonder that the outsoles of the shoes are also made from top-quality materials. The outsole is made out of a thick rubber material, which will provide you with the best traction possible during your exercise. This rubber is also included on the toe cap of the shoe in order to protect your toes from any of the exercises you might be doing. This also will protect you from burpee fatigue, and the shoe is a long stronger and more durable thanks to the added rubber. The forefoot of the shoe is made with Meta-Flex technology, which allows the shoe to fit more comfortably to each individual foot. This will help you to have much more flexibility as you exercise. And finally, another great feature of the outsole is that there is Rope-Tec 360 technology, which will protect both the shoe and your feet from any damage that could occur due to rope burn.

Midsole

The midsole is another part of the shoe that was made specifically with runners in mind. If you are someone who particularly is into weightlifting and you need a solid base to stand on, these shoes are perfect for you. This is accomplished due to the fact that the heels of the shoes are a lot denser than the rest of the shoes, which means that the shoes will provide you with as much stability as possible. They are also great for plyometrics and running. Along with all of this, there is added cushioning in the midsole of the shoe to not only make your exercise more comfortable but to also absorb the shock of your run.

Upper

One of the most important features of any shoes made for running is the upper. And this upper, like the ones of any good running shoes, have been fortified with a mesh material that leaves the shoes feeling lightweight and that leaves your feet feeling as ventilated and cool as possible. Besides this, there is a special technology in the upper- called the Met-cradle technology- which will help the shoe to conform much nicer to the natural contours of your feet. It is important that the upper will conform to your feet snugly, especially when you are doing faster exercises because having much more stability in your feet will increase your performance during exercise. Not only that, but similar technology is also employed in the heel of the shoe, which helps to keep your heel snugly in place as you lift weights. And finally, the overlays in the upper help to make the shoes more lightweight and flexible for you.

Weight

One of the things that many users commended the shoes on was the fact that they are very lightweight. It is important for anyone who is participating in running or strenuous exercises to not feel as though they have a brick on their feet. This will not only help to make the runner feel a lot more comfortable, but it also will help to improve their overall performance. The Inov8 company did a lot to take this into consideration as they made this shoe. The shoes only weight 8.3 ounces, which is incredibly lightweight, especially after considering all the difficult activities that these shoes are intended for.

Breathability

One of the most important parts of any running shoe is its breathability. This is because the foot needs to have as much airflow as possible during any such activities. Over sweating can not only make the runner feel uncomfortable, but it can also be a cause for some serious injuries since they won’t be performing at their best. The F-Lite 235 shoes have a lot of breathability thanks to the mesh material in the upper. People were pleased with the amount of ventilation that these shoes provided for their feet. The lightweight feel that the overlays in the upper provide also helps to contribute to the overall breathability of the shoe.

Comfort


Another great feature of these shoes is that they are very comfortable. Keeping in mind, however, that the shoes were intended for CrossFit and cross-training, they might not be as comfortable or as cushiony as a regular pair of running shoes, since such shoes do not require as much cushioning in the midsole. The special technology that is in the upper part of the shoes allows them to give a custom fit to each individual foot, which adds to the overall comfort of the shoe. If you were looking for a particularly plush shoe, then these aren’t it. The only real “cushioning” in the midsole is in the heel, which will help you to be more stable when you are doing weightlifting and some other added protection for if you plan to be jumping. However, many customers said that the shoes are also comfortable enough to exercise in, and not too many people said that the shoes were uncomfortable at all.

Style

If you were looking for a casual pair of sneakers that you could wear anywhere, then these definitely weren’t it. Since these Inov8 shoes were made for people participating in CrossFit and cross-training, they are made to look a lot bulkier and perhaps less fashionable than the average running shoe. And, the shoes have a zero drop and not too much cushioning, which would not be very comfortable for you if you planned on wearing them for running daily errands. With that being said, the shoes do come in a wide range of colors for you to choose from, including black, blue, red, neon blue, teal, and gray. They also do look good on your feet as you perform your exercise. So, while the shoes might not be intended for use on an everyday basis, you don’t have to worry about them not looking good on you, and you can choose from a large range of colors to suit your taste.

Durability

There were a few people who had some things to say about the durability of these shoes. They claimed that after using the shoes for a few weeks at the gym, the upper part of the shoe was torn. However, this does not seem to be a common complaint, as most people were genuinely pleased with the durability of the shoes. Since they are meant for CrossFit, the shoes were meant to be able to withstand immense amounts of weightlifting, rope climbing, burpees, sprinting, and more. The upper part of the shoe has a special technology that fits to your foot more snugly, which makes your feet move along with the workouts a lot better and not be as apt to tear as some other shoes might. And, the extra rubber on the outsoles of the shoes are meant to protect the shoes from any wear and tear. The shoes have a special 360 Rope-Tec technology, which will help to protect the shoe while you are rope climbing.

Protection

You will most certainly not have to worry about any problems with the protection of your feet when you’re wearing the F-Lite 235 shoes. The outsole of the shoe is made with a rubber material that extends to the toe cap, which will protect your feet and your toes from exercises such as burpees and box jumps. And, the flexibility that the shoe provides thanks to the upper will allow you to feel much freer as you workout. Your heels are also held into place thanks to the PowerHeel and the shape of the heel cup, which will give you added protection during weightlifting.

Responsiveness

While these shoes are not meant to be used for running a long way, people did say that these shoes did have the support and everything necessary to allow for running. The Inov8 brand has a special Dynamic Fascia Band technology, which is in the midsole of the shoe. This helps to make the shoe propel you forward and upward by preventing the medial arch of your foot from elongating. And, the shoes do have shock absorption, which is always essential for running.

Support

The support that these shoes provide is phenomenal. You will first be supported in the heel thanks to the PowerHeel technology, which will help to keep your heels in place as you are doing more dangerous exercise such as lifting weights. And, there is added cushioning within the forefoot to help your feet have additional support while running, rope climbing, and more. The upper material in the shoe will also help to support your feet by conforming to the exact shape of your foot during exercise.

Terrain

The shoes are meant to be used inside and outside, but they are not necessarily meant for use in the harsher environments that are associated with hiking trails. You will be able to wear these shoes during a difficult crossfit workout and during some easy jogging, which make these shoes versatile in what they can do.

Price

The shoes are meant for specific purposes, which means that they might run a little more expensive than some of the average running shoes. They do retail at $130, but this is a good price point especially considering all the features that the shoes have to offer.

Traction

The rubber material that the outsole of the shoe is created with will help your feet to grip the ground nicely during your exercise. You also will be able to grip the rope during rope climbing thanks to the thick rubber.

Stability

If you are someone who likes crossfit, then it is easy to assume that you don’t have foot problems. This is important because the F-Lite shoes do not claim to have a lot of stability for your feet. The majority of the stability provided by these shoes can be found in the heel, as they provide stability for you during activities in which you need to ground yourself properly.

Drop

Something that might be a dealbreaker for some people is that these shoes have a zero drop. However, that is to be expected from a pair of shoes intended for CrossFit purposes, as the cushioning needed in running shoes isn’t needed in these.

Key Features

-The rubber material in the outsole of the shoe helps to protect your feet from activities such as rope climbing
-Your heels will remain stable in your shoes thanks to the PowerHeel technology
-The upper part of the shoe features a mesh material that provides a lot of breathability, as well as a comfortable fit
-The midsole has a Dynamic Fascia Band, which helps to make the shoes more responsive and to protect you from injury to your fascia

Bottom Line

If you are someone who loves CrossFit and cross-training, then these are the perfect shoes for you. You will have the perfect amount of flexibility and support necessary in order to perform your best during these exercises. While these shoes are on the more expensive side, that is to be expected from a pair of shoes that has all the features that the Inov8 F-Lite 235 shoes do.