Article by Matt Kolat
Inov8 Bare-xf Pro (£145 / $150 / €150)
Introduction
Inov8 is a brand which needs no introduction to regular Road Trail Run readers. It specialises in Trail Running, Fitness and Road Running footwear and kit. It was one of the original brands to popularise minimalism in running but nowadays offer a much more broad spectrum of cushion in their footwear. What is more, their products are very often much more reasonably priced than their competitors while retaining exceptional quality.
What we are going to be looking at today is their newest training shoe, the Bare-XF Pro. Autumn is often the season when runners, more than in other parts of the year, dabble into gym-going to try and prep their bodies for spring marathon training. I believe the Bare-XF Pro can be a great tool for runners doing auxiliary work in the gym, please join me in my review to find out more details.
Pros:
Amazing stability
Broad applications
Extreme grip
Very comfortable
Extremely minimalistic training shoe which can work for high instep and flat feet alike
Quality materials
Cons:
Relatively expensive
Be careful with the sizing
Very long laces
Stats
Sample Weights: men’s 8.6oz / 245g US11
Platform Width: 61mm heel / 72mm midfoot / 107mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
In a little of an unorthodox start I will begin with sizing as it’s very important in the case of Bare-XF Pro. Whenever I test Inov8 running shoes I end up going for my usual 11UK, which always fits me perfectly.
Our kind friends at Inov8 however suggested that I should size down a whole size when it comes to Bare-XF Pro. So when I got my size 10s UK I was very pleased with my fit and would recommend that you size down at least one size. Sizing down so much leaves about ½ - ⅔ thumb’s worth space in front of my toes which I quite like. If, however, you often size down in Inov8 and like your gym footwear to be very close fitting you might want to consider sizing down a size and a half.
When I first got the shoes I thought they looked awesome, the orange colourway was my favourite of the three. The original Bare-XF shoes were one of my first proper gym shoes many years ago and my favourite colour way was the one pictured below. If anyone at Inov-8 is reading this review - please bring back this colourway!
The upper is very tech rich so I hope you made a cup of tea for this one as there is a lot to go through here.
First of all the shoe feels very comfortable, much more than other bare/minimalist gym shoes I’ve tested in recent memory. I feel that there are a few reasons for this but the main driver is the wide, very accommodating upper. There are a few elements of the upper which contribute to an excellent foothold.
Starting from the back the shoe has an external, rubberised heel counter which extends, on both sides, into something Inov8 call ‘Adapter Web’, which is the extensive rubber on both sides of the shoe.
You do really feel the ‘Adapter Web’ holding your foot in place. Despite being a ‘bare’ shoe the above described construction makes Bare-XF Pro an approachable shoe to users with collapsed arches or flatter feet (like yours truly).
Underneath the ‘Adapter Web’ Inov8 had installed Rope Tech. This is an extra grippy piece of rubber which helps us climb ropes in crossfit style training. In the previous picture this is the black rubber under the arch and on the lateral side alike. This is really important as it significantly extends the lifespan of a shoe, as ropes tend to be very abrasive and cut through regular trainers.
The toe bumper is very sturdy and fully integrated into the upper material, it does not feel like as a separate piece of plastic.
Inov8 used the ‘sacchetto’ method (a traditional Italian footwear construction technique usually reserved for leather-lined shoes) to enhance flexibility and comfort by creating a sock-like shoe structure with a seamless interior. Because of this Bare-XF Pro does not have an insole/footbed which translates into a more natural training experience.
The tongue is fully integrated with the rest of the upper and like the rest of the upper is made from a thin, premium feeling knit upper.
Midsole & Platform
In terms of midsole there is none! So much so that I could not find any data on the ‘stack height’ of this shoe, however there is hardly anything here - just the outsole, and it is not for the faint hearted. The insert of the shoe is integrated but despite all of this minimalism, I did not feel discomfort in any shape, way or form nor did I feel any additional tension or pain in my joints / ligaments when working out in these shoes. Not sure what the magic here is but the shock absorption, for such a minimalist shoe works very well.
In terms of the platform, as per the stats in the beginning of the review, the main player here is the lack of narrowing in the midfoot. What that does is ultimately creates lots of stability and accommodates for more types of feet. What is also worth mentioning is that Bare-XF Pro only comes in the ‘Wide’ Inov8 fit. For those who don’t know, the ‘Wide’ Inov8 fit only refers to a wider front of the shoe, for a more natural fit and not a 2E midfoot or beyond.
Outsole
Inov8 outsoles are amongst the top in the running and training market alike and the Bare-XF Pro is no different. The shoe grips gym floors very well and made me feel very confident.
Performance
Working out in the Bare-XF Pro was pure pleasure despite my initial apprehension. The apprehension stemmed from the fact that I do have relatively collapsed arches and minimalistic or bare shoes often don’t work for me. I think what makes Bare-XF Pro different is the rubber wrapping around the arch and a relatively broad platform, especially in the midfoot.
The shoe is very stable and grippy, an ideal companion for deadlifts, calisthenics, functional fitness classes and even squats.
Front Squats
Overhead squats
Deadlifts
I found my post workout stretching routines uninterrupted by the Bare-XF whereas if I train in more bulky shoes I often end up taking those off for the stretching.
Stretching
Conclusions
Overall I would not change much about this shoe apart from - considerably shortening the laces as well as getting the sizing to match the size of the shoe.
Is it my favourite gym shoe? No, that still remains the exceptional Inov8 F-lite Max but the Bare-xf Pro would be a close second, perhaps better at being nimble and deadlifts. I highly recommend Bare-xf Pro to anyone who wants plenty of ground feel and a tool to help increase their ankle strength.
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Comparisons
Inov8 F-lite Max (RTR Review)
If the prospect of going to the gym scares you, not to mention in a minimalist, bare style foot perhaps the Inov8 F-lite Max is worth considering. It is my favourite training shoe at the moment. It has a very generous, broad fit and an elevated and hardened heel area. What that does is make a training shoe half way between a noble functional fitness trainer and a proper lifting shoe. It is an absolute joy to squat in but of course offers significantly less ground feel than the Bare-XF Pro.
New Balance Minimus TR BOA v2 (RTR Review)
The Minimus is the closest shoe in recent memory to the Bare-XF I have trained in. It has a little bit more bulk to it, both in the midsole and in the upper. Apart from that it has the excellent BOA lacing system, which truly allows for a personalised fit. It is however less broad than the Bare-XF and therefore less stable and grippy. On the other hand it has much more cushion, while still minimal, so might be more approachable if the Bare-XF Pro sounds too minimalistic.
Tester Profile
Maciej 'Matt' Kolat - 40 years old, hailing from Poland but pounding Scottish roads and trails since 2007. Mainly runs shorter distances on pavement 5-10 km and reserves longer runs for beautiful Scottish Glens. Matt’s opinion sometimes may differ from other RTR testers as he is the slowest of the bunch (5k at 25:38). Matt also uses running as a way to stay healthy having shed 106 lbs so far (and counting).
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
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