Let me start by saying I have *really* hard to fit feet. I'm a US women's 8 in most brands, with a very wide forefoot, very narrow heel. I'm actually more like a women's 7.5 street size, but because women's shoes aren't wide enough in the forefoot, I size up and put up with heel slip by using crazy lace patterns and heel shims. Most "unisex" (men's) shoes lead to heel blisters even if they're small enough to hit my toes. These have no such issues - they're light and stretchy and wrap around my weird triangular feet with a gentle glove-like fit that gives my toes room to spread and my heels a snug, slip-proof grip. Once the laces are tied, the entire shoe just disappears. For me they run "true to size" in that my size 8 women's foot fits perfectly in the 6.5 UK/unisex sizing, which is what I got. They have a little room in the toe, but not awkwardly so, and as I said, the length of my foot is more like a women's 7.5 US on a Brannock device, so they're very true to what I'd expect.
I am not a high mileage runner. I'm really not a runner at all, but I do some running to cross-train for cycling in the winter. I took a parkour class earlier this year to build strength and agility, and the Innov-8 brand was recommended by the coach. So when I recently discovered Amazon carries them on Prime, I decided to try them out. I've been using Vibrams but in the cold and snow of our Colorado winters, they just don't quite cut it, and I'd gone back to my old running shoes, which cause me some issues. I started using minimal shoes after years of struggling with 'stability' running shoes that fit poorly, and seemed to only contribute to the shin splint and knee pain I'd come to associate with running. I am primarily a road cyclist, and have short, blocky legs with the heavy cyclist-specialized musculature that seems to just contribute to a pounding gait.
I received these a week ago and have run twice in them, doing roughly 4 miles each time. The first run I experienced some calf tightness which led to minor plantar tenderness as well, so I stopped mid-run to stretch out and rub the tight spots and adjust the laces, and after that everything was fine. I actually expected worse on a first run in radically different shoes, so no complaints from me - these shoes will force you to use your calf muscles, so be warned, your calves may fuss a bit as a result, unless you are really accustomed to minimal shoes. No problems at all on the 2nd run, and I even managed to run close to a 6.40 pace for several sections which is just unheard of for me. The lightness and thin sole encourages me to use a shorter, softer, more centered stride, and I can already feel my gait becoming smoother and more natural and less clunky.
I can also tell these shoes should be much safer for trail running than the heavy, blocky "stability" runners I've been using, which have such poor ground feel that it's fairly easy to turn an ankle in them - you never get good "free-flow" on technical trails since you're constantly having to worry about foot placement and backing off. Since taking parkour, I've learned that the key to agility and running well on uneven ground is not stability, but speed, flow and proprioception; meaning, how well you can carry momentum and feel the ground. Many specialized "parkour" shoes worn by high level traceurs look similar to a climbing shoe - they are ultra thin and grippy. These Innov-8 195s are light and grippy enough, and have such great ground feel, that I can't wait until the ice and snow subsides a little bit so that I can take them out on the trails and let them rip.
The bottom line is that these are great lightweight minimal runners. The fit on these shoes may not be for everyone - you can expect a wide forefoot on them, especially if you're a woman. However, they are forgiving, stretchy, and extremely comfortable. The low profile heel will force you to work your calves if you're not used to "barefoot" style shoes, but the grip and ground feel is exceptional, and will be a benefit for a trail runner on rocky ground, as well as people looking to use them as a cross-trainer to use for things like parkour, plyometrics, or crossfit.
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- S. GoldsmithReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2014
Good piece of kit, great price
- scottyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2014
Fantastic Cross Fit/Running Shoe.
