The lack of tongue created a slipper-like feel, although the stiffer material in the side panels caused rubbing and irritation on the medial side for some testers. This minimalist, flyweight road shoe saves weight by cutting out the outsole, which, take note, also reduces durability and traction. The X Lite 150s were painted as "an almost perfect combination of just enough cushioning to protect the foot, while still being very light and flexible" by one tester, an image that rang true with others. The Inov-8 Bare-X 180 is available for purchase in the gray/red colorway at Running Warehouse, and in a white/blue colorway at Zappos.Media Platforms Design Teaminov-8 Bare-X Lite 150 $110 Huge thumbs up for the Inov-8 Bare-X 180! If you’re looking for an ultraminimal shoe, you can’t go wrong with this one, I’d put it right at the top of my list in the category, rivaled only perhaps by the Merrell Barefoot Flux Glove. If I have one complaint, it’s that the rubber outsole gets a bit slick as it ages, so traction is not great, but then it’s not designed to be a trail shoe (and Inov-8 makes some awesome trail shoes – I’m absolutely loving the Trailroc 235). There’s really not much else to say about this shoe – it’s designed to be simple and minimal, and it achieves these goals perfectly. Includes a one piece upper and quick lace system, making it perfect for race day and triathlon. Flexibility is outstanding – this is a shoe that can be rolled up into a ball. There is no arch support to speak of beyond the curling of the insole up the medial side of the midfoot – remove it and the shoe is flat internally. The 180 is on Inov-8’s anatomical last, so it fits snug through the heel and midfoot, and has a very roomy forefoot.
The upper of the 180 is a fabric mesh that seems plenty durable, and the fit is fantastic. This is good if you like minimal material between you foot and the ground, but not so good if you plan to run anywhere near rocks or gravel – you will feel every stone!
Without the insole, ground feel is thus about as good as you will get with any shoe currently on the market. If you take the insole out, the only thing between your foot and the ground is a 4mm thick piece of firm rubber. Weighing in at just over 7oz, the 180’s are lightweight, zero drop, and have zero cushion beyond the approximately 4mm thick insole. There are combos suited to nearly every preference along the minimal spectrum, and the Bare-X 180 fills the ultraminimal, barefoot-style niche. Inov-8 has done a fantastic job avoiding the whole “pronation control” model of footwear production, and instead makes a variety of shoes that vary in weight, last shape, cushioning, heel-toe drop, etc. What I love about the Bare-X 180, and about most Inov-8 shoes for that matter, is that it’s a no frills shoe that serves its intended purpose very well.
#INOV8 BARE X LITE 150 FULL#
I have been zero-drop nearly full time outside of running for quite a long time now, and the Bare-X 180 is one of my top choices for casual wear – I’ve even worn it to work on a few occasions (like today – being a professor has its perks, and one is a tolerance for casual attire). In contrast to my running preferences, for most of my non-running time I prefer shoes that are flat and that have as little cushion as possible. The Bare-X 180 is a near ideal shoe for this purpose. I view these runs as form workouts, and I feel like they help to reset my system and force me to concentrate a bit more on my movement. Lately I haven’t been running all that often in minimally cushioned footwear (I tend to prefer a small amount of cushion underfoot), but I still find value in doing some amount of barefoot or minimally cushioned running on a reasonably regular basis. Of the shoes mentioned, I have spent the most time in the Bare-X 180, and it’s quite frankly a phenomenal shoe for anyone looking for a non-Fivefingers, minimally cushioned shoe. So far I have only reviewed one of their shoes ( Road-X 233), but I now own 4 additional pairs of Inov-8’s – the F-Lite 195, Bare-X Lite 150, Trailroc 135, and the Bare-X 180 (most purchased at steep discount via The Clymb).
I have to admit that I’ve been very impressed by Inov-8 lately.
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