Inov8 Bare XF Men's - Black/Gum
The reworked Bare-XF features a wider toe box, sporty feel on the feet, and durable construction. This barefoot shoe works great for lifting and cross-training.
SIZE
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13
14
15
1
DETAILS
Mesh and Textile Upper: The lightweight upper locks the foot down and provides good durability.
Wide Toe Box: Allows for ample toe splay, enhancing stability during lifts.
ROPETEC Wrap: ROPETEC on the outsole provides additional rope climbing grip for CrossFit WODs.
Lightweight Construction: Flexible and breathable making this shoe ideal for training and casual wear.
Versatile Grip: Full rubber outsole provides good bite and traction on all gym surfaces.
BOOMERANG Footdbed: Inov8's signature BOOMERANG Footbed in this shoe gives them a little extra bounce and comfort.
CARE
I always recommend spot-cleaning barefoot shoes and using a three-pronged approach to do it thoroughly.
I would suggest NOT putting your barefoot shoes in your washing and drying machines. Instead, follow the four steps below for properly cleaning cross-training shoes.
Step 1: Grab your barefoot shoes, a clean washcloth, a soft soap void of harsh dyes and fragrances, and lukewarm water.
Step 2: Get your washcloth wet with lukewarm water and dab less than a dime-sized amount of soap on the damp washcloth.
Step 3: Remove your barefoot shoe’s insoles and spot clean areas on the shoes that need a little attention. Do not soak your shoes. Repeat this process of dampening your washcloth and rubbing trouble areas until your shoes look noticeably cleaner. If you have bright colorways, rub softly to avoid ruining your shoe’s colorway.
Step 4: Once you’re satisfied with the appearance of your shoes, place them by a vent or dry area in your house and remove their insoles until thoroughly dried.
RETURNS AND EXCHANGES
All returns and exchanges are accepted for unworn, like-new shoes within 30-days.
Read more here.
Features Worth Knowing
The core construction details that I think are worth knowing before you buy!
1. PROTECTIVE TEXTILE OVERLAY
Textile and synthetic overlays cover the toe box for additional durability and security when training. This material doesn't feel bulky or heavy either, which is nice for comfort.
2. ROPETEC FEATURE
Inov8's signature ROPETEC around the midfoot gives this shoe additinoal grip when rope climbing in WODs. I also like the feature for giving you additional structure and grip through the midfoot.
3. GRIPPY RUBBER OUTSOLE
Big on grip? The 360-degree outsole provides ample grip on a wide range of surfaces. You can use these in the gym, for daily wear, and even court sports and get great traction.
4. ADDITIONAL MIDFOOT SUPPORT
Prefer additional midfoot lockdown? The textile overlays around the shoe's midfoot provides additional security and gives this shoe an athletic low-profile fit and feel.
That Fit Friend's Performance Assessment
That Fit Friend's Performance Assessment
Lifting Thresholds and My Assessment
This shoe can work well for recreational lifting. I've pushed them hard to assess where their stability starts to fall short.
Below are a few of the core and top lifting tests I've done in them.
445 lb deadlifts. Good toe box width and outsole grip. The BOOMERANG footbed doesn't limit ground feel, IMO.
315 lb box squats. This shoe can work well for squats, especially if you like a more sock-like fit. The outsole traction is great and they work well for strength generalists.
235 lb reverse lunge. I love the grip and feel of this shoe when doing single-leg work. The rounded sole feeds really well into this performance context.
Cross-Training Assessment
These work great for cross-training and CrossFit. They don't have as much rigidity as the Motus Strength for CrossFit, but they'll get the job done for most athletes. The upper tends to be pretty durable and the ROPETEC is a nice addition.
For cross-training, these will be best served for athletic sessions where you're doing some jumping, power exercises, and dynamic movement. They have a sporty and flexible feel, breathe well, and the BOOMERANG Footbed adds a nice level of cushion/ground feel for plyometrics.
Running, Walking, and Comfort Assessment
For running, my favorite distances to run in these are sprints and shorter bouts ranging from 1-2 miles. These can be a good "hybrid" option for most and somewhat remind me of the Xero Shoes HFS.
For walking and daily wear, I've really liked these. They're a good do-it-all shoe and have made them my training shoes for travel fairly often. They're a good option for someone who wants a single shoe for training while traveling.
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