Inov8 F-Lite Max Men's - Black/Gum
The F-Lite Max is Inov8's premier training shoe built for stability and dialed for CrossFit and lifting. This model features a wide toe box, durable upper, and stable midsole.
SIZE
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13
14
15
1
DETAILS
Go Up a Half-Size: Please check out my sizing section below for more details, but most athletes and lifters will want to go up a half-size in these.
POWERFLOW MAX Midsole: Delivers responsive cushioning for dynamic work and rigidity for heavy lifting.
Wide Toe Box: Allows for ample toe splay, enhancing stability during lifts.
MET-CRADLE Midfoot: Midfoot wrap protects the foot during CrossFit WODs and boosts durability for rope climbs.
TPU Stabilizer: TPU in the heel boosts stability without completely tanking the versatility of this shoe.
Grippy Rubber Outsole: Rubber outsole grips surfaces well and extends up the midfoot for rope climbing grip.
Meta-Flex Forefoot: Strategic breaks in the forefoot outsole promotes flexibility of this shoe.
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
CARE
I'm a big fan of washing most pieces of clothing on tap cold with a delicate cycle. This typically prolongs the lifespan of all articles of clothing.
You can wash these on a normal cycle with no issues. However, I want to make sure you get the most life
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. POWERFLOW MAX MIDSOLE
The POWERFLOW MAX walks a good line between being responsive for jumping and short runs while being stable for heavy lifts. It's a good "do-it-all" midsole material.
2. TPU STABILIZER
TPU layer in the base of the heel adds stability to this shoe for lifting. It feels best when catching cleans and squatting. It also doesn't completely tank short run performance (like the Metcon 9).
3. WIDE ANATOMICAL TOE BOX
This shoe has a nice spacious toe box with good upper volume to accommodate toe splay and a wide range of foot anatomies. These shoes typically work for feet up to a 3E forefoot width.
4. MET-CRADLE MIDFOOT
The MET-CRADLE feature is nice for promoting additional security when cross-training and prolonging the durability of this shoe from abrasion from CrossFit WODs.
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.
495 lb deadlifts. Overall good. Even though they have a higher stack height, these felt solid for heavy tugs.
315 lb squats. If you like a little heel with your training shoes for squats, you'll enjoy this model. They feel grounded with the TPU stabilizer and the wider forefoot is nice for toe splay.
205 lb reverse lunge. Overall good. I like the flexibility of these shoes for this training context, but you will notice a bit of compression above 185 lbs for single-leg work.
Cross-Training Assessment
These work great for CrossFit WODs that have a bias towards lifting and dynamic exercises like box jumps and double-unders. The added durability is also nice for gyms that program a lot of rope climbs and burpees.
For cross-training, these are solid for sessions where you're blending a little bit of everything together. The blend of the midsole and TPU stabilize also give them a solid feeling for multi-directional work.
Running, Walking, and Comfort Assessment
For running, my favorite distances to run in these are from 400-800 meters. You can get away with a mile in these, but they may run a little uncomfortable. The TPU stabilizer is better than the heels used in the Metcon models, but it's still TPU. If you need a running-friendly model, go with the F-Fly.
For walking and daily wear, these are not the best. These will definitely be a training-biased model. The wide forefoot is nice for comfort, but walking around all day on the TPU may be uncomfortable for 6+ hours of wear time.
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