Customer Reviews inov-8 DELETED Bare-XF™ 210

I just received my Bare-XF 210's and upon putting them on my feet, knew immediately that these would be the best shoes for Cross-fitting ever! I had the 230s which I liked but had trouble getting my weight in my heals with them. These totally corrected that for me. I can see that my form will be much better with these shoes. Can't wait to try the rope climb with them as they have what looks to be much better construction. Super light, very flat, comfy and true to size!

This shoe is awesome! I was previously using the f-lite 230 for crossfit, which are also great, but these are much better for crossfit; they're light, flat and super sticky. I ordered the same size as I wear in a f-lite 230, and they fit perfectly.

I usually wear 10(US) in Inov-8s but like previous reviewer stated, I'd recommend going a half size up. Still need to test shoes out but they feel a lot different than the F-Lite 230s.

This is a true minimalist shoe, it has no support at all with 0mm differential. It is very lightweight and flexible. The toe box of this shoe should of been made with the same dark black TPU material that is on the side of the shoe used to protect from rope climbing. The toe box material gets scuffed and ruined to easily. This shoe should be completely made in all dark black with absolutely no white or grey or any other colors. The white outlines of this shoe get dirty and stain easily. This is a great shoe for Crossfit, exercise, or daily wear. I hope they make it completely in dark black and TPU the toe box!

Perfect for crossfit training. More for indoor training though. The soles were a little too thin for me for outdoor running. Big fan!

Shoe feels wider in the toe box but narrow across the top of the instep. I have a high arch but with this shoe I need longer laces just to tie them.

Too narrow in the forefront. I am used to wearing five fingers and these don't fit as comfortably. Need a wide width option.

I bought this shoe because of its minimalist design. I am not a cross-fitter. I use this shoe when working out, and it is great for lifting. I have found it is not great for lateral or agility movements. Because of its minimal design, the shoe (sole) slides around my foot. Almost like a sock does if you were doing lateral movement. The bottom wouldn't be on the bottom anymore after a period of time. I usually have to stop and move the shoe back in place. Other than that, it is a great shoe.

Was super stoked to get these shoes and with good reason; they have lived up to expectations. A couple of things: For me personally I have a wide foot and I find these shoes to run about as narrow as a pair of Nike and although I will keep these, I am about to order extra wide NB MX20s. The Inov8 shoes gets about as close to the ground as I think one should expect and take away the arch support. I have used them exclusively for weigh training but find myself still preferring to go barefoot for dead lifts, squats, etc. But the feel of walking and training in them for the other 4 days of the week is worth it. A great shoe for plyo work as well. I would strongly recommend that if wearing socks, you order the ones that are recommended on the shoes page down at the bottom - a stack of 3 pair ran me a lot but has been well worth the price as my feet run wet after the first 20 mins and wearing ankle highs cause my feet not to fit in the shoe.

These looked like they were going to be the ultimate shoes. When I got them, I found them to be possibly the best shoes ever but they were so narrow that I was unable to even debate keeping it. I own the 195s and RoadX 155, all in 10½. Both are perfectly comfortable in length and width. The XF 210 was so narrow that I barely was able to tie the laces. I have moderately wide feet, not extremely wide too, so it surprised me. I wanted to make them work, but I had to send them back. It would have been nice to know this in advance and not waste my time. The length was the same as other Inov-8 shoes I own. Everything about the shoe looks good though; tread, protection in the toe area, etc. Just like the ads say.

I loved the look of these shoes. However, the tongue became detached from the shoe after about two weeks. Otherwise construction was good. I wore them primarily for my weight training workouts and I liked that the heel was flat compared to the running shoes I have worn previously in the gym.

I thought I would give barefoot running a try. The shoes are incredibly light and pretty durable. I mainly train CrossFit, and read a bunch of reviews on this brand before buying them. First the cons, I would do no Olympic lifting in these shoes. When you pop up into a power-clean, snatch, or jerk your heels drive into the floor. If done repeatedly you will do some damage to your feet. Some people like being barefoot during the squat or dead lift (these shoes are fine for that). I ran on some streets and pavement sidewalks and was fine except for sharp rocks (Ouch). I did climb some ropes with these shoes and did fine, but when you go to lock the rope foot over foot, there is no padding on the top of the shoe. Again finding a exercise I do more painful with this shoe. Now the pros, this shoe weighs nothing. I felt very light on the feet. The laces can pull very tight. I typically wear a 11 in US and bought a 10.5 in this shoe. Almost a little big on me. I might go down half a size if I bought another pair. These shoes are very durable, I put them through hell for about two months running, box jumps, Olympic lifts, rope climbs, walked all around New Orleans' horrible roads with them on. No a scratch on them and still look brand new. For everyday training in CrossFit I would not suggest these shoes. Due to these are not really road or hard surface shoes. If you land wrong it is painful. For beginner Pose runners and avid road runners I would not recommend them. This is my personal opinion. I did not get shin splints, but I did not run over 3 miles with them on. I would switch back and forth between my normal running shoe when I ran for distance for fear of foot injury. There is basically no sole and you are forced to run on the fore foot which is a good thing. My calves were incredibly sore for days. I was experimenting with this shoe. I think if you run trails and soft surfaces your fine, but for the everyday city CrossFit trainee you might want to find a different shoe. This my personal opinion and from previous reviews obviously not everyone feels the same.

I purchased these over the Reebok Crossfit Nano due to a sizing issue and they are completely different animals. Inov-8 "designed this shoe for Crossfit" with rope climbing in mind as well as all the other fun stuff we do. Today was the first day I rope climbed with them and I'm pretty disappointed. They were very slick feeling; however, they did not show the usual signs of rope climbing I've seen on other shoes. I would also not wear them for WOD's that involve any running as you feel everything. I was looking for a pretty flat shoe to WOD in but I will have to save these for box jumps and double unders - the only movements that I've found they stand out in. If you're looking for a durable shoe, this appears to be it; just don't expect them the perform well running or rope climbing.

This is really a preview. I just got a pair of these and haven't had a chance to try them out. I ordered a 12 and it seems like they run a size small. I have 5 pairs of f-lite 230s in a size 12 (don't judge me). Anyway, all of my f-lites are a size 12. I could barely squeeze into a 12 in this model. Just FYI. Maybe I got a bad pair. The 3 star rating is because I didn't want to bag on this shoe before I truly got to evaluate it. I ordered a couple of different sizes and will modify my "preview" accordingly.

I bought these shoes in early February or late January. I slowly increased wear time over a few weeks. I then wore these shoes in the Open. I ended up with a stress fractures in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. This is exactly the spot of the "metaflex" on the sole. I do not recommend these shoes. I do not give them any stars.

I love these shoes. I am new to zero drop minimalist shoes, and am still transitioning to running that way, but I already don't want to take these shoes off whether I'm working out or not. They are my new go-to shoe for CrossFit, even though I bought them for road running. I am only running about 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile at a time in these so far, but so far so good. I have also been wearing them as everyday shoes. After wearing zero drop shoes for almost a month, I don't want to wear even low-heeled casual shoes for work. This is the thinnest sole I've used for any purpose, and it is more than enough cushion to keep my feet protected from the bad stuff on the road while allowing me significant feedback for my feet. I would not be inclined to use these for trail running if the trail has any significant amount of roots, stones, etc. I bought a pair of "tougher"-soled minimalist shoes for that, (Merrell Trail Gloves - love them too!). Note to those new to minimalist shoes: I used to use super-cushy running shoes with a large heel to toe drop for a little running and for CrossFit, because for many years I had knee pain when I ran - and could barely run at all once I developed arthritis in one knee. I then switched to a "transition" shoe (Reebok Nano 2.0, which has a bout a 4mm heel to toe drop), for many months before I tried these. For me, that was definitely the way to go - and I've had minimal knee problems with the Reeboks, or these Innov-8s so far, even with the arthritis. (To be clear, I believe this was from a combination of the lower shoes and strength training from CrossFit.) In hindsight, I think I might have had a some problems if I went right from heavily-cushioned, higher-heeled running shoes right to zero drop. Even as it is, I initially jumped into it too quickly and could have injured myself, but then backed off. Take or leave this perspective for what it's worth to you.

I love these shoes for Crossfit, running, and wearing around town. If you read the other reviews you will see a lot of people that ranked these shoes less than 5 stars, purchased these without knowing what they were getting. These are 0 drop minimalist shoes. Not something most people can just put on right out of the box or run a marathon in. It takes time to strengthen your feet and learn how to run properly. (same for any true minimalist shoe) I have 3 pairs of the 230s, 3 pairs of the 195s, one barex 180 and one barex 210. Inov-8 simply makes the best minimalist shoe on the market. I have tried every other brand and for the longest time thought I would never find anything that could take the place of my vibram five fingers. Inov-8s design, style, comfort, and durability are amazing. The only problem I have ever had was with a pair of Road-xs and the rubber part on the toe starting to come off. Zappos and their excellent customer service fixed the problem and got me a new pair right away. The problem has not returned. If you are new to the minimalist shoe type I highly recommend going with one of their more padded shoes (F-lite 311). If you got your start on a brand like Merrell and know that you want a high performance shoe that allows you to feel the ground and run naturally, you owe it to yourself to get these shoes. Every time I put them on it makes me feel like I want to workout.

Awesome shoes! Perfect for squatting and dead lifting! Gives you unbelievable ground feel! Definitely a shoe that you needs to work yourself in though. I had the 230's before this and that was a shock to my calves when I switched to them. Now that I've gone to a zero drop it's like starting over. It's good but definitely sore from my first few runs. The soles are thinner than anything I've ever worn so you definitely have to learn to "cushion" yourself when coming off of the rings or pull-up bar or boxes. Super comfy! Love 'em!

I use this shoe when I go to the gym. I'm a powerlifter, or at least training to compete, so I need something stable, low to the ground, and if it looks good that's a plus. This shoe is all of those. Excellent grip material on the bottom for deadlifts and olympic lifts. Very comfortable, if no padding and natural sole/heel elevations are your thing. I assume since you're reading this review that you are at least curious about the shoe. Let me assure you, if you can afford it, get it! I can tell this shoe will last me a long time. I don't do crossfit very often but I'm confident that if I stopped powerlifting and started doing it again that these would be my no-brainer shoes of choice. I used to lift in Chuck Taylors. Those are kind of a staple in powerlifting...they're sturdy, stable, and have a flat sole. Plus there's a sort of old-school cred to wearing them. Well, consider these shoes new-school. They have all that and more. I love 'em.

Great shoes for crossfit/Olympic lifting. They fit true to size. The grip the sole of the shoe provides is impressive. I upgraded to these from New Balance minimus, and it's amazing how much of a difference this shoe makes. I haven't used them for rope climbing yet but it seams like they will work great as the plastic on top is thicker than it appears.

I love these sneakers. If you are looking for support, these aren't for you but the are so comfortable. I wear them to the gym for my circuit training and Tabata. I like them in my home gym because I don't feel like I'm going to slip. They almost stick to the floor.

Fantastic shoe! First of all, you guys at Zappos are fantastic! I ordered my shoes Friday night and I got them on Monday. The shoes are fantastic! My F-230's were getting destroyed with rope climbs - the XF 210's more than do the job! Its flat sole provides the perfect platfrom to do oly lifts - probably not the best shoe for running or doing box jumps but thats why I have the F- 230s. An overall great crossfit shoe!

Love this shoe. Just enough protection, not too stiff. Fits true to size. (I wear a 9 with socks, the 9 fit well).

I've been using these shoes for CrossFit for a month now and I absolutely love them. I love how versatile they are. They work great from going from sprints, to lifts, to double unders, etc. all in one WOD. No regrets here! I would definitely recommend these!

There's the awe inspiring wonder of the great wall of china then the mysterious yet magical allure of the pyramids of Giza - seven rungs above that sits these kicks on the level of awesomeness scale. Crossfitters should consider leaving their spouses for such footwear greatness. It's like butter for double unders. Like seemingly all Inov-8s, go a half size smaller than usual, they run big (that's what she said).