Customer Reviews inov-8 F-Lite™ 230

I generally like these shoes but durability is an issue, the fabric portion that connects the toe box to the rest of the shoe is coming apart and I've had for less than a year (note I do not actually use the shoe for Crossfit use for walking/around town). Like the style and weight but again they are coming apart, though the sole is in good shape (after light use).

I wanted to love these shoes but they give me a neuroma. This is just a personal fit issue, but I didn't have this problem with several New Balance minimalist shoes. I used them for two Crossfit workouts and had bad enough pain that I haven't worn them since. I like the style.

Firstly, my first pair was warped and uneven on the soles so I had to return them (Zappos is fast and great with returns!). I primarily got these shoes for training and Olympic weightlifting and was satisfied for about 1.5 months. At that point my right foot's heel was breaking the shoe in oddly (my left was fine). It has became so uncomfortable that I am trying to find a different brand of shoe that will last longer. I have decided that Inov-8 is not for me (quality is poor) and will no longer buy from this company.

This shoe runs small. I ordered a half size larger and it was still tight. It is narrow in the toebox and throughout the shoe. I felt as if the side of my foot was sitting half on the sole and the side of the shoe.

I really wanted to love the inov-8 F-Lite™ 230, but it did not provide adequate support. This shoe gets many rave reviews by the crossfit community, and I can see why. The shoe is flexible and has a very low profile for those that like the barefoot feel. However, I am not a crossfitter and needed these primarily for traditional weight lifting combined with internal cardio training. I didn't like this shoe for either. For heavier weight lifting, this shoe did not provide adequate support (especially heavy leg workouts). There is no support around the forefoot or toes. For internal training it was okay but I would have preferred more cushion under the toe, as my ankles were sore after 20 minutes of running. At inclines above 15% the heel began to slip off. This shoe would be great for crossfit, classes, or light gym workouts but isn't great for heavy lifting or any activity that would require lateral or ankle support.

These shoes came up when I searched wide sneakers. They are very cute, but extremely narrow. Unless your foot is narrow, don't bother.

I bought these shoes as a cross-trainer based on the many positive reviews from people using them for Cross Fit. I was beginning Insanity workouts and was excited to give the inov-8 brand a try. I took the advice of those people that said they ran small and ordered a 10.5, which is a half size smaller than my normal shoe. The shoes fit snugly but I think they're designed that way, so although they took a little to get them on I really liked the way they felt. Unfortunately, despite ordering down a half size and the snug fit on the width of my foot, there was still too much toe room. Even worse there was very little support despite many people ranking the F-lite 230 as having more support than some other inov-8 options. After 2 days of Insanity my toes were killing me because of the excess toe room and my right arch felt like it was being shredded. I ended up getting a pair of Nike Free 5.0 which fit much better in the length and provided much greater arch support...I love the Nike Free 5.0. That said, I kept the inov-8's because they actually felt great if I wasn't exercising and they are super light weight. A couple of weeks later I went for a run on a trail/gravel road with the inov'8s. The thin soles resulted in me feeling every small stone during my run, and once again the lack of support was a problem. At this point, I still wear the inov-8 shoes because of the great feel during normal wear and I think they look pretty cool. If you're looking for a good cross-trainer or running shoe, I definitely wouldn't recommend the inov-8 F-lite 230. But if you want a super comfortable sneaker to wear around town, the office or perhaps playing shuffleboard (not something I've tried, but I'm guessing they'd work well) then this is a comfy, light, cool looking shoe.

Very insubstantial. More of a minimalist construction and inappropriate for the gym.

I've had these 4 months now. Viewing the bottom of the shoe had suggest I buy them for work, which I walk around a lot and climb ladders throughout my shift. This has translated into wearing them down quickly and are developing holes in the front where the toes are. The soles slipped the first week I've owned them. They fit the foot well and breathed well too. Although, I will not choose to buy this brand again but have welcomed my time owning them.

Feels way too narrow and I have a narrow foot.

The shoe was poorly constructed. The stitching was messy with unfinished edges and the sole looked as though it wasn't poured correctly in the mold. Lastly, it wasn't comfortable at all.

Even though the design and fit of this pair were top notch, my impression after using this sneaker is plagued by low quality & durability. The outer sides of the the sneaker where the mesh cover meets the front sole were torn apart in less than 3 months of moderate to heavy use on mixed trails. Not very impressive for a sneaker at this price.

Disappointed. Not a substantial enough shoe for my needs, and felt excessively narrow....it was almost impossible to get on even with thin socks and I do not have wide feet.

I wore these shoes for 4 WODs over the course of 1.5 weeks. The seam around the heel cuff split after that amount of use. From the moment I got them they felt flimsy but I ignored it thinking they were just light. Now I'm questioning the brand. I'm going to go back to Mizuno for this pair and try Inov-8 again next year. Size 13, orange, F-Lite 230.