Shoe Review: Inov-8 Road-X Lite 155s

Introduction

I’ve been a full-fledged ‘minimalist’ since Dec. 2003, training exclusively in road/XC flats and barefoot. I made the switch because I had dealt with so many foot and leg issues (including 7 stress fractures, 3 in my left foot), while trying a gazillion heavy trainers and orthotics (for my supposed flat, weak feet!). As an Exercise and Sports Science major, it made sense that if I worked on foot and lower leg strength, it could help me prevent injuries. While I went through a ~3 month transitional period dealing with sore ankles and calves, I remained patient and it eventually went away. I could tell that being in less shoe felt ‘right’ and ‘normal’ to my body. I soon found I could finally train ‘consistently’, and within a year+ I had dropped almost 2 minutes off my 5K PR and felt the best I’d ever felt. Flash forward 7 years….. I’m now a 2-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, 3-time marathon winner, and have a marathon PR of 2:38:23. I’m 29, so I’ve still got another 10+ years of quality marathoning/racing ahead of me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t switched to flats, way back when!

At that time, we didn’t have as many choices of high-quality road shoes as we do now (nor did we know or expect there to be a mainstream ’minimalist wave’ by shoe companies, THANK YOU!).  I didn’t have any trade of thought to influence me when I made the switch in 2003– I did it because it seemed like the common sense thing to do, and it felt right. Most road flats had lackluster cushioning, curved last (yuck!), tapered toe, and inferior/non-durable materials. Road flats have gotten wayyyyy better, to say the least! The minimalist company, Inov-8, who’s now my sponsor, just debuted their line of road shoes, including the soon-to-be-released, Inov-8 Road-X Lite 155s. I’ve had a pair since March 19th, so I’ve had the opportunity to test them out and am ready to do a shoe review. Here’s my thoughts!

 Road-X Lite 155s: the fit

The first time I tried on these shoes, I was like “Whoa, these fit my feet perfectly!” I got my true-to-size size 9s, which fit a tad long, but my experience is that my feet prefer to size up rather than down. I have narrow ankles but wide forefeet, so my toes like to spread, particularly since I’m a marathoner and spend a lot of time on my feet. I may try size 8 1/2s in the future just to see how they fit. It totally depends on the person’s feet, whether to stay true-to-size, or go down 1/2 a size (update, 6/23/11: I went down 1/2 a size, and they do fit better. From talking to other Inov-8 athletes, they are finding the same to hold true, maybe even a full size.)

I’ve also tried all different types of socks, and my ideal socks with these shoes are the Inov-8 Elitesoc 18s. Since the 155s are a tad long, I feel like these medium-thickness socks make up for it and provide the perfect fit and comfort. They are also black, which is great for this time of year when I’m often running in rain and through ocassional mud.

Upper

These are sooooo soft and comfy! I have pretty bony feet and a quirky right ankle, so I really appreciate Inov-8 making the upper softer and more compliable than some of the other shoes I’ve tried. I honestly feel like they used my feet for the mold of these shoes! They wrap perfectly around my ankles, and even the depth of the shoe in both the heel and forefoot is perfect. I haven’t had any hot spots or pinching/rubbing. The forefoot is wide and rounded in the toe (not too much curve or tapered-toe, like most road flats). Consequently they feel very comfortable in the forefeet, allowing my toes to spread. You can get a snug fit in the midfoot and ankle, and the laces remain tight. Over time I’ve felt the shoes have molded even better to my feet, although I think they’ve stretched out a bit too. The 155s are like a softer version of the Inov- 8 f-lite 195s.

I’ve been through off-road mud, woodchip trails, puddles, and done long runs in the rain on concrete, and the upper dries just as well as the Inov-8 off-road shoes I’ve tried. The upper also seems more durable than other brands of flats. As with all of my other Inov-8s, they seem to remain relatively clean, despite lots of yucky spring mud and rain! No idea why this is (my old Brooks shoes were usually some shade of brown at this time of year!).

Last but not least: the 155s are bright yellow and white! They are very colorful and eye-catching. They’ve gotten lots of looks from other runners and when I’ve worn them out-and-about. Inov-8 is definitely onto something with the bright colors. They even caught the eye of the cash register lady at Walmart (who runs and walk)– I spent a good 5 minutes talking to her about them.

Insole/Midsole

Inov-8 definitely focused on making these shoes softer than their off-road counterparts, to be more compatible with the impact on concrete. Out of the box, they are very comfortable and feel like slippers. Being so thin, I wondered how my legs would feel over time and doing long runs in them. Soooo….. I’ve trained nearly exclusively in them, putting them to the test! I must say, for having trained a month+ in them, this is the least leg soreness I’ve ever had! Even my massage therapist can vouch for my legs feeling ‘supple’! There hasn’t been any transitional period at all– they’ve felt perfect with my feet and legs. I’ve done 3 steady 20 milers in them, 3 long interval sessions, and have had weeks of 114/131/125/132 miles per week, and my legs have felt great. For so little shoe, it’s amazing the comfort they provide! Of course, I’m a longtime minimalist, so I can’t say whether everyone would have the same experience.

There’s only a 3mm heel-to-toe drop off with the 155s. Having trained for years in other road flats with mostly 10mm+ heel-to-toe drop off, I was concerned how my calves/Achilles would handle it. I do think you have to change your mechanics and muscle usage somewhat. I mostly feel a difference when I’m doing strides or speedwork, as it feels like I have to alter my gait slightly to match up with the shoes (more on the midfoot/forefoot?). However, I’ve had no leg soreness from this change in my gait. In fact, when I’ve tried to go back to running in “beefier” shoes, they’ve felt awkward and like bricks! The legs are quite adaptable.

The insoles of the shoes have small holes throughout (~like the off-road shoes), which helps them to drain and dry. This is one minor detail, of many, that proves how much thought and innovation Inov-8 puts into their shoes!

The big question mark is: would my feet and legs feel comfortable wearing these in a marathon? Yes, absolutely. Out of the box, I wasn’t sure. Having worn them for a month now, they are so comfortable (heck, they were comfortable out of the box!) that I would most definitely have no worries wearing them for a marathon. Would others agree? It probably depends on the person. I’m guessing that most people would need to gradually transition down. I would say they are definitely safe to wear for shorter races, and if you’re a hardcore, marathoning+ minimalist, these are definitely worth checking out!

Sole

Inov-8′s trademark is making amazing off-road shoes with varying types of “grip”. However, looking at the 155s out of the box, you’d wonder, “Will these grip ok on wet concrete?” Well, the first run in them they felt quite grippy, moreso than most other road flats I’ve tried (~which need a wear-down period to get decent grip). The second run in them, it had rained, so I ran on wet concrete and did strides with them– great grip, for having little wear on them! I think they’re ok on wet concrete. I did a 20 miler in the rain last Saturday and had no problems. I’m not sure I’d feel confident wearing them on ice or snow in the winter! They definitely are a little too slippery for wet mud (whether on concrete or off-roads). I would feel more confident wearing the ~195s or 230s for off-road or winter running.

The shoes are thin enough that you get great ground feel and are able to have a light, nimble step. This is probably more important for off-road running. On the roads, because you’re lighter on your feet, the impact force isn’t as great. The sole is flat too (~no waffle/pod-type sole/tread), allowing for greater surface-area contact with the ground to disperse vibration and force. I really like this aspect cause it feels like I’m meshing better with concrete. This is better for shoe wear and durability too.

Ok, so here’s my only complaint about these shoes: I think they need a rubber sole. I wish they had more “pop” off concrete. Inov-8 originally intended to come out with the 222s, which was the 155s with a rubber sole. They decided to scrap the 222s and go with the lighter, no-sole 155s. The midsole/sole is consequently one-piece (which is kinda unique). While a rubber sole would make the shoes heavier, I think from a mechanical standpoint they’d get more bounce off concrete. I’m perfectly fine with them as is, but I would love to try this shoe with a rubber sole. From looking at Inov-8s fall catalog, it looks like they’re coming out with a “bare” 0mm drop shoe that will have a thin rubber sole. Stay tuned!

Mechanics/Flexibility

No other company makes shoes that function and flex as well as Inov-8! The 155s work perfectly with the feet. I’ve had a quirky right ankle for a while that needs a shoe that allows it to ‘do it’s own thing’, and the 155s fit the bill. Like the off-road shoes, they get not only great forefoot flexion, but also great lateral flexion (side-to-side). This allows your feet to flex and mesh with whatever surface/slant. My body/mechanics are a bit asymmetrical, and I consequently have two feet that land differently– my left foot lands midfoot/forefoot, while my right foot lands more on my heel. Having a very “minimal” shoe allow each foot to land as needed, without being altered by the structure of the shoe. This is probably one large reason why I thrive in less shoe, as I need to rely on what’s natural to my body.

I’ve tested these on all kinds of terrain, including hills. While they are very thin, they still provide very good comfort, flex, feel, and grip, whether running uphill or downhill. I did a hard hill workout this week on a medium-grade sidewalk and had no problems with either the climb or descent. Also, since they have great lateral flexion, you can easily get around sharp turns. This will probably be helpful for me on the Olympic Marathon Trials course next January, which will have several hairpin, 180 turns.

Durability

Looking in the catalog, Inov-8 recommends a max of 300 miles with the 155s. Since they removed the rubber sole, they assumed the shoes would be less durable. Well, with 4 weeks of 114/131/125/132 mile per week on them (plus a few days this week!), I’ve exceeded this theoretical limit! Personally, I’ve generally gotten 800-1000 miles out of most road flats (I wore the Brooks T6s for 2 1/2 years, which were fine up to around 800 miles). I find that road flats last longer than traditional trainers because mechanically you have to be more efficient, land with a lighter step, and there’s less material to break down and throw you off. I actually feel that most road flats get more comfortable the longer you wear them. My limitation is usually shoe wear (~worn down sole- usually midfoot) or a tearing upper. I might also notice aches in my legs. I don’t feel that I’ve reached a “breaking point” yet with the 155s. Due to a body quirk, I’ve worn the right heel a little more than the left heel. Since the sole is flat, I’m not getting the forefoot wear like I normally experience. The upper is holding up great too– very strong and well-made! This will be fun to see how many miles I get out of these shoes!

Weight 

Weight is always a significant factor to road racers, so of course I wanted to know the definitive answer! Using our beer brewing scale, I was able to get their weight: 6 5/8 ounces in Men’s size 9. The Inov-8 catalog lists them as 6.7 ounces (I’m assuming Men’s size 9), so that matches up. Most road flats are around 5-8 ounces, so the 155s fit nicely in this category as a lightweight racer. The next lightest shoes currently available by Inov-8 are the f-lite 195s (lightweight trail shoe), at 8.0 ounces. They will be coming out with two more lightweight racers next fall, so it will be exciting to see how they compare!

Comparable shoes

I believe a large reason why the 155s feel so right to me is because they are similar to the Brooks T6s, which I wore for 2 1/2 years. However, I believe the fit is better, being less curved, wider in the forefoot, and better fit around the heel and ankle. Plus, the laces stay tighter and the heel-to-toe drop off is lower (12mm with the T6s vs. 3mm with the 155s). The feel of the midsole/cushioning is similar, but the Brooks T6s have more pop off the ground cause of their rubber sole.

Price/Availability 

I don’t know exactly what the price of these will be, but most of the Inov-8 shoes are priced between $95-110. They may be a little more costly than other brands, but Inov-8 uses more durable material and better craftsmenship (being primarily an off-road shoe company). I’ve been extremely impressed with their shoes so far, as the soles don’t wear down as quickly and the uppers dry fast.  For better comfort and functionality, I believe the price is justified. They fit and feel like no other shoes, so they are something you have to experience firsthand to become hooked!

In terms of availability, being a UK-based company that is gradually spreading across America, they are not as widespread in local running stores yet, so you can check here to see if they are available near you. There are several online retailers , some whom have free return shipping so you can test them out and get the right size. The 155s will become available in May I believe. From reading customer reviews, people love Inov-8 shoes, and they tend to run out quickly (hurry Inov-8, make MORE…. people love your shoes!). Inov-8s are not only great for road/off-road running/hiking, but are also being used by people from other sports.

Conclusion

I loooove the 155s and am excited to get back to racing in May so I can test them out! In particular, I’m excited to wear them for a marathon. I believe others will enjoy these too.

**Update** (5/11/11): I raced in the 155s on Saturday at the Indy Mini Marathon, and got a new half marathon PR, 1:16:36! They pass the performance test!