Customer Reviews inov-8 F-Lite™ 230

These are probably the most comfortable all-around workout shoes I've tried. They're a nice halfway point between shoes that normal human beings who don't have shoe fetishes wear and the barefoot, minimalist wonders that are currently in vogue with all the people who believe it's gotta be the shoes. (I'm looking at you, Crossfit geeks.) Fit nicely. Just enough cushion for comfort. Just flat enough for good stability. Be warned: They're not even remotely water resistant, and they can show signs of wear relatively quickly (fraying at some of the seams, tread wears out sooner than expected, etc.), but it's nothing that's a deal breaker. I also own a pair of Inov-8 Barefoot 210s because I am a Crossfit geek with an unhealthy shoe fetish who always wants to be in vogue. But if you want a shoe that you can wear to and from the gym, as well as IN the gym, I'd say go with the F-Lites. They're just a great all-around show.

Awesome shoe, but the sizes run a little big. You should go about 1/2-full size smaller than what you normally would.

Love my F-lite 230s. I also own a pair of 195s, and I have to say although I like the lighter weight in the 195s, if you are looking for an all around shoe for crossfit, the 230 is it. For me, the few extra millimeters in the heel make a big difference on movements such as overhead squats. Love the grey/black and can't wait for the new colors to come out, cause I'll be buying more.

These are my first low-rise running shoes. I used these to run the 12 mile Tough Mudder race, and they were absolutely perfect. They drained quickly after water events, gave me great traction on the trails and on climbing obstacles, caused no problems when swimming, and never came close to coming off in the deepest mud. I wore these without socks (to avoid turf-foot), and didn't have a single blister or sore spot. These shoes are great.

Great shoe! Perfect for CrossFit. Okay for sprints and short runs if you are transitioning to a more natural/low differential type shoe. Not much cushioning, but I still love it.

Great lightweight minimalist shoe for CrossFit. They fit big so I suggest going down half a size from your usual shoe size. Great with or without socks -- never had a blister problem breaking them in. Love them!

Anyone who is seriously into kettlebell training will benefit tremendously from purchasing a pair of these. The minimalist design allows you to truly connect with the ground and generate power from your heels on up through your core. They are not for those who need the extra padding on the heel or arch support. This is a shoe for those like me who like to train barefoot but cannot do so every single time because of location and such. They are light as a feather and have a tight grip on the ground. Like others here, I also had to go a half size smaller than the equivalent U.S. shoe size. I'm a 9 in U.S. and had to return the 9 get the equivalent of a 8.5 to get the proper fit.

Great shoes for cross fit. Fit is firm and stable for living and various other types of workouts. Zappos is the best place to shop for shoes hands down.

I use these shoes in the gym. They are surprisingly comfortable given the lack of support and snug fit. I have found them to add stability to movements such as squats and deadlifts, and calf exercises are much more effective.

Best shoe ever! It's great for running trails, running on the road, Crossfit, or where ever life takes you.

I absolutely love these shoes! I have four pairs of inov8 shoes and I will continue to buy them. I am a crossfitter and they are great for any workout that I do.

These shoes are extremely comfortable! If you are considering buying them, please make sure to take the advice of the other reviewers and order atleast 1/2 smaller than what you normally wear. These shoes break in nicely and they are extremely light. 5 stars!

Love these shoes; they are super comfortable and offer enough support for my crossfit trainings.

Amazing shoe in all aspects. Perfect for low profile neutral fore/midfoot runners.

I recently purchased a pair of the Inov-8 F-Lite 230s. I have been using them for CrossFit and absolutely love them. They are a fantastic all purpose shoe that I can use anywhere between running and Olympic lifting. The thin soles provide enough cushion but certainly do encourage a forefoot running style (almost barefoot). Although the shoes are very light and primarily a very breathable mesh, they are supportive in lateral movements as well. It is a night and day difference as compared to using a pair of running shoes. I would recommend these shoes to anyone using them for various fitness uses as well as trail running or mid distance runs on pavement.

Exceeded my expectations...I use them for CrossFit training and light running, I am 46 and even with my a aching feet and joints, I am pleased with my inov8 F-Lites!

These are very lightweight and have excellent breathability. They function very well as all-around xFit shoes due to their minimal midsole differential from heel to forefoot as well as very comfortable shoes for everyday wear. I have three pairs of the inov-8 230s which are used mainly for my xFit training. I also wear them barefooted with loose laces as an alternative to flip-flops on regular basis. Note that they do run large compared to most shoes, anywhere from half to a full-size depending on the specific anatomy of your feet and your fit preference.

These shoes are great for crossfit. My only complaint is that I am a true 6 and they do not make them that small! These fit fine and I am dealing with the bit of extra room.

These are excellent shoes! They are very light and have been good with WOD's. I can feel my feet position when lifting and still have support, which is really nice. They have also been good with running. All over great shoes!

I love these for CrossFit! They are much lighter than my chucks, but they took a little getting used to for lifting.

Great minimalist shoe. I use these for my strength training sessions and they are great. Easy to adapt to and I've had no foot pain. Highly recommend.

Cross fit perfect! Not your best distance runners but great all around WOD shoe. I ordered 1/2 size down. The seem to run a bit long.

Innov-8 is by far the best shoe maker of all time for my money. Love these and the 195's for daily Crossfit, and the 233 is the best road runner I've worn to date. Unbelievably durable shoes! You just can't break them!

Great shoe! A good compromise between traditional running shoes and the totally barefoot styles. I do have a short toe box for my foot, so I wear a woman's 10 but that left me with quite a bit of room in the toes (so be careful with box jumps if you have this same issue). Took these for a two-mile run on concrete sidewalks yesterday and they were great.

First pair of minimalist shoes I have owned and they didn't let me down. Now when I go back to wearing my cushy Asics and Brooks they don't feel nearly as comfortable as before. Define buy if you are in the market.