Inov-8 Bare-X Lite 150 400 Mile Update

As promised, though perhaps later than implied, I am writing an update to my original Bare-X Lite 150 review.  I get the impression that most top running shoe reviewers on the internet get so many shoes sent to them for review that they frequently wear the shoes for a week, declare them "awesome," and put them in the closet with their other 500 pairs.  Those of us who do not receive a consistent flow of free shoes are more interested in whether the shoes that we buy will be in one piece 200, 500, 1000 (!?) miles down the road.  To that end, here is the 400 mile update.

After 400 miles on mixed terrain, including concrete beach paths, asphalt roads, gravel/dirt fire roads, and gravel/dirt and jagged rock single track, the Bare-X Lite 150's are nearly indistinguishable from the day I got them.  The once bright-orange upper now resembles Texas burnt orange from the dirt of the trail and soot of the road, but the mesh itself is unfazed.  There is not a single tear on either of the shoes.  The thin rubber toe-guard, which initially struck me as flimsy, has also held-up admirably.  There are no gashes or cracks in the material.  The "Fusion" outsole rubber has also proven its durability.  While it has visibly worn down under the forefoot, it still affords the same level of protection that it did the first day I slipped them on.  It is clear that the outsole is tough enough to sustain a full life for the shoe, this even though I have put them through some abuse on jagged rock and gravel single track.

Now for a discussion of the 150's performance, beyond the question of durability.  I have put the shoes through a diverse field test, including 3 minute intervals, 6-9 mile tempo runs, a half-marathon, and several 16 mile training runs, along with trail runs of up to 12 miles.  The 150's are built for speed, and feel fantastic during intervals and fast runs up to about 10 miles.  Of course this has as much to do with the runner as the shoe; I am  6'2 and between 175-180 pounds.  Though I have good running form (self call!), it is quite possible that a lighter runner would find the 150's to be comfortable even for longer distances.  In my case, my feet are frequently sore by the end of any run longer than a half marathon.  That being said, I intend to use the 150's for my upcoming marathon, as the improved speed due to the light weight will be worth the soreness on race day.  Perhaps one of Inov-8's weightier models would be better suited to the role of a high mileage trainer, however.

My primary complaint with the Bare-X Lite 150's is the "quick lace system" (QLS).  While the QLS works exactly as it should; I have never had it come loose during a run, the laces themselves are so thin that it is difficult to avoid creating pressure points on the top of the foot.  During my half marathon, the laces created a bruise on the top of my foot that prevented me from striking a soccer ball for a week.  I find that I frequently struggle to dial-in the tightness to my liking.  Because the 150's do not have the cushioned interiors that many heavier shoes use to achieve a secure fit, it becomes more important to lace the 150's tightly, thus heightening the dilemma.  The laces themselves connect to the edges of the upper by looping through the top catch of plastic-covered strings.  This furthers the potential for discomfort if the laces are over-tightened or mis-tightened as the edges of the upper will be pulled laterally, down against the sides of the foot.  This can quickly lead to serious discomfort that requires loosening the shoe and losing the desired fit.  While the shortcomings of the QLS/piano wire laces combination is not enough to change my overall very positive experience with the 150's, in the future Inov-8 would do well to sacrifice a gram and provide thicker laces that would be less likely to dig into the top of the foot.

In conclusion, the Bare-X Lite 150's have proven their durability and functionality over 400 miles at a variety of speeds and over a mix of terrains.  The 150's are light, fast, and provide excellent feel.  The best uses for the 150's are as a 5k to half marathon racer, as well as a trainer for all but the longest road training runs.  The sole shortcoming of the shoes lies in the difficulty of achieving proper tightness in the lacing, while not digging the thin laces into the top of the foot.  Overall, the 150's are highly recommended, with impressive durability.  I look forward to putting another 400 miles on them, for one lesson of the minimalist movement is to no longer sweat the compression of foam underfoot.  As long as my foot is not chafing on the asphalt, there is shoe enough to run in!  

     
 

Inov-8 Bare-X Lite 150 Review

Over the next several months I will be writing a sustained review of the Inov-8 Bare-X Lite 150.  Inov-8 is an exciting company that seems to make a thorough range of shoes to satisfy a minimalist-minded runner on any terrain, from mud and scree to the road.  I had held off from purchasing a pair of Inov-8's for several years, due primarily to suspicion of their longevity and hope that New Balance would make an excellent minimalist shoe.  Upon discovering that New Balance is stuck in a cul-de-sac of feather-light and feather-strong minimalist shoes, it became time for me to give Inov-8 a go; that and they were on sale at Sierra Trading Post for $43.17 (after my additional 30% off coupon, always wait for those from Sierra Trading Post!)

My initial impression of the Bare-X Lite 150 was positive, i.e. it fit my foot very well.  The men's size 12 fit properly, and matches my size in New Balance.  The Bare-X features Inov-8's "Anatomic" fit, which is roomier in the forefoot than their "Performance" fit.  The roomier forefoot accommodated my long toes beautifully while the fit still prevented any heal-slippage.  The orange creamsicle color scheme is fine, particularly as that was the only color on offer from Sierra Trading Post.  The orange is striking, but attractive.  The shoe is zero-drop, which is ideal for a runner who has transitioned to a forefoot-strike style, but probably a bridge too far for someone just beginning the transition from heal-striking.

My first run in the Bare-X Lite 150's was 3.5 miler in the rain.  I stuck to the roads, and the flat soles performed passably on wet pavement.  Though the shoes soaked up some water, they did not become water-logged.  I had no issues with the fit or any chafage, so the next day I proceeded on a 12.5 miler that included about a mile on wet and muddy trails.  The 150's again performed admirably, providing excellent fit and protection.  The 150's could not get traction on the mud (as expected with a flat sole), but the protection was adequate for the gravel and roots.  The "Fusion" outsole rubber, a mix of synthetic rubber and EVA, is not Inov-8's most durable, so it is probably not recommended to frequently run on rock and gravel trails, but it is good to find that the 150's can make due when called upon.  On dry trails, the 150's would probably perform quite well, though such use would shorten the life span of the shoe.

So far, the Bare-X Lite 150's seem to be excellent road trainers and racers for a runner who has already made the transition to a forefoot-strike style.  I will document their durability to determine if they are best left for races or if they can be used as daily road trainers.  

New Balance MT00 Review

It is time to say: the emperor has no clothes.  The New Balance Minimus Zero Trail Shoe, aka MT00, has a few of the characteristics that forefoot-strike enthusiasts have sought, but too many shortcomings to be worth buying.

Most of these deficiencies stem from a misunderstanding of the values that minimalist running represents.  Like many converts, I was driven to reflect on my running style by the cogent arguments laid out in Christopher McDougall's Born to Run.  Probably his most compelling piece of evidence was the study that showed that the cost of a running shoe was inversely correlated to the incidence of injury among the wearers.    To put this simply, the more expensive the shoe, the more injury.  Of course there is a selection bias in play among the sample: runners who became injured in the cheep shoes probably resorted to more expensive shoes in an attempt to solve their injuries, but due to something inherent to their bodies or their running styles, they became injured again.  This does not expiate the running shoe companies who developed and sold increasingly complex foam shoes on the promise that they would help a beleaguered runner avoid injury.  This was demonstrated to be false; no running shoe company could prove otherwise.

The corollary to the bogus claim regarding injury prevention is that runners must replace their shoes every 300 to 500 miles, lest the space age foam protecting the runner's feet compact down until it no longer provides the required support and protection.  One of the main draws of a minimalist shoe is that it provides only a strip of rubber underfoot.  This has two advantages: first, it allows the muscles in the foot to strengthen, bearing their load in a natural manner, uninhibited by artificial supports that can encourage them to atrophy.  Second, a runner can continue to run in the shoe until the rubber has worn through to the point where it no longer protects against rocks and thorns.  My pair of New Balance Minimus Trail (the original) endured for 15 months (probably 700 running miles, plus hikes, swims, and CrossFit workouts).  This was an extremely well-made shoe.  Aside from several small holes where sticks had poked through, the mesh upper was immaculate.  The raised, reinforced seems were bulletproof.    

The MT00, on the other hand, is thin and effete.  The glue connecting the toe to the upper failed after two runs.  The gossamer upper inspires no confidence, and feels clammy against a bare foot.  The tongue requires careful attention while lacing the shoes to ensure that it does not become doubled-over at the edges.  The sole, while receiving an additional layer of rubber in high-wear areas compared to the Minimus Trail, is still insufficient to handle rocky trails.  The protection works for gravel trails, but any larger gauge rocks will overwhelm the thin foam and rubber.  Ironically, the MT00 is probably best suited to road running, as the smooth surface is fine for the limited protection, and the light weight is more valuable on the road where you will be doing your fastest running.  

Despite its most notable advancement, the move to a zero millimeter drop, the MT00 fails on several critical points.  The durability and protection are not worthy of a minimalist trail shoe.