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!