Inov8 Bare-XF barefoot running shoes review: feel the train in luxurious comfort

Meet the reviewer

Pat Kinsella

Pat has hiked all over the world, his adventures taking him to Mont Blanc, the roof of Western Europe; the Norwegian Alps; the highest peaks in Australia; and New Zealand’s Great Walks – among others. He’s an experienced tester of hiking footwear and gives each pair a thorough thrashing before reviewing.

Inov8 Bare-XF: first impressions

As a long-time user of Inov8’s trail running shoes – such as the excellent TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max, which feature the British brand’s trademark graphene-based outsoles and boast the kind of aggressive tread that will keep you upright in even the gloopiest conditions – I was a little surprised to see how minimalist these Bare-XF shoes were when I first unpacked them. I guess I was expecting a pared-down version of Inov8’s typical offering, but no, these are the full barefoot deal.

The 2.5mm outsole has a pattern on it, and it’s made from a clingy, sticky kind of rubber, so the Bare-XFs, which you can buy from Inov8 here, are not exactly slippery, but there’s no sign of the long-lasting ferocious fangs that usually characterize Inov8’s shoes. And neither should there be – these are not intended as mud or fell-running shoes; they’re designed for scampering around on fairly dry trails, rocks and sealed surfaces. 

They’re also excellent for use in outdoor and indoor gyms, and are compatible for weight training and other strength-building exercises.

I don’t do gyms, but I have been legging it around the outdoors to see how Inov8’s Bare-XFs compare to the best barefoot running shoes on the market.

Inov8 Bare-XF: style and design

Like any self-respecting barefoot running shoe, the Bare-XFs don’t feature any midsole at all, to allow for maximum trail feedback. They do, however, have a 6mm-thick Boomerang footbed, which provides a small amount of padding and protection from sticks and stones, and gives you a bit of bounce too, without significantly dampening the all-important trail feel. 

There’s also a 2.5mm sticky rubber outsole, which supplies some minimalist grip –don’t expect it to get you up or down a slippery muddy slope without a few slides and skids, but it works well on dry trails, rocks and sealed surfaces. This outsole extends up the sides slightly, providing some additional shielding from sharp objects on the trail (and in the water), and there is a small toecap for protection against stubbing injuries.

The upper of these shoes is made from synthetic mesh, with holes that are large enough to enable your feet to breathe and water to drain out, without letting little pebbles and stones in. The tongue is cushioned enough to be comfy on the front of your foot, but also features a breathable mesh construction, and the heel is nicely padded and raised slightly to cuddle your Achilles. A TPU skeleton wraps around the chassis leading to the lace holes, providing some shape and strength, and the flat laces don’t come undone while you’re running.

As with many Inov8 shoes, the Bare-XFs boast a ‘Met-Cradle’, which wraps around the midfoot to provide stability and confidence while you’re running (or lifting).

Inov8 Bare-XF: on the trails

I’ve been testing these Inov8 Bare-XF shoes out on local tracks and trails for several weeks, attempting to skip over the biggest puddles and dodge the worst of the mud in the slippery hills around my home in the soggy South West of England. While doing this I’ve been massively impressed with the agility of these lightweight shoes, which actually make me feel remarkably light on my feet (quite an achievement for an 85kg lump).

Personally, when I run in barefoot shoes I prefer to go sans socks, so I can really spread my toes and make the most of the trail feedback. This is always a slightly risky approach during runs when you’re wearing brand new shoes, as some (yes, I’m looking at you Xero Mesa Trail WP) will rub the skin right off your feet. With Inov8 Bare-XF shoes, however, I experienced no such dramas.

In fact, these shoes have been sumptuously comfortable from the first minute I put them on. I really love the wide toe box, which accommodates my hobbit-like hooves very nicely, and I’ve experienced no rubbing whatsoever. Despite this relaxed fit, the Met-Cradle does a decent job of making the shoe feel very secure on my foot.

After the wettest spring I can remember, it hasn’t always been possible to avoid the puddles or the occasional stream crossing, but another thing I love about these shoes is how quickly they drain and dry once they do get wet.

In fact, in recent weeks I’ve started wearing them for my morning run-swim-run (a bit like SwimRun, but with no competitive element, just a nice dawn run with a wild swim in the sea midway round); I live on a very pebbly coast, where you really need good water shoes in order to comfortably get in the sea, and the Bare-XF are brilliant, because I can wear them for both the run and the swim.

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