Inov-8 Bare-Grip 200 :: 30-Miles-from-New Review

Those of us who are less than perfect will occasionally spend our hard-earned money on things we don't necessarily need, superfluous items that do not fill huge, gaping voids in our material lives. These are things we want, things that look really cool, things that require great effort to justify purchasing.

The Bare-Grip 200:
with Zero Arrow Shoc-Zone™!

For me, the Bare-Grip 200 from our friends at Inov-8 is one of those things. I already have a marvelous collection of trail shoes, which more than sufficiently accommodate my runs on the various trails around the Triangle: There's the Roclite 285, the Minimus Trail, the f-lite 230... So, I certainly don't need another trail shoe.

But, look at it. That is an awesome shoe! (Okay, maybe it's not as awesome if you don't like green) And, it was on sale for 25% off!

Justification

Given it's pronounced lugs, the Bare-Grip 200 is more of a specialized trail shoe than anything else I've worn. It's designed for very wet, sloppy, and/or loose terrain with lots of inclines to climb and descend, fell running, really. And, the last time I used the word "fell" in a sentence about running, it wasn't a noun.

The Bare-Grip 200 is all kinds of awesome!

So, we don't have fells here in central North Carolina. But, it rains. Our trails get muddy. And, those leaves, they can be pretty slick in the Fall and Winter, wouldn't you say? Plus, the snow and ice certainly warrants a shoe with significant traction. So, yeah, I'll be able to use the Bare-Grip 200 pretty regularly! This might even have been a wise purchase, safetywise. (Did I mention that it was on sale?)

Features

Notable features of the Bare-Grip 200:

• Grippy lugs (duh) — These actually serve as a bit of protective cushioning while running over rocks. So, the Bare-Grip simulates barefoot running without subjecting your feet to the perils that VFFs might.
• Zero differential between the heel and the toe — Inov-8 markets this feature as a ZERO Arrow Shoc-Zone™. (I imagine that the capital letters are for emphasis)
• No midsole at all — This makes the shoe incredibly flexible and fun to wear. Inov-8 explains that the lack of a midsole "allows all the natural power and speed of the foot [to be] transferred directly through the shoe." The video I've embedded below explains the appeal of forgoing a midsole quite nicely.
• Better protected toe box — Well, this is subjective, I suppose. To me, that's a rather sturdy bit of rubber, or whatever, buffering the toe box from the outside world. I've found it to be quite useful already. The toe guard is more significant on the Bare-Grip 200 than the one on the Roclite 285. And, I appreciate that.
• Read more about features in this Bare-Grip 200 review. I lack the attention span to really delve into specifications, etc.

Sizing and Feel

I tried the Bare-Grip 200 on in two different sizes, just because. These are built on the Inov-8 performance last, which coincides with the last of the f-lite 230 and Roclite 285. But, my US Men's size 11.5 Roclite 285 is a bit roomier in the front than my 11.5 f-lite 230. So, just because those shoes are built on the same last doesn't mean they fit the same way. But, I digress.

The Bare-Grip 200 is a long shoe

The size 12 Bare-Grip felt better on my feet than the 11.5. I liked the added width in the toe box the larger size afforded my little toe while the 11.5 squeezed just a bit. Although, in retrospect, the shoe's upper may have stretched enough after a few runs to warrant keeping the smaller size. I make note of this because I've been second-guessing my decision to keep the 12 now that it feels a bit more loose on my foot. And, if I could have kept the 11.5, I would have preferred it, because I feel a little self conscious about the length of my feet.

Anyway...

The shoe feels fantastic on my feet, light and incredibly flexible. I wouldn't say it fits any more snugly than the f-lite 230. The upper is just as breathable as I'd expect by looking at the photos, which is to say that it's very breathable indeed.

As usual, this Inov-8 shoe includes an insole, 3 mm. I leave it in there. You can remove it if you like. I suspect that those of you who do not wear socks will prefer to leave the insole in place, because the foot bed is a tad rough. But, what do I know about not wearing socks? (Nothing, because I wear them)

Running in the Bare-Grip 200

Since the Bare-Grip 200 marked my foray into zero-droppedness, I was a little nervous about running for too long on the first try. But, my other shoes with their relatively low heel-to-toe differentials probably prepared my calf muscles well for the Bare-Grip. So, a little under 10 miles for the initial run went well. (If you're trying the Bare-Grip while running regularly in a more cushioned shoe, you should use caution and work into this one gradually. Everyone says so.)

Here's a great video overview of the Bare-Grip featuring a runner with a cool accent. This video proved very persuasive to me when the shoe was on sale. Just sayin'.

I took these on the trail for the first time after a day of rain so as to test out the Bare-Grip's traction over soft, wet surfaces. It didn't disappoint. The grip is especially superb over muddy inclines. I found myself running directly through the squishiest parts of the trail just to test the shoe's hold on the surface.

The Bare-Grip's über-flexible outsole is definitely my favorite attribute of the shoe. It conforms to various shapes on the ground in a way that really heightens your sense of the terrain without impaling your feet on pointy rocks hiding under loose debris. I mean, sure, you'll still feel the rocks. You might even wince a few times as you step on a sharp one at an unfortunate angle. But, the balance between proprioception and protection inherent to the Bare-Grip 200 is good.

I'll mention, perhaps superfluously, that the Bare-Grip is not something you want to wear for any length of time on pavement or hard-packed trails. Not, only will you feel the pressure of the individual lugs on the outsole pressing into your foot, but you'll also feel like an idiot. I mean, why would you wear something like this on a flat surface? Granted, you won't be rendered immobile if you're wearing these at the start of a trail race that begins on pavement. You just don't want to have to run more than a couple of miles on the road with the Bare-Grip on your feet.

Worth the Splurge?

In a word: Yes! Clearly, I like the Inov-8 Bare-Grip 200. After a little more than 30 miles of running in them, I've not been disappointed at all. If I had to change anything about these shoes, I'd make the toe area slightly less pointy or make the US Men's size 11.5 slightly wider in the toe box. It wouldn't have to be NB-Minimus-Trail wide, just a little wider than it is now.

This is definitely a specialized type of shoe. If you're looking for your first trail shoe, or an all-around type of trail shoe, try something else. Then, get the Bare-Grip 200 as your secondary, super-fancy trail shoe for special trails, like the convertible sports car that you take out on weekends when the weather is nice (antiquated analogy?). You deserve it.