A year that featured a mind-blowing world record run, a CrossFit Games win for the ages, and a flirtation with Hollywood…. 2025 rocked our world.
Twelve months of sweat, grit and resilience across trails, mountains and gyms worldwide boiled down into one end-of-year review. Here we go.
JANUARY
The year starts on the 268-mile Pennine Way trail and the Winter Spine Race. Amid brutally wild UK conditions, Sarah Perry kicks off 2025 with a 4th place finish in the women’s race (115hrs 07mins). Just five hours behind is fellow INOV8 athlete Laura Swanton-Rouvelin.
In very much warmer conditions, the functional fitness year opens at Wodapalooza in Miami, US. Shelby Neal forms part of the winning elite women’s team, while Dani Speegle bags two 6th places finishes (individual and team) and Tayla Howe 8th (team).
We finish the month in Birmingham, UK, for The National Running Show. Our new-look stand turns heads and hordes of runners head our way to learn about footwear designed with NATURALFIT™.
Key product launches this month:
TRAILTALON™, F-LITE™ MAX (new colours)
Top read this month:
FEBRUARY
The new TRAILTALON™ shoes – launched the month prior – make an immediate impact with stellar reviews flooding in.
“Everything you need to get through those tough conditions and have fun doing it, whether it’s race day or every day,” says Believe In The Run. “There’s more ground feel, more control, and ultimately, a more natural and fun experience — the kind of running where you stop thinking and just move,” adds Gritty Runners.
Andy Berry puts down a marker for the year ahead with a top-10 finish at the 126k Transgrancanaria ultra on the Spanish island.
Key product launches this month:
RACEPAC 4, 8, 20 (new colours)
Top read this month:
MARCH
We launch Play Dirty – a new campaign encouraging people to reconnect with nature at its muddiest. Thousands enter our competition to win a dirty weekend with us in the Lake District.
Chris Hemsley, assistant manager of our Forge Store, makes headlines by running every day for 3 years, 2 months and 14 days – matching the fictional streak of Forrest Gump.
Team INOV8 France meet up ahead of the 2025 racing season and talk future gear innovations with members from HQ.
Key product launches this month:
AIRLITE PRO TEE, AIRLITE PRO SHORTS
Top read this month:
APRIL
Nichola Jackson runs a gutsy, fearless race to win the iconic Three Peaks ‘marathon with mountains’ in 3hrs 45mins. Three athletes from Team INOV8 France fly in and tackle the race without a prior recce. Incredibly, they all go top-5, with Clovis Chaverot (2nd man), Laury Eloy (3rd woman) and Yannick Noel (4th man).
Sarah Perry wins the Medieval Backyard Ultra ahead of even bigger things to come.
The 2024 Lakeland Trails series gets off to a flying start at Hawkshead. The event series once again proves a big success throughout the year, with our retail partner Pete Bland Sports always in attendance, whatever the conditions.
Our NATURALFIT™ design philosophy extends from footwear into apparel, giving runners natural movement, improved performance, and gear that works in harmony with the body.
Key product launches this month:
TRAILFLY™ MAX, TRAILFLY™ ZERO, F-LITE™ MAX (new clear colours)
Top read this month:
MAY
CrossFit Games legend Scott Panchik teams up with our designers to launch a limited-edition F-LITE™ MAX shoe collab in his favourite black and white colourway. Elsewhere, Dani Speegle makes her mark at the latest World Fitness Project event.
Andy Berry runs the fourth fastest ever Bob Graham Round, completing the 42-peak Lake District route in a rapid 13hrs 35mins.
We forge a new partnership with the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation, helping their volunteers find footwear that crucially lets them move fast – and comfortably – over demanding terrain.
Key product launches this month:
F-LITE™ MAX (Scott Panchik), ROADFLY™ MAX, ROCLITE™ MAX GTX
Top read this month:
JUNE
Alex Staniforth makes history, becoming the first and fastest person ever to run and cycle between all 446 mountains in England and Wales in one self-powered effort. He achieves it in just 45 days.
We celebrate 22 years in the innovation fast lane and around the same time launch the new F-FLY™ MAX shoe – a true hybrid that crosses over perfectly between gym and run.
The month finishes with the inspiring rehabilitation story of Mathieu Baumel – one of the most famous names in rally-raid and a long-time INOV8 fan – from a serious incident that resulted in the amputation of his right leg.
Key product launches this month:
TRAILTALON™ ZERO, TRAILTALON™ MAX, F-FLY™ MAX
Top read this month:
JULY
“The best trainers INOV8 has ever produced,” says As Many Reviews As Possible when reviewing the F-LITE™ MAX and F-LITE™. High praise indeed. Lots more incredible reviews follow.
On the competition floor, Talya Howe shines at Strength In Depth to claim the title of UK Champion.
Top ultra runner Jack Scott reflects on highs and lows of his year so far in a 47-day period that sees him go from a Cocodona 250 DNF to qualifying to the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships.
Key product launches this month:
Top read this month:
AUGUST
Chamonix once again stages the world’s most famous trail running festival, UTMB, with thousands thronging to the mesmerising mountain location.
INOV8 athletes Magali Mellon, Yannick Noel and Elise Delannoy all record outstanding top-10 finishes among elite fields – Magali 6th woman and Yannick 7th man in the 176km UTMB, with Elise 3rd woman in the 145km TDS.
A community shakeout run, in collaboration with Run 4 Adventure, sees 120 people join the fun, test new INOV8 shoes, and grab free coffee.
The story of Yannick’s journey to the top of the sport is told in our new film L’Ultra Boulanger – in reference to his job as a pastry chef.
Across Europe's famous mountain range, Meryl Cooper races to a brilliant women's win at the Swiss Alps 100k. She finishes 7th overall on a technical course. Meryl also places 3rd at Lairig Ghru in Scotland in 2025.
The razzmatazz of the CrossFit Games roles into New York for the 2025 edition, with Dani Speegle finishing 6th in the team event with CrossFit Invictus.
Soon after, the CrossFit Games Masters takes place, and Scott Panchik turns back the clock to win the 35-39 age group category. “It’s easily one of my favourite sport moments of my life,” he says.
Key product launches this month:
STORMSHELL (with updated NATURALFIT™)
Top read this month:
SEPTEMBER
Stripping it bare, we launch the new BARE-XF™ PRO. Built without a midsole or footbed, the new gym shoe moves with the foot for the ultimate natural feel.
On the competition floor, Dani Speegle smashes it again, this time at the second round of the World Fitness Project.
At the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships, Sarah McCormack wins her 21st international vest for Ireland, placing top-50 in the uphill-only, race just six months after becoming a mum for the first time. Jack Scott bravely grits it out to finish the long-distance race.
INOV8 fans flood our emails after actor Benedict Cumberbatch is spotted wearing our STORMSHELL jacket in Hollywood film The Roses.
Key product launches this month:
Top read this month:
OCTOBER
Sarah Perry makes global headlines by setting a new backyard ultra women’s world record at the sport’s individual world championships in Tennessee, US. She runs an incredible 95 yards (laps) / 395 miles. The BBC, ITV, ESPN, Sunday Times and more all tell her story.
The success continues as young talent Tom Spencer wins the U23 Skyrunner World Series and Angels Llobera claims victory in the Brama 100k.
Just a month after UTMB, Yannick Noel is at it again, taking 2nd at the prestigious Diagonale des Fous 178k on Reunion Island.
Key product launches this month:
MUDTALON™ SPEED V2, MUDTALON™ V2, MUDTALON™ ZERO V2
Top read this month:
NOVEMBER
Rogue Invitational returns to Aberdeen, Scotland, and world’s best training athletes descend for a weekend of intense competition. Dani Speegle finishes 8th then joins us for an underground meet-and-greet with fans.
CrossFit Games legend – and 2025 Masters winner – Scott Panchik is also there and leads a brilliant community workout with CrossFit SAR.
Back in the Lake District, several thousand flock to Kendal Mountain Festival where our stand – a protest against unnatural fitting shoes – draws lots of attention. Lewis Bowness takes 2nd in the 50k skyline race and our demo run with Pete Bland Sports is a big success.
Key product launches this month:
Top read this month:
DECEMBER
Just six weeks after becoming an ultra running world record holder, Sarah Perry takes the outright win at The Hill – one of the craziest ultramarathons imaginable. She’s the only one to complete all 56 laps up and down The Wrekin within the 48-hour time limit.
We launch the upgraded TRAILFLY™ V2 series, boasting hard-packed trail running shoes with improved grip, fit and drainage.
The year closes in with Dani Speegle in action once again, this time at the World Fitness Project finals in Denmark.
And finally, we attend The Running Event in the US to showcase something VERY exciting for 2026. Stay tuned.
Key product launches this month:
TRAILFLY™ V2 Series, CLIMASHELL PRO ALPHA, VENTURESHELL
Top read this month:
