The BARE-XF™ is an INOV8 hall of famer. First launched in 2010, it pioneered a new way for barefoot gym footwear.
Since then, evolutions of the BARE-XF™ have been ever present in our range.
Now, 15 years since that original BARE-XF™, we’ve launched the new BARE-XF™ PRO – our ultimate natural training shoe for men and women.
Utilising cutting-edge design techniques, we’ve been able to strip away the need for a midsole or footbed and enhance the barefoot feel so you can unlock your true natural potential.
How did we get here and what are the design secrets behind the new BARE-XF™ PRO? Find out all in this Q&A with Graham Jordison, our Head of Footwear, who has been integral to INOV8 since day one.
DESIGNING BARE-XF™ PRO
1. What are the key design upgrades that make this latest model a ‘PRO’ version?
Our first ever BARE-XF™ model was launched in 2010. It was designed to be the most natural, non-inhibiting product for cross fitness athletes that wanted a low-profile shoe for lifting and workouts that included rope climbs. Since then, the BARE-XF™ has been used by many people across lots of activities, including barefoot enthusiasts who want stronger, healthier feet and ninja warrior champions who want to feel the benefits of being at one with the obstacles underfoot.
To expand upon the gym use, we wanted to create a BARE-XF™ version that had features more specific to dealing with various workouts. For example, a more protective toe bumper for burpees, a more integrated ROPE-TEC design (something that we pioneered as a brand), and a more durable stretch knit upper.
2. Is it easier or tougher to design a shoe which is more stripped-back and minimal?
Less is more and so the challenge was to not over-engineer the product. This can be tricky, but we did a great job. End users of all our BARE-XF™ shoes recognize and appreciate this.
3. The ‘bare’ in BARE-XF™ PRO stands for barefoot. How does the design process differ when creating a barefoot shoe?
We often must consider different manufacturing and construction techniques to help create a product that looks and feels minimal and purist. The integrated strobel – that acts like a footbed – is a good example of how we maximise the proprioceptive feel of the BARE-XF™ PRO.
4. A primary focus in designing all INOV8 shoes is ensuring natural movement of the foot. Can you describe how the design of the BARE-XF PRO heightens natural movement for the end user?
All our products are designed to work in harmony with the anatomy of the body. The BARE-XF™ PRO takes that further by ensuring the area both above and below where the metatarsals flex is as unrestricted as possible.
Our META-FLEX™ feature is present in all our footwear as we firmly believe in the foot controlling the shoe as naturally as possible.
5. There’s no footbed or midsole in the BARE-XF™ PRO. Why is this and has there been other INOV8 shoes in the past without them?
Creating the most natural and proprioceptive underfoot feel was the goal here. Only 3mm of rubber and a 2mm foam backed microfibre separate the foot from the ground.
We used a similar construction in the past with the TRAILROC 150 that we launched in 2014. The shoe had a great following amongst lovers of super-minimal trail running shoes.
6. What is the ‘sacchetto’ method that has been used in the design?
The ‘sachetto’ construction is a skilled artisanal technique from Italian shoe making that results in an extremely flexible, lightweight and glove-like fit by removing any ridged components and internal seams in the manufacturing process.
From Italian it translates to’ little bag’ in English and is the natural fit for the BARE-XF™ PRO – the ultimate training shoe in terms of flexibility, weight reduction and where barefoot feel is paramount.
7. Aside from previous BARE-XF™ models, where else did you take design inspiration from for the BARE-XF™ PRO?
The textures used on the sole unit are inspired by industrial environments. The best example of this is the chequered plate texture and the raised texture, both used in the ROPE-TEC part of the sole.
8. Which part of the design are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of the sole and how it holistically integrates with the upper design. The upper MET-CRADLE with its ROPE-TEC ridges is a feature across most of our current gym range – we had to look at how this could seamlessly integrate with the design lines of the sole unit.
9. How long did the design process take and roughly how many iterations of the shoe were tested before the final design was confirmed?
We made and tested two previous iterations – one with an upper that was a one-piece stretch knit and another with an external eyelet construction.
Reverting to the tried and trusted stretch tongue construction gave us the best range of fit for various foot shapes, while keeping the original aesthetic design intent.
10. In your experience having worn the shoe, where does it really excel when training and working out?
For me it really excels in how grounded the wearer feels. The instant feedback gives extra confidence and helps develop the natural function of the foot. Too much cushioning can alter the way we move and can negatively affect the whole body, not just the feet.
