Inov-8: What do the numbers mean?

Inov-8 is based in the North Pennines, "England's last wilderness," and they are passionate about creating the lightest weight, most flexible footwear in the market for functional fitness and running enthusiasts. They are famous for their durability, glove-like fit, and ability to meet the demands of various different terrains, from the box to the mud to the trail. The numbers they use to name their shoes represent the approximate weight of the shoe in grams.

We have a ton of Inov-8 styles now on sale (all the shoes featured in this blog are currently 40% off!)... but what's the difference between the F-Lite 192 and the F-Lite 195? Between the FastLift 315 and 335? We're here to break it down for you.

Inov-8 F-Lite Series

The F-Lite 195 is Inov-8's signature lightweight functional fitness shoe with a sticky gripping sole, glove-like fit, and Rope-Tec reinforcement. A "one arrow" shoe, the 195 has a 3 mm drop. Flexible and fast enough for any workout, and stable and comfortable enough to lift in, the 195 is rated for indoor, outdoor, and rope climbing use.

The F-Lite 192 is the second lightest F-Lite available (coming in second to the Women's 185) with a reinforced medial and lateral sections for rope climbing protection. It is a super fast and stable shoe for functional fitness and running purists. The difference between the 192 and 195? The 192 is a zero drop shoe, letting you get closer and closer to that natural run.

The F-Lite 239 (right) is designed especially for the female foot with a natural fit, whereas the F-Lite 240 (left) is designed with Inov-8's precision fit, which features a narrower toe-box. The other difference between these two models is that the 239 is a 3 mm drop shoe, while the 240 carries a 6 mm drop. Those new to minimal footwear may want to begin with the 240 for a gentler transition.

The F-Lite 252 (left) is the stripped back version of the F-Lite 262 (right), once again with the lower number carrying the lower drop of 3 mm (vs the 6 mm drop of the 262).

FastLift 335 (315)

The FastLift 315 is the Women's version of the FastLift 335 released in February of 2013. The shoe has since been updated with new colorways, and now both the Women's and Men's FastLift are named FastLift 335. The original colors of the FastLift are now on sale for under $89.97, a great price for a Hybrid Lifting shoe.

We think it's also important to note that while Inov-8 makes its women's shoes specifically to fit women's feet, many women may also find the men's styles comfortable as well. Generally, a woman would size down by 1.5 for men's sizes. For example, a men's size 4 would equate a women's 5.5. A men's size 5.5 would be a women's 7.

Inov-8 Sale by theshoemart featuring Inov-8