Inov-8 Running shoes
Inov-8 as the name suggests have a company ethos that is centred around driving forward running shoe technology particularly in the field of off-road running.
Based in the North Pennines of England Inov-8 are probably most famous for their ground breaking Roclite range of mountain running shoes. Roclites caused a stir in the hillwalking community by providing a shoe that many felt was suitable summer mountain footwear, though many didn't. 
Importantly what Inov-8 had done with the Roclite was to challenge preconceived ideas about the scope of the running shoe.
When Invo-8 build a shoe they actually stick to some pretty basic principles: make sure that the fit of the shoe gives secure foothills without upsetting metatarsal alignment and look after the Achilles tendon with a clean cut shoe back to ensure comfort particularly when running downhill.
The innovation comes everywhere else!
For the uppers it's all about breathability: making sure that the foot can cool and dry as efficiently as possible means making thicker areas more porous particularly around the tongue. It also means making the structure of the upper as efficient as possible using as little surface area as possible – less surface area for the structural stuff means more surface area for mesh… and cooler feet.
Next comes water. Inov-8 have realised that when running off-road it’s not a case of stopping the water from getting in, that is a pursuit worthy of Canute. No, anyone who has run through wet moorland knows that it’s a case of getting the water out which is why Inov-8 have used the compression of the footbed to expel as much water as possible with every step.
The footbed is the place where a lot of Inov8 technology lurks. Trademark terms like Midshoc, Meta-shank, Meta-flex and Terra shank all demonstrate a company that is trying to draw every drop of runner performance and comfort out of their product.
Finally, running off road is all about grip and Inov-8 quickly realised that off road running wasn’t a single pursuit. To be really efficient and effective when trail running you need the right shoe for the right trail. 
Roclites were born to service those running in the mountains or on hard stone surfaces. Inov-8 Mudroc and Mucclaw running shoes, well I’m pretty sure you can guess where they’re aimed.
But really this oversimplifies the Inov-8 product range they now match their shoes to pursuits from Fell Running to Orienteering and from Approach shoes to Adventure Racing shoes.
Now with the Road-X range of road running shoes Inov8 fans can take all this applied technology and enjoy the same performance on the road.
So if you’re looking for a well thought out, tech driven boost to your running Inov-8 might well be worth a look.
