Guest Review of the Innov-8 F-230 by Chris Yang

Okay so for my next shoe review it's not my shoe review at all. Well unfortunately I can't get every shoe from every company to test. So I am going to have some guest reviewers on some of the shoes I don't have. Of course they will be from the Ninja community and test the shoes properly... by killing them. We have some great Ninjas as guests so stay tuned for some really good reviews. And I am pleased to say I have some pretty exciting shoe reviews coming your including some true Ninja style Tabi toed shoes. Anyway here is the review of the Innov-8 F-230 done by Chris Yang. Chris is a local California Ninja that trains hard. Chris was also a tester in Venice this year and gained some unique inside experience on the course. I think you will find his review both informative and entertaining. Enjoy!

I remember one time in 8^th grade having changed out for my 1^st period PE class I threw on my new super slick unbranded shoes from Payless that were $19.99 + tax that my mom bought me. They were white with blue sports stripes on the side. I thought they were just the best things to ever be beneath my feet. I was dumb back then. A little bit less dumb now, but just clever enough to know that when I was running around on the basketball court trying desperately to not suck so much at that stupid sport that my shoes were a perfect excuse for why I was so terrible at basketball. Seriously, basketball is so stupid. 

Anyway… 13 was an age of discovery. So, so, so much discovery, today’s topic of pubescent discovery though is: shoes. That day on the basketball court playing that stupid game taught me that shoes made from recycled cardboard and what has to be crushed remains of expectations for American freedoms and… I don’t know… probably whatever passes for rubber in Thailand or China or wherever payless works people to death for shoes, really isn’t the best for walking around much less any kind of sport. Regardless this was an awesome experience. It showed me, truly showed me, that I was far too poor to be competing in any kind of sport that required any kind of gear. That problem would only multiply as I grew up and got into other sports. It also showed me that shoes make a huge difference in sports. 

That brings us to today and what’s on my feet. About a month and some change ago I went to the American Ninja Warrior Best Coast event in Venice beach and man, if you’ve never been, I recommend not to if you aren’t actually competing. Bless the hearts of all the supporters, but geez that weekend will wreck your body. Not recommended for the old, weak of heart, pregnant people or really anybody who isn’t on the course or are madly in love with someone on the course. If you’re into that kind of thing, you’ll know that the quest for the perfect footwear is one of the biggest things you can game in the sport.  One thing I noticed was all the guys who built and tested the course were all wearing Inov8 F-230’s or F25’s. When I got home I took my big boy money with my big boy laptop and bought me some big boy pair of Black F-230’s from Back Country. $80 and 5 days later, I received my shoes.

The shoes look great. They feel great. They’re easily in the top 3 of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. I actually can’t remember the last time I had a pair of shoes this comfortable. They’re just so incredibly light and comfortable. I really can’t get over how comfortable they are. I feel like two super strength otters are carrying me around underfoot who after 20 or so years will develop herniated discs and despite their super strength will get completely boned by their insurance company. I mean, that’s a really hard feeling to get across, but if you can imagine that scenario that’s exactly what it feels like to wear these shoes. I got them in all black and they look slick enough that I can wear them at work (I do.) where I spend most of my time on my feet or climbing towers or buildings. Stylistically, these guys are pretty bonnerific. 10/10 would wear tomorrow again. 

As far as performance is concerned though, they’re pretty meeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh. The issue I have with these shoes is that they’re just as sticky on concrete as generally any other brand name shoe that touts itself as a sports shoe or running shoe. They’re not any more aggressive than say… a pair of New Balance running shoes. I’ve been wearing them every day for about... 4 weeks now and they’re still holding up to the amount of abuse I’ve put on them. They don’t come anywhere CLOSE to the stealth rubber. But they are far infinitely much more comfortable than any 510 shoe. Which, like seriously come on 510, are designed for people who no longer have any functioning metatarsals… or metacarpals. Or whatever, I’m not a scien…. Err doctor. Or whatever. Anyway, I love Stealth Rubber, but geeeeezzzzzzzz are there hardly any 510s which are made for sports-like things outside of being on a rock somewhere. 

The F-230’s are a great shoe overall. They have a lot of things to be desired for, like really grippy rubber and a lower price tag. I don’t think I’d buy another pair unless it went down to like $50 or something. They haven’t shown any real wear or anything but, I don’t see them really last more than another 3 or 4 months. THAT IS TOO MUCH MONEY FOR SUCH SHORT SHOE LIFE!!!!!!! If you’re looking for something incredibly comfortable that gives you some anxiety about how much you paid for them vs. how long they’ll last then this is definitely the shoe for you. Like meeting your celebrity crush for the first time, they aren’t as willing to do all the things you imagined you would do together and are a little disappointed but you totally understand their limitations so you just kind of accept them as shoes meant for something a little more than common casual usage and try to introduce yourself anyway. Would I recommend them? Sure if you’ve got an inclination for doing casual sports like running or going to the gym or just to walk around in. But definitely not if you want to do something like Sasuke, Parkour or something with high dynamics. 

Chris Yang

The Merrell Vapor Glove

So my next shoe review is one of the most anticipated. It is the Merrell Vapor Glove. I was very excited to test these shoes for a lot of reasons and at the same time very skeptical. This is probably one of if not the most minimalistic shoe on the market that can still be considered an actual shoe. My first impression while pulling these out of the box was WOW they are incredibly light. The shoe has a true 0mm drop and a 0mm crush. the stack height meaning when it is crushed to it's lowest point from top to bottom is only 5mm. The upper is made up of a light weight mesh material that really has no rigidity or structure except for the built-in heel strap that helps lock your foot into the shoe. The Vibram rubber sole is ridiculously flexible. As you will see in the pics it can roll up inside itself and twist up two times. Its unreal. Before putting the shoe on I was actually concerned that the shoe was so minimalistic that it would be uncomfortable and really hard on my feet. My other concern would be about durability of the thin rubber wearing out quickly and also the ultra thin mesh upper. The shoe is designed to wear with or without socks. Of course the most minimalistic way would to be sock-less. But I've found that am just not comfortable not wearing them in a shoe. With these I decided to wear Injinji 5 toed socks to get the most out of the toe freedom of this shoe. I have to say I have come to love these socks. They help keep your toes from chaffing and also help prevent athletes foot. And for anyone that wears athletic shoes all day and is active all day like I am as a trainer knows that it's a constant battle. So these are a big help along with anti-fungal powder or spray.

Now for the first time slipping them on my foot. And again WOW! These things are like a glove... literally. They conform to your foot almost like a sock. Initially I just walked around in them and got a feel for them. As simple as this shoe is it's clear that Merrell has put a lot of engineering into it. It is actually extremely comfortable with just the right amount of cushioning under the foot. It really lets your feet do what they are designed to do and that's move and flex and WORK! Being that this is the most extreme barefoot shoe I've experienced I decided to ease into them slowly. I first just started wearing them around and doing light workouts in them. I was so surprised that my feet didn't even hurt after wearing them all day. Then I started getting in 1-2 mile runs to get used to them. Now this is the time to really take your time and really work and focus on your technique while running. Again I say WOW! I feel like I could run all day in these. They really force you to have good technique which in turn helps you run more efficiently. Then I started using them for more plyometric workouts and lateral movements. This is where the shoe didn't quite feel as strong. It could be that my feet muscles just aren't quite strong enough to take on the movements but I felt a little unstable at first. I have felt that it's getting better with time. 

And what about Ninja Warrior Training? Well as expected the Vibram sole has great grip on almost every surface. Although on Tempest's Warped Wall(which is painted and somewhat slick) it didn't feel as grippy as other shoes I've tested but it still gets you up the wall just fine. Another obstacle where it didn't feel as strong is the Hanging Doors. And it's not the grip that is the problem. The problem is it feels like your feet are going to peel out of the shoe. This is a drawback to the shoe being so flexible. Tightening the laces more does help but it makes the shoe a little more uncomfortable.

So the verdict on the shoe. It is a downright AMAZING shoe! I love these shoes. I feel like my feet are getting better and stronger by the day. As always the Vibram rubber sole is miraculous. With over a month of full abuse and some good miles on them the rubber hasn't even shown wear. The upper is actually holding up as well which I think wearing socks helps. I've seen some other people's Vapors and it seems that their toes wore through the mesh. I feel like the more I wear them the better they get and the more I like them. As far as Ninja Warrior Training goes I'm not fully confident. I still feel uneasy in some movements and obstacles and feel that some other shoes are a little better. But I think that with time I might like them more. So I would say this is yet another great option to wear to compete in. 

Tarzan Approved!

P.S. Just some tips on these shoes. As far as fitment goes I would recommend at least a full size down from what you normally wear. I almost feel like I could maybe even go down 1/2 size on mine. They will have the toe room in them but you also want the rest of the shoe to fit like a glove. The other thing is to take your time working into these shoes especially if you are new to minimalist shoes. These are extreme and your muscles will need to get accustomed to them.

What shoe is best for me?

What shoe is best for me? Well the American College of Sports Medicine put out an article that gives some answers to what to look for. Think of it as kind of a guideline for what to look for in a shoe. ACSM Shoe Guide.. click here. Thanks to VivoBarefoot for posting this. I encourage everyone to find places that have 90 return policies. A lot of running stores and online vendors have this, It is a great way to try a shoe and make sure it works for you. Sizing is not always so standardized especially from a traditional shoe to a minimalist shoe. I wear anywhere from a 9 to a 10.5. Everyone's feet are different and needs are different. But Shoes can't fix problems. That is not what they are intended for. Most people that have foot problems are either caused by the shoes they wear or actually are muscular or postural problems that probably aren't even in the foot such as tight posterior chain muscles or even over developed and unbalanced muscles. The fix is not orthodox or shoes with huge arch support. The answer is proper exercise, stretching and focusing on balancing your body(not having over developed muscles in one area or plane of the body). By balancing your body you will feel better, have less injury or pain, have better posture, and have much better athletic performance.

My ANW shoe of choice so far

Okay so the next shoe I'm reviewing is the shoe I'm currently using for Ninja Warrior Training. It is the New Balance Minimus 20v3 cross trainer. It of course is minimalist shoe that has a Vibram sole with a more flat bottom with hexagon shaped lugs. The upper is made up of mostly mesh that breaths great and has a lot of flexibility. It has built in support areas in the upper to lock you in. It has minimal cushioning and 4mm drop.

This shoe performs really well. New Balance has done an excellent job of creating an all around badass cross trainer. It is light weight and comfortable. I don't feel any weird parts of the shoe, so I forget they are there. Which in my opinion is how shoes should be. I am a personal trainer and when it comes to training and performance I expect a lot. These shoes deliver. They are super stable in every movement. And the grip on these are the best I've tested. As always the Vibram rubber is mostly responsible for that. But I think the tread pattern and flat bottom also contributes to it. I train hard in these shoes in the gym and Ninja Warrior Training and it performs perfectly. But unfortunately it's taken it's toll on the shoes. I wish I could say this is the perfect shoe but I can't. I am now on my 3rd pair of these in 4 months. The rubber sole on the first two pair decided to start to separate. In the shoes defense I abuse them in every way. I am seriously not easy on shoes. The other thing I don't like about the shoe is the 4mm drop from heel to toe. I prefer zero drop. But to be honest it doesn't effect me that much. All that being said... I love this shoe. As of right now it is the perfect overall shoe especially for Ninja Warrior. It is my shoe of choice for Ninja Warrior as of right now. I am testing other shoes right now and plan on testing more but as of now this is the top.

Tarzan Approved

This review is actually going to be a combination of shoes, New Balance shoes to be specific. A few years ago New Balance came out with there own barefoot/minimalist shoe line called Minimus. Most of the Minimus line uses the amazing Vibram rubber soles which as I stated in my Merrell Trail Glove review is extremely durable and has great grip. I first tried the MT20v2. This is a trail running shoe that has a mesh style fabric upper with a Vibram sole that has round knobs for traction on trails. I actually really liked this shoe overall. Again it did really well on all surfaces as far as grip goes. But it did feel a little unstable on hard surfaces especially in lateral movement. The other problem was that the shoes mesh upper cracked and split where the crease between your toes and the ball of your feet within a few weeks of use. I took these back to New Balance and they replaced them saying that it was a fabric flaw and it had been fixed. Well a few weeks later and the new pair did the exact same thing. So New Balance suggested I try the Minimus MT20 trail winter run. And I did. At first site it has a different upper than the MT20v2 which is water resistant and much thicker. This has proven to be a very durable shoe. It has a very similar Vibram sole with larger round knobs. The MT20 performed almost identical to the MT20v2. It has good grip on all surfaces but had the same unstable feeling that I attribute to the knob design sole.

So how do these perform in the Ninja Warrior arena? Well they are another great option. They have the grip needed for the course for sure which is probably attributed to the Vibram rubber. But my main gripe would be the lateral stability of the shoes. With obstacles such as the quad or 5 steps having that lateral stability is key. The slightest bobble or misstep and you're swimming. So my overall opinion is that these will get the job done but are not the perfect shoe.

So if you are reading my reviews from the beginning you will notice that I am starting to become a fan of anything with a Vibram sole. It is an amazingly grippy and durable rubber. So why not try the Vibram Five Fingers. Well I did try them on. I have wide feet and fat toes. This did not work for any of the models of five fingers in any size. So unfortunately I can not try these out. But I will have a veteran of ANW write up a review on his thoughts on them. He has run in them in multiple seasons and still uses them. Stay tuned for that review and my next review on the New Balance 20v3 cross trainer shoe.


Tarzan

The beginning.

I've been running without shoes since I was a child. I hated shoes. There was something about them that were constricting and that took away my freedom. When I had to wear shoes I've always preferred something without a "drop" or a raised heel. I always wore Converse Chucks, vans, addidas sambas and other shoes with a "flat foot" design. Mind you the Chucks and vans aren't the most anatomically friendly shoes but at least they weren't throwing your body out of alignment. I also was a wrestler growing up which meant wearing wrestling shoes with minimal cushioning under your foot and zero drop. I actually loved wearing these casually too. Move on to today and in the past few years the barefoot movement has begun. About 3 or 4 years ago I picked up my first pair of barefoot or minimalist shoes the Merrell Trail Glove which is where I will start my reviews. 

The Merrell Trail Glove is a zero drop shoe designed for trail and road running. It has a vibram sole with a rock plate in the ball area of the foot. The purpose of this is to protect the foot from rocks and debris from bruising the foot. Being the first version of the shoe the rock plate is a little stiff and takes some of the flexibility away. For me it wasn't a huge deal being this was the first true barefoot shoe I tried. The Vibram rubber is amazing! It is very grippy and insanely durable. These shoes are over 3 years old maybe even 4 and they still have hardly any wear. It also has a very tough upper. There is some venting but it does not breath that well. I tried the no socks thing but it was very sweaty and I wasn't comfortable that way but wearing socks the are comfy with now weird irritation areas. There is a new version of the Trail Glove that addresses the rock plate and the venting. I will be testing the new version later to give a comparison between the two. Merrell did put a antimicrobial material inside the shoe to try and keep odor and fungus away. 

Lets talk about the good stuff. How do these shoes perform. I have done everything in these shoes. They have run hundreds of miles, hiked through Hawaii's rivers and waterfalls, Thailand's jungles and beaches, Mountains and pretty much everything else. They are extremely durable and perform well in every environment I've put them in. Now one of the points of this blog is to test the shoes in the Ninja Warrior obstacles. Grip is a big factor on the course and many of it's obstacles. One obstacle that test the grip is the warped wall. Running up basically a 14 foot quarter pipe. The Trail Glove performs very well on this. The Vibram rubber and the design of the sole grabs the wall and sticks. It doesn't slip or give at all. Another obstacle to test would be the hanging doors. The teqnique to the doors is to grip the door with your feet clamping the flat part of the door while using hand and finger grip to transfer to the next board. I have found that having rubber from toe to heel without a split sole or exposed foam tends to help grip the best. The Trail Glove has this and does well on the doors and grips it very well as long as your technique is correct. I would say overall this is a great shoe for Ninja Warrior and for everything else you can throw at it. 

Tarzan Approved!

Introduction

Hello world and welcome to the Barefoot Tarzan blog. This is my blog to talk about shoes... Particularly barefoot or minimalist shoes. I'm a celebrity trainer in Hollywood as well as a competitor for American Ninja Warrior. I have been barefoot/minimalist for about 4 years now and will never go back. I won't get into all the reasoning and science behind the barefoot movement, there is plenty of information on the internet for that. I might go into some training tips from time to time though. I will be focusing on the performance of the shoes based on how I use them which is pretty abusive. I will give a lot of focus to Ninja Warrior specific training and the performance of the shoes on the obstacles.