2024 has seen us launch a radical new footwear collection across all three of our categories - Run, Walk & Gym - that headlines our first-ever rebrand.
The collection features the biggest and most exciting design enhancements in our history, stretching back to 2003. The first shoe unleashed from the new pack was the MUDTALON SPEED (for soft-ground trail running) in early January.
This was followed by the MUDTALON, the TRAILFLY and TRAILFLY SPEED (for hard-ground trail running), the BARE-XF and F-FLY (for gym workouts), then the ROCLITE GTX and ROCLITE MID GTX (for hiking).
More new shoes will continue to launch throughout the year.
All new footwear within the rebranded 2024 collection shares an exciting new foot-shaped fit that promotes a more natural feel and better foot health. Incorporated within the new shape are three new fits - Precision, Standard and Wide. All new shoes are available in one or two of these fits.
THE NEW SHAPE
The decision to change the shape of our footwear from 2024 onwards was driven by customer and athlete feedback, together with our desire to enhance the fit and promote a more natural feel to our footwear.
The new carefully crafted foot-shaped fit that features on all new INOV8 footwear hugs the natural contours of the whole foot. It locks in at the heel for a confidence-boosting, secure hold and widens at the toes to allow the feet and toes to function naturally and splay. This brings greater performance benefits and comfort levels for runners, walkers and gym enthusiasts. It also helps deliver better foot health, with toes having more space.
MUDTALON SPEED in Precision Fit (left) and Wide Fit (right)
Speaking at the turn of the year, our founder Wayne Edy said: “In 2024 and going forward, we will neither over engineer nor under engineer our products, in the strong belief that nature knows best. Our footwear will let your foot control the shoe, not the shoe control the foot.
“These new products and innovations will enable 'the flow' - that state of mind and feeling you get from sport and exercise when all distractions fall away, leaving nothing but the pure enjoyment of accomplishment.”
In our blog post 'Behind The Design of the MUDTALON SPEED' our Senior Footwear Designer Luke McConnie added: “The most prominent change for the new 2024 collection is the improved shape of the 'last' (the foot-formed mold used in crafting the shoe). After experiencing the fit and comfort of our new designs, you'll quickly see why it's real a game-changer.”
THE NEW FITS
The three new fits - all incorporating the new natural contouring foot-shape - are called Precision, Standard and Wide.
Precision Fit is the narrowest of the three in the heel and toe-box, with Wide Fit being the widest in both areas. Standard Fit sits in the middle, between Precision Fit and Wide Fit.
The fits roughly equate to the following commonly used width grades:
*Precision Fit - C (in the UK & EU) and D (in the US)
*Standard Fit - D (in the UK & EU) and E (in the US)
*Wide Fit - E (in the UK & EU) and EE (in the US)
It's also beneficial to measure both your feet in length and width before deciding which fit is best for you. Details on how to take these measurements can be found in our Size Guide. The guide also contains width charts upon which you can check your measurements against each of the three fits.
Not every new shoe will come in all three fits. Most of them will be available in one or, more often, two fits. This is dependent upon the type of activity and what we feel the end-user best requires to achieve maximum performance.
For hard-trail running, walking and hiking, we will have Standard Fit and Wide Fit options.
For fell running, soft-trail running and muddy running, we will have Precision Fit and Wide Fit options.
For gym workouts and functional training, we will have Standard and Wide Fit options.
Footwear in the range launched in 2023 or before will continue to be graded on the previous 1-5 width scale. Full details on this are in the Size Guide.
As a comparison, if you enjoy a shoe graded 1-2 on the older fit scale, then we recommend you choose a Precision Fit. If you like a shoe graded 3-4, we recommend considering a Standard or Wide Fit. For a shoe graded 5, look at our Wide Fit shoes.
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Behind The Design - MUDTALON SPEED