f-lite 311 Shoe Review by Mark Lundblad

I received a wear test pair of the new f-lite 311’s a few weeks ago. Since then I have put a 100 miles or so on them and for the most part I give this shoe a thumbs up.


The f-lite 311 basically replaces the old f-lite 301. It is listed under the “Urban Running” or “Parkour” category in the catalog and website. However it is also a nice longer distance road shoe and off-road shoe, providing the surface is not muddy or too soft. The F-lite 311 has the 3 Arrow Shoc-Zone (9 mm differential in height from heel to forefoot). The highest is the 4 Arrow Shoc-Zone (12 mm differential) which was found in the older f-lite 301. The f-lite 311 weighs in at 311grams or 10.9 oz and has a sticky rubber outsole (flat outsole- non lugged). The last in the f-lite 311 is our comfort fit and is quite roomy. It also comes with our 6mm footbed. I would assume the slight weight gain in the f-lite 311 compared to the f-lite 301 is due to the upper having more material then it’s predecessor and a roomier last.

I ran most of the wear test miles on the roads under some pretty hot and humid conditions. I enjoyed the sticky rubber grip especially when the roads were wet. I experienced a much-improved ride over the f-lite 301. The 3-arrow Shoc-Zone felt perfect for my mid-foot strike. The 311 had just the right amount of cushioning, while the 4-arrow f-lite 301 felt too cushy and soft for my taste. Because I have a high volume foot I appreciated the wider last. On dry trails the f-lite 311 felt great as well and actually felt pretty stable. I attribute this to the extra material comprising the upper, as it holds the foot into place quite nicely without feeling too tight. I also enjoyed the lacing system which was easy to adjust to meet my needs. The look of the shoe is pretty cool and the white inov-8 logo really pops out with the darker black background.

The only drawback I had with the f-lite 311 was its lack of breathability, a problem in warmer weather. The upper that helps protect and keep the foot stable does not allow the foot to breath as much as I would like under hot and humid conditions. The summer months in NC were probably not the best time for wear testing. Running on hot pavement in mostly black colored shoes with lots of material (the shoe has a suede-like feel) in the upper can start to take its toll.

I recommend this shoe to anyone who appreciates a roomy fit and would like to see what our shoes feel like on the roads. Due to this roomy fit I wear a US men's 11.5 in this model where as other inov-8 models I've needed a size 12. I’ve worn many roclite models on the roads but the flat outsole in our f-lite models is an even better option. Expect a slightly quicker wear if you do choose this shoe for lots of road miles due to the sticky rubber outsole. The MSRP of the f-lite 311 will be around $105.00 and it will be available in a couple weeks (mid-August). For now I’m going to save these shoes for the cooler months.