Have you ever seen an outsole and assumed that it would work on various different terrain types. The outsole is fashioned from a hardened rubber material and gives wearers what they need in order to function for what they need in to. The outsole on this shoe has a rather distinct design which is one of the main reason why the shoe is able to function for what they need it to do. Inov-8 gave the shoe a crossing pattern which enables it to give wearers a bit of traction while the shoe is in use. In addition to this, the heel and forefoot of the shoe has both grooves and added traction providing features which enable the shoe to provide wearers with adequate stopping power as well.

The midsole on this shoe is designed to give wearers adequate cushioning and support when they’re out and actually making use of the shoe. The design of the shoe makes use of EVA foam which enables the shoe to provide wearers with adequate support and comfort when they’re out and functioning in the shoe. Rather than give the shoe plain-old EVA foam, the foam in the design of this shoe features injection molded foam; this material allows the shoe to give the wearer what they’d need in terms of both comfort and also causes the material to be a bit more firm than that which you expect to get out of EVA foam. The firmness that the injection-molded material introduces to the shoe is what enables the shoe to be used for various activities.

The upper of the 215 has a design that's rather typical of many cross training shoes on the market nowadays. The shoe is designed from a mesh material that enables the shoe to provide wearers with a stable and breathable experience while in the shoe. Rather than designing a shoe with a complete mesh design, the 215 is equipped with a design with various types of materials incorporated. The design of the upper on this model features a synthetic cage around the forefoot that allows the shoe to provide wearers with security as well as prevents that portion of the foot from having to deal with injury. The toe area of the shoe is designed with extra perforations which allows the shoe to provide wearers with adequate airflow while in use.

One of the greatest things about this shoe being designed for use as a cross-trainer is that it features various materials that are meant to add very little weight to the design of the shoe. In total, the shoe weighs in at roughly 7.5 oz for a men’s size 8. Despite popular belief, the foam in the sole unit of the shoe doesn’t add very much weight to the shoe’s design; injection molded foam is typically known for adding a decent level of weight to the design of any shoe. The mesh in the design of the rest of the shoe is a porous material and doesn’t really work to add very much weight to the shoe’s design.

The great thing about this shoe is that it is also incredibly stylish. The shoe comes in various exciting colorways which allow it to be incredibly stylish. The blend of materials in the upper of this shoe is what allows it to give wearers what they need in terms of aesthetics. While the majority of the shoe is designed from a mesh material, there are also various different materials being used. The cage is a synthetic material that enables the shoe to provide wearers with adequate usage and also gives the 215 a bit of an edge style-wise.

The portions of the shoe that are designed from a mesh material allow it to provide wearers with adequate airflow and circulation while the shoe is in use. While the shoe’s majority is designed from a mesh material, there are certain portions that make use of a knit material. Areas such as the toe-box, for instance, are designed using knit materials and ensure that one of the major portions of the foot (the toes) are covered and don’t have to deal with large quantities of sweat accumulating in the shoe’s design. In addition to this, the cage incorporated into the shoe’s design doesn’t really do much to take away from the possible airflow provided by the shoe. The cage has various holes which make it a simple task for air to make its way into the shoe’s design.

Having a partially knit design is one of those things that will instantly provide wearers with comfort; it’s almost impossible for it not to. Consider the fact that the knit material ensures that wearers have what they need in terms of breathability. Along with that, the fact that the mesh material in the toe area allows them to stretch to the needs of the wearer’s foot. The fact that the shoe provides adequate room for toe-splay is incredible and means that these are a decent choice for any who would like to lift weights in this model. The cushioning in the midsole also provides wearers with adequate comfort; it’s not too cushioned but still conforms to one’s needs.

In terms of durability, the shoe both has and doesn’t have the qualities that one may need in this category. While the upper of the shoe and the midsole of the shoe will definitely last for a decent length of time and allow for adequate usage, the outsole is slightly lacking. If worn on the wrong terrain, the material used for the outsole will slowly wear and will cease to provide wearers with what they need in order to function (again, this is only if the shoe is worn on the wrong type of terrain). The rest of the shoe will definitely last for a substantial length of time solely because of the way that the shoe is put together. The midsole compresses slightly and provides wearers with what they need in order to function adequately and comfortably for a decent length of time. Typically, EVA is known to compress and lose its ability to bounce back over time. That doesn’t happen as quickly with this shoe.

Usually, when one sees a shoe with a design such as that of the 215, they assume that it won’t provide them with what they need in terms of protection; the design of this shoe definitely doesn’t follow suit. The cage along the forefoot of the shoe provides wearers with what they need in order to feel secure in the shoe. While it won’t protect one’s foot from say, a weight falling onto it, it will protect one from falling over unnecessarily while in the shoe. The extra grip in both the heel and forefoot of the shoe also enables it to provide wearers with a bit of protection from misplacing their feet.

EVA foam is known for being of the more responsive sort; the same goes for its injection molded variant. The design of the midsole in this shoe model allows wearers to have what they’ll need in terms of comfort and does so simply because of the fact that the material compresses slightly to conform to the curves of the wearer’s feet. In addition to the quirks native to the midsole, both mesh and knit materials are known for providing wearers with what they need in terms of responsiveness. Despite the fact that the shoe has a cage that runs along the forefoot, it doesn’t fully restrict the movements of the wearer’s foot. The material easily conforms and shifts, which makes it relatively simple for one to move in the way that they would like.

Well, a shoe designed using EVA is bound to provide wearers with some type of support, right? The IMF in the midsole is a bit firmer than that which is typical and allows the shoe to provide wearers with the support that they’d need during use. Inov-8 fit the shoe with added cushioning in the heel of the shoe which makes it a simple task for it to cradle the wearer’s heel and provide them with what they need in terms of support. The support provided by the shoe has a need that becomes apparent when using it for strenuous activities such as HIIT and weightlifting.

Well, this is a cross-trainer. That implies that this shoe will work for both a variety of activities and on a variety of terrains. With that being said, this shoe this shoe does work on various terrains; the only thing to pay attention to is the level of durability incorporated into the shoe’s outsole. The shoe will not provide wearers with the usage that they’d desire if they sought to wear the shoe on terrains such as roads and trails. If worn in the gym this shoe will definitely provide wearers with what they’d need and do so for an adequate length of time. The protection incorporated into the upper of the shoe allows it to provide wearers with what they’d need in terms of functionality on various terrains as well. A shoe with a simple mesh upper wouldn’t hold up as well as one with a cage such as this model.

Here’s the great thing about the 215, they are incredibly inexpensive. The price point of these shoes is something that allows them to provide wearers with what they’d need in terms of value; it does so immensely. A lot of things can be said about these shoes, their having an expensive price is not one of them. It was mentioned earlier in this review that these shoes would have a sole unit that doesn’t last for a very long time; the ow price point makes it so that the design of the outsole doesn’t really matter. They can be replaced quite easily.

The outsole is fitted with such an intricate display of lines and crosses that the shoe will manage to provide adequate grip despite the short life-span that the shoe has. The use of the tighter crossing in the heel and toe of the shoe gives them what they’d need in terms of functionality when the shoe is in use. It is a relatively simple thing for the shoe to provide wearers with what they’d need in terms of speed simply because of the grip provided by the shoe. For a cross-trainer to be truly functional, it must make movement a simple task; the grip must be transferable to various different terrains. That is exactly how the sole unit of the 215 is designed.

Both a mesh upper and a flex-groove imbued outsole ensure that wearers have what they need in order to function properly. The outsole may appear to be a solid piece of rubber but, when one takes a peek at the bottom they’ll see what’s really happening. There are various multi-directional and horizontal breaks in the material that allows the shoe to move to the need of the wearer’s foot. These breaks are especially present in the heel and forefoot area; they make it a simple thing to have improved transitions and a high range of motion while in the shoe.

While the shoe is incredibly comfortable, it does have a few stability aspects incorporated into its design. Things such as the firm aspect of the foam in the outsole and the cage and overlays in the upper allow the shoe to provide ample protection and stability while in use.

The drop in the 215 is roughly 8mm. The slightly below average drop incorporated into the shoe’s design allows it to improve a runner's transitions and may even make their stride a bit more comfortable than it already is.

- IMF midsole
- Knit upper
- Cage design
- Rubber outsole

The design of this shoe is something that goes far beyond what individuals typically expect from Inov-8. The 215 is both stylish and functional; which makes it a good choice for any seeking a design such as this. The low price point of the 215 also adds a certain level of value to the shoe’s design that makes it’s purchase something of an easy thing to rationalize.