Podcast: Inov8's Wayne Edy on Women's Footwear Design

Carol Crooker interviews Wayne Edy, founder of Inov8, about design considerations for women's footwear.

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by Carol Crooker | 2007-01-27 03:00:00-07

Inov-8, the UK shoe company, built their line based on the conviction that the foot should control the shoe instead of a stiff shoe controlling the foot.

As a result their shoes are very light and flexible yet provide just enough support – given that you choose the right shoe for the job and that you gradually build up your not-used-to-this-kind-of-freedom feet. Women have loved the shoes and their fit even though only unisex sizes have been offered since the company’s launch in 2003.

Wayne Edy, Inov-8 founder, believes that may be because the shoes are designed with a precise heel fit and women tend to have narrower heels. Next fall, the three most popular Inov-8 models (flyroc, terroc, and roclite) will also be available in women specific designs.

The changes from the unisex design are subtle but may help even more women enjoy these popular shoes. The main difference is a slightly lower cut to accommodate women’s lower ankle bones. The three models also sport colors intended to be more appealing to the feminine eye.

Wayne stresses that the most important factor is function and that feet vary widely. For that reason, Inov-8 lasts vary slightly among shoe styles. He recommends you try on several styles suitable to your needs to see which feels best on your foot. Don’t be shy trying on the shoes of the opposite gender – go with what works for you.

New women’s models for fall 2007:

Terroc 308*
Trail running and walking shoe ideal for hard surface tracks and trails.

Flyroc 288*
High performance lightweight trail and adventure racing shoe ideal for off road and mixed terrain use with good grip in grass and muddy conditions.

Roclite 282*
Ultra distance and off road running shoe ideal for training and long distance running.

All models available in womens' sizes 6-11.

* The name refers to the tread style and the number refers to the weight of a US size 9 shoe in grams.

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"Podcast: Inov8's Wayne Edy on Women's Footwear Design," by Carol Crooker. BackpackingLight.com (ISSN 1537-0364). http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/podcast_wayne_edy_inov8_womens_footwear.html, 2007-01-27 03:00:00-07.

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Forum Index » Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007 » Podcast: Inov8's Wayne Edy on Women's Footwear Design

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Ryan Jordan
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Podcast: Inov8's Wayne Edy on Women's Footwear Design on 01/28/2007 00:59:50 MST

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