Inov-8 Unveils World’s First Graphene Sports Shoes

GearJunkie traveled to Manchester, England, today for the launch of the inov-8 G-Series — the ‘world’s toughest’ sports shoes.

We were among the first people on the planet to set eyes on inov-8’s G-Series. It includes trail running and CrossFit shoes. The British brand states these are the only sports shoes on the planet with graphene-infused rubber outsoles.

Inov-8 G-Series: Durability With Graphene

If you’re fed up with spending your hard-earned cash on high-end, expensive, lightweight running and fitness shoes that wear out in the blink of an eye, the new G-Series should grab your attention.

Inov-8 believes its new collection of graphene-enhanced shoes with superior grip and hardwearing, lightweight properties are going to transform the sports footwear industry.

Michael Price, inov-8 product and marketing director, explains, “Prior to this innovation, off-road runners and fitness athletes had to choose between a sticky rubber that works well in wet or sweaty conditions but wears down quicker, and a harder rubber that is more durable but not quite as grippy.

“Through intensive research, hundreds of prototypes, and thousands of hours of testing in both the field and laboratory, athletes now no longer need to compromise.”

Through its exclusive collaboration with graphene experts at The University of Manchester, inov-8 developed a rubber outsole that lasted more than 1,000 miles in testing. The brand claims it’s 50 percent stronger, 50 percent more elastic, and 50 percent harder wearing than standard rubber.

An additional benefit of creating a product that’s built to last is that it increases the lifespan of the shoe. This should translate into reducing excessive consumption and waste.

Graphene: The Magic Ingredient

Nobel Prize-winning wonder material graphene lies at the heart of this industry-changing technology. The strongest and thinnest material on Earth, graphene is super lightweight, 200 times stronger than steel, and exceptionally versatile.

From sportscars and medical devices to electronics and airplanes, tens of thousands of graphene-enhanced prototypes are currently being developed across a wide variety of industries. And inov-8 adds sports footwear to this considerable list with its G-Series.

Inov-8 Launches 3 New Shoes

The new G-Series is made up of three pioneering lightweight sports shoes. The Mudclaw G 260, above, is ideal for muddy mountain running and Tough Mudder-esque obstacle courses. Inov-8 designed the Terraultra G 260, below, for long-distance running on hard-packed trails.

Finally, the F-Lite G 290 is a fitness shoe for CrossFitters and gym enthusiasts.

All three shoes employ a graphene-enhanced rubber outsole and a bulletproof Kevlar upper.

Graphene: The Future of Shoes

The launch of G-Series marks the beginning of inov-8’s massive commitment to graphene. CEO Ian Bailey has big plans for the future.

“We’re combining science and innovation together with entrepreneurial speed and agility to go up against the major sports brands — and we’re going to win,” he said.

Bailey said the project will not stop at rubber outsoles, with graphene leading a “footwear revolution” at the brand.

“This is a four-year innovation project which will see us incorporate graphene into 50 percent of our range and give us the potential to halve the weight of running/fitness shoes without compromising on performance or durability,” he said.

The G-Series will be available to preorder on June 22 and will go on sale on July 12. If the brand’s claims hold true, the material should make waves in the footwear industry.

We’re running in the trail shoes this week. We’ll report back soon with our first impressions of what could be a remarkable new footwear technology.