Shoe Review: New Balance Trail and Road Minimus



 Over the course of the last few weeks, I have been uber-blessed to have a first-hand sneak peak at the long awaited line of New Balance Minimus shoes; specifically, the Road and Trail Minimus.  It would be an understatement to say how pleased I am with the designers and company as a whole for what they have churned out; not to mention how these shoes will positively add to the high demand of the "less is more" approach many people (including myself) have been adopting within the past few years in regard to what they will or will not place on their feet when running.  With that said, here is a basic summary of my experiences so far running in the New Balance Road and Trail Minimus.  Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

New Balance Road Minimus

No-Hands Bridge, American River Confluence, Auburn, Ca.  Photo: Chris Ross



Overall Feel and Performance

Even with the Road Minimus weighing in at about 8oz (for a size 9) and a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, this shoe felt as comfortable as any "beefy" road shoe I've ever worn.  With no insole and virtually no chunk of heel back there, in my first run in these babies, I could immediately sense a positive ground-feel in my running.  Such advantages give you not only better form, but more control over your running, which equates to fewer injuries, increased efficiency, and in my opinion, a more enjoyable experience.

I've run both sock-less and with socks and personally favor sock-less running to allow my feet to breathe a little more.  I haven't had any blisters so far (I've run maybe ten times and about 100 miles in them) which is a good sign as that is the first test for my feet initially.

In addition to the obvious roads, they perform really well on the trails too.  With minimal cushioning, I could feel the trail significantly more, yet there was still enough cushioning to where my foot wasn't painfully pierced by rocks.  They performed on the roads as I expected, giving me a light, fast feel.

Overall Conclusion

This is the first purely road minimalist shoe I have ever worn (so I can't really compare it to the Nike Free), but am hands down stoked about this shoe.  It has done everything I thought it would and more.  Even with the minimal support, the shoe still feels as every bit comfortable and cushy.  I've run in what I consider a lot for testing out a shoe and haven't had any issues.  If I were to pose a complaint, it would be that I wish I could log 400-500 miles in this shoe without it breaking down, but somewhere in the vicinity of 250-300+ miles is to be expected from a minimalist shoe.  Other than that, I am one extremely satisfied runner.



Photo: Chris Ross

 Who would I recommend these for? 

- Someone light, efficient, and who already possesses good form

- Someone looking for a stellar cross-country or track racing shoe

- Someone interested in trying out a minimalist-type shoe

- Someone who just enjoys walking

- Someone who has already adapted to a previous minimalist shoe and looking for something different to try

- Someone who needs a little more protection and support than the Vibram Fivefingers can offer

- Someone fed up with their everyday trainers and looking for a lighter shoe to give them a faster feel

- Someone who has tried the Nike Frees and wants to give the New Balance Road Minimus a shot

- Someone who wants to improve their form, strengthen their legs muscles, and enhance their bio-mechanics

New Balance Trail Minimus

Western States Trail, Auburn. Photo: Chris Ross

Overall Feel and Performance

As soon as I slipped these on for the first time, my feet said, "Thank you."  I am probably most excited about these shoes when compared to the road minimus, obviously because I am partial to trail-running.  However, the Trail Minimus literally fit like a glove on my foot.  The midsole felt snug, I had adequate toe room and above all, had the desired barefoot feel, but with quality protection.

My first run in these was over asphalt, grass, and rocky terrain.  They performed well on each and unlike my fivefingers, when I ran over a rock, I didn't feel the usual "ouch" I am used to.  Vibram did a great job creating a superb outsole on this shoe.  I still have a highly-desired natural feel underneath my feet, but I was very pleased to have much needed protection as well.

I think what I love most about this shoe is the natural performance, I feel like my feet are allowed to have free-reign.  At times, it was hard to believe I was wearing shoes.  Like the Road Minimus, it is lightweight (7.5 - 8oz) with a minimal heel-to-toe drop (4mm).  Again, you can expect not only good ground-feel, but better form, more control over your running, a light feel, and the freedom your feet need to perform the best they can.  I've run in them both sock-less and with socks, and again, thankfully have not developed any blisters which is a major plus!

Photo: Chris Ross

Overall Conclusion

I literally cannot stop wearing this shoe.  If I am not running in them, I am wearing them as an everyday walking shoe.  I just cannot get over how natural and glove-like they feel on my feet.  The only downside to this shoe is that I can't run in them as much as I would like!  Why? Because there is even more minimal support than the Road Minimus, therefore, logging tons of miles in this shoe would not be wise.  It definitely seems more like a recovery day type shoe to still give you the barefoot feel and benefits, which means, shorter runs seem to be ideal for this shoe.  I'm sure you could build up to doing longer runs, but it may not be worth the potential for injury.  I would also be careful when running over super-rocky terrain.  Standard rocks seem to not be an issue, but I can imagine repeatedly running over more jagged rocks might not feel so good.  All in all, the best shoe I have ever worn in terms of feel.

Photo: Chris Ross

Who would I recommend these for?

- Someone light, efficient, and who already possesses good form


- Someone looking for a stellar cross-country and/or track racing shoe


- Someone interested in trying out a minimalist-type shoe


- Someone who just enjoys walking


- Someone who has already adapted to a previous minimalist shoe and is looking for something different to try

- Someone who needs a little more protection and support than the Vibram Fivefingers can offer

- Someone who is a little hesitant running completely barefoot on the grass and wants more foot protection

- Someone who wants to improve their form, strengthen their leg muscles, and enhance their bio-mechanics



Western States Trail, Auburn. Photo: Chris Ross


Caution


With any minimalist shoe, allowing your body/muscles/tendons/ligaments/bones/joints time to adapt is crucial. Easing into these types of shoes will help prevent or lessen any prolonged soreness or potential injury.

Here is a warning that New Balance will provide with every minimus shoe they sell:

Caution: This product increases the strain on the foot, calf, and Achilles tendon. Overuse of this product or use of activities outside of running and walking may increase the risk of sustaining injury.


This product should be introduced slowly into a running exercise routine. New Balance recommends limiting initial use to 10% of overall running workouts and very gradually increasing training time and distance.


When Can I Get Them?

March 2011.  Just 3 weeks away and I can guarantee, you will love these shoes as I thankfully have!  Enjoy them and if you are curious where to go to find them, my good friends at New Balance Roseville would be happy to serve you in any way they can.  You can even find New Balance Roseville on Facebook.


Here is a short and simple video on good running form: