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39 of 40 found the following review helpful:
 Perfect shoes May 30, 2011
By C. Bearg
"cpb"
I'll say at the start: I probably dont qualify as a real runner. I run once in a while, and I do lots of other things like the gym or cycling or rock climbing about six days a week.
So I wear many different shoes, and I'm evaluating them not as a barefoot running groupie but as an all-around athlete
I LOVE these shoes. They are among the best athletic shoes I've owned. They're light, flexible, supportive enough (I'm 6'2" and 195 pounds), versatile for running or gym. They're washable, which is terrific. The vibram soles grip as well as my sticky climbing shoes -- I think I might make them my new approach shoes when I hike to climbing routes.
Most of all, they just feel great. The folks designed these obviously put a great deal of thought into them and made some smarts decisions and trade-offs.
So, let's see, I can use these NB Minimus for running and the gym and lighter hiking. And I can wash them. And they look great. Can't ask for more than that.
22 of 23 found the following review helpful:
Wide-foot Friendly Minimalist Runner Jul 30, 2011
By Ernest A. Almazan
I am a soldier, and like CommoMP (previous reviewer for this product), I had moved exclusively to Vibram Five-fingers (V5F) for my athletic shoe. The Army's change of uniform policy also prompted me to purchase a good runner that would give me the same feel of V5F.
My first look at this product was in-store at a runner's boutique in downtown Columbus, GA, when I was at Fort Benning for airborne school. The constant plodding in my traditional pair of Pearl Izumis during our long morning runs had me longing for my V5Fs. I stumbled across the New Balance Minimus Trail during my initial research for a V5F-like traditional shoe, and I was impressed. However, I was not ready to commit to the NB Minimus until I got a good look at the Brooks Mach 12 spike-less, the only other shoe that caught my attention during my online search for a suitable shoe. I lost interest in finding a shoe after graduating airborne school, as no one carried the Mach 12.
But with the policy change, I ordered both the NB and Brooks online for comparison, as well as trying out minimalist shoes, like the Merrill barefoot series, that I could find in-store. The only shoe that would accommodate my wide foot was the NB Minimus. I had to go up a half-size from an 8.5 to a 9, with a little play in the heel cup, but I would have had to go up at least a full size in the other brands for a comfortable fit in the width (and significantly more play in the heel cup).
My first run was difficult at first, as I have a tendency to overdo the tension with laces (another reason why I love V5F). After two blocks, my right foot was throbbing. I thought this was due to the compression strap that runs across the upper at the toe box, but the problem was actually the lace tension at the very bottom of the lacing. Once I loosened them, and the lacing settled to comfortable tightness, I was able to complete the rest of my 2-mile run with no issues. The uppers stretched nicely, and the compression strap actually helped keep this flexibility from getting sloppy.
The feel of this shoe is not comparable to the barefoot feeling of V5F, but the feeling is closer to any other traditionally-styled shoe I've tried. I was a little concerned that having to wear socks with them for uniform purposes would be difficult given the design of the shoe, but my Injinji toe-socks fit in them quite well without being too snug. I would be interested to see if Point 6 socks would bring me closer to the barefoot feel; although, I did appreciate how the Injinjis reduced the friction of my toes cramped into a single compartment.
I highly recommend this shoe for V5F enthusiasts who must conform to a traditional shoe design. The NB is an excellent minimalist shoe for runners who have wide feet. Be careful and deliberate when breaking the shoe in to find the right snugness, and above all, heed the manufacturer's caution to go slow if you are new to barefoot running. My first run in V5F was for two miles on a treadmill, and I was out of commission for almost almost two weeks because my calf muscles were so knotted up.
Happy bare-footing.
19 of 21 found the following review helpful:
 Awesome shoe with one fatal flaw Aug 13, 2011
By J. Falcone
I've been barefoot running since 2005 and have tried a wide variety of shoes to fit the technique. The Minimus is a shoe with a fantastic fit (accurate to the size), good support, plenty of width and is light in weight. Its fatal flaw is rock protection.
The design of the sole has recesses that are magnets for rocks and, with less rubber in those areas, even a moderately sized piece of gravel can punch through and bruise your foot.
This may not matter to you depending on your route but if it has gravel, rocks or anything choppier than grass/dirt/hardpack, then you may want to seriously consider a shoe with more consistent protection.
You can see the recesses I'm referring to in the photos. Looks for the gaps between the disc-like pads. Rocks slot right into those gaps and have unfettered access to the bottom of your foot.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Glorious. I'm a convert! May 28, 2011
By Wayne A. Judkins
"wjudkins"
I'm not a super-runner. First 5-K last year, 26:36 at age 36. Overall athlete, run for fun and trying to get my son interested in the sport. Ran last year in a pair of traditional Brooks mid-line shoes (can't recall the name). A great salesperson at a local store turned me from casually interested into trying the 'almost barefoot' genre to walking out the store with these. For converts from traditional running shoes, only check these out if you are willing to change your gait to the midfoot-forefoot landing zone from the Nike-driven heel striking most people are accustomed to. Be ready for increased calf pain. Substantial. But it's a good pain, and building muscles that don't normally get a lot of work works for me. Heck, if I was a woman considering those ridiculous "Shape-UPs" type shoes, I would buy these first in a heartbeat!
Having run four times in these now, I don't know if I will ever go back. Without socks, they are still very comfortable. I don't run on trails, but on a lot of sidewalk. But this is still a great shoe for me. If I was looking at running longer distances, I think something with more cushioning would be called for. I'm already taking cold-water baths after every run b/c the calf and foot muscles are so much more stressed with this type of running, but expect that to subside as the muscles develop. The Vibram outsole is really outstanding and I expect long, long life. Otherwise, honestly, I wouldn't have been that interested in the shoe at the price point of a hundred bucks (gulp). But in this case, I'm glad to say you really do get what you pay for. Rumors already abound that the next Minimus trail will have less of a heel, and by then I should be ready to make that jump with them.
34 of 45 found the following review helpful:
 Great idea spoiled by poor sole pattern May 24, 2011
By Eric Ayars
I've been running "nearly barefoot" for years now, and I was really looking forward to trying these shoes. Comfort, weight, fit, and flexibility are all great, but there's one unacceptable flaw and that's the inconsistent sole density. The MT10s have a vibram sole, but instead of covering the entire sole, the vibram is in a silly 5/8" dot pattern. There's no reason for that, and the worst of it is there's a large gap in the vibram right at the strike point on the ball of the foot. This means that at that one critical impact point there's NOTHING between your foot and sharp rocks other than a bit of lightweight expanded foam rubber. 75 miles later, I have bruises on both feet and I'm switching back to my Saucony Kilkennys.
Very disappointing. If you run exclusively on smooth dirt trails, these would probably be great... but if you run exclusively on smooth dirt why bother with shoes at all? Here in Chico CA trail-running involves lots of small pointy rocks, and we need just a bit of rubber to spread the pressure out.
In short, these would be perfect if NB had put the same thickness of vibram across the entire bottom of the shoe rather than leaving a gap at the strike point.
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