New Balance Minimus

[jbell]

I am looking at the Minimus 10 Trail, or the Minimus 20v2 Trail shoes. I am checking to see if anyone has any real time in the shoes. I will be using these as a multi-use shoe, in the gym weght traning, on the treadmill, stair climber ect. I will also be running outside on roads, sidewalks, and trails. I run from 3 to 10 miles at a time and hold a 6.5 to 7.5 min pace depending on conditions (warm summer days to snowing in the single digits and all in between). The lack of insullation is no big deal for me b/c last year I was doing this in my VFF with no socks. I will also use these shoes in at least 3 Tough Mudders this year so they need to hold up well. I think they will give enough traction and should drain well but am concerned about how they will last. So what have those who own some seen as far as durability? I have read on the WWW that some are getting good life out of them and that others are not, its kinda been a mixed bag of
durability results.

I would also appreciate any suggestions of other shoes that have worked well for you in these applications. My requirements are they must be durable, light weight, drain well (at least not GoreTex linned or similar), have a 4mm drop or less, and would like them to not be too flashy in color. Thanks!

 

[zombeez4brekfast]

Re: New Balance Minimus

Minimus 1010s are nice. I have 2 pair since I my sister who is a NB shoe designer got me a sweet discount. Ive only had them a few months and are my dedicated gym/running shoes. They are holding up pretty well so far.

 

[Bonjourjr]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I dont have any time in the new balances but have quite a few miles in merrel road gloves and trail gloves. They are pretty similar to the NB. I looked at both shoes and decided on the merrels because I like the look and feel a bit more.

 

[jbell]

Re: New Balance Minimus

7.62, I am looking at the Trail Gloves also. I just like the look of the NB a little better.

 

[tiNdvenTFHwMdqKW]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I was going to get some Minimus but ended up with Altra:

http://www.altrazerodrop.com/

You may want to try them out too.

 

[Bonjourjr]

Re: New Balance Minimus

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PBinWA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was going to get some Minimus but ended up with Altra:

http://www.altrazerodrop.com/

You may want to try them out too.</div></div>

I just checked out the altras and they look bad ass. I might have to pick up a pair and put some miles on them.

 

[jbell]

Re: New Balance Minimus

How much padding does the Altra The Suprior have in the ball/mid foot area? That is one of my problems is that I have a good mid foot to ball strike and after a few back to back extended runs on the road I can develop a bruise on the ball of my foot.

I went this afternoon and compaired the NB Minimus and the Merrell Trail Glove. I looked both over and the Merrell blew the NB out of the water as far as quality of MFG. The two seemed to offer similar design features, light mesh uppers with a rubber sole that offers little pading. Both shoes seemed to have a decent tread design so both should offer good traction. Then I tried each of them on (one on one foot and one on the other) and ran a little. After about 1/20th of a mile I stopped and took the NB off and put the other Merrell on. The NB did not fit my foot well at all and the Merrell felt like it was custom made for me. Also the NB just felt cheep. Needless to say I cam home with the Merrells. However after seeing the Altra's I am intrested in them.

I am going to put a few miles on the Merrells at 0430 in the AM and then a few hours on them in the gym. Ill report back tomorrow evening. Thanks for all the input so far!

 

[superde]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I've worn out 1 pair of the MT10 trails and 1 pair of NB Minimus zeros. Both were used for trail runs but mostly road running and gym work. Both blew out the sidewalls at about 600 miles. I don't feel that they wore out too fast since I've had Nike free's and others give out sooner.

I'm currently running in another pair of NB min zeros and a pair of the trail zeros (which have absolutely no padding other than the rubber nubs). They fit my foot well, and I like them. But I haven't put them through a tuff mudder. I will be putting a pair through the Beserker games in October, which will be 17 miles of mud and obsticals.

 

[jbell]

Re: New Balance Minimus

Well I put a few miles on the Merrells today. I have to say I like them a lot! They fit very well as I said before. I love the lace system, the loops for the laces are attached to these bands that run down around the side of your foot and pull the shoe around your mid foot. This makes for a very secure fit. My foot did not move or slide around at all in the shoe today. I had a leg work out after my run this morning and they are as good as the VFF for that sort of thing. Your feet always feel planted with more than enough traction. When squatting or leg pressing you are able to get a good drive off your heel like when barefoot and still have the fore foot to stabilize with. I am looking forward to getting back into the bare foot running thing again. Its amazing how week your feet and calves get when using conventional shoes even a minimual drop (4mm) that I was in. So I got some conditioning to do, again...

 

[rockrat]

Re: New Balance Minimus

daily running/lifting et. al.
http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-View-FLite-195-Yellow-Green-Red-US.html?L=27

cold weather/wet trail running:
http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-View-Roclite-318-GTX.html?L=27

they have a huge line of products. I like them way better than the minimus and the vff. check 'em out: http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-Catagory-SelectUS.html?L=27

 

[tiNdvenTFHwMdqKW]

Re: New Balance Minimus

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much padding does the Altra The Suprior have in the ball/mid foot area? That is one of my problems is that I have a good mid foot to ball strike and after a few back to back extended runs on the road I can develop a bruise on the ball of my foot. </div></div>

I went with Altra's after 3-4 months of barefoot and huarache running so they seem like they have a lot of padding to me.

My feet were getting too cold and the pain of rough surfaces over time was becoming a limiting factor to my speed and distance.

I'm not a great runner though - maybe in time I will get better but I am an endomorph and not really built for running. I just found that I was able to run "better" barefoot and actually enjoyed it. When the winter finally pushed me to look for shoes I started trying different types. The Altra's just felt right to me. They have a wide toe box which I need since I really try to spread my toes while running. The zero drop was also important since I was already used to it from barefoot running.

If you can find a store that carries them then I would recommend giving them a test run. I tried all the other zero and near zero minimalist shoes and the Altra just seemed to fit right from the start.

 

[solvovir]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I like Inov-8s a lot. Ive used them in kne of my spartan races. Also like my La Sportiva's a lot. They are easier on my feet when doing long distances. Trying a pair of nike waffle racers currently.

 

[GrantA]

Re: New Balance Minimus

not sure about the mud situation but I suggest you have a test run in some Brooks Pure Projects. 3 different models, the Pure Cadence is for me and I love em! So much I bought a 2nd pair

 

[apache556]

Re: New Balance Minimus

Minimus are the best all around shoe I've had that have lasted the longest.

 

[DroidSniper]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I just started Crossfit and was recommended the NB Mt20's The showed up today but I wont have them in time for today workout. Monday should be their first use Ill report back then.

 

[DroidSniper]

Re: New Balance Minimus

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: solvovir</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like Inov-8s a lot. Ive used them in kne of my spartan races. Also like my La Sportiva's a lot. They are easier on my feet when doing long distances. Trying a pair of nike waffle racers currently. </div></div>I have read the Inov-8's run narrow so I went with the new balance and order the EE width.

 

[jbell]

Re: New Balance Minimus

I have a pair of Brooks Pure Flows and have many miles in them. I got them to wear whial recovering from a bad bruise on the bottom of my foot I got on a LONG! trail run in VFF. They are very nice shoes, and fit well. However for the best quality traning for endurance all around a true minimulst shoe like the VFF, Minimus, or the Merril Trail gloves have no substitute. I was amazed at how out of shape my lower 1/4 legs and feet were from having 6 months or so out of the VFF. I really like the Trail Golves so far.