What are the best minimalist shoes?
Factors (for me, anyway):
They keep you uninjured
Comfortable
Last long
Cheap
Also, any other factors that other people find important? Or more important than the ones I listed?
And for those of you who wear minimalist shoes: Do you wear orthotics with them?
The point of minimalist shoes is to not use orthodics. It will be tough to say that a minimalist shoe will not get you injured if you are used to running with a lot of support. But, best of luck!
nike zoom streak xc II
reply wrote:
orthodics.
I just recently went to a minimalist shoe, slowly trying to adjust in them and nope not wearing any inserts or orthotics.
Curious, how long did it take to adjust? and was your feet or calves sore?
When I switched, it took maybe 4 months to completely adjust. I went slow. Started off running in my normal shoes, with a morning run (20min) of barefoot and a morning run in my new shoes. Then slowly started adding more runs with my new shoes, and also a little bit of barefoot.
I used orthotics in my shoes though.
Saucony Kilkenny XC flat. Have almost 1000 miles on the ones I'm wearing now and they cost $40 and don't look creepy like the five fingers.
Mizuno Wave Universe. I run 1/5 to 1/4 of my miles barefoot, and have also owned the Five Finger KSOs. The Wave Universe are definelty the perfect minimalist shoe. In fact, I do not recommended the Vibrams at all. Maybe for walking until your feet get strong. By the time that I found the right size, I was already able to run on gravel barefoot ...
Adidas adiZero Rocket
http://www.runningwarehouse.com/sneakpeek.html?ccode=SNEAK107
minimalist shoes wrote:
What are the best minimalist shoes?
Factors (for me, anyway):
They keep you uninjured
Comfortable
Last long
Cheap
Also, any other factors that other people find important? Or more important than the ones I listed?
And for those of you who wear minimalist shoes: Do you wear orthotics with them?
Dude, wearing orthotics with minimalist shoes is like wearing normal clothes over your halloween costume. It defeats the purpose. The whole idea of minimalism is to NOT wear orthotics and shoes with similar characteristics. It's like a smoker trying to quit smoking by smoking more.
I'm also looking for suggestions. I'm looking for something in the 5-6 oz range that's not too narrow and will last.
Thanks.
Most racing flats are good, but some have too much heel and support. I've been a minimalist for about 2.5 years now and my favorite shoe is the Nike Free 3.0. I am currently wearing these for running and the 5.0 for regular, all day walking around shoes.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Most racing flats are good, but some have too much heel and support. I've been a minimalist for about 2.5 years now and my favorite shoe is the Nike Free 3.0. I am currently wearing these for running and the 5.0 for regular, all day walking around shoes.
I've had both Frees and they are not that good. The 5.0's heel height is out of control. The Kilkenny doesn't have much heel and no support. You can easily put a Kilkenny in your hand, close your hand and the shoe will curl up easily and flex in the middle of the shoe. That's the difference with the Kilkenny and most other racers is that it's extremely flexible. Most flats will flex at the ball of the foot but in the middle of the shoe it's rigid. The Kilkenny flexes all over.
You people don't have to go totally minimalist to derive benefit. A well constructed marathon racing shoe (like the Asics DS Racer) should suit your needs.
Remember, Nike ruined running in the 1990's with their line of "Air" shoes.
Running has not really recovered since.
PS. There is such a thing as going TOO minimalist...like the Puma H Street.
come on man wrote:
I've had both Frees and they are not that good. The 5.0's heel height is out of control.
I agree about the heel in the 5.0. That's why I don't wear them for running. What was the problem with the 3.0?
In my 30+ yrs of running, the 3.0 has proven to be ideal -unfortunately, I don't see them in the line-up for next year.
silly old fossil wrote:
PS. There is such a thing as going TOO minimalist...like the Puma H Street.
This is BS. The H Street is fine.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
come on man wrote:I've had both Frees and they are not that good. The 5.0's heel height is out of control.
I agree about the heel in the 5.0. That's why I don't wear them for running. What was the problem with the 3.0?
The first pair of 3.0s that I had were the last version. The shoe was really strange like a bootie almost and it ran really small. I ran in it for a week and got peroneal tendonitis pretty bad. The new ones are better but the heel is just too big for my liking. I also dislike the little bit of arch support in the shoe. I prefer none. I have arch problems, and if a shoe has any amount of arch support my arches hurt. I like the Kilkenny and I'm sticking with it.
I have a high arch and teh Nike Free 3.0s work just great for me, YMMV.