Minamilist Shoe Replacement Question

You would want to replace it for several reasons:

1. the rubber was worn off.

2. the midsole is flattened uneven it the impact areas of your foot.

3. the upper is falling apart.

4. you are sick of the style of shoe.

Other than those reasons, keep running.

I usually replace mine between 900 and 1000. The reason I do so is because there are so many tears in the upper and they smell so bad that even my dog doesn't want to be in the same room.

I never notice it at the time, but when I get new ones I realize that the midsoles were much more worn than I'd realized and there were depressions in the impact areas.

I tend to do the majority of my training in more minimalist shoes (Katana, Streak XC, Mayfly...Occasionally in the marathoner). For me personally, the upper starts to break down and rip at about 400 miles, and the treat on the forefoot region becomes demolished. I also tend to notice that after that amount of mileage, if I do runs on gravel roads, the ball of my foot gets pretty beaten up.

If you can get 900 miles without the upper falling apart more power to you.

Does the marathoner tend to be a little thicker than most flats that are similar to the tiger paw?

The marathon is thicker, and also is a little less flexible. I've found that on really high volume weeks (especially if a lot of mileage is done on the roads) that I need to do the majority of my easy mileage in them to recover properly.

Do you find the Marathoner's higher heel awkward? The Marathoner's heel-to-forefoot drop is at least 10mm, while the Katana's is 7mm, the Streak XC's is 8mm, and the Mayfly's is 8.5. I like the Katana the most. The Mayfly fits me the best, but is too soft, is not as flexible, and has a higher heel.

I've gotten over 1000 miles on a pair of H Streets. The lateral side of the forefoot started to wear through. On another pair, the upper started to rip near that area. I just started wearing the Katanas, and I doubt that they'll last very well.

Anyone know how the Brooks T4 compares with the Katana in terms of fit and feel?

The T4 is similar, but has a more durable upper. The tread on the bottom tends to rip off around 300+ miles though. It's a good shoe if you are a predominantly forefoot striker (as most minimalists tend to be).

The marathoner does have a higher heel, but frankly sometimes my legs just need a break from the constant pounding that comes with really high volume on pavement. I do believe minimalism is a great way to strengthen the muscles, but doing it all the time tends to leave me a little too wrecked for my workouts.

I shoe goo the outsoles on my Nike Triax TC (+) so they last as long as I needed but the uppers start ripping to pieces around 750 miles. Most I ever got out of a pair was 900 or so.

Get some Loco Banditos.

i have a pair of tiger paws w/ over a thousand miles.

the uppers are pretty much finished but i still like to run in them once in a while.

I ran in the banditos and i hated them.

the outsole was one piece, and the midsole was die-cut and was about as flexible as the old nike air durham. the sockliner was glued in and the midsole was extremely thick. absolutely NOT as minimalist as the rest of the shoes mentioned.

the commodore 64 of running shoes.

Been lost regarding shoes of late - but I just realized I've been in the Mayflys for months now - same pair. That 100K stuff is bogus. Previously was in the Streak XC and T4 - have to say I prefer the Mayfly - hope it continues in the same mode...

Obviously the mayfly isn't done after 100k. I have gotten 400 miles on one pair before the upper completly split down the outside of my foot. Usually they rip when I sprint quickly after they have a lot of use. Great shoe.

The Marathoner is flatter in terms of drop compared to the tigerpaw...At least it doesn't feel as tilted. Its great for running flat footed or ball heel....less annoying heel counter also!

Well, it's good that they make lots of different shoes because everyone has different tastes. I ran in the Mayflys last night and shelved them again. They are way too soft for me. I much prefer the Katanas, which are firmer, have a 7mm vs. 8.5mm heel-to-forefoot drop,, and feel more natural to me. I do like how the Mayflys fit my feet, though. I agree, however, that the Mayflys are good for well over 100K.

I was surprised to read that the Marathoners look lower in the heel than the Tiger Paws. I've never tried the Marathoners, but they look high heeled and stiff. I'm still thinking about trying the T4s so I'd appreciate any thoughts about them prior to my finding and trying them.

Ran in tons of T3s and several T4s - I preferred the T3s cause of the minimal upper - no superfluous overlays and stitching. They kind of ruined that w/ the T4 upper. The midsole being the same (there is no outersole to speak of, just paint), the ride is good. They squash down quickly, so you can feel the road after several weeks of wear. I liked the fit of the shoe: snug heel and midfoot, w/ plenty of forefoot room - but not sloppy. Just wish they'd go back to a seamless upper w/ no overlays. Brooks is big on those.

One thing about the T4 I dislike is the higher heel cup. It seems to press into my achilles more, and in the winter that area tends to chafe, crack, and bleed. The T4 doesn't seem to help that section heal. I had to saw off about half an inch of the heel to make them comfortable.

Just an addition.

One last inquiry for Sooner and Blank_: How curved are the T4s compared to the Katana and Mayfly (which is a little straighter than the Katana), and is that prominent arch obtrusive (I probably could use a little support there, but I'm moving up from many miles in the H Streets so arch support and higher heels causes me some hesitation)? Thanks for helping me.

You say that the Marathoner is flatter than the Tigerpaw? That's interesting since the Marathoner is a heavier shoe. I've held it but never worn it. It always seemed pretty substantial to me.

What I'm really looking for in a training shoe is something that is minimalist in terms shape (no medial support, no major heel forefoot drop, heel counter that isn't too noticeable) but still has a bit of cushioning. I find that, although I've reaped the strength and health benefits minimalist training, I recover quite a bit better when I run on more cushioned shoes. Sounds like I should give the Marathoner a try.

Katana wrote:

One last inquiry for Sooner and Blank_: How curved are the T4s compared to the Katana and Mayfly (which is a little straighter than the Katana), and is that prominent arch obtrusive (I probably could use a little support there, but I'm moving up from many miles in the H Streets so arch support and higher heels causes me some hesitation)? Thanks for helping me.

The T4 is on a slightly curved last, but it is very narrow in heel, and then moderate width in the forefoot. It really has no arch support. I would call the T4 a heavier, softer katana. The upper is thicker, but the sole seems to break down faster. The grip is also less well done than the katana. Not a bad shoe for easy runs.