I am a college runner who runs anywhere from 50-75 miles a week and I'm getting new shoes soon and I was wondering if the Nike Free's would be a good choice to get? If not what shoe would be good for someone who runs a decent amount of miles and is looking for a minimalist shoe?
There's tons of 'em - lots better than any of the frees, too. adi rockets, saucony A-4s, asics tarther & piranhas, mizuno mushas & universe, puma faas, brooks t6. Like a few others on these boards, I like the mushas - but it all depends on the fit.
Inov-8 F-lite 195 for roads and X-talon 190 for mud are also some good options. New Balance MT101 is a good choice if you run rocky trails and want protection from bruising.
LURunner....
Nike Free Run (8-ish oz) is a good place to start as you get the benefit of foot strengthening and natural motion without an extreme shift from most standard training shoes. Free Run heel/toe offset is 7.2mm vs. 10-12mm of most trainers.
Your other option is Nike 3.0 (6.5-7oz) which is even more minimalist and as close as Nike gets to true barefoot. Offsets are 4mm which gets you in the range of many 3K-5K racing flats.
Which you choose is a matter of personal preference and what your body is conditioned to adapt to. If you have a lot of racing/training miles in racing flats then the 3.0 won't feel too extreme. Be smart regardless of which you choose and gradually increase your weekly mileage in Nike Free. 0 to 50 miles in a week or two in Nike Free is not recommended.
I'm a college runner going about 75-90 per week and I train in the Lunar Racer. They are a little more traditional than the Free's but still weigh only about 7 ounces. I think they are perfect for what you are looking for.
LURunner wrote:
I am a college runner who runs anywhere from 50-75 miles a week and I'm getting new shoes soon and I was wondering if the Nike Free's would be a good choice to get? If not what shoe would be good for someone who runs a decent amount of miles and is looking for a minimalist shoe?
presumably, you aren't studying English at college?
Free's? I think you might mean Frees
LURunner wrote:
I am a college runner who runs anywhere from 50-75 miles a week and I'm getting new shoes soon and I was wondering if the Nike Free's would be a good choice to get? If not what shoe would be good for someone who runs a decent amount of miles and is looking for a minimalist shoe?
You definitely want the ones that come with an extra apostrophe. They're the best.
[Joke about apostrophes.]
If you are accustomed to neutral shoes and standard shoe offsets, then I recommend the Brooks T6. If you can handle going lower, the Tarther is a very durable shoe that can work on many surfaces. If you need some stability and don't mind going low, then the Musha is great. If you want something really light that is pretty normal for a shoe, then the Adios is a good option.