Minimalist running shoes

kateruns wrote:

Any recommendations on minimalist running shoes?

http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/becoming-minimalist-runners-shoe-that-is.html

Yeah, don't believe the hype.

I'm not sure I would classify the ASICS Gel-Lyte33 as a minimal shoe.

blogspam.

Hi Kate,

My recommendation would be the Invisible Shoe, soon to be called the Xero Shoe. I have been running in Invisible Shoes for over two years and love them. I transitioned to running barefoot 4 years ago, and currently run 80-100 miles a week.

I split this up about 50/50 between running barefoot and running in Invisible Shoes.

What I like about them is that they provide all the fun and benefits of running barefoot, while providing protection. The ground feel is amazing. I find them to be a great training tool as well.

I have tried some other minimalist shoes, but have not found anything that I think works as well as Invisible Shoes.

If you go to

http://invisibleshoe.com

you will find a wealth of very useful information.

I hope that helps.

Bill

They used to be called racers and I've still got a bump under my foot from wearing them on roads to much when I should have warm proper trainers

Thanks, Bill. I think I'm due here soon for an updated pair. I'll have to check these out!

I like the transition Altra Instinct/Intuition -> New balance Minimus Zero (take your pick of the one you like best) -> less than 10mm shoe w/ no support (like Altra Adam/Eve, Vibram, Vivobarefoot, etc.)

They all have they're pluses and minuses. Here's an extensive list of minimalist shoes (with accompanying reviews if you click on the shoe):

http://birthdayshoes.com/barefoot-shoes/#Minimalist_Shoes

ukathleticscoach wrote:

They used to be called racers and I've still got a bump under my foot from wearing them on roads to much when I should have warm proper trainers

I was reading the thread earlier on 'Plantar fasciitis options":

on which some were advocating wearing minimalist shoes, which is a bit like saying don't put a splint or cast on a fractured leg/arm, strengthen it and it'll heal itself, doesn't make sense.

Got me thinking about all the problems we used to get before we had any choice but to wear minimalist shoes i.e. Onitsuka Tiger G9's and Montreals and all the problems that went with them, PF, Chondromalacia (runners knee), archilles problems etc. We still get them of course, but I have noticed, and a couple of physios I know have also, all those wearing the minimalist shoes are now getting a lot more that every one else.

Out of interest I did a Google search on G9's:

and what should come up near the top from LetsRun.com "those flimsy racing flats helped me get to a bad case of plantar fasciitis", Page 5, 6th post down, 70's old timer, and this was before the minimalist fad.

and here are the G9's:

Forget all the minimalist BS, someones money making out of it, get a decent pair of running shoes with the correct support in all areas for you.

Moronic wrote:

and what should come up near the top from LetsRun.com "those flimsy racing flats helped me get to a bad case of plantar fasciitis", Page 5, 6th post down, 70's old timer, and this was before the minimalist fad.

Here tis:

Check out the website Lunasandals.com They make pretty cool sandals with different types of straps and sole thickness to choose from. IF you get the sandals with thick soles, they can even be used for super burly trail running. Make sure to be careful about transitioning over to minimalist footwear. After I got my luna sandals i was super excited and started training in them a lot and injured my calf muscle. I run about 70 a week but am still working through the injury a couple of months later. I have even heard that you should start running barefoot because it will limit what you can initially do and prevent over training. Since I live in a cold weather climate, I also wear shoes by the brand Inov-8. They make a variety of shoes from trail runners to road flats. I would also recomend doing a bunch of drills as well to work on your footstrike and biomechanics. Hope this helps. Good luck

hahaha 2/10

um...yes, minimalist shoes to cure PF not only makes sense - it's a proven effective method. I've seen it work myself, firsthand.

I don't understand the animosity toward minimalist shoes? If it works, it works. Why the hostility?

If you run miles & miles in shoes that act almost as a cast, immobilizing the foot, why does that seem like a good idea? I guess I understand the idea of women wearing high heels - some sort of fashion thing - but why would anyone think running in shoes with built up heels is wise, or necessary?

As for shoe recommendations, I love my Altras. Not a pure minimalist shoe (although they do have a zero drop), but I don't really care what label they fit under. I liked my NB trail shoes as well. Wasn't a big fan of Newtons.

switched from mizuno wave riders to streak xc for all my miles. went from having a tearing feeling everytime i stood up in the morning and super sore feet on runs to pain free running in about a month.

had plantar fasciitis from june until about november when i made the switch. my calves were definitly tight for the first few weeks, but i got used to it quick. i don't see why anyone would want to run in trainers. feels so much better in flats even on the crete and they dont wear out until you rip through the sole.

Yeah, if I'd have listened to advice like this:

"Forget all the minimalist BS, someones money making out of it, get a decent pair of running shoes with the correct support in all areas for you."

... I would probably still be running only 15 miles / week and battling horrible shin splints and hip pain. Instead I'm now running injury free 60 miles per week in zero or low-drop, flexible shoes (not necessary non-cushioned, I love the Altras and the Brooks Pure -series), and have made new PBs in all distances 100m-10k. Big stiff shoes with bulky heels are BS for me. They work for some, I know, not for me.

Also, I'm tired of this "minimalist shoes used to be called racing flats". They are two different things. A great minimalist trainer is often a lousy racing flat, and vice versa. Racing flats are stiffer, narrower and firmer compared to cushioned minimalist shoes, and they usually have significant heel-to-toe drop (as much as traditional trainers). Shoes like Altra Instinct or Saucony Hattori have nothing to do with racing flats. They are lightweight trainers that allow natural biomechanics.

The shoes my lame self likes: New Balance MT110, MT20v2, MR10v1.

Moronic wrote:

Forget all the minimalist BS, someones money making out of it, get a decent pair of running shoes with the correct support in all areas for you.

No one is making serious money selling conventional trainers?

HRE wrote:

Moronic wrote:

Forget all the minimalist BS, someones money making out of it, get a decent pair of running shoes with the correct support in all areas for you.

No one is making serious money selling conventional trainers?

They are making serious money selling conventional trainers and they're making even more also selling minimalist trainers. Don't forget you have to 'transition' to them, so you need minamalist and conventional and when you start getting injuries from the minimalist you'll go back to conventional then back to minimalist until you realise it's all load of BS.

This hype will work for a while and then the marketers, etc will come up with something else.

If you are new into minimalist running I would definitely consider a transitional style. The shoes usually have a lower heel-to-toe differential but also offer some protection and cushioning. Altra and Merrell both have some great zero drop running shoes that offering cushioning as you transition.

Here is the new Bare Access 2 from Merrell that I really enjoy for speed workouts:

http://one50south.blogspot.com/2012/10/merrell-bare-access-2-now-available.html

Also Checkout the Altra Instinct 1.5