Minimal running shoes 2016 edition
January 6, 2016 12:01 PM Subscribe
What are some current minimal running shoes that don't have silly toes?
Specifically, I want nothing but mechanical protection for my feet. Zero foot support beyond what you get from wearing appropriately tightly laced shoes.
Vibram Five Fingers were perfect before I transitioned to barefoot running, but I severely fell off the fitness wagon for various reasons, and now I'm back out there to lose the significant amount of weight I gained. At this stage I don't feel total barefoot running is wise and as a separate issue I don't really want to looking any sillier than I already feel. I know no one else cares, but I do.
I've seen lots of "minimal" running shoes, but it seems to only be meaningful in that it's not a huge-heeled 90's sneaker, and I'd rather not just start trial and error through zappos without any direction.
Specifically, I want nothing but mechanical protection for my feet. Zero foot support beyond what you get from wearing appropriately tightly laced shoes.
Vibram Five Fingers were perfect before I transitioned to barefoot running, but I severely fell off the fitness wagon for various reasons, and now I'm back out there to lose the significant amount of weight I gained. At this stage I don't feel total barefoot running is wise and as a separate issue I don't really want to looking any sillier than I already feel. I know no one else cares, but I do.
I've seen lots of "minimal" running shoes, but it seems to only be meaningful in that it's not a huge-heeled 90's sneaker, and I'd rather not just start trial and error through zappos without any direction.
I still love my VFF's in the summer for splashing in rivers and running on trails, but the Merrell Trail Glove 3 is my current favorite running/daily driver. It's got juuust enough protection to keep me from repeating the stress fracture I got on my big toe running on icy trails a couple winters ago, as well as better grip on wet grass than my vibrams.
If I'm going to be on pavement only, I sometimes wear an Altra shoe for a break. It offers some of the benefits (zero drop, wide forefoot for my splayed toes, etc) with enough cushion that I feel like I'm running on a cloud.
You could also check out Soft Star Shoes' RunAmoc which is sort of a running moccasin. Those are my slightly dressier (though still goofy looking) ultra-minimalist shoes. The sole is very thin and I wear through it fast, but you can resole them yourself easily enough. A hairdryer/heat gun will loosen the old sole, which you just pull off. A sheet of 'cherry vibram' purchased off of ebay, some contact cement and a pair of scissors is all you need to fashion new soles.
posted by woof at 12:19 PM on January 6, 2016
If I'm going to be on pavement only, I sometimes wear an Altra shoe for a break. It offers some of the benefits (zero drop, wide forefoot for my splayed toes, etc) with enough cushion that I feel like I'm running on a cloud.
You could also check out Soft Star Shoes' RunAmoc which is sort of a running moccasin. Those are my slightly dressier (though still goofy looking) ultra-minimalist shoes. The sole is very thin and I wear through it fast, but you can resole them yourself easily enough. A hairdryer/heat gun will loosen the old sole, which you just pull off. A sheet of 'cherry vibram' purchased off of ebay, some contact cement and a pair of scissors is all you need to fashion new soles.
posted by woof at 12:19 PM on January 6, 2016
Seconding [on preview, thirding] the Merrels, which are downright fashionable-looking and great for grass running (and are so lightweight, good-looking, and squishable they're the perfect carry-on bag travel shoe too!).
posted by Erasmouse at 12:25 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by Erasmouse at 12:25 PM on January 6, 2016
I live in my five fingers, but before them had merrell pace gloves which were a good choice for me when transitioning to minimalist footwear. They have a nice thin sole and a lightweight upper body although I think I should maybe have got a size larger than usual as they ran a bit small. Vivobarefoot are another brand, I dont have any of their trainers but love the jing jing ballet flats for work! I had the women's shoes in case it makes a difference, Amazon is a good place to look at reviews for different models.
posted by Peetree at 12:26 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by Peetree at 12:26 PM on January 6, 2016
Best answer: N-thing Merrells; I'm in the Vapor Glove 2 after happily wearing out an earlier generation. If huarache-style sandals aren't too minimal or too goofy, I've been happy with both my Lunas (mine are a discontinued Leadville Pacer variant with leather tie laces and leather footbed) and my Unshoes.
posted by hollyholly at 12:32 PM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by hollyholly at 12:32 PM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I find that Merrells tend to have some arch built into the soles, even in most (but not all) of the "minimalist" models I've tried. I like them that way, but for the pure, flat, minimal, 3mm of rubber under my feet to protect from glass and sharp stones, the Vivobarefoot Stealth is my shoe of choice.
posted by mammoth at 12:46 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by mammoth at 12:46 PM on January 6, 2016
I'm currently at the 2016 Winter Outdoor Retailer show so I'll keep my eyes out for you. My friends that do barefoot/unsupported/minimal running swear by Luna Sandals.
posted by Marinara at 1:12 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by Marinara at 1:12 PM on January 6, 2016
Nthing Luna Sandals. Ex-wife and several of her family members are runners (including a couple of ultra runners) and swear by Lunas.
posted by hanov3r at 1:48 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by hanov3r at 1:48 PM on January 6, 2016
When the latest version of the Merrell paceglove didn't do it for me I switched to a pair of Skoras - they have been great so far.
posted by nanhey at 4:08 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by nanhey at 4:08 PM on January 6, 2016
I like the new balance minimus trail shoes. They hug your arch a bit, but I don't think they actually provide any support. They have a slight bit of cushion, which might be too much for you.
posted by lab.beetle at 4:30 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by lab.beetle at 4:30 PM on January 6, 2016
Seconding the New Balance Minimus. They actually breath well, so my feet don't stink like they do in Vibrams.
posted by davejh at 11:15 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by davejh at 11:15 PM on January 6, 2016
Love the Minimus. There are a number of shoes now that actually have vibrim soles but that look like normal zero-drop shoes otherwise.
posted by Brittanie at 5:03 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by Brittanie at 5:03 AM on January 7, 2016
I love Skora. I have a pair of Phase and Form. The Form are my favorites.
posted by slogger at 10:15 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by slogger at 10:15 AM on January 7, 2016
Response by poster: I finally found the right size of Merrill Vapor Gloves after three tries on Zappos. I went with the vapor because I failed to mention that I live in Texas and so can anticipate running in >100F heat at some point.
I read here and elsewhere that they run big, but that's not my experience this time. I know my EU size (42), so I went with the corresponding 9 or 9 1/2 (I don't remember) which would make sense if thy ran large as I'm usually an 8-8 1/2. Those were way too big, I swapped them out for a smaller size, which was still too big, and I've ended up with 7.5s which seem to fit perfectly. So YMMV, I guess.
Anyway, they're exactly what I wanted. They're super light, breathe well, and don't offer much if any support beyond, as I said, what you get from cinching a tube around your foot. Also, they were the least expensive of my candidates.
posted by cmoj at 2:30 PM on February 24, 2016
I read here and elsewhere that they run big, but that's not my experience this time. I know my EU size (42), so I went with the corresponding 9 or 9 1/2 (I don't remember) which would make sense if thy ran large as I'm usually an 8-8 1/2. Those were way too big, I swapped them out for a smaller size, which was still too big, and I've ended up with 7.5s which seem to fit perfectly. So YMMV, I guess.
Anyway, they're exactly what I wanted. They're super light, breathe well, and don't offer much if any support beyond, as I said, what you get from cinching a tube around your foot. Also, they were the least expensive of my candidates.
posted by cmoj at 2:30 PM on February 24, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 12:08 PM on January 6, 2016