New Balance Minimus – review and prices of road, trail and zero
The New Balance Minimus is a minimalist running shoe that gives you a very natural and fast running style. The shoe has quickly become popular. Learn about:
- An overview of the different Minimus shoes
- What you should pay attention to
- The cheapest prices
NOTE: today’s savings through iloebesko: 301 crowns. Retail price: 1,000 kroner. Grab it today.
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Price comparison
| Reseller | Leveringstid | Country | Total price | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1-2 dage |
|
699 DKK | Til butik |
|
1-7 dage |
|
999 DKK | Til butik |
New Balance Minimus – the lightest
The lightest shoe in many guides.
The New Balance Minimus feels like running in socks – except for the pain of the soles since the shoe has a sole after all.
The synthetic mesh upper keeps the foot close, but at the same time opens up breathability to the toes.
The minimalist running shoe is not as wide as many other minimalist running shoes are.
The shape and construction of the shoes have been highly praised by runners.
In this review, I go into depth with one of the world’s lightest running shoes.
The shoe is incredibly popular, and for good reason.
If you can’t bear to read, I only have one thing to say before you buy:
Start slowly. In the beginning, it will be hard for your body to absorb the extra shocks you receive due to the lack of cushioning in your shoes.
Cool facts about the shoe
Must know
- Running style: natural / barefoot
- Fit: tight – adjustable
Substrate: soft substrate
Suggested price: 1000 DKK
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Master
- Weight: approximately 162 grams (size 42)
- Heel height: 10.6 mm
- Forefoot height: 9.1 mm
- Heel to toe drop: 1.5 mm
Lady
- Weight: approximately 133 grams (size 39)
- Heel height: 10.3 mm
- Forefoot height: 10.7 mm
Heel to toe drop: -0.4 mm
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Characteristic of Minimus shoes
New Balance Minimus has been part of a huge wave in the running world. Today, the vast majority of Danish runners want to run in a pair of lightweight shoes without compromising on both comfort and cushioning. This running shoe is the ultimate minimalist running shoe, where all the material is cut to the leg.
Drop and heel to toe difference
The word “drop” refers to the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the forefoot. If the difference here is large (20 mm), you will land on your heel almost no matter what. The other pole is that there is no difference in height between heel and forefoot. This is called zero drop, or 0 mm drop. Minimus focuses on offering you the lowest possible drop on the market, and has recently become known for the low difference between heel and toe. This should help give you a more natural running style, a more natural landing and a more natural take-off while running.
Height of the shoes
New Balance Minimus has a low height – both at the back and the front. This gives you a very good chance to feel what barefoot running feels like. The creators of Minimus are big advocates of running barefoot from time to time. It gives a natural running style, which Minimus also helps to create. With a low height on your running shoes, you have better control over your movements. Imagine if you were moving on styler all the time and during running. Then you would quickly feel like you were out of control. Even a sole height of 30 mm means that you have much less control.
Extra width on the forefoot
All shoes within the Minimus running shoe series have an extra wide forefoot. The reasoning for this choice is to allow your feet to adapt to hard landings. The trend with an extra wide forefoot is typically seen in very minimalist running shoes that don’t have much sole. This gives you good mobility and control over your run. The disadvantage of the very flat and thin soles is that your feet often have to do extra work in the form of having to balance, which is typically done with smaller muscle groups that you rarely use.
Super lightweight
Because the New Balance Minimus only contains the bare essentials, it is about 50% lighter than traditional lightweight running shoes. If you know how much of a difference weight makes on your running shoes, you will love running in this shoe.
What others say about NB Minimus
This section will be expanded over time. In the meantime, you can study this small graphic, which shows what the general satisfaction is like.
Size in NB Minimus
I would say that New Balance Minimus zero, trail and road are true to size. I run size 42 and that is the same size I use in all other brands too (more or less). I have also incorporated some knowledge from what other runners have thought about the size choice. You can see it here below.
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits
- All versions of the shoes are incredibly light
- The sole is very flexible and can be bent and twisted at all joints and edges.
- There is no insole, which makes the shoes maximally minimalist.
- Durable Vibram sole
Disadvantages
- The upper is made of mesh, which is not waterproof. This obviously does not apply to the trail version.
- The heel is very loose. You don’t feel like the shoes are tight to your foot in the heel.
- The upper breaks easily.
All in all, the NB minimus is a brilliant running shoe for those who want to go all in on the minimalist running style. In the review, I will now go a little deeper into the construction of the shoe and the different versions of it. Remember that on this page you can also find the best sales and offers on New Balance Minimus for both women and men.
Presentation and review of the shoe
Here you will get a short unique presentation of the New Balance Minimus running shoes. Whether it is 10v2, Trail, Road or Hi-Rez you are looking for, the video gives a nice overview of your options.
A little more detail with the shoe
Drop, heel height, weight and technology used are slightly different from the Minimus series of running shoes. However, they can be described as general. The shoes are particularly soft and flexible. This helps to strengthen your feet and let your feet train naturally instead of being locked in, as you are in normal running shoes.
How is the running shoe used?
Most often, New Balance Minimus is purchased for the purpose of running on soft surfaces. Often it is to get used to natural running – it is a process your body has to get used to. It is not something you learn overnight – it takes several months.
Many doctors and healthcare professionals also recommend that patients with sports injuries wear shoes like New Balance Minimus as the muscles in and around the foot are trained in a way that they would not be done in everyday shoes or training shoes.
What does the technology used do?
Although the shoe weighs only a little over 100 grams, technology has been used that is comparable to many other New Balance running shoes. You get the classic REVlite midfoot sole that supports your arch while running. The upper is breathable.
If you want to know more about New Balance Minimus, just take a look. New Balance page about this particular shoe. It gives a good overview of the different models that are currently available. In addition, you can read what Runner’s Jannik likes the shoe.
What are the alternatives to the New Balance Minimus?
The closest alternative is FiveFingers running shoes. These shoes are all barefoot shoes or so-called minimalist running shoes. The idea is again the natural running style – that humans are created to run – and do not need pronation wedges and the like.
FiveFingers shoes have long been known for their collaboration with Vibram. Vibram is known for producing the world’s best soles. They have now also entered into a collaboration with New Balance.
Trail, Road? A sea of possibilities
You should be aware that New Balance Minimus comes in a variety of colors and for different purposes. Before you buy it, be aware of whether you are buying the road series for asphalt running or the trail series or whatever you are going for. Here is an overview of the different models:
- NB Minimus Trail
- NB Minimus Road
New Balance Minimus Trail
The Trail version of Minimus is for men and women who want a flat shoe for running in the forest, on trails, through grass and on sand. The entire Minimus series is made from Less Is More, which is by no means an exception in the Trail version. Typically, trail running shoes are somewhat more protective and heavier than lightweight asphalt running shoes, but here you get an ultralight shoe that you can use even off the trails.
When you step into the New Balance Minimus Trail you will experience the feeling of barefoot running. There is not much sole and support. All your foot muscles are at work. It is a liberating feeling, but also scary when you realize how much support you normally get in everyday running shoes.
NB Min. Trail comes with a heel-to-toe drop of 4 mm. This is a very low drop, close to zero drop. This means that you will most likely land on your forefoot or midfoot. Very few runners will land on their heel. Therefore, the shock absorption in the heel is also minimal in this shoe.
Who is the Trail shoe aimed at?
Personally, I would not recommend the Minimus Trail to runners who have no experience with trail running or running in minimalist running shoes. You should have some experience running in shoes with a low drop, as 4 mm is very low, and if you have not accustomed your body to the different load, you can easily experience injuries. If you are a little experienced in running in running shoes with a low drop, you can use the Minimus Trail for your runs in the forest. Personally, I would build up the training volume slowly and substitute between a pair of heavier trail running shoes and these ultra-light ones in order to best accustom your body to the different load you receive. Once you have trained up, you can easily run all your kilometers in this shoe. Even marathon distances.
The sole is with Vibram
There is one point where the New Balance Trail version of the Minimus stands out in particular. This applies to both men and women, that the shoe comes with an outsole made ofVibram. Vibram is one of the best seals of approval for the sole of a running shoe. If you have running shoes with a Vibram sole, you can be sure that they will last many kilometers. It is an incredibly durable patented material. With the collaboration, New Balance Minimus Trail gets the best sole on the market, which is also necessary with the many shocks you get in a pair of thin and flat trail shoes.
Fit and construction of the upper of the Minimus Trail
In terms of fit, the Trail version is similar to the Road and Hi-Rez. The forefoot is extra wide to better absorb and navigate the bumps you always get when trail running. Around the heel, I find the shoe a bit loose compared to the expensive everyday running shoes.
The upper is made of mesh – a mesh that is breathable so that you can keep your feet in the best possible climate. If your feet overheat, the heat will be released through the upper of the shoe.
New Balance Minimus Road
The Minimus Road is the more popular of the two minimalist shoe options from New Balance. The latest version of the Road series is slightly lighter than the previous version. Other than that, not much has changed from the previous model. A new design and some minor tweaks are what was needed. Among these minor tweaks has been a more flexible sole, which gives you an even better feel for the ground.
The upper is made of a single piece of material without seams that could potentially cause irritation. The shoe fits incredibly close to the foot. However, there is room in the forefoot of the Road shoe for a little movement to absorb hard impacts from the surface you are running on.
The sole is, like in the Trail version, made by Vibram. I can’t express enough how cool I think it is that the shoe has a Vibram sole. It gives them an extra touch that makes the Road and Trail shoes sublime compared to many other minimalist shoes.
Who is Minimus Road for?
With a zero drop and only 11 mm thick sole, there is minimal support and cushioning in the Minimus shoe. The shoe is barely 200 grams light, making it one of the lightest shoes on the market.
As was the case with the Trail version, the Road shoe is for those who have some experience with natural running. Jumping into running 40 km per week in this shoe without experience with natural running would be very risky in terms of your risk of injury. If you want to try natural running, you can start with the Minimus Road, but it requires that you take it easy. Take 8 weeks where you run once a week in the shoe, but you have 2-3 other training sessions in your normal running shoes. I personally know how hard it can be to hold back, but it is necessary. After 8 weeks, you can take another 8 weeks with 2 weekly training sessions. After that, I would say you are ready to run all your kilometers in the minimalist New Balance Minimus Road.
I have personal experience with natural running and I had no problems running 15 km in the shoes on my first trip.
The fit
Read the section under the trail version. I assessed (and have read) that the fit is the same for both shoes. Overall, there is plenty of room in the forefoot.
The price level of Minimus Trail and Road
I think the price level of the Minimus Trail and Road shoes is quite fair. They are in the value for money segment, however, it is not my experience that they last as long as traditional running shoes. I especially think thatAdidas running shoes lasts many kilometers, but Nike running shoes often crumbles for me.
You can easily find cheap Minimus Road and Minimus Trail running shoes when you buy online. Both men’s and women’s shoes are often available at very competitive prices online. If you buy in physical stores, you should typically look for them in August and January, when the normal sale periods are. However, it is my experience that they are rarely found cheaper in stores than the regular prices online.
Price comparison
Here you will find the best prices on the market. I am surprised that there is such a big difference in prices. I have shopped in all the stores and had good experiences.
| Reseller | Leveringstid | Country | Total price | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1-2 dage |
|
699 DKK | Til butik |
|
|
1-7 dage |
|
999 DKK | Til butik |