Minimalist [[File:Runnering Shoes 1449592 m.jpg|right|thumb|500px]]{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoes}}These reviews cover what I consider to be the best running shoes have little or no cushioning, very thin flexible soles, as well as some strong contenders and are a few promising shoes that missed the same height at the front and backmark. It is similar to barefoot runningBased on [[The Science of Running Shoes]], but with I believe that [[What to Look for in Running Shoes]] is a little extra protection from abrasion. Many of these shoe that does not interfere with the way you run, though I include some shoes are also recommend for the [http://posetech.com Pose method] of runningthat can be useful in transitioning from a more traditional shoe. '''These reviews are not being maintained'''. == Options for Minimalist footwear =The Best Running Shoe=If you want to get as close to barefoot as you can, these are some good options.{{:Shoes-best}}=Shoe Categories== [[Modified Nike FreeI've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories, each with their own pros and cons. * '''[[Maximalist]] ===With modification''' (Minimum Drop, the Nike Free can provide a minimalist shoe with just enough cushioning to provide good protectionMaximum Cushioning). I prefer The minimal drop has been the [[Modified Nike Free]] to Vibram FiveFingers, as the small amount hallmark of minimalist shoes, but these shoes also include lots of extra padding protects my feet much bettercushioning. At their best, while the flexibility gives these shoes can be like running barefoot on a surprisingly similar experiencecushioned track. The longevity Maximalist shoes offer lots of the Modified Nike Free is good, lasting protection and comfort. They are great for up to 2longer ultramarathons where sore feet become a problem and for trail running where the cushioning makes it easier to ignore smaller rocks and stones. However,000 miles. === the extra cushioning may [[http://www.vibramfivefingers.com Vibram FiveFingers] (VFF) ===The VFF range The Science of shoes are very popular Minimalist Running Shoes| increase the risk of injury]] compared with minimalist shoes. They are a thin and the extra sole combined with thickness increases the stress on your ankle. * '''Optimal'''. These shoes ideally have just enough material cushioning to hold them to your foot. Each toe has a separate pocket, hence improve [[Running Economy]] without the weight penalty of the name FiveFingersMaximalist shoes. VFF These shoes are close to barefoot running. VFFs were created for boating, not runningoften called "racing shoes", or "racing flats", but they have become hugely popularI don't believe this term is appropriate any more. In factMany years go, it can be hard to get some of a "racing flat" had little cushioning, but with the VFF advances in materials science, these shoes as demand outstrips supplyare now surprisingly comfortable. I would recommend either the KSO (Keep Stuff Out) or * '''Fast'''. These are the KSO Treks (The Trek version has a leather upper and a thicker sole)fastest shoes, often compromised in other ways to achieve their performance. The VFF soles generally last a long time, but * '''Minimalist'''. These shoes vary between the uppers can be prone to tearing. As an aside, it's been known for almost barefoot and those with a long time that running barefoot is little more efficient than running with shoesprotection. It's been assumed that this is because of the weight of the shoes, but a recent study I consider a shoe to be minimalist if it has shown running in FiveFingers is more efficient than traditional running shoes<ref name="VFF"/>insufficient cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]].=== [http://feelmax* '''Balanced'''.com Feelmax] ===Feelmax These are shoes have a very thin (1mmthat are part way between minimalist and Maximalist, 0but are too heavy to be considered Optimal.04 inch) sole made of * '''Traditional'''. The classic running shoe has a Kevlar compositehigh heel, normally about 10mm higher than the forefoot . This sole The biggest advantage of traditional shoes is very flexible and provides great feel. It also provides very good puncture resistancethe wide variety to choose from, which protects making it far easier to find the foot, and are very light at about 4 ozright fit. Feelmax shoes look closer to traditional shoes than Vibram FiveFingers and are available in a wide variety of styles. === [http://www.vivobarefoot.com Vivo Barefoot] == =Unfamiliar Brands=Terra Plana make a range of thin soled shoes under the You'Vivo Barefoot' namere probably familiar with brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, etc. Their Vivo Barefoot Aqua has a good reputation for minimalist running, but is rather expensive you may be less familiar with Hoka and is sometimes criticized for not lasting wellAltra. * '''[[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka One One]]. === Huarache Racing Sandals ===I have no experience ''' The Hoka shoes started the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style of theseshoe. The Hokas generally use extremely soft foam, but Barefoot Ted sells running sandals inspired by the Tarahumara Indians - [http://barefoottedwith a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are thicker than most shoes so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look.com/shop/ http://barefoottedMost of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails.com/shop/]. It is also possible The Hokas provide remarkable protection from rough trail surfaces, and the thick, soft soles mold themselves around stones to make your own racing sandals using an old tire and leather thong. I have provide more grip on rocky trails than you'd expect. Other than the sole, the Hoka is a poor design, with a friend who has made his only quite successfully. === Moccasins ===Some people have been running in moccasins, especially in colder weatherremarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible. == Options for near-minimalist footwear ==If you want a bit more protection, these options * '''Altra'''. The two distinctive features of the Altra shoes are recommended. === Nike Free ===Nike Free are running their zero drop and their shape which mirrors the shape of the human foot. Originally their shoes were quite minimalist with a thinner sole that are light weight, with very flexible soleswas typically made of quite firm foam. Even without modification, More recently they have moved towards softer cushioning and the Nike Free is a good minimalist running shoe and a half way house to minimalist running[[Maximalist]] style.* '''Topo'''. There is no outer sole (the hard rubber that meets the road)Like Altra, just a robust midsole (Topo make shoes that are designed for the cushioning part)human foot. The midsole then has deep groves cut into it to allow I find that the shoe to flex more shape of Topo shoes is even better than is possible Altra, with a traditional shoemore room for my toes to move naturally. =How Long Will They Last?=There are lots a lot of different models of Nike Free. These shoes have a number that indicates variables in how flexible they are. The idea is that 10.0 would be long a traditional running shoe and 1.0 would be barefoot. I would recommend using will last, involving both the runner and the Free 3shoe.0. I have been You'll need to understand your running in Nike Free style to understand how long a shoe is likely to last for about 5 years and I believe they have helped me stay injury free in that timeyou.=== [http://www* A runner that lands harder will wear out their shoes more quickly.runningwarehouse* If the landing forces are concentrated, this will dramatically increase shoe wear.com/descpageMRS-MUNIVS3.html Mizuno Wave Universe] === The Mizuno Wave Universe is So a runner than lands with a midfoot strike will tend to spread the landing forces, where a racing flat runner that is surprisingly comfortable. I ran in these before I discovered lands on the edge of the heel will focus the Nike Free and got on well with themforces in a small area. === * Good [[http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-NMYFLY3.html Nike MayflyRunning Form]] ===The Mayfly is intended to last only 62 miles (100K)ensures that the shoe doesn't scrape as it lands. Without this 'paw back', though I’ve achieved more miles than that from my pairthe scraping will wear away the rubber or foam quickly. The Mayfly has rather more cushioning than I think idealIf the scraping is combined with a concentrated landing area, and the upper can tear if snagged. It effect is remarkably light weight and comfortablea rapid removal of material under the initial contact patch. ===[http://www* For most shoes, the limiting factor in shoe life is the foam cushioning rather than the harder rubber outsole.amazon.com/PUMA-Mens-K-Street-Sneaker/dp/B001H0FR4Q Puma K Street] ===This The means the foam becomes compressed and offers less cushioning. The reduced cushioning is considered a ‘casual’ shoegenerally not the problem, not intended for runningbut rather it's the uneven reduction across the shoe that starts to cause biomechanical problems. However, has a strong following in A common situation is that the foam under the ball of the minimalist foot wears and Pose running campsso the foot is tilted inward. It has a thin sole with a relatively low rise heelThe foam insole often fails faster than the midsole, so consider [[Replacement Insoles]] to extend the shoe life.===[http://www* Thinner shoes tend to last longer than thicker shoes, which is perhaps counterintuitive.inov-8.com Inov-8 Trail Shoes]===Inov-8 produce This is because a wide range shoe with a 40mm midsole that loses 20% of minimalist trail shoesits thickness due to wear would be 8mm thinner, where a shoe with only 10mm would only lose 2mm. Of particular note are their [http://www* The life of the hard rubber outsole is rarely an issue, and by the time the outsole is worn through the foam is dead.inov-8However, there are shoes that use relatively soft outsole that can wear more quickly.com/Products-DetailIf you're wearing through the outsole before the foam is dead, there's a good chance you're not pawing back correctly and your shoes are scraping as they land.asp?PG=PG1&L=27&P=5050973118 X-Talon 190] for muddy conditions This tends to waste energy and their is a sign of poor [[http://wwwRunning Form]].inov-8.com/Products-Detail.asp?PG=PG1&L=27&P=5050973125 F-Lite 195] for rocky conditions* Shoes that don't have a hard rubber outsole can suffer from abrasion wearing away the foam. I’ve used a number With these shoes the scraping due to lack of Inov-8 shoes and I would highly recommend thempaw back has a much bigger impact on shoe life as the foam is much less resistant to being scraped. ===[http://www* Temperature can play a factor in shoe life.newbalance.com/nb-minimus/ New Balance Minimus]===This is a minimal trail Hot temperatures can soften shoes and cause them to wear quickly. At Badwater I've had shoes wear away more in 30 miles than I would normally see in 300. On the other hand, foam gives far less cushioning in cold weather, so a shoe from New Balance that has created a lot of interest might be okay in the minimalist running communitysummer might feel worn out in winter. It was designed with * The running surface changes the help rate of ultrarunner [http://antonkrupickaabrasion if that's the limiting factor.blogspotRough concrete or asphalt will erode the shoe more quickly than a smooth surface or dirt.com/ Anton Krupicka]. A good review * How much wear is available at http://barefootrunninguniversitytoo much also depends on the individual runner. Some runners may tolerate very little wear, but I know runners that can continue to run injury free in shoes that most people would consider destroyed.com/2010/11/17/new-balance-minimus-trail-review/ {| class="wikitable" |- valign== Canvas Sneakers ==="top"Some people have got on well with Converse style canvas sneakers|[[File:WornHS6Shoes. Cheap and easy to find. Note: this jpg|none|thumb|300px|This is not the same as cheap running shoesa picture of a friend's [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6]] showing dramatic outsole wear. These canvas sneakers have very little soleshoes had only completed 230 miles but you can see the outsole is completely gone in places. I suspect that the runner in question is scraping slightly on landing rather than pawing back fully.]]== Run Barefoot ==Running barefoot |[[File: ComparisonHS6Shoes.jpg|none|thumb|300px|By comparison this is different to minimalist runningmy Hyper Speed 6 shoes that have far more miles on them. You can see that most of the outsole still has its texture, but both fit under and the general concept of 'natural running'only real outsole wear is on the extreme heel. There are advantages and disadvantages to barefoot running. The biggest advantage is ]]|}==My Experiences with Shoe Life==Since I started tracking my shoe life more accurately with [[MilestonePod]]s, I've found that it there is cheap and easyfar more wear on my shoes than I realized. It is With my [[Foot Strike]] the cushioning degrades so that the sole under the ball of my foot is quite a great way bit lower than the rest of finding out what it's the forefoot. I calculate that about 2mm of compression under the ball of the foot is like to run without traditional shoes. == A shoe to avoid - The Newton ==Newton shoes focus on forefoot running by adding extra height to the forefoot running on the camber of a standard road (~3°), which creates additional stresses and might be a cause of the shoeinjury. In as little as 100 miles (160Km) I purchased a pair thinking they would move me closer to barefoot running. The result 've had shoes compress by 4mm under the ball of the high forefoot is an unstable shoe. What my foot! Since I injured my meniscus I 've found was the Newton takes a bad idea (the traditional running shoe) and makes it worse. I hated running in the Newton can't tolerate shoeswith that much wear, but as this artificial camber irritates my knee. Prior to my knee injury I think they are a valuable lesson. Natural running requires a minimalist shoecould get away with quite massively worn shoes, not a more complex onesometimes putting on as much as 3,000 miles (5,000 Km) before retiring them. You can get a better alternative to {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:ShoeWear1.JPG|none|thumb|300px|This picture shoes the Newton just by hacking compression of the sole off an old pair midsole that occurs under the ball of running shoesthe foot. I would not recommend these shoes]]|- valign="top"|[[File:ShoeWear2. I would advise you JPG|none|thumb|300px|Here's a cross section through the same shoe, showing how much thinner the foam has become due to avoid these shoeswear. (The Newton This is mentioned in [[Book Review - The 4 Hour Body|The 4 Hour Body]] as a shoe that from a left shoe, so the ball of the foot is correlated with a injurieson the right of the slice.)]] ==Further Reading=|- valign="top"* http|[[File://barefoottedInsole Wear and Foot Strike.com/2009/01/running-in-seattle-with-feelmax-shoesjpg|none|thumb|300px|An insole where I've marked the area of compression, which is under the ball of my foot.html]]|}* The best video looking at barefoot and traditional running shoes [http://www.youtube.com/watch=How Far Can I Run In That Shoe?v=7jrnj-7YKZE&feature=player_embedded The Barefoot Professor: by Nature Video]* A video of a persistence hunt [http://wwwMany shoe reviews talk about "this shoe is good up to half marathon", or some other distance.youtube.com/watch?v=9wI-9RJi0Qo "Persistence Hunting" video by Such advice is based on the BBC on youtube.com]==See Also==* [[Are your running shoes injuring you]]?* [[The Journey idea that many people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to Minimalist Running]]* [offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. However, because different runners want radically different levels of cushioning, generalized advice is unhelpful at best. Some runners may want a [Toughening Feet[Maximalist]]==References==<references><ref name="VFF"> FiveFingers footwear shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100-mile race barefoot. There is more efficient for runners than conventional running shoeshttp://wwwno maximum distance that can be run in any given shoe; it depends on what you want.pponline.co.uk/encyc/fivefingers-footwear-more-efficient-runners-conventional-running-I compare cushioning levels provided by the shoes-41153 http://wwwI review, but remember a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different.pponline.co.uk/encyc/fivefingers=Comparison Table={{:Shoes-footwear-more-efficient-runners-conventional-running-shoes-41153table}}=Shoe Modifications=<''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]'' [[File:ModifiedShoes.JPG|none|thumb|250px|Clockwise from the top: Nike Free 3.0 (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', Saucony Hattori, NB Trail Minimus, Nike Free 3.0 and the [[Hoka Shoe Review|Hoka]].]]With a few exceptions such as the Mizuno Curoris, I find that most shoes benefit from [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box]]. This allows the toes to spread out as you toe off, creating more natural biomechanics and preventing toe blisters.=Shoes for Heavier Runners=As a broad generalization, foot length is generally proportional to height, body weight is proportional to the square of your height, and foot area is proportional to the square of your foot length. This means that for a given BMI, the perceived cushioning should be about the same regardless of absolute weight, and you'll need more cushioning if your BMI is higher, and less cushioning if your BMI is lower. You may also need more cushioning if your feet are disproportionately small and less if your feet are disproportionately large. Of course, different runners prefer radically different levels of cushioning, with some liking an un-cushioned minimalist shoe and others a massively cushioned Maximalist shoe. But if you'd like to scale my reviews, I'm 5' 10"/references>180cm, I weigh about 140 pounds/64 Kg, which is a BMI of about 20, and take about a men's US 10.5/UK 10/EU 45 shoe size.=Shoe Gallery=Images of the shoes reviewed on this site can be found in the [[Shoe Gallery]].=Shoe Dissection =''Main article: [[Shoe Dissection]]'' [[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]Ever wonder what the inside of your shoe looks like? Take a look inside; I've cut many of my shoes in half to reveal their construction, as you can see above. You can see a gallery at [[Shoe Dissection]], as well as in the detailed shoe reviews.=Frankenshoes=''Main article: [[Frankenshoes]]''