=Comparison Table=
{{:Shoes-table}}
* '''[[Minimax]]. '''Minimax shoes have thicker, softer soles, and far less of a high heel (drop) than traditional running shoes.
** '''Hoka Clifton'''. This shoe is a lighter weight version of the [[Hoka Bondi]]. It's a little thinner, but otherwise it feels just the same. (I even ran with one on each foot, and other than the thickness, they feel the same.) The light weight makes these shoes an Optimal shoe as well as a Minimax shoe, which is a tough combination to beat. [[Hoka Clifton| Hoka Clifton Review]].
** '''Altra Olympus.''' The Olympus has become my primary running shoe for longer ultras. I tend to view this issue as an evolution and improvement of the [Hoka One One]]. Like the Hoka it has a thick softly cushioned midsole, but unlike the Hoka it has a much better to books and overall design. [[Altra Olympus| Altra Olympus Review]].
** '''Altra Paradigm'''. The Olympus and Paradigm are similar shoes, and you could think of the Paradigm as the road version of the Olympus. However, the Olympus works fine on the road, and while the Olympus is a little thicker and heavier, I generally prefer it. [[Altra Paradigm| Altra Paradigm Review]].
** '''Hoka Bondi.''' Until the Clifton came out, the various Bondi shoes (Bondi B, Bondi 2, Bondi 3 and Bondi Speed) were my favorites. Like all Hokas, the Bondi has a horribly small toe box, it's easily [[Shoe Modifications| modified]]. [[Hoka Bondi| Hoka Bondi Review]].
** '''Hoka Mafate.''' The Mafate is a huge shoe, and the heaviest and thickest of the Hokas. [[Hoka Mafate| Hoka Mafate Review]].
** '''Hoka Stinson.''' The Stinson is a little heavier and thicker than the Bondi variants, and is available in road and trail versions. [[Hoka Stinson| Hoka Stinson Review]].
** '''Skechers GOrun Ultra.''' A [[Minimax]] shoe for $80? Not quite. There's a lot to like about the shoe, but there are some significant issues you should be aware of before trying these out. [[Skechers GOrun Ultra| Skechers GOrun Ultra Review]].
** '''Adidas Energy Boost.''' The Boost uses a new type of foam, so while the design is quite traditional, the increased cushioning produces a far better shoe than you'd expect. It's not really minimal drop, but I can forgive it that due to the novel cushioning. [[Adidas Energy Boost| Adidas Energy Boost Review]].
* '''Optimal.''' These are the shoes for the best [[Running Economy]].
** '''Altra One<sup>2</sup>.''' This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite running shoes, combining soft cushioning with a lightweight. [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>Review]].
** '''Mizuno Cursoris.''' The Cursoris is a lovely light weight shoe that almost feels like it's not there. While it's not expensive to buy, it doesn't last particularly longer, so the cost per mile is quite high. They've been discontinued, but are still available. [[Mizuno Cursoris| Mizuno Cursoris Review]].
** '''Saucony Virrata.''' While visually quite different from the Torin, the feel of the shoe is remarkably similar. [[Saucony Virrata| Saucony Virrata Review]].
** '''Skechers Go Bionic'''. The Go Bionic is a highly flexible, zero drop shoe that offers great value for money. It's not quite as comfortable as some of the others here, but it's a worthy contender. [[[Skechers Go Bionic| Skechers Go Bionic Review]].
** '''Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 2'''. This Japanese racing shoe is light weight and relatively stiff, with an extremely grippy outsole for traction on asphalt. [[Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen| Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 2 Review]].
** '''Nike Free.''' One of the earliest minimalist shoes, the Nike Free has grown to a wide range of shoes that offer great flexibility and lightweight. [[Nike Free| Nike Free Review]].
** '''Modified Nike Free'''. With modification, the Nike Free 3.0 can provide a minimalist shoe with just enough cushioning to provide good protection. I prefer the [[Modified Nike Free]] to Vibram FiveFingers, as the small amount of extra padding protects my feet much better, while the flexibility gives a surprisingly similar experience. The longevity of the Modified Nike Free is good, lasting for 2,000+ miles. [[Modified Nike Free| How to create the Modified Nike Free]]
** '''Saucony Kinvara'''. The Saucony Kinvara is an evolution of the traditional running shoe towards a minimalist design. It looks like a traditional running shoe, but lowers the heel and reduces the weight. It's failing is that it's not quite as light as the competition. [[Saucony Kinvara| Saucony Kinvara Review]].
** '''Brooks PureCadence'''. Like the Kinvara, the Brooks Pure range of shoes moves towards a minimalist design. The PureCadence retains a good level of cushioning, but like the Kinvara, it needs to be lighter. [[Brooks PureCadence| Brooks PureCadence Review]].
** '''Altra Torin.''' This is a good example of the firmer shoes that Altra produces. It's a nice balancing act between weight and protection, but the cushioning is not soft. [[Altra Torin| Altra Torin Review]].
** '''Saucony Hattori'''. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN984/ Hattori] is a lightweight (4.4oz), zero drop shoe, but the sole is less flexible than the Nike Free and the sock style upper limits the fit. Zappos has the [http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-SHTLCM2.html Hattori LC] which has laces instead of a sock upper.
* '''Minimalist.''' These are not zero drop, but they have less drop than a traditional shoe, are lightweight and flexible.
** '''Mizuno Wave Universe'''. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=wave+universe&x=0&y=0 Mizuno Wave Universe 5] is a significant change from previous versions. It's radically lighter and thinner, dropping its weight from 3.8 down to 2.6oz. [[Mizuno Wave Universe| Mizuno Wave Universe Review]].
** '''New Balance Minimus'''. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DMinimus Minimus] is a range of minimal shoes from New Balance that has created a lot of interest in the minimalist running community as the trail shoe was designed with the help of ultrarunner Anton Krupicka. There is a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1542/ Trail Minimus] and a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1522/ Road Minimus] which share similar names, but are rather different shoes. The Trail Minimus worked well for me on mild trails, but I prefer the [[Modified Nike Free]] to the road version.
** '''Merrell Gloves'''. Merrell sells a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1000/ trail glove] and a[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1002/ road glove] . The trail glove has a thin forefoot plate and both are zero drop.
** '''Vibram FiveFingers'''. [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=FiveFingers+&x=0&y=0 Vibram FiveFingers] are popular Minimalist Running shoes. They are a thin sole combined with just enough material to hold them to your foot and a separate pocket for each toe, hence the name FiveFingers. They were originally created for boating, not running, but they have become hugely popular. The FiveFinger soles generally last a long time, but the uppers can be prone to tearing. Getting FiveFingers that fit can be tricky depending on the shape of your foot, so they don't work for everyone. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/VFF116/ Bilika LS] are slightly wider and have laces, which improves the fit for some people.
** '''Vivobarefoot'''. Terra Plana make a range of thin soled shoes under the '[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DVIVOBAREFOOT Vivo Barefoot] ' name, such as their [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-one-m-navy-sulpher Vivobarefoot One M] , with a flexible but tough sole. I'd also strongly recommend the[http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-ra-black Vivobarefoot Ra] , which is close to a dress shoe, but remarkably comfortable. I got mine for a wedding and new wear them regularly. <br style="clear: both" />
* '''Not recommended'''. These are the shoes that looked promising, but failed.
** '''Asics GT 2000.''' The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ASC1638/mens-asics-gt2000-2/ Asics GT 2000] has been around for many years in one form or another, a reflection of its popularity. The GT 2000 series could be considered one of the best "average" running shoes, and it is often used as the starting point when a new runner is looking for their first shoes. The original GT 2000 was introduced back in 1995 and has been updated many times. (They did add 10 to the number every year until the 2170, then reverted to 2000 and added a version number.) So I've included the GT 2000 here partly as a good starting point for those looking for a traditional running shoe and partly as the shoe that is probably closest to the average running shoe.
** '''Patagonia EVERlong.''' This shoe claims to be a 4mm drop, but I measured it at 9mm, a huge difference. If it were true to its specification, it would be a reasonable shoe, but sadly, it fails. [[Patagonia EVERlong| Patagonia EVERlong Review]].
** '''Brooks Transcend.''' The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/BRK1126/mens-brooks-transcend/ Brooks Transcend] is included in this section, not because it is one of the best running shoes, but because it is sometimes considered a "maximum cushioning" shoe, and Brooks claim it is "the Ultimate Plush Ride". However, when compared with a traditional running shoes, the transcend is only 1-2 mm thicker, and the foam is too firm to be considered a [[Minimax]] shoe.
** '''New Balance Fresh Foam 980.''' The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1584/mens-new-balance-fresh-foam-980/ New Balance Fresh Foam 980] has less of a drop than a traditional running shoe, but it does not have the same soft cushioning of a Minimax shoe. This is not a bad shoe for someone looking for slightly less of a drop than a traditional shoe while avoiding the thin sole of a minimalist shoe.
** '''Hoka Conquest.''' While this is as big and heavy as a [[Hoka Bondi]], the overly firm foam rulings the shoe. [[Hoka Conquest| Hoka Conquest Review]].
** '''Hoka Huaka.''' This is not quite as heavy as the Conquest, it's still too firm to provide the cushioning a Minimax shoe deserves. [[Hoka Huaka| Hoka Huaka Review]].
** '''Hoka Rapa Nui.''' The Rapa Nui 2 is lighter, thinner and a little cheaper than the other Hokas, but I found it even firmer than the Conquest. In fact, the Adidas Energy Boost feels far more cushioned to me, though it does not offer the same level of protection from stones or uneven surfaces.
** '''Newton Brand.''' Newton shoes focus on forefoot running by adding extra height to the forefoot of the shoe. The result of this high forefoot is an unstable shoe. I believe the Newton takes a bad idea (the traditional running shoe) and makes it worse. I'd highly recommend trying a zero-drop shoe as an alternative to the Newton. Another alternative for a true forefoot runner is to cut off the heel off an old pair of running shoes. (If you're a fan of the Newton that's tried a zero-drop shoe and prefer the Newton, I'd love to hear your rationale.)
=Shoe Gallery=
''Main article: [[Shoe Gallery]]''
Images of the shoes reviewed on this site can be found in the [[Shoe Gallery]].
=Shoe Modifications=
''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]''
[[File:ModifiedShoes.JPG|none|thumb|250px|Clockwise from the top: [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1444/ Nike Free 3.0] (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN984/ Saucony Hattori] , [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1542/ NB Trail Minimus] , [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1444/ Nike Free 3.0] and the non-minimalist [[Hoka Shoe Review|Hoka]].]]
With the exception of the FiveFingers, and the Mizuno Curoris, I find that all 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.
=Shoe Dissection =
