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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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|[[File:AltShoeMod1.jpg|none|thumb|400px| Here you can see the results of this partial "shoe-ectomy". This approach doesn't give quite the same level of freedom as completely removing the flap, but it does have some other advantages. You're less likely to get debris in your shoe when walking, as the flap partly covers the opening (it doesn't help much when slogging your way through long grass or undergrowth.) The flap also tends to keep your toes a tiny bit warmer, which is good in winter, but bad in summer. The main benefit is that you're less likely to get rubbing from the edge of the midsole, which can occasionally be an issue.]]
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|[[File:LunaRacerLip.jpg|none|thumb|400px|Sometimes the edge of the shoe can have a lip that holds the insole in place. This can cause discomfort and blisters, so you may need to remove the lip. Be careful not to cut any of the stitching that holds the shoe together. You can see the stitching fairly clearly on this picture. ]]
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=Downsides=
* It's rather disconcerting to cut open shoes you've just paid a lot of money for.
* The shoes can rip open because of the extra stress of the cuts. However, in the thousands of miles I've been running in shoes cut open, I've only had two pairs tear and then only after a lot of miles.
* You can get debris into the shoe. I've only found this to be an issue when walking, not running unless I'm running through long grass.=The De-Snowshoe Modification=There is a tendency for [[Maximalist]] shoes to not only have a thicker sole, but to also extend the sole outwards. This means the contact patch of the shoe is much wider than your foot, almost like a snowshoe. This extension can create torsional (twisting) forces on your ankle if your foot lands on the edge first. I've found it's worth trimming away this excess, as shown in the image below. [[File:Clayton200 Snowshoe.jpg|none|thumb|400px|The [[Hoka Clayton]] with the sides of the sole trimmed to remove the "snowshoe".]]
