Greetings from Austin, Texas! This is my third year attending the Running Event in Austin. The Running Event (TRE) is a conference and expo for over 1,000 running specialty store buyers and featuring over 225 vendors including mainstays Adidas, ASICS, Brooks, Mizuno, and Nike. TRE will showcase premier and up-and-coming products in the $800 billion…
Author: Nicholas P, Chief Reviewer
Nicholas Pang is a competitive Northern California track & field athlete, runner, and Editor-in-Chief of the most comprehensive minimalist shoes and running accessories review site, Minimalist Running Shoes. He is also the author of 'The Minimalist Runner' and 'Wear Tested', books focusing on how to transition to barefoot-inspired minimal shoes and developing good running form. Nick is a member of the USA Track & Field organization.
Altra Zero Drop Superior Review
With a removable StoneGuard system and CheckerTrail sticky rubber outsole, The Superior trail shoe is Altra Zero Drop‘s latest offering. The Superior is designed to give incredible protection and stability on loose dirt and rocks – you can tackle the toughest trails with this rugged shoe. The Altra Superior lightweight trail shoe offers a zero…
TESHUB Twitch and 5T Sleeve Review
TESHUB (Oakland, CA) is led by former professional baseball player Samuel Taylor. Taylor played nine years with the California Angels and Cincinnati Reds. His career was cut short due to continuous injuries to his foot, ankle, and patella. Taylor recognized the critical importance of athletes maintaining their short term and long term health and…
Sneak Peek: Brooks Pure Drift
The next evolution of Brooks Pure Project will be here very soon. The long awaited new model, the Pure Drift, will be available Jan 1, 2013. I’m really looking forward to wear testing this model! Spread those toes with two split grooves that allow your forefoot to flex through its three functional units. A hardly-there…
Nike Total Blackout Collection – Finish Line EXCLUSIVE
A holiday collection of footwear designed exclusively for Finish Line. Total Blackout joins Nike performance and technology with premium colors and details throughout the shoe. For her, the swirls of color become a blur as you run. This collection embodies swag with the speckled midsole and tech laces that remind you of strength. The tongue…
Latest Minimalist Shoe Rankings
Just in time for the holidays, we’ve released our first ‘by-my-gut’ minimalist shoe ranking or ratings as wear tested by us. See the complete list of all the running and fitness minimal shoes. We will be adding more categories and shoes in the next few weeks. We currently have over 150 shoes wear tested and…
Mizuno EVO Levitas Review
Mizuno is launching two different zero drop shoes next year focused on midfoot striking and connecting with the ground. Their new EVO collection, consisting of the Cursoris and Levitas, is a brand-new line designed from the ground up for the midfoot runner. According to Mizuno Footwear Director, Rod Foley, “EVO is tailored to optimize your…
Born 2 Run Road Review
The Born To Run (B2R) movement began with Eric Swartz (Ironman triathlete, runner, entrepreneur) who had suffered multiple injuries while training and kept him away from the sports he loved. When Swartz read Christopher McDougall’s best-selling book, Born to Run, he realized the cause of his injuries and he wanted to make it right. So,…
Bring Back The Mile!
Please join MRS and BBTM (Bring Back The Mile) in bringing back the mile! Return the Mile to prominence on the American sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a national movement. The Mile, like the 100 meters and the marathon, is a running event that most Americans know something…
GoLite Footwear TR63 Review
Take to the trail confidently in the new GoLite TR63 trail shoe. Engineered for the varying demands of single-track trail running, this pull-on men’s outdoor running shoe features a breathable mesh and stretch nylon upper with a four-guide lacing system to ensure a glove-like fit. The Zero Drop construction keeps you low to the ground…
Sneak Peek: Primal Professional
Updated: 1/16/2014 ORDER your pair now at The Primal Professional and Minimalist Shoe. We’ve been staying in touch with Mountain from The Primal Professional and he has been keeping us abreast of the latest developments. Their first product, a conservative leather Oxford is almost here – tentatively set for launch early 2013. From the latest prototype…
Sneak Peek: Mizuno Evo collection
From Mizuno comes the EVO collection, their brand-new line designed from the ground up for the midfoot runner. EVO is tailored to optimize your natural stride and form, and features the light, responsive protection of Wave Technology. Mizuno Wave Evo Levitas – Zero drop, about 15mm stack height. 7.5 ounces. MSRP $110.00 Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris – Zero drop,…
Sneak Peek: SMAAT
Coming soon from an innovative start-up, SMAAT, purveyors of lightweight running shoes, is a range of casual and running minimalist shoes that have the coolest looking colorways I have ever seen! I can’t wait to get my feet on them 🙂 www.smaat.com
Travel Season Is Here!
Essential Bags & Luggage for Holiday Travel (via Zappos) It’s that time of year again! The busiest travel season is here and that means packing up and enjoying some much-needed family bonding. But first thing’s first; packing for those holiday trips calls for not only the right bags and luggage, but also a little bit…
Minimalist Shoe Buying Guide #1: Fall-Winter ’12
Sponsored By We’ve just launched the inaugural version (Issue #1) of our Minimalist Shoe Buying Guide for Fall-Winter 2012! Covers the latest minimalist shoes available from footwear manufacturers for Fall/Winter 2012. This publication (PDF and iBook) is available for FREE. Available exclusively for the Apple iPad in the interactive iBook format, you will need the…
TRUE Linkswear Sensei review
This review is written from the runner’s point of view. For a golfer’s point of view, please read Robert’s TRUE Sensei review. Two years ago, I reviewed the TRUE Linkswear Tour golf shoe – it was the inaugural version of TRUE Linkswear barefoot-platform golf shoe. Even back then, Rob Rigg, President of TRUE Linkswear, already…
How to run a marathon in less than four hours . . . in a golf shoe?
This review is written from the golfer’s point of view. For a runner’s point of view, please read Nick’s TRUE Sensei review. “Sensei” is an expression in Japanese used to address a teacher, but it’s also a term used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art…
Smart Wool SS ’13 Running Apparel Review
The Smart Wool SS ’13 PhD Run Collection drops in early next year and we’re very excited to sample some of these upcoming products recently. We wrote extensively about the benefits and advantages of Merino Wool earlier this year when we reviewed performance apparel products from Ice Breaker and Smart Wool. This time around, we…
Icebreaker FW ’12 Running Apparel Review
We wrote extensively about the benefits and advantages of Merino Wool earlier this year when we reviewed performance apparel products from Icebreaker and Smart Wool. This time around, we checked out both men’s and women’s running apparel from the FW ’12 Quest Collection: Men’s Quest Long Sleeve Half Zip and Women’s Quest Long Sleeve Crewe. Quest…
Sneak Peek: VIVOBAREFOOT The One, Stealth, Evo Lite SS ’13
For Spring Summer 2013, VIVOBAREFOOT will be launching new product innovations including: The One – Their fastest on-road shoe ever Stealth – Lightweight and hexagonal partner to ‘The One’ Evo Lite – Water-resistant breathability and multi-terrain traction VIVOBAREFOOT The One Thin, PU laminated upper on hex thin mesh to give structure and hold across the mid foot combined with…
Vibram Five Fingers SeeYa LS Shoe Review
We’ve recently reviewed the Vibram Five Fingers SeeYa and now Vibram has launched the laced version, VFF SeeYa LS. The SeeYa LS delivers the versatility of a traditional running sneaker while keeping you connected to the ground. The updated, technically styled upper features a padded tongue and micro-suede overlay ensuring a snug yet comfortable fit….
VIVOBAREFOOT is supporting Susan G Komen
VIVOBAREFOOT is supporting the Susan G Komen for Cure® by donating 10% of profits on their ‘pink’ shoes to the foundation. To help VIVOBAREFOOT is offering 20% off these ‘pink‘ styles until the end of October: use the promotional code KOMEN20 at the checkout to redeem this offer. www.vivobarefoot.com
VIVOBAREFOOT Ra Review
For a limited time only, EVERY model from the VIVOBAREFOOT web site is available for 20% OFF!!! Grab your VIVOBAREFOOT shoes now with this discount code: MINIMALISTRUNNER20 VIVOBAREFOOT Ra has been the best selling lifestyle shoe for those looking for a zero drop shoe with a wide toe box. I finally got around to testing a pair for myself as…
Skechers GObionic Shoe Review
Skechers continues its expansion into the performance market with Skechers GObionic, a revolutionary zero-drop minimalist lightweight running shoe featuring an intuitive bio-inspired design. Skechers GObionic was developed by the SKECHERS Advanced Concepts Team through a unique engineering process where nature and inspired organic design drive innovations. Skechers listened to feedback from runners and worked directly…