Ancient wisdom meets modern technology. That is VIVOBAREFOOT modern take on a millennia-old masterpiece. The VIVOBAREFOOT ULYSSES combines functionality and freedom, perfect for summer-loving feet. Inspired by the Tarahumara, the Ulysses huarache sandal upper construction is minimal and allows your feet to naturally provide all the shock absorption when walking and running. The anatomically shaped…
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.
LEMs Primal 2 back in stock – all colors!
LEMs Shoes Primal 2 in Brown, Black, and Slate are now back in stock and improved. Manufactured in a state of the art new factory, the new version has an improved upper and the Black colorway sports a new tongue with the LEMs logo. Get your size now at LEMs Shoes before they run out!
VIVOBAREFOOT Ra II and hand cut Bannister
We gave you a preview of the VIVOBAREFOOT hand cut collection, Lisbon and Bannister, last year. This time, we wear tested the Bannister and the upgrade to the best selling VIVOBAREFOOT business casual Ra model, the Ra II Leather. Both are business casual with the Bannister for the younger crowd. The RA II is a…
LEMs Shoes Nine2five Version 2 is here!
The new LEMs Shoes Nine2five Version 2 has landed – in the long awaited Black and also in a refreshed Coffee & Cream. We reviewed the initial version of the Nine2five Coffee & Cream last year and also showed you how to take care of the leather. Everything that we have written about the NIne2five…
PulseOn on track to make heart rate monitoring easier and more accurate than ever!
PulseOn, a Finnish company with talents from Nokia, today launched their IndieGoGo campaign to raise $150,000 for production delivery of their wrist-based optical heart rate monitor in September. I have been watching PulseOn for a few months as they have similar technology to Mio LINK and Mio ALPHA so I’m naturally curious. But what sets PulseOn…
FUJIFILM INSTAX SHARE SP-1 Wi-Fi Printer Review
FUJIFILM started shipping their new and exciting INSTAX SHARE SP-1 Printer this month. The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 lets customers print mobile photos instantly from their smart phone or tablet, anywhere, anytime (JPEG image files). The INSTAX SHARE SP-1 acts as its own Wi-Fi hotspot, and works with both iOS and Android to get you instant…
VIVOBAREFOOT Trail Freak Review & Giveaway
The last VIVOBAREFOOT designed-for-trails shoe we wear tested two years ago was the Breatho Trail. At first glance, the new Trail Freak is similar but with a quick closure lacing system. That’s where it ends. After running in them for a few weeks, they are way different and the Trail Freak is my preferred VIVOBAREFOOT…
Taking the next step with minimal shoes… Track & Field Masters/Seniors Games
A few months back, I decided that in order to really field test various running and fitness products, I have to pick a race or meet that really bring out the best out of the products and myself. So I decided to test out my over 4 years of running and training exclusively with minimal…
Ryders Eyewear STRIKE, PINT, VIA
We last reviewed performance sunglasses from Ryders Eyewear over two years ago – Ryders Interchangeable and Ryders Standard. New in 2014, we wear tested three models with three different technologies: STRIKE with Polarized & Photochromic lenses, VIA with Photochromic lenses, and PINT with Polarized lenses. Ryders Eyewear VIA The Ryders VIA has a rimless design…
2014 Wear Tested Shoe of the Year Candidates
Here’s a sneak preview list of some of the candidates for the 2014 Wear Tested Shoe of the Year in minimalist shoes for Road, Trail, and Casual (includes Walking and Hiking). We hope to have test pairs for all the models listed here by the last quarter of 2014. All shoes available publicly by Fall…
Topo Athletic MT Mountain Trainer
Ever since we declared the Topo Athletic’s Speed Trainer (ST) as Wear Tested Shoes of the Year for 2013, we were naturally excited to get our hands (and feet) on their new trail running shoes, the Mountain Trainer (MT). The Topo MT offers the ultimate hybrid experience by pairing the best features of a trail…
New Balance Minimus Zero Trail v2 Review
It has been a long time since New Balance made radical changes to its Minimus collection. In the pipeline with major changes are two trail shoes, the NB Minimus Zero Trail v2 and NB Minimus 110 v2. We recently wear tested the Minimus Zero Trail v2 and is surprised at the changes! The new Minimus…
Bulletproof your core with Trigger Point SMRT CORE, Quick Strength for Runners, and P90X3
There has been lots of media coverage recently about how to develop six pack abs and how to lose weight fast whenever the new year rolls around. And this gets lumped in with the CORE. But most folks will have broken resolutions just a month later. Strengthening the CORE seems to be all the rage…
MIO Global LINK Review
The MIO Global LINK has been highly anticipated since they announced it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year. MIO Global launched their MIO ALPHA watch last year and we did a full review of MIO ALPHA a year ago. Then it followed by licensing the MIO Heart Rate technology to Adidas (miCoach…
Spree Sports Headband Review
The Spree Sports headband is a revolutionary fitness monitor that takes your fitness to a whole new level. Spree is the only wearable fitness management tool that uses biosensors to measure body temperature, heart rate and movement all in one device. Unlike most fitness monitors, Spree is worn around your head in order to give…
ZEMgear launches on Kickstarter.com today!
ZEMgear founder, Christina Bracken shares her 20-year footwear industry experience and passion for design and development as she brings her new collection of shoes “Engineered for WOW” to life through a Kickstarter campaign today, April 15, 2014. Crowd funding is the fast growing “out-of-the-box” approach to brand marketing and pre-production financing. For a “successful” campaign,…
Newton Running Distance III & Gravity III Review
It has been a long time since Newton Running came out with radical changes to their technology. The Newton MV3 with its 5 mini-lugs was a teaser and that model is still my one and only favorite Newton shoe that I still use today for speed work and competition in track & field. With the…
Brooks Running PureProject Apparel
Brooks Running recently launched a new apparel collection based on the PureProject minimalist running shoes. I have tested all kinds of running apparel from Ashmei, New Balance, Smartwool, Icebreaker, The North Face, Patagonia, Tribe Sports, and Sugoi. New Balance is the first to launch a collection based on their best selling minimal shoes, Minimus, which…
Altra Superior 1.5 Review
The new Altra Zero Drop Superior 1.5 is an update to Altra’s lightweight performance off-road shoe. The foot-shaped toe box provides maximum foot relaxation and speed while the zero drop platform gives you greater stabilization and better form. Conquer the rugged, rocky terrain in comfort with the stone guard rock protection system that deflects rocks…
Altra Olympus & Repetition Review
The Altra Olympus and Altra Repetition joins the rank of maximalist shoes that we touched on in our previous post, The Pendulum Swings… Fat & Flat Running Shoes?. The Olympus and Repetition are the only zero drop maximalist shoes currently available in the market. My mantra has always been to mix it up with both…
Zed Footwear – Loafer & Oxford First Look
We gave you a sneak peek at Zed Footwear last year and they are now available for purchase (pledge via crowd funding) on Kickstarter. A week ago, I was able to try on a pair (prototype) before the final production run to give them my first impressions. I can honestly say that they are one…
Altra Instinct Everyday Review
Building on the success of their successful Instinct (Men only) and Intuition (Women only) road running shoe, Altra Zero Drop has just launched their Instinct Everyday (Intuition Everyday for women) casual zero drop shoe. Now you can mix business and pleasure with a comfortable yet professional version of the award winning Instinct. Great for wearing…
Tifosi Optics 2014 Tyrant 2.0 Sunglasses Review
Tifosi Optics is one of my favorite brands for running sunglasses because of its fit, styling, and price. And appropriately, TIFOSI is the Italian word for super-fan, an avid sports enthusiast. We recently reviewed the Tifosi Clarion Mirror collection and for 2014, we took a look at the new Tyrant 2.0 in three flavors: Fototec,…
Skechers GOrun 3 Review
Building on the success of the best selling Skechers GOrun 2, Skechers has created another blockbuster with the launch of its GOrun 3 running shoe. The Skechers GOrun 3 is the next generation of transitional (or bridging) running shoes. Designed for speed with innovative performance technologies to promote a midfoot strike, it fosters a barefoot…