Last Updated: 12/15/11 After wearing and testing minimalist running shoes for the past two years starting with the Vibram Five Fingers KSO (keep stuff out), I still haven’t found the perfect road, trail, casual, and dress shoe. But I found many ‘almost perfect’ shoes for each occasion and the list below is what I am…
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.
Garmin Forerunner 610 HRM Watch Review
If you’ve ever used a heart rate monitor (HRM) before, you’ll immediately fall in love with the Garmin Forerunner 610 heart rate monitor. With a touch, tap or swipe, Forerunner 610 lets you get on with your run while it tracks all the details. The Forerunner 610 gives you several ways to get in touch…
New Balance Minimus Outdoor multi-sport
New Balance has added another model to its growing Minimus (4mm drop platform) collection – the water-resistant Minimus Outdoor MO10 multi-sport shoe. The Minimus Outdoor is built on the same natural running last (NL1) used in the first generation of the New Balance Minimus collection. In fact, the shoe is identical to the Minimus Trail…
VIVOBAREFOOT Aqua Lite Shoe Review
From VIVOBAREFOOT comes the shoe of choice for road running, the Aqua Lite. This build on their best selling casual shoe, the VIVOBAREFOOT Aqua, which is a classic lace-up trainer that is perfect for walking or working out. The Aqua Lite is intended for use in the gym, dance studio, or road running and of…
Calling all barefoot and minimally-shod women runners
Why are there so few women in the natural running movement? What is holding you back from learning about better form and barefoot running? Is it the transition time? Is it fear of injury? Join Merrell in their first “Womenalism Chit Chat.” They’ll listen – I know that from my own personal experiences 🙂 12/01/11-1…
Pentax Optio WG-1 Adventure Camera
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. Recently, Pentax introduced its 12th generation of adventure series digital cameras – the PENTAX Optio WG-1 and PENTAX Optio…
Urshuz Brax
Urshuz gives consumers the freedom to customize their footwear with interchangeable, durable, eco-friendly options. Pronounced ‘Yer Shoes’ because they are YOUR SHOES, Urshuz soles are made from injection molded TPR (thermo-plastic rubber), which is 100% recyclable, and since they are not permanently fixed to the upper with glue, the soles of Urshuz can easily be…
UnderArmour Charge RC Natural Running Shoe
Interesting natural running shoe from UnderArmour now available in Limited Edition colors for November 25 delivery – the Charge RC. From the technical specifications: Uppers articulated flex to mimic and enhance natural foot movement; Midsole MicroG® foam, UA’s revolutionary light and low midsole innovation, Carbon spring plate for maximum energy return; Outsole blown rubber. Under 10…
Brooks Running Pure Collection Colorways For Spring ’12
This February, Brooks Running will come out with the second wave of its Pure Project collection. Retailing for $90 to $120, all four styles feature a flexible design, a split-toe groove, banded support around the midfoot and breathable uppers. The new colors, which feature both saturated jewel tones and color pops with neutral shades, will deliver…
SKECHERS GOrun
SKECHERS Fitness Group is jumping into the barefoot-style running category with the premiere of SKECHERS GOrun, a lightweight minimalist running shoe. Features of the GOrun include: Lightweight: GOrun is astonishingly light. Midfoot Strike: A 4mm heel forces the runner to land midfoot to forefoot which minimizes joint stress and maximizes efficiency. Go Impulse Sensors: Strategically placed…
A Sneak Peek Inside the New NB Minimus Zero Uppers
In the next installment (see previous installment NB Minimus Zero Sole) of the New Balance Minimus Zero design series, two NB senior designers, Drew Nyssen and Chris Wawrousek, talks about the uppers of the Zero collection – inspiration of how they were designed and developed. There really is no roadmap for designing ultra-lightweight and zero-drop…
Civic Duty Exhilaration
Civic Duty footwear is made of Tyvek, a comfortable, breathable material made by DuPont™ that is also water resistant and highly durable. Tyvek, it’s not just for FedEx anymore. The lightweight, paper-like material , best known for its use in mailing pouches and home building, provides the inspiration for a new line of casual sneakers….
Merrell Barefoot Road Glove
Merrell will be officially launching a zero drop minimalist road shoe with the Merrell Road Glove for men in Spring 2012 (Dash Glove for women). The Road and Dash Glove have synthetic leather and breathable air mesh uppers with reflective materials. They also have a fused rubber bumper. The midsole does not have the shock…
Recycling Plastic Bottles + Rubber + Cork + ??? = Shoes + Performance Apparel
Ever since college, I’ve been exposed to alternative energy sources like Solar Energy, Wind Power, and Hydro-Electric Power as my older brother is an Environmental Planner and Solar Architect in Arizona. ‘Going Green’ was not even on anyone’s radar in the 80s. My first exposure was a visit to Arcosanti, an experimental town in the…
Inov-8 F-Lite 195 now in 7 colors from Zappos only!
The twin brother of the Inov-8 X-Talon 190 is now available in 7 cool colors! But only from Zappos. The Inov-8 F-Lite 195 will redefine expectations for elite runners looking for the highest levels of proprioception and the most naturalfoot position. Featuring a 3mm differential between the forefoot and heel and a 3mm footbed, the…
Brooks Running Pure Grit
Brooks Running is finally moving into minimalism with the Pure Project and it is Brooks biggest launch in its history. The line of four shoes (Pure Connect, Pure Cadence, Pure Flow, and Pure Grit) incorporate five new design elements and the shoes weigh in at less than 10 ounces each. The Pure Connect is the…
Simple Hydration Water Bottle
We recently reviewed Amphipod handheld hydration systems and I received a couple of emails from readers asking if there are any hydration system that can work for runners with small hands or thin waistlines. Then I remembered reading about Simple Hydration on the Kick Starter web site (the largest funding platform for creative projects in…
New Balance MT 110
An update to the award-winning New Balance MT 101, the New Balance 110 Trail, a minimalistic trail runner, offers many of the same features and benefits that made its predecessor successful, including a thin Rock Stop plate in the outsole that protects feet from punctures and disperses shock without sacrificing the natural running feel. The…
NYC Barefoot Run 2011 – Candid Shots
Some shots taken Saturday and Sunday at NYC Barefoot Run…
The Evolution of the NB Minimus Zero Sole
There’s a lot of truth in what you see on the bottom of shoes Seated in a back corner on the 5th floor of the New Balance Design Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Chris Wawrousek, Senior Designer, is literally surrounded by this truth in the form of the hundreds of prototyped, well-worn and yet-to-be-tried shoes that…
VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail
From Terra Plana VIVOBAREFOOT comes their first trail shoe with all the hallmarks of VIVOBAREFOOT: the patented ultra-thin sole, anatomic shape and great looking design but with teeth. The VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail is the barefoot and breathable off-road performance trail running shoe. Balancing maximum proprioception with grip and traction, the Neo Trail is designed to…
Fall & Spring Shoe Buying Guide
It’s that time of the year! New models that are announced in January and August at the Outdoor Retailer shows are starting to ship to retailers – running specialty stores and some big box stores. Here’s our guide to the most anticipated road, trail, and casual minimalist shoes. As common with new models, they are…
VIVOBAREFOOT Training Clinic
VIVOBAREFOOT finally announced that registration is OPEN for the US program in Denver: 26th October – 30th October, 9:00AM – 5:00PM Pura Vida Fitness and Spa| 2955 East 1st Avenue, Suite 200 | Denver CO 80206 USA Other times/dates available only for the UK. Here’s your chance to become a VIVOBAREFOOT Certified Coach! More information at…
Amphipod Hydration Systems – Handhelds
We recently reviewed Amphipod waistpack hydration systems and after testing extensively in the scorching weather for a full month with Amphipod handheld hydration systems, we have decided to write a follow-up review. We tested out four of Amphipod’s latest handheld systems: Hydraform Thermal-Lite™ (12oz and 20oz), Hydraform Handheld Pocket™ (20oz), and PURErun Handheld™ (16oz). All…