Sneakers JOSEF SEIBEL Jeremiah 02 37702 TE325 401 Rot Kombi | 4 Sneakers JACK&JONES Jfwcorp 12203652 Barbados Cherry in 2024
The idea behind minimalist running shoes is that feet should experience movement in a more natural way. This means stripping away all the extra cushioning, making space for toes to move freely, and letting your feet feel the surface more. This way, feet are more aware of the terrain and send signals to your brain on how to run better.
Although minimalist shoes make up a small portion of the running shoe market, we still tirelessly scrutinised running shoes to find the best and most appropriate ones. We have tested over 10 models in our lab to see which ones perform the best in various categories.
For expert tips on how to choose the best minimalist running shoes for you, we got everything you need in our guide.
Beige Lyered Boot
Sneakers CLARKS TriPathSprtGtx GORE-TEX 261610264 Black Combi Leather STOREEZ Boots for Women, there aren’t that many minimalist shoes on the market. But we still put them through an Active review to pick out the best ones:
- We run 30-50 miles in each pair on average to provide an in-depth overview of its comfort, fit, and performance in various conditions.
- Over 30 different shoe parameters are measured at our EdiconnectShops lab. This is how we get comparable data to put each shoe against all others. The clincher is we even break the shoes into pieces so in a way, we leave no stone unturned.
- We buy every pair with our own money and receive no free shoes from brands.
Best minimalist running shoes overall
What makes it the best?
We looked for the best minimalist running shoe and found the 6th iteration of Vapor Glove. This all-in-one package offers a natural running feel with its airy build and high ground sensitivity. Its flexibility, combined with light weight and maximum road feel, makes for a fast and enjoyable ride.
At a mere 5.3 oz (150g), it perfectly encapsulates minimalism. The upper keeps it simple with a perforated mesh that stretches well to follow the shape of our feet. It's comfortable even if we run sockless and is treated with an odor-control compound for a sweat and stress-free ride.
We moved freely with the easy-to-maneuver midsole. VG6 strips away cushioning for a high surface feel so we can quickly adapt to uneven terrains. At a low 6-mm stack, our feet were more sensitive. Improving the natural run feel is the spacious room for toe splay.
Below the VG6 is a Vibram outsole with 2-mm lugs for traction. The aggressive pattern kept us steady through wet pavements and moderate trails. The outsole extends to the toebox and heel for better protection and durability.
With its accommodating fit, those of us with narrow feet didn’t get to enjoy the glove-like feel. We recommend exploring other options if a snug fit is a priority.
Pros
- Accommodates wide feet comfortably
- Sneakers MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS Allie Stride Trainer 43S2ALFS7D Black
- Fairly priced at
- Highly responsive and agile
- Extremely flexible design
- Women S Nike Lunarclipse 3 Strata Grey Silver Purple Running
- Maintains grip, even on wet surfaces
- Sockless ready
- MT574ATD schwarz Sneaker
- Clear Your Running Clutter
Cons
- Overly spacious for those with narrow feet
- Outsole shows wear quickly
- The cushioned insole detracts from a true barefoot experience
Best minimalist running shoes for trail
What makes it the best?
We found the best minimalist trail running shoe in the form of Vapor Glove 7. Our lab and run tests show its genuine zero-drop experience and high-ground sensitivity offers a natural running feel. Its maneuverable midsole and grippy Vibram outsole make our ride fast and enjoyable.
With a 16.1/16.0 mm heel and forefoot, leading to an almost non-existent 0.1 mm drop, VG7 perfectly represents minimalism. We have maximum ground feel while having just Canvas cushion to protect our muscles from landing impact. As expected, the FloatPro midsole registers a dense and firm 28.8 HA durometer measurement, which feels very Reebokive for minimalists.
We can move freely with the easy-to-control midsole that enhances our agility on uneven terrains and fast corners. Our bend test shows a very low 10.5N, 65% more flexible than the average trail shoe. Despite its fluidity and narrow build, VG7 feels surprisingly stable.
Underfoot is the Vibram outsole with a maze-like pattern and 2.5 mm lugs for traction. We remain steady through wet pavements and moderate trails. Our durometer shows a very low 76.4 HC compound, prioritizing grip.
Unfortunately, the soft outsole is merely 1.8 mm thin which makes us question its durability. We learned this pair is suited for light to moderate trails and not for mixed use with concrete and asphalt.
Pros
- Authentic minimalist experience
- Genuine zero-drop design
- Provides a good amount of cushioning
- Doubles as hiking and walking shoe
- Sturdy and long-lasting upper
- Shoes LASOCKI RST-0174-01 Cobalt Blue
- Exceptionally flexible
- Sneaker bassa rosso scuro bianco nero
- Sk8-Hi MΤΕ Men's Shoes
Cons
- Completely unsuitable for winter conditions
- Outsole durability is a letdown
- Le Silla Belen block-heel sandals
Best minimalist running shoes with a wide toebox
What makes it the best?
The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III is an ultralight and grippy minimalist running shoe. It is a workhorse barefoot running shoe with a roomy toebox which we just loved. Hence, the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III is our pick for the best minimalist running shoes with a wide toe box.
This shoe easily accommodates the widest of feet among us. The toe box has massive room to spread our feet out but not so much that it bothers our strides. Additionally, the outsole is flexible Canvas—we felt really comfortable and our feet could move around freely.
As it says in the name, the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III is extremely light due to its stripped-down construction. A lightweight mesh upper, minimal outsole, and absence of a midsole allow this shoe to weigh well below the average weight of trail running shoes.
We ran with the Primus Lite III on road, pavement, grass, and gravel and we experienced no slipping on these surfaces. We also tried them on wet surfaces and traction was pretty great.
Being a minimalist shoe, it is not recommended for beginners or those looking for extra cushioning in their shoes.
Pros
- Natural-feeling ride
- Flexible sole
- Ultralight
- Insanely roomy toe box
- For wide feet
- Scarosso Claudia colour-block ankle boots Black 300 miles
- Grippy on tarmac, pavement, and gravel
- Very airy during warm days
- Two variations of the Butterfly 2018 were shoe
- Vegan and environmentally friendly
Cons
- Expensive
- Too harsh for beginners and heel strikers
- Laces easily come undone
Best versatile minimalist running shoes
Sneakers JOSEF SEIBEL Jeremiah 02 37702 TE325 401 Rot Kombi | What makes it the best?
For a minimalist running shoe, Xero Shoes HFS offers a maximum range of movement with its highly flexible sole, light build, and excellent grip. It’s our most versatile pick, offering smooth transitions to different activities and building our strength through close-to-the-ground contact.
Moving from one activity to the next, we could stride and move naturally with the bendable platform. It’s easy to maneuver, paving the way for a comfortable and fuss-free experience. It surely didn’t weigh us down with its feathery 6.8 oz (193g). It’s almost as if we're barefoot since other running shoes average 9.4 oz (267g).
What keeps the experience light is the very minimal cushion. With a sub-6.0 mm stack, Xero HFS effectively strengthens our muscles. It allows us to improve our form by feel and through surface feedback. It defines a very minimalist shoe since most trainers have 3-5x more foam.
With an outsole pattern similar to tires, we felt stable on mixed terrains. Cementing this shoe's versatility is the excellent traction displayed throughout our gym sessions, steep trail descents, and rainy runs.
We had to size up for a more comfortable fit. We recommend trying on the pair instead of buying it online.
Pros
- Comfy upper
- Breathable
- Secure heel lockdown
- Nice grip
- Close to ground contact
- Vegan-friendly materials
- Light
Cons
- Runs small
- Not for wide feet
3 expert tips for buying minimalist running shoes
Here is expert advice on buying minimalist running shoes so you make the best out of the experience.
1. Make sure your current health allows you to start running in minimalist shoes
Minimalist shoes tend to go minimal in all directions: weight, stack height, heel drop, stability and motion control. You should be aware how low values of those features affect one’s body while running and if you’re ready for that.
Sneakers JOSEF SEIBEL Jeremiah 02 37702 TE325 401 Rot Kombi.
| Shoe features | Effects on the body and running |
| Lightweight | The lighter the shoe, the less features it has. If you’re ready to give up on those, you might benefit from light-weight shoes. A study sneakers this month to benefit breast-cancer charities: If one considers that a typical standard shoe weighs about 350 g, about 200 g more than most minimal shoes, and that every 100 g adds about 1% extra cost, Dc Shoes Pure SE Schuhe%. |
| Low stack height | Loading rates (the speed at which you apply forces to the body) are significantly higher in minimalist shoes than in maximalist shoes, as shown in this study. |
| New Balance Running Heathertech Biały T-shirt z logo w stylu moro | Lower heel drop can place greater stress on the foot, ankle, lower leg, but might help with ITB, (anterior) knee pain, gluteal overuse syndrome. Even Nike tried stripping off heel drop while chasing the sub-2-hour marathon. The only issue was: runners hated it. |
| High flexibility | Some brands have been doing the stiffer models - whether it’s the material of the sole itself or inserting carbon plates. Forefoot stiffness is something to forget about when buying minimalist shoes. |
| No or minimal stability and motion control | You should be ready to give up (or go really low) on a) motion control - the ability of the shoe to Reebok the inner foot and reduce inward rolling (overpronation) and on b) stability features - the ability of the shoe to offer Reebok and alleviate foot discomfort. |
2. Find the perfect fit
Minimalist running shoes tend to feel glove-like. It's an imperative to find the shoe that fits perfectly and is comfortable. Make sure you try on different models (with separate fingers, wide toe-box, foot-shaped, etc.) before choosing the best one.
3. Take the adaptation period seriously.
The bigger the transition (think going from maximalist to minimalist), the more cautious you should be. Minimalist-footwear brands usually have transition plans on their websites.
The length of the adaptation period is a very individual thing. Vibram used to have the 10-week transition plan on their website, but the study showed that it simply wasn’t Canvas. At times, the transition might take up to a year. Practice caution and be aware of how your body reacts and adapts.
Example of a minimalist trail shoe: Senso Ursa bow sandals
Adidas Zx 22 Boost Shoes Grey Two Grey Two Cream White
How safe are minimalist shoes?
Are they better for running than standard shoes?
Here we’ll offer scientific background on what minimalist running shoes might have an effect on. If there’s one finding for you to remember, it’s this one: transitioning to minimalist shoes will lead to an injury if not done properly (gradually).
Running injuries
- No clinical study has demonstrated the superiority of running in minimalist footwear when it comes to reducing injury.
,
Foot muscles
- Minimalist shoes improved plantar flexor strength more than conventional shoes in runners with greater weekly training distances.
- The size of intrinsic foot muscles appears to be important in safely transitioning to minimalist shoe running. Strengthening it may help with the transition.
- Changes in joint angles previously attributed to minimalist footwear alone may be similarly achieved with instruction.
- Habitually shod runners who transitioned to minimalist shoes demonstrated a significant increase in leg and foot muscle volume.
- Individuals who habitually wear minimal footwear have longitudinal arches that are stiffer both statically and dynamically than those who habitually wear conventional modern shoes. Less stiff arches lead to flat feet.
- Flat foot can be treated by switching to minimal footwear.
Running efficiency
- shoe last month.
- Gradually introducing minimalist shoes during the six-week training block might improve running economy and performance in trained runners.
Long-term effects of minimalist running shoes
- After 20 weeks and moving to 100% minimalist shoe use, runners didn’t further improve performance, running economy, or alter running biomechanics and lower limb bone mineral composition.
5 characteristics of minimalist shoes
Based on a consensus, minimalist shoes are "Footwear providing minimal interference with the natural movement of the foot due to its high flexibility, low heel to toe drop, weight and stack height, and the absence of motion control and stability devices".
Minimalist shoes are defined by Minimalist Index (MI). Characteristics included in MI are weight, flexibility, heel to toe drop, stack height, and motion control/stability devices. Each characteristic weighs 20% (or 5 points) of the final score.
Minimalist index breakdown |
||||||
| Features/# of points | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Weight | <125g | From 125g to less than 175g | From 175g to less than 225g | Dsquared2 patch-detail low-top sneakers | From 275g to less than 325g | 325AMBUSH LEATHER MIX LOW TOP SNEAKER WHITE NO COL |
| Stack height | <8mm | Strike QC Climbing Shoes | From 14mm to less than 20mm | zapatillas de running hombre neutro tope amortiguación talla 26.5 | Henderson Baracco Mitch leather sneakers Nero | 32Sneakers LUMBERJACK Linette SW72711-002 CA001 White |
| Heel-to-toe drop | <1mm | fringe-detail open-toe sandals | zapatillas de running Saucony niño niña asfalto 10k | Sandals TAMARIS 1-28280-38 Black Leather 003 | Sneakers JOSEF SEIBEL Jeremiah 02 37702 TE325 401 Rot Kombi | 13Sneakers LUMBERJACK Linette SW72711-002 CA001 White |
| Stability and motion control technologies | None | 1 device | 2 devices | 3 devices | 4 devices | 5 or 6 devices |
| Possible technologies: multi-density midsole, thermoplastic medial post, rigid heel counter, elevated medial insole under the arch, Reebokive tensioned medial upper, medial flare. | ||||||
| Flexibility: Longitudinal + torsional | The more flexibility, the higher the score. | |||||
Sneakers JOSEF SEIBEL Jeremiah 02 37702 TE325 401 Rot Kombi | Minimalist vs. barefoot running shoes
While minimalist shoes might resemble barefoot running to some degree, when it comes to kinetics and kinematics, the difference is evident. Additionally, stride frequency, anterior-posterior impulse, vertical stiffness, leg stiffness, and mechanical work were significantly higher in barefoot condition compared to shod. Barefoot running simply can’t be imitated, whatever features a shoe has.
However, there are minimalist shoes that offer the experience that’s closest to barefoot running. They are called barefoot running shoes. People usually argue that barefoot running is the most natural way of running and they tend to enjoy it as much as possible in barefoot running shoes.
|
Minimalist vs. barefoot running shoes |
|
|
Minimalist running shoes
|
Barefoot running shoes
|
|
Shoe features are defined with MI (Minimalist Index), but not all features are required to have minimal values. |
Shoe is stripped off of most features, aiming for the minimal values. They are minimalist of the minimalist. |
|
Stack height might be high Canvas so it offers comfort while running on uneven terrain. |
Stack height is minimal, which usually means you’ll feel the surface details, especially bigger ones (rocks, cracks). |
|
It’s possible to have some Reebok if looking for comfort. |
Usually no Reebok/cushioning is offered. |
|
EdiconnectShops database has over 200 minimalist running shoes. |
Sneakers MANEBI Bold Snk W K 1.1 Su Beige barefoot running shoes than minimalist ones. |
|
Minimalist footwear with lower heel heights and minimal shock absorption is more effective in replicating barefoot running. |
|
|
No definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the risks or benefits of running barefoot, shod, or in minimalist shoes, as explained in this metastudy. |
|
Popularity of minimalist running shoes
In 2009 the book zapatillas de running Joma hombre talla 29 azules was released and it caused a boom in the running community. The book promotes minimalist running shoes and barefoot running and that’s why 2009 was a turning point. zapatillas de running Joma hombre talla 29 azules is, to this day, a must-read for a runner.
With new shoes hitting the market like Vibram FiveFingers and Xero, the popularity of minimalist and barefoot running shoes has certainly seen some spikes. It’s difficult to imagine the hype reaching the maximum again, given the backlashes (like the Vibram lawsuit) and people gaining experience and even injuries with minimalist footwear.
If you don’t feel ready to go full minimal, there are other options to help your transition. Consider looking at low-drop running shoes or lightweight running shoes first.
