
“After years of happily running in minimalist shoes, I wanted something a little more comfortable for longer-distance training and marathon racing, and was thrilled that Altra provides an option with low cushioning, a wide toe box, and zero drop,” a reviewer says. It also features a breathable sock-like upper and a firm, yet responsive midsole. Providing equal cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these transitional running shoes come in the standard footshape fit, which is somewhere in between the original (the roomiest option) and the slim fit. Kuizinas recommends the Escalante Racer because they have some cushioning, but are still zero drop and lightweight. Cons: Narrower fit and isn’t available in half-sizes for larger sizesĪltra is known for their minimalist running shoes and their zero-drop design.Pros: It provides cushioning and is lightweight.Colors: women: Gray/purple, black/pink, and blue/yellow men: blue/yellow, gray/blue, black/lime.Best Barefoot-Style Shoes : Vibram V-Run Women’s Shoes + Vibram V-Run Men’s Shoes.Best Shoes with Cushioned Soles : Altra Paradigm 6 Women’s Shoes + Altra Paradigm Men’s Shoes.Best for Speed Work : Brooks Hyperion Tempo Women’s Shoes + Brooks Hyperion Tempo Men’s Shoes.Best for Cross Training : New Balance Minimus TR Women’s Shoes + New Balance Minimus TR Men’s Shoes.Best for Trail Running : Merrell Trail Glove 6 Women’s Shoes + Merrell Trail Glove 6 Men’s Shoes.Most Lightweight Shoes : Xero HFS Lightweight Road Running Women’s Shoes + Xero HFS Lightweight Road Running Men’s Shoes.


A small 2013 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that forefoot strikers had lower patellofemoral stress (pain in the front of your knee or around your kneecap) and knee frontal plane movement (side-to-side movement) than rearfoot strikers. Alex Kor, a podiatrist at Witham Health Services in Lebanon, Indiana, and fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons.īy keeping the weight in their forefoot, these runners put less stress on their knees and low back. “Generally, the runners who do well with minimalist shoes are those who are forefoot strikers - meaning they keep their weight in the forefoot and land on the ball of their foot - and high-arch forefoot strikers,” says Dr. Because they don’t have all the bells and whistles that come with traditional running sneakers, minimalist shoes aren’t for everyone. They also often have a zero drop, which means the heel and toes are the same height. Minimalist running shoes provide little to no support, such as arch support and heel cushioning, and are designed to strengthen the intrinsic muscles in your feet, so they function more naturally. Plus, we asked experts to share their top picks.

Read on to learn what minimalist running shoes are and if they’re the right fit for you. Minimalist shoes have become all the rage because they help strengthen the feet. And then there are minimalist running shoes, which many also call barefoot shoes.

When it comes to the running shoes, you’ve probably heard of pairs that provide shock absorption and stability features to help with over- or underpronation. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors.
