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Minimalist Running Shoes
Welcome to Minimalist Running shoes
Virtually All the Minimalist Running Shoes in One Place
A person looking for minimalist running shoes can find hundreds of models from which to choose. Each manufacturer uses different terminology, which makes choosing between them confusing. After you’ve chosen you have no way of knowing if a shoe better suited to your needs is still “out there”, waiting to be discovered.
One Site Simplifies the Process
This site is designed to simplify the process by bringing virtually all the shoes together in one place arranged in such a way as to clarify the decision making process. Although we do not sell shoes ourselves, we do constantly search the internet for reputable sites that offer the best prices for minimalist running shoes. These sites are highly competitive, so the site with the best price is constantly changing. Check back often or get on our e-mail list and we will keep you informed.
The Forefoot Landing and Minimalist Running Shoes
Our philosophy is that minimalist running shoes are shoes designed specifically for runners who use a “Forefoot Landing” method of running.
A person looking for minimalist running shoes can find hundreds of models from which to choose. Each manufacturer uses different terminology, which makes choosing between them confusing. After you’ve chosen you have no way of knowing if a shoe better suited to your needs is still “out there”, waiting to be discovered.
One Site Simplifies the Process
This site is designed to simplify the process by bringing virtually all the shoes together in one place arranged in such a way as to clarify the decision making process. Although we do not sell shoes ourselves, we do constantly search the internet for reputable sites that offer the best prices for minimalist running shoes. These sites are highly competitive, so the site with the best price is constantly changing. Check back often or get on our e-mail list and we will keep you informed.
The Forefoot Landing and Minimalist Running Shoes
Our philosophy is that minimalist running shoes are shoes designed specifically for runners who use a “Forefoot Landing” method of running.
If you use the heel strike method of running then, the question you should be asking is “Am I willing to change my running style?” If you are not willing to use the “Forefoot Landing”, then minimalist running shoes are not your best choice.
Characteristics of Minimalist Running Shoes.
The Defining Characteristic, Heel-To-Toe-Drop or Offset
If you stand barefoot on the floor, your heel and your forefoot are equal-distant from the floor, zero millimeters. If you stand on the same floor in shoes, your heel could be several millimeters higher than your forefoot. This difference in height is the offset. You can also think of it as the difference in thickness of the shoe sole when measured at the heel and forefoot.
Low offset is considered to be the defining characteristic of minimalist running shoes because of the fact that the amount of offset with which you can still do the forefoot landing is limited. The other characteristics, although desirable, are not required for the forefoot landing.
The heels of shoes with high heel-to-toe-drop interfere with the “forefoot landing” and practically force the athlete to use the heel strike method of running. Although zero millimeters offset is available, several models of minimalist running shoes have up to 4 or 5 millimeters offset which is acceptable. The average offset for shoes designed for the heel strike method is over 12 millimeters, which is too high for a comfortable forefoot landing.
Characteristics of Minimalist Running Shoes.
The Defining Characteristic, Heel-To-Toe-Drop or Offset
If you stand barefoot on the floor, your heel and your forefoot are equal-distant from the floor, zero millimeters. If you stand on the same floor in shoes, your heel could be several millimeters higher than your forefoot. This difference in height is the offset. You can also think of it as the difference in thickness of the shoe sole when measured at the heel and forefoot.
Low offset is considered to be the defining characteristic of minimalist running shoes because of the fact that the amount of offset with which you can still do the forefoot landing is limited. The other characteristics, although desirable, are not required for the forefoot landing.
The heels of shoes with high heel-to-toe-drop interfere with the “forefoot landing” and practically force the athlete to use the heel strike method of running. Although zero millimeters offset is available, several models of minimalist running shoes have up to 4 or 5 millimeters offset which is acceptable. The average offset for shoes designed for the heel strike method is over 12 millimeters, which is too high for a comfortable forefoot landing.
Forefoot Landing
Two Shoes with Different Heel-to-Toe Drops
The difference in the height of the heel and forefoot in this shoe is clearly visable. It is designed for heel strike runners.
This minimalist running shoe has a zero millimeter heel to toe drop. It is designed for a forefoot landing.
Other Characteristics of Minimalist Running Shoes
Minimalist running shoes came into existence as an alternative to running barefoot. Like offset, other characteristics of minimalist running shoes are such that running in them is similar to running barefoot. Unlike offset, these other characteristics of minimalist running shoes include a lot of room for variation without interfering with the forefoot landing.
• Flexibility and ground feel.
Your barefoot is flexible, so are the most ultra minimalist running shoes.
Minimalist running shoes came into existence as an alternative to running barefoot. Like offset, other characteristics of minimalist running shoes are such that running in them is similar to running barefoot. Unlike offset, these other characteristics of minimalist running shoes include a lot of room for variation without interfering with the forefoot landing.
• Flexibility and ground feel.
Your barefoot is flexible, so are the most ultra minimalist running shoes.
Flexible Shoe
Some runners consider flexibility and ground feel, along with the stability they provide, to be of paramount importance. Even so, a lot of room for variation exists for this characteristic, because it does not interfere with the forefoot landing. Reasons that people compromise flexibility.
• Sole toughness. Let’s face it. The primary reason for wearing shoes, especially minimalist running shoes, is to prevent injuries from landing on the terrain. The rougher the terrain the tougher, therefore, less flexible is the sole needed. If you run off-road, you may need an even tougher sole.
• Support. Some people need arch support or anti-pronation control devices. These devices reduce flexibility of the shoe considerably.
• Sole toughness. Let’s face it. The primary reason for wearing shoes, especially minimalist running shoes, is to prevent injuries from landing on the terrain. The rougher the terrain the tougher, therefore, less flexible is the sole needed. If you run off-road, you may need an even tougher sole.
• Support. Some people need arch support or anti-pronation control devices. These devices reduce flexibility of the shoe considerably.
Neutral Over Pronation
• Cushioning. Some people just feel uncomfortable with the thin soles found in the ultra minimalist running shoes, and they want cushioning in their shoes. Such cushioning will reduce flexibility. Cushioning, by itself, does not affect the ability to perform the forefoot landing unless that cushioning is mostly in the heel.
• Light weight. Your bare feet carry no extra weight. Wearing minimalist running shoes, your feet should carry as little weight as possible. This is especially true while racing. Speed and endurance are adversely affected by carrying extra weight on your feet. Ultra minimalist running shoes are extremely light weight. Unfortunately, compromise in any of the other characteristics almost always adds weight to the shoe. Even so, this does not affect your ability to do the forefoot landing.
Before minimalist running shoes, 12 oz. was considered a lightweight shoe.
• Light weight. Your bare feet carry no extra weight. Wearing minimalist running shoes, your feet should carry as little weight as possible. This is especially true while racing. Speed and endurance are adversely affected by carrying extra weight on your feet. Ultra minimalist running shoes are extremely light weight. Unfortunately, compromise in any of the other characteristics almost always adds weight to the shoe. Even so, this does not affect your ability to do the forefoot landing.
Before minimalist running shoes, 12 oz. was considered a lightweight shoe.
Various Minimalist Running Shoes
9.5 oz. 6.2 oz. 3.8 oz . 2.2 oz.
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| Altra | Patagonia |
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| Inov-8 | Saucony |
| Merrell | Soft Star |
| Mizuno | Skechers |
| Montrail | Vibram |
| New Balance | Vivobarefoot |
| Newton | ZemGear |
| Nike | |
