Sole Mates – The New Balance Minimus Trail Review and Giveaway
If you have read my blog for any length of time you know that I love to workout barefoot. Not only is it the safest way to lift kettlebells, I love the feeling of my toes digging into the grassy earth. When it’s warm. When it’s dry. When it’s clean.
Since the ground is not always warm, dry and clean, I face a dilemma.
Do I wear traditional cushy shoes and risk injury a due to an unstable surface? Or do I deal with the mud, splinters, rocks, and cold among other scary things?
Not to mention that most gyms won’t allow the patrons or instructors to go barefoot.
A double dilemma.
Until now.
Love.
Yes. LOVE.
The moment I opened the box it was love at first sight.
I’ve never been a big fan of the “tennis shoe” look and the New Balance Minimus defies the word “sneakers”. They are funky, functional, and cool with a personality of their own.
But how do they perform?
Keep in mind, my primary purpose of these shoes is strength training with kettlebells. While I do spend a fair amount of time on the trails around my town, I was really looking for something that I could wear while lifting and running because the majority of my workouts include a variety of movements like swings, sprints, and straight lifts.
Let’s have a closer look.
The New Balance Minimus Traili shoes are designed to be worn barefoot.
The first thing I noticed was the tongue, it attaches almost seamlessly to the inside of the shoe eliminating any extra rub to the top of the foot and well as reducing “adjustments”. The interior lining is super duper comfortable and the mesh design allows your feet to breath while keeping out rocks and other small debris. A win-win! Of course, if you want to wear socks you can and you can wear normal socks as opposed to the “toe socks” necessary for some other barefoot-style footwear, which could be a major plus for some.
The soles are flexible (they could be easily folded in half) made out of Minimal Vibram outsole with a hexagonal pattern on the bottom. The entire shoe weighs only 5.5 ounces.
The sole is thin enough to still feel the ground to “dig in” or “root” my energy for maximum tension which equals greater strength. I also didn’t experience a noticeable difference in my body alignment or balance from the 4 mm heel drop even during a long set of hardstyle type swings.
As a personal trainer, one of the problems I face is trying to convince clients to train with kettlebells (and other weights) barefoot or in flat thin soled shoes. Most have spent their lives training in the thick raised soles of cushy tennis shoes. Some will agree to a more flat soled shoe, like the classic Converse but understandably don’t like to do any running drills in the more stiff soled shoes. However, the New Balance Minimus was designed for running and they work for kettlebells (or other strength training) remarkably well. Another win-win.
Along with my kettlebell workouts, I also hit the trail regularly for some hiking or running. I’ve been contemplating barefoot running for a few years but until now I hadn’t had the nerve to try. Honestly, I’m just not really that keen on hitting trails totally barefoot. Rocks hurt and dog poo is gross. As much as I want to be “closer with the ground” I don’t want to spend the entire time worrying about what I may step on or in. The New Balance Trail is the perfect solution for me. My feet were protected but I still had a “near barefoot” experience.
Barefoot running requires that a person adjust their gate from a heel strike to a more mid-foot strike. Since barefoot running is new for me, I like having a bit of heel cushion for those strides I accidentally strike heel first. While I can’t speak for long time hardcore barefoot runners, I do think these shoes are ideal for transitional runners like me.
If I haven’t made it clear, I absolutely loved these shoes. Truly. I couldn’t have been more excited when New Balance contacted me about a review as I have been a long time New Balance fan and I was equally excited to review a product that fit my needs so perfectly.
And…
I couldn’t be more thrilled that New Balance has offered a pair of Minimus Trail shoes to one lucky reader!!!!
Mandatory Entry…
Check out the New Balance site (it’s full of great information!) and leave a comment telling me something you learned or mention a pair of shoes you liked!!
For up to 4 additional entries (5 total) you may do any of the following and leave a separate comment for each entry. (Comments are numbered and the random number generator picks a number so more comments = more chances to to win.) 
1. Tweet about this giveaway and mention @NewBalance and @girlhero. Here is a shortened link you can copy and use http://bit.ly/l3VW2R.
2. Become a fan of New Balance on Facebook and leave comment telling me you did so. (If you have already “liked” it you can leave a comment.)
3. Become a fan of the new Girl Heroes page on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so. (If you have already “liked” it you can leave a comment.)
4. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.
Open to US residents only. Contest ends May 5th, 2011 at 9 p.m. PST. Winner will be randomly selected and has 48 hours to get back to me by email or a new winner will be randomly selected.
Good luck!!!
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
Disclosure: I was provided a pair of New Balance Minimus shoes for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
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This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
great photos! Do you really get any “exercise” while walking that dog on the trails? hehe
Tweet https://twitter.com/#!/rachelflavin/status/63786274976301056
Fan of New Balance on FB
Fan of Girl Heroes on FB
I really like the True Balance Toning flip-flop sandals (6014)
I Tweeted (maxfate)
http://twitter.com/maxfate/status/63860040418856960
I’m a New Balance on Facebook Fan.
. I’m a fan of the Girl Heroes page on Facebook. Thank you~
LOVE the new minimus trail shoes – just could not bring myself to buy the vibrams, so I am very happy to see these!
I tweeted about the giveaway and @newbalance and @girlhero
‘Liked” newbalance on FB
Liked the new Girl Heros page on FB
“Liked” New Balance on FB
I am already a fan of the New Balance line from past purchases/experience. These look so comfy and would be a great addition to my fitness wardrobe as I am a newby at KB (and LOVE THEM!) and am contemplating adding working up to a 5K into my plan.
“Liked” this blog post on FB so now my other fitness minded friends and family will be as savvy and have the opportunity to learn about the new balance shoes and girl heroes/jennincat
Tweeted!!!
was already friends on FB with Girl Heroes (but ‘liked’ the post again to make sure friends and family are currently aware! LOL)
Ohhh! I love these shoes! I like how thin they are and think they’re be great for hiking! Id even give running a try. Great giveaway and review Jen!
And I liked NB on Facebook!
And I like Girl Heros page!
And I tweeted! I really want to win a pair of these shoes for my Grand Canyon trip!! Pick me!!!
i love the wr10’s! i’ve been swooning over the entire minimus line – love them!
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/AccordingtoGus/status/64166149373444096
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE new balance shoes. I’m a very active mommy to four that squeezes in a workout 6 days a week. I’ve even incorporated my two and four year old into my workouts!! I’d love to have a pair of these for I too enjoy the feel of the outdoors while barefoot! 😀
I like the NB Minimus trail shoes. I was able to try them on at an expo, but decided i needed to wait till next year to buy them. they are very comfortable, and would be perfect for my kettlebell days or running trails.
I really enjoyed the “Reclaiming Your Resolutions” article on the New Balance website (found here: http://bit.ly/mSO1We). In particular, the tidbit about maintaining motivation by altering activities I’d already be doing made a lot of sense. I am not a morning person in the slightest and, while I *would* like to establish a habit of getting going earlier, I don’t want to have to wait for that revelation to hit before I start getting fit.
While it may seem like common sense, I do think we tend not to appreciate the tendency to overhaul everything at once (after all, doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, right?).
At any rate, I love the look of these shoes (and the idea of wearing regular socks with them ;)) and would love the opportunity to try them out. Check me out on Twitter @nubiennze – I shouted you guys out there as well.
I thought I commented already! Glad I checked back! First, I loved seeing your doggie! And I love some of the recipes on the new balance website. Last I love the look of the new balance minimus trail shoes. If they are even half as good as you describe, it would be great to own a pair!
I checked out the website and found that there are only 2 styles of that shoe to choose from and of the 2 you got the cute pair
I “liked” you earlier in the week (I still like you now, too!)
Became a fan of New Balance on FB.
I love the new balance 860 pair – great colors and stability!
I tweeted http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/64600737790951424
I like you on fb as Dee G.
I like new balance on fb as Dee G. Thanks for the chance!
I like the black and purple New Balance 890 shoes.
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/prizepuzzle/status/64807280650096642
I love the style of the New Balance 650 in gray with teal. The Minimus Trali look pretty awesome too.
Thanks,
Laurie
laurc2011 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Fan of GH on FB!!
I was checking out the 89withREVLITE and learned that new balance actually added REVlite, a new midsole foam compound with the durability of foams that are 30% heavier, but nearly 1/3 less weight! uhmazing!
thanks for the giveaway, jenn! xo.
tweeted! @cox_2446
I have plenty of running shoes already, but I would like a pair of the Minimum Life shoes for walking the dogs and going out on quick errands.
I enjoyed the evolution of the minimus. That was cool! These shoes are pretty awesome, too!
I liked the New Balance Page!
I tweeted the Giveaway!!
and I blogged
http://theultimatetransition.blogspot.com/2011/04/giving-gift-of-sole-mates.html
Loved hearing about these shoes–I have been looking for a flat soled shoe that was cute and functional! thanks!
Tweeted about your blog!
Liked NB on facebook and have always liked girl heroes!!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on so many things!
I liked you and new balance on facebook! Thanks for the info. I really want to try barefoot running but i reeeally don’t want my toes to be separated!
Those shoes look so cool! I think if i could pick any NB shoes, these would be the ones! Just love you can wear them barefoot.