New Minimalist Footwear from Vibram and Friends

By Aaron Lovell

Until two weeks ago, I had never worn, much less run in minimalist shoes. Like a lot of runners, I looked at minimalism as a passing fad. The first time I saw Vibram’s FiveFingers KSO, I thought they were the ugliest shoes on the planet and would never take off.

A few years later Christopher McDougall published Born to Run and became an overnight running prophet. The barefoot and minimalist running community grew, shoemakers took notice, and viola! The minimalist running shoe market was born. Vibram FiveFingers rode the wave, introducing new models and kicking traditional running shoes to the curb. Other brands followed suit with their own minimalist or barefoot-style models. Today, it’s hard to find a running shoe maker without a minimalist model.

Back to two weeks ago. I attended a clinic on barefoot running hosted by Vibram, who had invited Dr. Mark Cucuzzella [Google him], a barefooter and one of the country’s leading experts on minimalist running. In an hour-long crash course, he explained the basic physiology of running; described how different kinds of shoes affect stride, gait, foot strike, balance, etc.; and put me and the other participants through some drills to introduce us to the “art” of minimalism.

That was when I tried my first pair of FiveFingers. Want to know what I think? Read on for my impressions of four new Vibram-soled minimalist running shoes from FiveFingers, New Balance and Merrell.

Vibram FiveFingers SeeYa LS, MSRP: $110

The SeeYa is not an introductory barefoot shoe, but it is the first one I tried. Of all the FiveFinger models, it provides the closest sensation to being completely barefoot. At around 4.5 ounces per shoe, I barely noticed them on my feet. They are extremely flexible and breathable. And even for a newbie, they are also quite comfortable. The new lace-up SeeYa features a soft TPU midsole sandwiched between an exquisitely thin outsole that provides awesome “foot feel.” A barely-there polyurethane insole sewn into the SeeYa protects your feet from ground sharpies and bumps.

My first run in these babies was only about a mile long, but it felt good. Subsequent runs have been similarly short as I slowly build up my minimalist endurance and avoid injury in the process.

Verdict: They’re great. Comfy enough to sleep in, though I haven’t tried it, the SeeYa’s looks have grown on me. The lacing makes them look a little more traditional, and to tell you the truth, the individual toe compartment novelty has worn off to a point that I just enjoy wearing them. Everywhere. Lace-up model comes out in October.

Vibram FiveFingers Spyridon, MSRP: $110

Where the SeeYa is an ultra-minimal road shoe, the Spyridon is made for the trail. Like the SeeYa Spyridon also has a sewn in polyurethane insole, but the similarities between it and the SeeYa end there. Spyridon’s sole has a super grippy, 3.5-mm lug patterned sole that sticks like gecko toes to hard pack, gravel, and rock. A molded nylon mesh laminated to the midsole protects feet from trail debris, stones and roots.

The upper is made from a coconut active carbon made from 34% post-industrial coconut fiber. It breathes well and does a nice job of keeping out trail dust. An adjustable hook-and-loop closure provides a custom fit.

Verdict: Also a great shoe and very comfortable, though it took a few wears to break in the fit. Took these for a few laps on a rocky gravel path around a local reservoir, and they felt great. Admittedly, my not-yet-tough-enough feet weren’t ready for some of the bumps. But that wasn’t the shoes’ fault. Followed up the run with a swim in the reservoir, shoes and all.

New Balance Minimus 1010 Trail, MSRP $110

Last weekend I took the Minimus 1010 Trail up the Mirror Lake Highway east of Park City for a few miles on some classic High Uinta trails. They were fantastic. One of my favorite things about minimalist shoes is that they are so lightweight. At 7.5 ounces per shoe, the 1010 trails are barely noticeable, aside from the fact that they protect your feet better than you might expect. Toe bumpers on the front of each shoe keep you from jamming your toes when you inevitably kick something in the trail. A thin rockplate embedded into the forefoot minimizes the impact of from sharp rocks and feels solid while remaining flexible.

The Minimus 1010 isn’t exactly a barefoot shoe, but its 4-mm heel-to-toe drop doesn’t feel clunky at all. Its still way lower than most traditional trail shoes and provides great groundfeel. The grippy Vibram-rubber soles are solid traction-grabbers. And the upper breathes well, dries really fast, and does a surprisingly good job of keeping dust out.

Verdict: A fantastic entry-level to expert minimalist trail training shoe. It runs/hikes/approaches great, and the modest EVA midsole makes for a decently cushy ride. Could work as a road shoe, but the tread would wear off quickly and lose its effectiveness on the trail. Keep these babies in the dirt.

Merrell Barefoot Run Road Glove, MSRP $110 (yes, they’re all the same price)

The Road Glove feels like a performance running shoe, like it just wants to go fast. Road Glove is an adequate descriptor. These shoes hug your feet without being constricting, and they breath exceptionally well, keeping your feet dry, comfy, and blister free. The Vibram sole provides nice traction on hard surfaces. I haven’t had them out in the rain yet, but the sole pattern seems like it would grip well, wet or dry.

While the Road Glove is a zero-drop, barefoot-type shoe, it does have a 4-mm EVA midsole that cushions your stride, which is a gift for longer runs. The integrated insole is treated with an antimicrobial solution to resist odor, so you can run in these barefoot or with socks.

Verdict: As a road runner or everyday shoe, the Road Glove shines. It would run well on light gravel or hard pack too, but it’s not intended for anything too technical. The exposed EVA on the sole would be shredded by rocks in no time. These shoes are best worn with thin socks. I tried to put them on with a pair of merino hikers, and that lasted about three seconds. The Road Glove may be my favorite shoe of the bunch here.

So, am I sold on the barefoot/minimalist running thing? I don’t know, but the defense continues to make a compelling case. Minimal running feels good. It feels great, actually. And it doesn’t hurt that there are so many cool shoes out there that make it even more fun.

These are just a few. If you feel like making the move to minimalism, do your homework and start slow. Read as much as you can, get good advice from experts, and get a good pair of shoes. The four described here are fantastic options, but they’re not the only ones.

Until two weeks ago, I had never run in minimalist shoes. But for the last two weeks, I have run in nothing else. 

Aaron Lovell is a freelance writer and the former editor of Rocky Mountain Running and Triathlon. He studied journalism at the University of Oklahoma.