The human body was built to run barefoot. But let’s be honest, barefoot trail running just isn’t practical. Designed with a remarkably lightweight, stylish upper and combined with a supremely durable Vibram® outsole, the men and women’s Minimus 1010 from New Balance is designed to let you concentrate on your stride without sacrificing that ground feel you crave when you hit the trails.
So get ready to make for the shrouded mountain trails and leave the world of motorists and asphalt behind with the new men’s and women’s Minimus 1010 from New Balance.
On Performance & Design…
As noted in our review of the MR00, New Balance is not a brand that is chasing the minimalist trend. Instead, relying on their 100+ year heritage of design and innovation, the New Balance is constantly seeking new ways of satisfying those looking to achieve closer-to-barefoot running experience through a more natural foot position and foot-strike.
The New Balance Minimus 1010 Trail Running Shoe (MT1010 for men and WT1010 for women) takes us all back to the basics. These minimalist trail shoes gives the foot extra grip and essentially allows it to do everything else on its own.
Achieving a minimalist feel and design starts with a low profile, courtesy of a 4mm heel-to-toe drop differential. By dropping the heel lower to the ground, the 1010 puts the foot in a more natural position, providing a more stable running platform while enhancing ground feel and control. After all, the more you can feel the trail, the more quickly and easily you can navigate it.
Next is a minimalist, low-profile upper. So the Minimus 1010 trail shoes feature a lightweight monomesh upper that cuts bulk and weight to save you energy on each stride. According to both our male and female runners, the upper kept our feet cool when the heat was on, and more importantly excelled at keeping dirt and debris where they belong – out of the shoe and on the trail.
An innovative REVlite midsole is not only exceptionally responsive and long lasting, but 30% lighter than other midsole foams with comparable performance. The result is a shoe that’s lighter than any trail runner has a right to be, keeping you nimble and agile on the trail while you float over any obstacles in your way. Despite the minimalist design of the shoe, the avid trail runner will be pleased with the cushion and support this innovative midsole provides.
Underfoot, this trail runner sports a durable Vibram® rubber outsoles that boasts strategically placed pod-styled lugs to keep you steady while maximizing grip on the trail. This tread pattern provided consistent traction and solid braking no matter what surprises the trail had in store. And while you want to feel the trail, you don’t want to feel beat up by it. So New Balance ROCK STOP® protection in the forefoot adds an extra barrier between midsole and outsole for unsurpassed protection underfoot. The ROCK STOP® protection not only protects the foot from trail snipers, but exceeded the protection of less minimally minded shoes we’ve taken over the hills and through the woods.
The Critique…
The 1010 offers a wide fit across the ball of the foot which allows the toes to splay naturally. However, despite the fact we reviewed the wide version, our male trail runner (size 13 foot) reported that the shoe still cut narrow across the tips of his outer two toes. While this will likely never be an issue for most runners with a more standard foot, encourage those with a wider foot and/or longer toes to try on the 1010 prior to purchase to ensure proper sizing and fit. The only other minor critique offered by both our male and female trail runners was the length of the shoelaces. Even while double knotted the shoelaces seemed excessively long which could mean snags on trail riff-raff.
Bottom Line…
Whether tackling high altitude rocky terrain, or the fog laden forest trails of Santa Cruz, the MT1010 and WT1010 from New Balance® lets you connect with the trail as you hone your stride efficiency offering the perfect blend between traditional feel melded with a minimalist platform and stellar protection. Gumption tested, gumption approved.
Manufactured by New Balance, the MT1010 and WT1010 are available from NewBalance.com for $109.99 in a variety of color options and widths.
Gumption Gear Review received the MT1010 and WT1010 from New Balance at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured are provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.