Runners - minimalist shoe recommendations for wimps

BerryH

Hi lovely runners, can any of you recommend minimalist shoes for someone with "difficult" feet, please?

I feel I can't go fully barefoot-style as I have tiny toes (hence no Vibrams) and suffer from plantar fasciitis. I know switching styles will help long-term (I'm already a mid-foot lander) but I can't face the agony of immediately getting super-close to the ground, so I guess I'm looking for a transitional style.

Nike Free, Reebok Realflex, Vivo Barefoot and INOV-8 have caught my eye, but I'm open to advcie.

I'm a heavy runner, run mostly on roads and in parks and have wide feet with high arches. My motivation for seeking a more barefoot style is I had to drop out of marathon training due to recurrent injury and I want to get back to basics and sort out any contributory gait issues.

I'm on a budget, so preferably this will be a model that's been out for a while so I can pick up last season's model cheap online!

billsica

I have a pair of Brooks pure cadence. They support my collapsing arches.
I was really looking at the New Balance ones. they use the Vibram material for the bottoms. So you would get vibrams, without the creepy toe issues.

januadiaboli

I have a pair of New Balance with the Vibram material ... I've broken two toes on my right foot several times, and they just won't fit into the ones with toes. They give decent support for my flat feet, and I love the fit of them!

BerryH

Thanks both. Is that Vibram sole zero-rise? I'm a bit wary of going straight to full flat with my heel problems.

lmc8774

I started training for a marathon last summer and had been running with Five Fingers for awhile at that point. I then switched to the Saucony Kinvara's when I started doing my longer training runs and used those for the marathon. They have a very slight rise (maybe 4mm?) and they have a little cushioning which helps my feet when running longer distances on pavement. I think there are Kinvara 2's and 3's out, but you can still find the first model Kinvara's on Amazon for a little cheaper. I also wear INOV-8's for trails and like those quite a bit. I wanted to use the Brook's Pure line, but they just don't fit my feet.

BerryH

Thanks! There seem to be even more variables in minimalist than regular running shoes. I think I'm going to have to take my own advice on running shoes and go to a specialist shop! Though it seems some chains stock a wider range of barefoot style than others, if at all. I've a horrible feeling I might not get on with them at all.

soymilkcoffee

I believe Merrell has a barefoot shoe line that has a "introductory shoe", for the lack of a better word. It may have a slight raise, and looks like a normal shoe. I personally use Vibram Five Fingers, but I have heard many great things about it.

LeenaRuns

My dad uses the New Balance minimal shoes and he loves them (has wide feet and can't fit into Vibrams). I personally use VFFs and think they are the best things ever created.

spartangirl79

I thoroughly enjoyed the Mizuno Wave Musha -- most running stores don't carry them though. I ordered them on a whim simply because I loved the color of that particular season and ended up loving them for running.

I have had lots of foot, hip and knee problems and had few to none with these shoes. I'm also a larger runner (200+lbs) if that helps you at all. :flowerforyou:

http://www.zappos.com/mizuno-wave-musha-4-lime-punch-prism-violet-chinese-red

Aperture_Science

I'm really interested in this topic: I have no experiences of minimalist shoes but I covet these

http://www.newbalance.co.uk/running/nb-minimus/65000,en_GB,sc.html

This post is really a thinly disguised bump.

Aperture_Science

This thread :

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/607941-barefoot-running

contains some good info and opinions.

AlisaRN

I didn't want to go full barefoot style either and my brother recommended Saukony's Kinvara's. I got them and love them! They are minimalist but still have some structure.

darkling_glory

I just bought a pair of Lightweight New Balance 630s. I plan to transition to the New Balance minimus 10 after my race in August.

I love the 630's. Light, breathable mesh. Very nice.

scottb81

I got PF while wearing Vibrams and had to get a minimalist shoe with a little more cushion both due to the PF and due to the high mileage I run (the bottoms of my feet were hurting all the time).

I recommend Brooks Connect. Great shoe with a 4mm heel to toe drop, inexpensive, and adequately cushioned for the long runs. My PF went away while running in them.

Sox90716

I have a pair of New Balance Minimus Trail Zero that I love. Good luck!

cunfewzed1

I use Pearl Izumi Streak II's. They have a lower drop than your "normal" running shoe (9mm) but are very light. It seems that mine will last 600-800 miles. I think they ran me about $80? i'm using them as my first step to a progression down to a minimalist shoe. 9 > 4 > 0 is the goal. I think they'd be a good start for you

tappae

I'm going to check out some of these suggestions, too. I've been using the Vibrams a lot and it's really helped my form, but they don't feel quite right on my feet (which are very wide, with high arches and loose ligaments). I've been running in New Balance for years, because they seem really easy to find in wide sizes and have been working well for me. I think I'll look at some of their minimalist shoes first.

sammniamii

Hum... now I want to look at New Balance or the Vivo's. I wear Vibrams 24/7 (5 pairs & counting) and love them, but they are getting eaten by the treadmill and I already know I'll need something tougher when I start running. I just got a pair of Bilkas (sale!!!) and Reebok RealFit (for the treadmill - they were cheap, stop eating my VFF's!), but I already know the Ree's aren't the best (they are more comfortable that those damn Skele toes - don't spend $ on those if you use other barefoot runners).

Blarg, long, wide feet with high arches .... why is nature so cruel? (LOL)