The Fine Art of Fitness

I was excited to see this shoe come on the market. It’s an interesting phenomenon really: Shoe manufacturers are trying to market to the barefoot running movement with… shoes. “Barefoot running shoes” are an oxymoron so the more popular description today is “minimalist running shoes”. The point of exercising without cumbersome shoe technology is to reduce injury and enhance enjoyment by letting our body return to a natural stride or running gait. The point of manufacturing footwear to appeal to this barefoot trend is not so clear. One hopes these manufacturers are recognizing the health benefits of improved foot strength and mobility and not just trying to sell more product. I’m going to save that discussion for another post. For now, on with the review!

Fresh out of the box, the New Balance MT20 arrived courtesy of zappos.com. Before unwrapping the shoes from their tissue paper, the box displays a prominent warning label:

“Caution: This product places strain on the foot, calf and Achilles tendon. Overuse of this product or use of activities outside of running and walking may increase the risk of sustained injury. This product should be introduced SLOWLY into an exercise and running routine. New Balance recommends limiting initial use to 10% of overall running workouts and very gradually increasing time and distance.”

This is probably prudent advice. A minimalist running shoe is by definition made without the cushioning and support most people are used to. Shock absorption and balance become the responsibility muscles, tendons and proper technique. It takes time for these to become conditioned. This is especially true for people accustomed to running in traditional footwear. The cautionary notice is repeated on the shoe tag.

The shoes look exactly as pictured on the website. This was encouraging because I pay a lot attention to the shape of the “last” when I’m considering a shoe purchase. A nice detail is that the tongue is stitched to the shoe so there are no worries about it sliding out of place. I always adjust my laces to provide extra room across the knuckles of the toes while keeping them fitted around the instep.

I’ve got nice, strong, wide feet. They give me zero problems. I like to think this is due to the deliberate care and attention I’ve given to them. Two decades ago I realized how indispensable my feet were and I haven’t compromised since then. I give them top priority in my stretching and strengthening routines. My respect for the service they give to me is why I scrutinize my footwear so closely. Among the characteristics I look for are: no cushioning, a snug fitting heel, contoured instep and a wide, roomy toe box.

No Cushioning: Great. The Minimus gets good marks from me here. The angle of the shoe is very neutral and there is no padding to speak of. This is important because the squishy heel padding of typical running shoes interferes with the biomechanics of running. This is the area that New Balance seems to have focused their attention: making a shoe without cushioning.

Snug Heel: Great. A good running shoe should not allow any slipping in the heel and the Minimus is nice and secure.

Contoured Instep: Good. I felt that the shoe fit very well through the instep. I have a healthy arch in my feet and after adjusting the laces, the Minimus accommodated my proportions well.

Toe Box: Disappointing. The exaggerated asymmetry leaves room for the big and first toe and then cramps the outside of the foot. Toes are not given enough room to spread, grip and support. It is disappointing that the shoe does not recognize this critical function of foot anatomy. In fact, by eliminating the shoe cushioning while at the same time binding the toes, I fear that this shoe could cause more problems than it solves.

Binding the toes creates several problems. First, it reduces shock absorption. The toes can not spread out so impact on the feet is now concentrated on a smaller area. This increases stress unnaturally. Balance is compromised because the toes are not allowed to flex and grip independently to cope with lateral movement. The New Balance Minimus has embraced the idea of a lighter shoe with reduced cushioning but the restrictive design does not leave room for the foot to develop necessary strength and mobility.

My verdict: the most effective way to gain the benefits of a barefoot exercise program is to actually exercise barefoot. If environmental factors (temperature, hygiene, sharp or abrasive surfaces) contraindicate an exposed foot, then there are better options for protecting your feet yet will still allow healthy foot development.

The Minimus feature a rubber outsole made by Vibram. This is notable only because it was Vibram that developed the revolutionary Vibram Five Fingers which I consider to be the first piece of commercial footwear to be marketed toward barefoot exercisers. The aggressive concept of Five Fingers abandoned every preconception of the word “shoe”. As a result, it is the only footwear designed for foot performance rather than shoe performance. It may not have been my intention to make a direct comparison of the two here but there you go.

Adios muchachos