The New Balance Minimus Trail is a light and flexible trail running shoe that offers the ultimate minimal underfoot experience. Engineered for runners at every level, the Minimus Trail boasts a midsole crafted from a Fuelcell foam compound made with Bio EVA, ensuring a responsive and propulsive ride during each run. With a low-to-ground feel, the Minimus Trail is nimble enough to keep up with the fastest of runners and and has just enough protection to tackle varying terrain with confidence.Featuring a durable rubber outsole, this shoe delivers outstanding grip on challenging trail surfaces. The seamless upper design allows for sockless wear, promoting a comfortable and irritation-free experience. Overall, the New Balance Minimus Trail is a lightweight and agile running shoe that meets the demands of runners seeking a comfortable yet minimalistic trail running experience.
The New Balance Minimus Trail is a light and flexible trail running shoe that offers the ultimate minimal underfoot experience. Engineered for runners at every level, the Minimus Trail boasts a midsole crafted from a Fuelcell foam compound made with Bio EVA, ensuring a responsive and propulsive ride during each run. With a low-to-ground feel, the Minimus Trail is nimble enough to keep up with the fastest of runners and and has just enough protection to tackle varying terrain with confidence.Featuring a durable rubber outsole, this shoe delivers outstanding grip on challenging trail surfaces. The seamless upper design allows for sockless wear, promoting a comfortable and irritation-free experience. Overall, the New Balance Minimus Trail is a lightweight and agile running shoe that meets the demands of runners seeking a comfortable yet minimalistic trail running experience.
The New Balance Minimus Trail is a light and flexible trail running shoe that offers the ultimate minimal underfoot experience. Engineered for runners at every level, the Minimus Trail boasts a midsole crafted from a Fuelcell foam compound made with Bio EVA, ensuring a responsive and propulsive ride during each run. With a low-to-ground feel, the Minimus Trail is nimble enough to keep up with the fastest of runners and and has just enough protection to tackle varying terrain with confidence.Featuring a durable rubber outsole, this shoe delivers outstanding grip on challenging trail surfaces. The seamless upper design allows for sockless wear, promoting a comfortable and irritation-free experience. Overall, the New Balance Minimus Trail is a lightweight and agile running shoe that meets the demands of runners seeking a comfortable yet minimalistic trail running experience.
The New Balance Minimus Trail is a light and flexible trail running shoe that offers the ultimate minimal underfoot experience. Engineered for runners at every level, the Minimus Trail boasts a midsole crafted from a Fuelcell foam compound made with Bio EVA, ensuring a responsive and propulsive ride during each run. With a low-to-ground feel, the Minimus Trail is nimble enough to keep up with the fastest of runners and and has just enough protection to tackle varying terrain with confidence.Featuring a durable rubber outsole, this shoe delivers outstanding grip on challenging trail surfaces. The seamless upper design allows for sockless wear, promoting a comfortable and irritation-free experience. Overall, the New Balance Minimus Trail is a lightweight and agile running shoe that meets the demands of runners seeking a comfortable yet minimalistic trail running experience.
Last updated at 11/30/2025 12:33:24
originally posted on newbalance.com
If you're looking for a barefoot shoe that's good for your foot health look elsewhere. Let's begin the shoe isn't zero drop, the arch support area is huge and the amount of sole material doesn't follow the foots silhouette. Just those three things will contribute to an incorrect foot strike while running or walking. Plus the price is criminal for something that isn't a true barefoot shoe. There's plenty of other brands that will provide a quality and proper product for the same or less money.
originally posted on newbalance.com
For a “barefoot style” shoe this is pretty good. Although the drop is 4mm feels pretty flat compared to every other shoe in my arsenal. Love the minimalistic feel while wearing them and noticed they are easier on my feet. Some of the taller shoes feel like I’m on rails if I use them for walking instead of running. Use these for day to day wear and as a cross-trainer.
originally posted on newbalance.com
I can understand how people can give a bad review based upon expectations from a previous model. For me, these are near perfect. I'm not a barefoot guy, have tried in the past and ended up injured. These have just enough cushion and support for me that I can do a very rigorous hike and my feet felt fine. I did a really steep and rocky hike in these in SoCal and they performed well. I was hoping I would not have an issue. I love these and they've become my favorite shoe. I actually have a first generation of these shoes, but I only use them for water shoes while kayaking. No quality issues to date. Love the style and contrast of the sole being a different color. I'm 55, 6'3" and 220 lbs. Very active, but I don't run at all.
If you're looking for a barefoot shoe that's good for your foot health look elsewhere. Let's begin the shoe isn't zero drop, the arch support area is huge and the amount of sole material doesn't follow the foots silhouette. Just those three things will contribute to an incorrect foot strike while running or walking. Plus the price is criminal for something that isn't a true barefoot shoe. There's plenty of other brands that will provide a quality and proper product for the same or less money.
For a “barefoot style” shoe this is pretty good. Although the drop is 4mm feels pretty flat compared to every other shoe in my arsenal. Love the minimalistic feel while wearing them and noticed they are easier on my feet. Some of the taller shoes feel like I’m on rails if I use them for walking instead of running. Use these for day to day wear and as a cross-trainer.
I can understand how people can give a bad review based upon expectations from a previous model. For me, these are near perfect. I'm not a barefoot guy, have tried in the past and ended up injured. These have just enough cushion and support for me that I can do a very rigorous hike and my feet felt fine. I did a really steep and rocky hike in these in SoCal and they performed well. I was hoping I would not have an issue. I love these and they've become my favorite shoe. I actually have a first generation of these shoes, but I only use them for water shoes while kayaking. No quality issues to date. Love the style and contrast of the sole being a different color. I'm 55, 6'3" and 220 lbs. Very active, but I don't run at all.
Over the previous year I had been buying new balance 10v2 trail, I really loved thoseshoes. So I thought this new model would be similar but they are not. I don’t likesoftness around the upper heel of the shoe. Also I do not like the thickness of theSole of the shoe. I don’t know why they discontinued the old model and I’m notalone in this thinking.
I’m a massive fan of the Minimus Trail 10v1 that was discontinued awhile back. It is my all-time favorite running shoe and the best NB has ever created imo. When I heard they were bringing back the Minimus Trail I couldn’t wait.The shoes were a great fit and initially felt great when walking around the house before taking them out on trail.I took them out for a 14-mile trek and this new version misses the mark completely. The first mile+ was relatively flat and sandy trail and the shoes were ok, but once the terrain had any incline or I planted my foot on an angled surface It has zero support and I found my feet “swimming” on the trail.The older version of the shoe truly felt like an extension of my foot. I really wish the new version didn’t stray so far from ... MoreI’m a massive fan of the Minimus Trail 10v1 that was discontinued awhile back. It is my all-time favorite running shoe and the best NB has ever created imo. When I heard they were bringing back the Minimus Trail I couldn’t wait.The shoes were a great fit and initially felt great when walking around the house before taking them out on trail.I took them out for a 14-mile trek and this new version misses the mark completely. The first mile+ was relatively flat and sandy trail and the shoes were ok, but once the terrain had any incline or I planted my foot on an angled surface It has zero support and I found my feet “swimming” on the trail.The older version of the shoe truly felt like an extension of my foot. I really wish the new version didn’t stray so far from what worked so well in the past.
I have been wearing New Balance Minimus for 15 years. Best training and CrossFit shoes on the market!I like the new Minimus Trail. However, I would make the following suggestion: The foam construction on the heel is not rigid enough. It allows the heel of the foot to move vertically when sprinting or driving off the front of the foot to the point that it almost slips out of the shoe. I would recommend using more rigid material.Additionally, while the new laces prevent untying during activity (great design), they have always been too long on the Minimus shoes. Within a few days, I find myself double-knotting them. Perhaps consider shortening the laces 2 inches.
Well, it's official. New Balance has abandoned trail runners. These shoes may be good for those who run on curated, groomed paths of gravel, mulch or even asphalt. But, for those of us who run on even slightly technical single track, these shoes will sap performance and even feel a bit dangerous.The good: High quality materials as usual. The new laces are great (a previous review complained that they are too long, but there is a handy elastic loop on the tongue that you can tuck them into). The mid-foot sole does a good job of protecting against sharp rocks and as stated in another previous review, the sole is super grippy, better than the Vibram soles.The bad: the uppers are stretchy and the lower is very squishy. So it is like having high quality sticky ... MoreWell, it's official. New Balance has abandoned trail runners. These shoes may be good for those who run on curated, groomed paths of gravel, mulch or even asphalt. But, for those of us who run on even slightly technical single track, these shoes will sap performance and even feel a bit dangerous.The good: High quality materials as usual. The new laces are great (a previous review complained that they are too long, but there is a handy elastic loop on the tongue that you can tuck them into). The mid-foot sole does a good job of protecting against sharp rocks and as stated in another previous review, the sole is super grippy, better than the Vibram soles.The bad: the uppers are stretchy and the lower is very squishy. So it is like having high quality sticky performance tires on a soft Lincoln Continental suspension, the sole sticks while the foot just floats around. The shoe grabs rocks and boulders well, but the foot slides all over the place in the shoe (even with the laces cinched down tight). Furthermore, the squishy lower and elastic upper absorb a lot of your energy. When attacking up hill, or tying to glide downhill, the sole grabs well, but the foot continues sliding in the shoe and it is awhile before the foot feels like it has gained purchase. You have to wait for the foot to finish sliding in the shoe before you can spring. This lag glitches your momentum while the softness absorbs your energy and spring. These bad mechanics noticeably shorten stride and cause hesitation when bounding across technical terrain. Due to the elastic on the heel, the foot often lifts and feels like it is going to pop out of the shoe, but, since it is elastic, it doesn't. However, this contributes to the over all unstable feel of this shoe. The toe box is ill fitting, too narrow for even my narrow feet. But, again, the upper is elastic, so I guess they had to make it tight so your foot doesn't completely slide off the side of the deck under lateral forces. The shoe handles like a soft luxury care, not a nimble sports car.Overall, it is clear that New Balance is not trying to appeal to the athletes that the 10v or 20v appeal to (heck, on a muddy, sloppy run, I'll even go for my 1010 models for those fat lugs). These new shoes are for people who run in straight lines on even ground.When they re-released the 10v I bought several pairs. But, I'm on the last pair. Once they are dead I'm going to start exploring other brands. I'm done with New Balance. They are clearly done with me.
feel good, I'm still unsure and wearing them around the house. been wearing Minumus since '12 and the new ones are quite different. I had my feet measured at new balance store with a computerized machine, and this is the size it says I wear. it's an adjustment, and just not sure. they're much spongy and longer. I'm an 81 year old power walker and don't want to trip!
I've been getting New Balance trail running shoes since before the Minimus line came out. I've gotten every version of the MT10 and loved them all. When I first tried on this newest version, I too was disappointed that New Balance had abandoned the barefoot feeling. I didn't want to wear this newest version and stuck to wearing my several pairs of the older versions. One day I knew I was going to be walking around on pavement for several hours and thought I'd wear this newest version. I realized after several hours of wearing them, that I actually really liked them. I had no pain in my legs or feet so I started wearing this newest version every day. Yesterday I finally hiked a mountain with steep trails with boulders, rocks and roots. These shoes are fantastic for ... MoreI've been getting New Balance trail running shoes since before the Minimus line came out. I've gotten every version of the MT10 and loved them all. When I first tried on this newest version, I too was disappointed that New Balance had abandoned the barefoot feeling. I didn't want to wear this newest version and stuck to wearing my several pairs of the older versions. One day I knew I was going to be walking around on pavement for several hours and thought I'd wear this newest version. I realized after several hours of wearing them, that I actually really liked them. I had no pain in my legs or feet so I started wearing this newest version every day. Yesterday I finally hiked a mountain with steep trails with boulders, rocks and roots. These shoes are fantastic for the trail. They have great traction, plenty of comfort and still give you a good feeling for the ground. Bottom line is, give these shoes a chance before you dismiss them as not being true Minimus shoes. I've grown to love them after thinking that I wouldn't. New Balance has improved the MT10 and I'm a convert to the new style. I would choose these over a brand new pair of the older versions. Thank you New Balance for continuing to make my ABSOLUTE favorite shoe. New Balance did a great job with the improvements on the MT10 line. Give them a chance before you decide they're not true "barefoot" running shoes.
I'm going against the trend of big fluffy footing for a reason. My foot fits well in New Balance, I've tried almost all of them over the years from racing to trail running, to gym shoes. I ditched my Hoka Bondi for these beauties and have never been happier. Yes Hoka's have been trending for the last few years and I gave them a shot.What I will tell you is my feet feel so in touch with the ground that I wear them everywhere. My heal isn't lifted up and the excessive cushion doesn't distract from what I'm doing. There is just enough protection for trail running, hiking and gym time. If I were on very rocky trails I'd look for some more sole.No marshmallow under my foot, no ungodly colors or distractions, not likely to be the next fad, ample protection, and full ... MoreI'm going against the trend of big fluffy footing for a reason. My foot fits well in New Balance, I've tried almost all of them over the years from racing to trail running, to gym shoes. I ditched my Hoka Bondi for these beauties and have never been happier. Yes Hoka's have been trending for the last few years and I gave them a shot.What I will tell you is my feet feel so in touch with the ground that I wear them everywhere. My heal isn't lifted up and the excessive cushion doesn't distract from what I'm doing. There is just enough protection for trail running, hiking and gym time. If I were on very rocky trails I'd look for some more sole.No marshmallow under my foot, no ungodly colors or distractions, not likely to be the next fad, ample protection, and full fun.Highly recommended.
