| New Balance were one of the first major shoe manufacturers to boldly enter the world of barefoot shoes in early 2011 with their Minimus range of barefoot shoes. The New Balance Minimus MT10 was popular from the outset and demand exceeded supply thoughout 2011. This shoe was an extremely attractive shoe with a 4mm heel drop and a sole designed for off-road and trail use. The MT10 was highly successful and became one of our best selling shoes in 2011. What became clear during 2011 was that what runners really wanted from New Balance was a zero drop shoe. Blogs often contained pleas from barefoot running asking New Balance to produce a zero drop shoe.
In 2012 they didn't just come out with one pair of zero drop New Balance Minimus shoes but two, the MR00 Road and MT00 Trail.
Just as the MT10 had looked great, the MT00 and MR00 looked great and quite unlike competitors shoes.
Whilst both shoes are zero drop they both have quite a high degree of cushioning that will be welcomed by newcomers to barefoot running. The other characteristic that sets the shoes apart is their low weight. Even though the new zero drop shoes have arrived, sales of the original Minimus MT10 continue to be strong so there is clearly a significant market for both zero drop and 4mm drop barefoot shoes.
All the New Balance Minimus shoes use a sole made with Vibram combined with a fairly soft rubber that together provide the runner with a considerable degree of cushioning and protection from impact. This makes them well suited to runners who are new to barefoot who will benefit from this protection.
New Balance Minimus Range: |
