I have been running with Newtons for a while and really like them. I was in the mall shopping for Christmas gifts when on a whim I tried on a pair of Nike Free 5’s. They felt amazingly comfortable, were black, and I figured at the very least would make great weekend knock around shoes.
Tonight I laced them up and did a 5K run. I have to say that these puppies are very nice. They feel great, light and were a pleasure to run in. They seem to fit like a glove and each step seemed to land softer than anything I have experienced before. Running on asphalt and a concrete sidewalk felt like I was running on a trail.
We will see what happens once the “new” wears off, but for now they feel amazing.
the free’s are everything newtons are not imo, actual minimalist shoes that promote barefoot running, because they simply get out of the way of your natural stride.
i used to get lower leg injuries from every other running shoe, including newtons…
this summer i started running in the frees and have logged up to 70miles a week in them, no problems… it didn’t take any “adjustedment period” either, just ran in them one day and haven’t used anything since…
I think Kswiss makes some good minimalist shoes as well and would be interested if anyone who has run in the free’s could give me a comparison of how the kswiss konas compare to them…
I picked up the Free’s 5.0 three months ago, love 'em. They quickly became my primary shoe. Not too much of a break in period, the only thing is that my arches would feel stretched a bit during the first couple weeks.
I used to run in Nike Moto’s, but I find now every time I go back to them for a longer run (+15K) I get knee pain. How do you find the Free’s compare to Newtons? I’ve actually been thinking about trying Newtons for longer runs. Either that or a minimalist flat like the Lunar Racer. First step though is to try and put a good 20K in the Frees sometime this weekend (help work off the turkey).
any other “minimalist” shoes recommended by people out there?
I just read a book explaining the whole deal on minimalist shoes and I’m pretty interested in trying out a pair.
Love the shoe and was using them as my 100% shoe and got my first stress fracture. Found after some reading that they are a little controversial in this area.
If you were to run in a true minimalist shoe such as Puma K Streets, Vibrams, New Balance 100 Trail Show, or any XC flat, you would quickly notice how non minimalist Nike Frees are.
Love the shoe and was using them as my 100% shoe and got my first stress fracture. Found after some reading that they are a little controversial in this area.
I started keeping a log - last one after a Thanksgiving day 10k in a very experienced triathlete coach (120 lbs female with good mechanics at that). 2nd met as usual.
Totally agree. I run almost exclusively in Mizuno Universe and Saucony Killkenny. I also own the Free 5.0 for walking around shoes. They are not close to the more minimalistic shoes due to their cushioning and relatively substantial heel. Overall, they’re probably better than a typical trainer due to their flexibility but IMO are pretty far from minimalist. I wish Nike would get its shit together and make a version with a much thinner outsole and no heel/toe drop. The version 3.0 were better but are discontinued.
You may have posted before about this topic but what are your thoughts on running shoes? Minimalist (akin to barefoot) or one designed for your foot (maybe with orthotics)?
You may have posted before about this topic but what are your thoughts on running shoes? Minimalist (akin to barefoot) or one designed for your foot (maybe with orthotics)?
Mixed emotions about it. I have been somewhat of an advocate for runners with reasonably normal biomechanics for years to run in a more “minimal” shoe. I’ve done barefoot strides after a long run for 20 years. But, I most certainly am seeing more injuries because of the new “fad”, esp the Vibram 5’s than I think I can ever relate to “too much” shoe. No way I’m running a marathon in those.
Like many things, people see it as THE only way, jump into it, and end up injured. Of course, a happy medium is where we will eventually end up on the treatment end. The shoe companies love this new trend as you will begin seeing more “minimalist” shoes from all the major players (Nike did this a while ago), yet they still make huge heel stack shoes, the Brooks Beast, etc. They can sell to everyone then Outliers will remain (from the huge Spira or Z-coil heel shoes, to the negative heel fitness walking shoes to a forefoot lugged Newton) and are fun to follow.
You may have posted before about this topic but what are your thoughts on running shoes? Minimalist (akin to barefoot) or one designed for your foot (maybe with orthotics)?
Mixed emotions about it. I have been somewhat of an advocate for runners with reasonably normal biomechanics for years to run in a more “minimal” shoe. I’ve done barefoot strides after a long run for 20 years. But, I most certainly am seeing more injuries because of the new “fad”, esp the Vibram 5’s than I think I can ever relate to “too much” shoe. No way I’m running a marathon in those.
Like many things, people see it as THE only way, jump into it, and end up injured. Of course, a happy medium is where we will eventually end up on the treatment end. The shoe companies love this new trend as you will begin seeing more “minimalist” shoes from all the major players (Nike did this a while ago), yet they still make huge heel stack shoes, the Brooks Beast, etc. They can sell to everyone then Outliers will remain (from the huge Spira or Z-coil heel shoes, to the negative heel fitness walking shoes to a forefoot lugged Newton) and are fun to follow.
I believe the reason most people get injured in minimalist shoes is not because of the shoes. The injures stem from people getting too excited or thinking they are invincible and doing too much too soon. Given the correct transition period I believe in most people minimal shoes will almost always yield less injury than moon boots.
In my VFF I have done 750 miles, including two 26.2 and a 31.16 miler. I am running farther and faster now then ever before in shoes, where I was injured twice in two years with 4 months of that off with injury before turning to minimalist running.
So you believe your successful transition can be applied to “most” people? Certainly glad it worked for you though. Maybe so, I’m just curious as to why you believe this (per your post)?
The last VFF stress fracture I saw was in a VERY experienced, properly transitioned, 115 lb female triathlete coach. Quite difficult to recommend something on my end without evidence based approach, and as much as I personally like the concept, it isn’t passing the test so far.
I know many many people who have come from injuries in shoes (including myself) to moving to more minimalist running and been much more successful.
On my end, if you are smart about it, running minimal will likely be a success. And I personally know many who have done it and I believe it is passing the test.
There is no evidence based approach that shows motion control shoes do anything positive for runners either. If it is not broke, don’t fix it though.
I know many many people who have come from injuries in shoes (including myself) to moving to more minimalist running and been much more successful.
On my end, if you are smart about it, running minimal will likely be a success. And I personally know many who have done it and I believe it is passing the test.
There is no evidence based approach that shows motion control shoes do anything positive for runners either. If it is not broke, don’t fix it though.
No problem - anecdotal and experience “evidence” only then. “On my end” and “personally” I just can’t use in my profession. I’m guessing you are pretty young and/or a new runner as well.
By no means am I suggesting motion control shoes in this thread as I’m not very fond of this line of shoe design - however, there ARE studies in the literature regarding their “use” in certain pathologies - just probably not with anyone you actually may “know personally”
No offense my friend as I certainly can share cases of success “downsizing” from a technical running shoe. However, it brings me to pause when these blanket statements are made to the contrary of years of daily experience from professionals that look at feet for a living. There is no agenda here but to inform based on experience just as you did, but the body of that experience should weight the statements. Your comment about lack of evidence on shoe type impact is not valid as the definition of “positive” needs to be put into context of an individual’s biomechanics. Motion control shoes just like a minimalist shoe such as the Free are not for everyone.
The companies will most definitely feed into the “fads that sell” and I believe some of them will survive as the concepts are based on sound mechanical rationales. The potential facilitatory effect of some minimalist shoes versus a largely compensation approach of traditional footwear/orthoses is something we can all understand and support within limits. However, the variation in foot mechanics (functional and dysfunctional) from athlete to athlete is quite large with some being amenable to facilitation and others leaning more towards compensation. Throw in some injury history, lower limb mechanics, and sport specific needs just to name a few and reaching a conclusion that a minimalist shoe is about intelligent use (being smart) and are for everyone is quite uninformed.
There is no such thing as a “Free” lunch; example below.
Yes it did “work” for me. Of course I do not believe my successful transition can be applied to “most” people.
It is just quite difficult to recommend something on my end to people that isn’t passing the test. Just as many serious runner friends of mine have been out with injury in the past few years then have not.
Minimal running is not for every person. But motion control shoes obviously are not either. Both should be taken as serious options.
It is a bit annoying when I get a young or new runner statement. I still have the experience of running and getting injured, being told I need different shoes, and getting injured. Switching to minimal shoes, and now I have been running very successfully.
So you do not seem to support any shoes, motion or minimal. You must be a barefoot runner?
Outliers will remain (from the huge Spira or Z-coil heel shoes, to the negative heel fitness walking shoes to a forefoot lugged Newton) and are fun to follow.
