So I love my NB 833s especially for tempo runs and road races. They fit great and are pretty minimal. But they are wearing out fast (200 miles): Anything real similar but more durable? Or is it back to Skylons for me? thanks in advance. -TB
Love mine. I only use them for races and on the track. I too only get about 200 miles on them, but that is about 1 year of racing and track work, so I don’t mind. They are just so darn comfortable even for marathons and especially barefoot for tri’s that I’m willing to accept the short life.
Here is a little perspective for you. After seven months of running in the same three pair of racing flats, I finally started having some feet issues when I passed 80 miles per week of running. I realized I had passed my body’s ability to adapt to both increased mileage and running “barefoot.” So I ordered some NB 833s that arrived in the mail yesterday.
Now they are my “really heavy, boat-anchor” trainers. They were sure soft and cushy, but they felt really heavy and you lost all sense of feel for the ground. They were never meant as a high mileage shoe, so if your feet and legs are accustomed to a certain amount of cushioning, then these things will not last long. Since I’m used to nothing, I’ll be very interested to see how long they last and still maintain that ‘springy’ feeling.
If you really want to see what it feels like to fly, try on some really light shoes. Man, I miss my Brooks T3s already. I got 500 miles out of them before my feet said enough was enough halfway through my 90-mile week. I suspect had I not kept building up so fast from 50 miles per week I could run in them until the sole wore off.
Chad
Try like Nike shox or trail runners if you really want the “hiking boot feel”
I guess the NBs are good shoes just not durable. Which is why I may get Nike skylons instead (a bit heavier but a bit more durable) … The other sem-light shoe I run and race in is the adidas supernova competition, which is more durable. Do they still exist? … Several years ago I ran my 2nd marathon in 7 oz. flats and hurt myself bad. Stupid. Since then I haven’t purchased a new pair and only run 1 or 2x a month in them, just 5Ks and sprint tris. I need to get a new pair and get used to them again. Just not for marathons 
Any shoes like this won’t last long. I really like the 833s too (speedlaces work great on them as well).
Closest thing I have found are the ASICS DS Flash - but they don’t really last much longer. Cushion gone about the same, but the outsole is a bit more durable. I wore off the forefoot rubber on my 833s way under 200 miles