NB Minimus Zero, first Zero-Drop Shoe from New Balance

By Justin Owings on Aug 2, 2011 | In general | 22 comments »

2012 New Balance NB Minimus Zero Trail (my guess) teaser, close-up shots just leaked. This is the first zero-dropped New Balance for their minimalist footwear/barefoot shoes line and a departure from their original 2010 installation, which featured a 4mm
2012 New Balance NB Minimus Zero Trail (my guess) teaser, close-up shots just leaked. This is the first zero-dropped New Balance for their minimalist footwear/barefoot shoes line and a departure from their original 2010 installation, which featured a 4mm heel-to-toe drop.

The folks over at New Balance have started leaking out information about their next entry into the minimalist footwear/barefoot shoes category — the New Balance NB Minimus Zero,or the NB Minimus Zero for short. The NB Minimus Zero line will, as the name suggests, bring a zero-drop heel to toe option to the NB Minimus line (We've previously reviewed the NB Minimus Road, NB Minimus Trail [more photos and video | user review], and NB Minimus Life). As you might recall, the previous installations in the NB Minimus line all featured a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, much to the chagrin of the minimalist footwear community. Sure, while 4mm is ... minimal, it was a cognitive disconnect from the characteristics "barefoot running shoes" should have.

Echoing New Balance's approach from 2010, they are only leaking out a tiny bit of information about the NB Minimus Zero, giving us only a glimpse of the product via some super close-up photos and some tantalizingly ambiguous commentary via the New Balance" SBU Manager for Performance Running and Outdoor," Katherine Petrecca. More specifically, New Balance will be releasing "9 Things You Should Know" about the NB Minimus Zero by Katherine Petrecca at 4pm Eastern.

New Balance gave me early access to the Petrecca piece so I could whet your appetite and fulfill my duty to bring the BirthdayShoes community all the barefoot shoes news fit to print.

So read on after the jump!

 

The first zero-dropped shoe from New Balance

A close-up of what I think is the outside front of the NB Minimus Zero Trail (note the Vibram logo — the original NB Minimus Trail also had a Vibram rubber sole overlaid on some sort of foam)

Based on Katherine Petrecca's comments, here's what we know about the NB Minimus Zero:

  • It's coming in Spring 2012
  • New Balance intends to support the "spectrum" of minimalist runners by offering a line of shoes, not all of which are zero-drop. My take, that's why they started with a 4mm drop and are now offering a zero-dropped NB Minimus Zero.
  • Petrecca: "We define our NB Minimus collection by 3 measures: weight, stack height and the heel-to-toe drop. Those are the levers that we can pull to create different levels of minimal product. In addition to the reduced drop, NB Minimus Zero products also feature lower stack heights and weights than the 10 series - 6.4 oz for NB Minimus Zero Road and 4.4 oz for NB Minimus Zero Trail." Justin: I like the use of the word "levers" here — minimalist footwear requires compromise across numerous attributes. A more flexible sole, for example, has consequences down the function chain, including durability, protection, and ability to flex with the foot. Meanwhile, a 4.4 oz Nb Minimus Zero Trail? That is light!
  • Speaking of light, the NB Minimus Zero has a "cored" midsole to reduce weight. This was an idea they had wanted to implement for the original MT10 line (Gen 1 NB Minimus), but weren't able to execute at the time. Meanwhile, they've got even more ideas brewing for 2013 (which is an eternity from now).
  • Petrecca notes that the NB Minimus Trail will really "make you work for it ... It will really force the runner to pay attention to how they are running because the shoe won't be doing any of the work." Good!

  • "We have significantly reduced the amount of foam and rubber underfoot."

    What I think is the arch of the NB Minimus Zero Trail. I think it's the arch because it has a curve to it and you can note where the rear and forefoot Vibram rubber pieces are laid on top of the foam.
    What I think is the arch of the NB Minimus Zero Trail. I think it's the arch because it has a curve to it and you can note where the rear and forefoot Vibram rubber pieces are laid on top of the foam.
  • The NB Minimus efforts are going to be changing other New Balance shoes: "We have taken this thinking into other areas of our Running line and have expanded our use of non-traditional off-sets. In Spring 2012, we'll launch 2 key performance updates that will move from a 12mm to an 8mm drop.”
  • There will be new iterations of the NB Minimus Life and a NB Minimus Training (??? this a new model?)

That's it — told you it was tantalizingly ambiguous. Now, aside from the commentary, we get a pittance of photos, all of which I'm almost 100% sure are from the NB Minimus Trail. Why do I think that? Well, three reasons:

  1. that's what they did last year,
  2. the profile shot shows "Vibram," and the only NB Minimus shoe from the MT10 line that had a Vibram sole was the NB Minimus Trail (pic), and
  3. the sole shot looks reminiscent of the NB Minimus Trail's hybrid, multi-part rubber overlaid on foam as with the NB Minimus Trail (the yellow is the foam). Note: the arch on the NB Minimus Trail Zero doesn't have any rubber on it per the close-up photo! Weight reduction move by New Balance that also exposes your foot to more "danger" if you step on an errant rock or root.
Likely the outside outer side of the NB Minimus Zero Trail. The fabric looks very flexible, as contrasted against the original NB Minimus Trail's more rigid (though still pretty flexible) upper fabric located at the same point.
Likely the outside outer side of the NB Minimus Zero Trail. The fabric looks very flexible, as contrasted against the original NB Minimus Trail's more rigid (though still pretty flexible) upper fabric located at the same point.

So there you have it!

New Balance's teaser of the 2012 NB Minimus Zero Trail zero-dropped shoes. What do you think?

About the Author — I founded BirthdayShoes.com in April 2009 on realizing just how much I enjoyed having "free feet" - I mostly wanted to use them for weights, sprints, and plyometrics (I'm not much of a runner!). I'm a Googler by day and minimalist footwear aficionado by night; you can find me 'round Atlanta. If you want to catch up with what I'm doing outside of the site here, follow me on twitter @bdayshoes or @justinno or check out my personal site JustinOwings.com.
has written 845 articles and 379 comments.
Tags: minimus, news

wait! before you go —

« Inov-8 Road-x 155 Review2012 Vibram FiveFingers Spotted! New Toe Shoes for Casual Wear, Running, and Trails! »
Comment from: Jeff [Visitor]
JeffThat's nice to hear. I have a pair of the originals and the other complaint I had was that the toe box were the rubber strap came across was too tight. Hope they're a little more like vffs this time!
08/02/11 @ 12:24
Comment from: Michael Douglas [Visitor] Email
Michael DouglasThis is great news. Looking forward to seeing this shoe on the market. Seen people wear these in trail runs and in off road 5k's. Very exciting!
08/02/11 @ 13:21
Comment from: Bryan [Visitor]
BryanCan't wait, already have the Minimus Trail to compliment my Bikilas and KSO.

Love the fact they are going lighter and zero drop!
08/02/11 @ 13:38
Comment from: Fred Spellman [Visitor]
Fred SpellmanNow, if they will make some of them in all black so I can were them at work...
08/02/11 @ 14:29
Comment from: Charlie [Visitor]
CharlieThe Zero Trail sounds pretty awesome. 4.4 oz is lighter than my TrekSports. I can't wait to try those on.

I also found a pretty good picture of the Zero Trail in green and black:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7HCFO2rLaJI/ThHakDu7EyI/AAAAAAAAEjI/mYiGSvtNdkM/s1600-h/New%252520Balance%252520Minimus%252520Trail%252520MT00%25255B2%25255D.jpg
08/02/11 @ 16:12
Comment from: Fritz [Visitor]
FritzA friend of mine in the biz got a wear test version of the zero drop minimus road. I didn't get to look at it for too long, but part of it's outsole was vibram. I don't know if they'll actually go into production with this, but I found it interesting enough to remember.
08/02/11 @ 16:51
Comment from: Mike [Visitor]
MikeHere's a couple of photos of the zero road:

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/shoes-stuff/shoes/nb-minimus-questions-zero-drop-etc
08/03/11 @ 02:37
Comment from: Mr. Leigh [Visitor]
Mr. LeighInteresting. If these come in some other color (Navy Blue) and are wide enough at mid-foot, I'd give them a try. I do not care for red or the black/green someone else eluded to. Their previous offerings being blaze orange or gray/yellow was not an option for me. Glad to see they went to a zero drop.
08/03/11 @ 11:10
Comment from: Michael [Visitor]
MichaelAh! Give me a Zero version of the Life and I can replace my current Minimus Life shoes as my every day/out and about shoes which replaced my very worn VivoBarefoot Unions.

The Minimus Life is ridiculously comfortable, almost perfect, aside from the 4mm drop. Having worn the Unions for over a year, it was hard to get used to even such a small increase. A light weight, stylish laceless slip on with a zero drop would put me in hysterics!
08/03/11 @ 11:54
Comment from: Finn [Visitor]
FinnSome more images of both shoes here:
http://blog.adventuremegastore.com.au/2011/07/sneak-peak-at-the-new-balance-r00-and-t00-barefoot-running-shoes/

These look great - and luckily even the forefoot looks wide enough.
08/03/11 @ 15:52
Comment from: john [Visitor]
johnhttp://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-MX20-Minimus-Training/dp/B004KZP6NC

thats the minimus training they were talking about, they've had promo stuff on it for a while now
08/03/11 @ 17:06
Comment from: Justin Owings [Member] Email
Ah yes the Minimus Training ... how did I miss that?

They look like a hybrid of the Life and the Road.
08/03/11 @ 17:51
Comment from: Marcus [Visitor]
MarcusAh great! This means my local outlet store might actually carry the minimus soon, at a discount. Word.
08/03/11 @ 19:38
Comment from: Jordan [Visitor]
Jordan@Michael: The life zero will be out the same time as the trail and road zero. It will have a double velcro strap across the top in a sort of zig-zag pattern. The fit is great with a deeper footbead and wider fit. Feels much more natural. The zero feels like paper on too with only being 4 or so oz.
08/04/11 @ 08:59
Comment from: john [Visitor]
john@justin

yeah, honestly they look like a better road running shoe than the current Minimus Road
08/04/11 @ 09:17
Comment from: ashegam [Visitor]
ashegamI don't see what's so special about this. Looks like NB's version of a racing flat, only it took them many years to come out with one.

The Somnio Nada is a good example of a shoe that's already on the market and has the same characteristics.

So don't get all the secret marketing hype, nothing new NB.
08/04/11 @ 10:09
Comment from: Michael [Visitor]
Michael@Jordan: That's great to hear! I have the Minimus Life in both gray and black, both same size and width but for some reason the black pair feel tighter. Still, they're incredible light as is...not much heavier feeling than any of my VFFs.

Definitely stoked for the Zero line now.
08/05/11 @ 10:32
Comment from: Ty Foreman [Visitor]
Ty Foreman@john, I'd be wary of running in the MX20, my wife and I tried a pair on at a local NB store a month ago. They have the same all foam sole as the Minimus Life. I'm really interested to see what NB does with the 2012 line as the MT20 trail has some nice improvements over the original but not enough to make me buy a pair.
08/06/11 @ 15:09
Comment from: Ted_S [Visitor]
Ted_SThe best news about the NB Zero is that it will be available in an extra wide.

One of the comments in response to the "nb-minimus-zero-9-things-you-should-know" news release on the new balance web site included a response that someone had received from NB customer service:

Response Via Email (Cam B.) 08/05/2011 01:13 PM
Dear Franklin,
Thank you for contacting New Balance Consumer Support!
We currently have no minimus style in a width wider than a 2E. I do, however, see that our zero-drop minimus, the MT00 and MR00, which are coming in the spring of 2012 will be offered in a 4E width.
That shoe will be available at www.ShopNewBalance.com . . ..
Sincerely,
Cam
New Balance Consumer Response Team
08/09/11 @ 10:28
Comment from: Galen [Visitor]
GalenThis looks cool as I got the vff smart wool and my feet absorbed all the sweat and leaked nasty brown sweat for a week and were swollen. Bad blisters too that got puss filled. nothing like that on any other shoe. I went from very pleased to very disappointed, so looking forward to this shoe from a brand I've had good experiences with (-vibram, but that wasn't about the sole)
08/22/11 @ 14:51
Comment from: Seth [Visitor]
SethI have a pair of Minimus Roads that I absolutely love. I ramped up my running in them at roughly 1/5 of my runs and now my feet feel much stronger.

I'm never going to go truly barefoot or even use Vibram because of a bunion on my left foot, but adopting a more midfoot/forefoot strike and wearing the NB Minimus Road (and now, also, the Asics Gel Blur33) works really well for me.
08/30/11 @ 14:45
Comment from: Nick Bacon [Visitor] Email
Nick BaconNb - great job on the upcoming MT 110 & the Minimus Zero Trail. However, why don't we go ahead & cut to the chase - Take the Minimus Zero Trail and add a flexibile rock plate to it? This would be a perfect shoe especially if you offered a variety of widths! Thanks Nb for being innovative.
10/16/11 @ 14:00