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Barefoot Shoes

New Balance NB Minimus – Evolution of a Barefoot Running Shoe [BREAKING]

New Balance just released an interview with ultramarathon runner Tony Krupicka and New Balance shoe designer Chris Wawrousek that talks about the iterative design process behind the NB Minimus Trail shoe. The post includes the leaked video of Anton Krup…

New Balance just released an interview with ultramarathon runner Tony Krupicka and New Balance shoe designer Chris Wawrousek that talks about the iterative design process behind the NB Minimus Trail shoe. The post includes the leaked video of Anton Krupicka and the New Balance NB Minimus Trail and it looks like New Balance has also released a few more close-up photos of the Minimus (see our old photo-mash-up of the Minimus Trail here).

Here is a link to the interview over at NewBalance.com and you can see the updated gallery of ultra-close-up macro photos of the orange NB Minimus Trail on flickr here

We’ll dive into this latest installment of the New Balance NB Minimus 2011 release after the jump.

A cross-section of a New Balance NB Minimus prototype shows reduced sole and minimal drop from heel to toe

Here’s an interesting snippet from the interview:

NB.com: So, is this an iterative process in which Tony gets a new pair of shoes and gives feedback, and Chris’ team takes that feedback and makes adjustments? How does the actual collaborative process work?

TK: “I got some pretty early prototypes of the NB Minimus, and all they were was this rudimentary sole with the upper from the 100 so that I could run in them. Actually, even before that I got what was really just the last. Really, it was more like a slipper. That was super early in the process. We hadn’t even really been thinking about the shoe yet, we just had a last. From there, they sent me some CAD drawings, and I would comment on them and send them back. So from my end, it’s been pretty integrated between us from the start.”

CW: “Sometimes in my mind, it’s hard to separate out what NB Minimus is today from this whole field of research that we’ve been doing for a number of years, since our Advanced Concepts team identified natural running as a focal point. Those early prototypes were really a test bed for understanding What does it mean if you change the heel to toe drop from 6mm to 3mm to 0mm, and how does that change people’s running?”

It’s really encouraging to hear Chris’ thought process behind designing the NB Minimus: how will this change people’s running? Really, isn’t that the ultimate question when you go from the foot in it’s natural condition — completely naked, bare — and slap something onto the bottom and top? If you aren’t asking how a shoe will change the way people run, the chances you’ll actually design a foot friendly shoe are about zero to none (see our Barefoot Running Shoes guide for discussion on what this means). Great to hear the Senior Designer behind the Minimus speak to this point.

And though we’ve known Tony Krupicka has been working with NB, that his field-tested input got injected into the Minimus line should go a long way to the final product being functional. Just how “barefoot” it will be is yet to see. Will it allow for barefoot style running? How will the ground feel be?

Go on and head over to newbalance.com and read the whole interview. Then tell us what you think about the 2011 New Balance NB Minimus: is NB on the right track here or will this just be another foot coffin? Sound off below!

By Justin

Justin Owings is a deadlifting dad of three, working from Atlanta. When he's not chasing his three kids around, you'll find him trying to understand systems, risk, and human behavior.

15 replies on “New Balance NB Minimus – Evolution of a Barefoot Running Shoe [BREAKING]”

They look nice but after having the Terra Plana EVO on my feet for a month now I am finding it hard to believe any other shoe could make me happier.

I was originally thinking about the Minimus back when it was first leaked but now, I’ll pass. I’m incredibly happy with my Terra Plana shoes.

I’ve run in the 100’s for my primary trail shoes while using my VFFs for the roads. I’ll probably buy the 101’s when they come out although I am thinking about getting a pair of Treks for the trails instead.

They’re really hyping up the Minimus shoes and I think they look promising but I guess we’ll have to wait until March to find out for sure.

I am excited for these. I think it’s clear nb is thinking about the right things even if this shoe isn’t perfect in its first iteration (and it might be, who knows). I know a health professional (and runner) who participated in a nb focus group about these a few months ago, so they are really trying to get input from a lot of smart and knowledgable people. I will definitely try these.

Very cool stuff. I’m happy to hear they’ve got a license to try new stuff thanks to the popularity of “Born to Run”.

I have a pair of modified MT100s, and they’re a really nice option for fast trail running or in the winter. I’ll be in line to try on the Minimus when it comes out.

I think this is a good direction for NB to go. I think with the big shoe companies you have to expect incremental changes and the trajectory for the Minimus line is going in a good direction. As far as retaining a barefoot like running style I think these will be no different than the Terra Plana EVO in this regard. I do some of my more technical trail running in NB MT100s for the rock protection and am still able to retain a midfoot landing with the 10mm heel…I agree that a 0 drop is ideal, but a 4mm heel will not be an issue for me.

For me it comes down to value. I’ve appreciated NB’s attempt at designing great shoes at a lower cost than some of these emerging minimalist shoe companies. We’ve talked about this in BFT’s forum. Once Nike decides to jump in, they’ll have an awesome shoe too that costs $75 and everyone will flock to that as well. It’s all about value for most people.

I’m ordering a pair of these right when they come out. This is the kind of shoe I have been longing for…let’s hope it lives up to the hype

I really like the look of it as well

Why do these companies need to point the front of the shoe toe box area up ? My toes don’t want to point to the sky. Last I checked my toes want to be on the ground to help balance. That is just a bad design !

Could they make these shoes look any uglier ?

Chris,
When you land on the forefoot, your toes aren’t straight, they are (hopefully) dorsiflexing with the rest of your foot.

The ball of your foot is naturally lower than your toes.

It’s not like the shoes are made from cement…once you put them on they form to your foot more and allow the natural flexions during gait.

I wear tested these during the Wasatch 100 race this year…WOW!
I had been looking for a solution to the possibility of banging my toes and ending my race. These shoes were the answer..for me. I will definitely be buying a pair this March.

I agree with Chris about the toes pointing up. When I stand barefoot, my toes don’t point up like that. Why? Why do they point the toes up??

Rhys’s answer makes a little bit of sense, but doesn’t satisfy completely. At least it attempts a thoughtful explanation. But I still feel like it would be extra work in the toes to get around the unnatural position. I guess some of it depends on how flexible and soft it is, which I would see if I try the actual shoe. Still, to have the toes held in that position seems wrong.

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