Building on the intentionally leaked (by New Balance PR), ultra-close-up photos of the upcoming 2012 New Balance NB Minimus (Trail) we saw a few weeks back comes new photos of the entire Minimus Zero Trail and Road shoes from a BirthdayShoes reader from China. Said reader alerted me to a Chinese website that appears to have photos of the upcoming New Balance NB Minimus Zero (Zero-Drop) Trail and Road running shoes.
Above in the collage are official images of the NB Minimus Zero Trail — at least, that's our guess that it's the Minimus Zero Trail. Now, take a look at these images from China and see if they don't match up:
Pretty major reduction in the "Vibram" part of the NB Minimus Zero Trail as opposed to what we got with the first NB Minimus Trail. This likely reduces the weight a great deal while also improving the sole flexibility.
And of course, they look zeroed out from heel to toe. Anything else stand out in these photos to you?
Now, take a look at these New Balance NB Minimus Zero Road (so we're guessing!) photos:
These Minimus Zeroes look considerably more "minimalist" compared to the first iteration of the NB Minimus Road.
All in all, some pretty loud and proud color schemes. Who knows if these are official (though the firey orange/red with white Vibram soles seem official enough given the prior photo leaks).
What do you think?
te! Video!Check out around the 1:15 mark for the NB Minimus Zero Trail:
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They don't match up, at least not with the trail shoes. On the view on the upper right of the "sneak peek", count the dark grey nubs - a row of 3, then a row of 6. On the wider view from China, a row of 3, then a row of 5.
Could it be? It's crazy how fast these shoes develop and progress. I'm wearing my Minimus MT10 right now... a library, though yesterday I wore them on the trails. My point being, even the "old skool" MT10 are great for nearly anything I do on a daily basis. I can't wait to see how these new Minimus Zero stack up. 
Kent, the current minimus trail has Vibram tagged on all four of the sections. Two of them are yellow and two are just black with the rubber. So it makes sense that every little section will have Vibram on it. I guess Vibram wants you to be sure what is them and whats not. 
Trail-runners could be the perfect shoes for traveling: light, durable, comfortable, good for most, if not all, activities you may end up doing on a vacation, beautiful form, good for any weather. 
Hmm, Kent's right, but who knows? Maybe they did slight modifications? Added more of the vibram sole? 
@ Kent, Look at the first pics that you said does not have the grey on the third pod. Look at the vertical edge of black on it and now look at that same pod on the new pics. Same vertical wall of black before it turns grey. 
Lets hope the manufacturing inconsistency of 2011 do not strike again in 2012. 
Kent: The number of nodules could very well be related to size of the shoe. (Also, while I think these are accurate photos, the other difference is that the white bits in the back on the official photo are configured slightly differently as well since there is a bridge from the 3 nodule row to the 6 row).
AM I WRONG???
@Anon
Just for your info, they will be released up to size 14US, I asked NB as soon as I knew about them. No chance again John. 
@sharpy
I'm not sure about all the photos matching, I think the actual new shoes have different sole patterns. A couple of months ago I was shopping in a local running store and inquired if they had the MT101 in stock. They did not, but just happened that the New Balance rep was in the store with a couple of bags of new shoes. He offered to go to his car and bring in the bag of the 2012 Minimus, or Zero, line. Extremely light weight, all zero drop (I think), new colors and upper materials. Apparenty the reps are eager to show off the new line, even to commoners such as I. I had purchased the Minimus MT10 a month or so earlier, but I will be getting the new model as soon as they are available. 
Foam exposed to elements (rocky roads, rocky trails, roots, etc.) tends to break down quickly, making these obselete much more quickly. 
ABOUT THAT ZERO-DROP-THINGY:
I am not crazy about them. I like the look of the original minimus trail MT10, which I have, way better than all the ones that have come out after, such as the MT20 and now this one. 
I have to say that I really like the direction that NB has gone with the development of these shoes. No one else in the industry and made this much change in less that a year, from the original model of the product. I have been greatly perplexed that no one else has bothered to use similar methodology to evolve their offerings. The concerns I see posted above have some validity, but I for one love the loud colors, and can't stand the constant offerings for men that are most often black, grey, and brown. 
I am hopeful for the Zero Road. I have the Minimus trail right now and like them, though you can feel every rock, more so than my Vibram TrekSport's. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeVnogwSiLA
Just a video of the Minimus Zero Trail, it looks exactly like that shown in the picture. 
!!!!! So should I get the 2012 nb minimus trail or the nb minimus zero??? How many mms is the sole on the mt20s? 
is it just me or do these have a strong resemblance to the new brooks pure project series 
sharpy show us what you mean by your prototype shoe please!
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