Probably one of the most exciting race shoes in a while, people that have tried it, described the sensation as trying on a supershoe for the first time.
Apparently they have got a unique fun and bouncy ride.
Not the best shoe if you have instability issues or to be worn as walking shoes as it is super squishy and soft.
I've been meaning to try them, but at $420 it's hard to swallow, however, at $250 is a much better deal, cheaper than all current raceday shoes.
How does what others wear as a shoe impact you?
This ridiculous style being trendy means there's less shoe options for people who want to practice correct running technique. Huge amounts of padding on shoes encourages heel pounding.
Not ridiculous 40km into a marathon!
@choofa: Definitely need a lot of training to do a marathon in minimalist shoes. Not something I ever plan on doing. But how many people do you really think are buying this to a marathon?
With 10k runs I always had knee troubles. Switched to minimalist shoes, learnt how to actual run like humans evolved to and never had knee problems since.
The Nikes, HOKA etc. love selling this perception we need expensive giant shoes to be able to run. For some people and some distances that's correct. But not the standard in my opinion. But the options for minimalist shoes gets smaller and smaller.
@PainToad: Try barefoot on sand. It’s fabulous for learning how to run properly and is amazing for recovery and training as you work harder with less impact.
I’d be surprised if most people buying these shoes weren’t doing at least a half marathon in them.
I’ve done half’s wearing minimalist shoes and wouldn’t do it again in anything other than a super shoe.
@PainToad: I'm all for different varieties of shoes to meet individual needs and preferences, but humans certainly weren't "designed" to run with any footwear on concrete surfaces. I wouldn't be too worried about $400 shoes impacting the everyday/casual running market in any case.
but humans certainly weren't "designed" to run with any footwear on concrete surfaces.
Which is why I said minimalist shoes, not barefoot running. Minimalist shoes have more than enough padding to counter running on concert compared to the grass our ancestors ran on.
@PainToad: Are you the human spokesperson for runners? Didnt know we were all born out of you…
How about you respect others choices? Minimalist shoes dont require much anyways, so what new development do YOU need?
And why do you care what others need/want? You have some sort of protection kink?
Maybe you always had trouble because your foundation is poor? You ran too much too quickly? So many to unpack, you're right. Its easier to blame the shoe than the person. Hurts less.
Are you the human spokesperson for runners? Didnt know we were all born out of you…
How about you respect others choices? Minimalist shoes dont require much anyways, so what new development do YOU need?
In the 2010s there was a wide range of shoes to cater for everyone. Now because of this fads the options are decreasing. Nike Frees are even starting to look like these clown shoes and loose their minimalist style.
And why do you care what others need/want? You have some sort of protection kink?
I care because shoes that suit me are being taken away as this fad gets more popular.
Maybe you always had trouble because your foundation is poor? You ran too much too quickly? So many to unpack, you're right. Its easier to blame the shoe than the person. Hurts less.
Because running with less padding resulted in less injury I have poor foundation? Yeah totally makes sense.
@choofa: It never did any runs longer than 10km. And wants to be the expert in marathons 😂😂
What a 🤡
@PainToad: Then why are you criticising these shoes like youre an expert? Telling people to use minimalist shoes for 42.2km.
You haven't even done one!!! Lmao what a joke.
That's like telling a surgeon to do their job like it was the 1920s when you're unqualified to give any advice.
"The ability to speak does not make you smart"
Is sooooo true. Sheeez the audacity
Telling people to use minimalist shoes for 42.2km.
Where did I tell people to do that? I said to run a marathon in minimalist shoes would take a lot of training. I didn't say if people should or shouldn't do it.
If you build up your muscles enough anything is possible https://www.therunningweek.com/post/chris-howett-runs-sub-3-…
But again, not saying you should.
Maybe try reading next time?
Maybe you should tell all race winners in the last 8-9 years that they need to improve their form/technique.
There’s plenty of minimalistic shoes still available if that’s your jam, they are just nowhere as efficient as supershoes.
Maybe you should tell all race winners in the last 8-9 years that they need to improve their form/technique.
You mean those runners who are paid to promote whatever shoe their sponsors want to promote as trendy at the time? Gotcha.
@PainToad: No, those ones that activelly helped developing and designing the shoes that would give them an edge over the competition.
It's not gonna go away. Racing shoes do get some hype but every proper runner knows there are different types of running shoes for different purposes. No one is forcing any beginners to buy the carbon plate shoes.
Not sure what you are complaining about as there are plenty other affordable and 'minimalist' shoes out there everywhere. I just bought myself a boston 12 for about $100 from adidas online outlet.
a boston 12
If that's what classed as minimalist now days you've proved my point that there's so few actual minimalist shoes options now. That heel is so high.
I was referring to how cheap it is even to get a generation old super trainers but fair enough I misunderstood the meaning of minimalist as the basic entry shoes.
Unfortunately I don't see the trend reversing any time soon for increasing stack heights but a quick google search shows there are barefoot shoes readily available which are now a niche market.
500 qantas points if you link your QFF to the HypeDC account
Let the negs begin but I gotta agree with @PainToad on this one, the recent trend of everything being high stack with and without carbon plate inserts has definitely limited the choice for road runners that don't want to always wear high stack shoes.
Try going into a store and finding something lower than 30mm stack height which isn't a running spike and it's very limited if not impossible, even in specialists running stores,
There are brands like Altra & Xero but for most people they wouldn't be a brand they've heard of or seen much instore. There is the barefoot brands but again a niche market and not the cheapest.
And for the people saying try running a marathon in minimalist shoes, as hard as it is to believe they did run marathons before all these high stack shoes became the main attraction for everyone. The number of people i see trying to run at Parkrun in these shoes and their feet are rolling all over the place it's painful.
For anyone that's interested the 2008 Mens Olympic Marathon record was set wearing a pair of Nike Air Zoom Katana Rac3r III and only got broken last year!
https://www.marathonshoehistory.com/
Image showing shoes worn by podium finishers at 2018 Marathon Majors, also note Nike sponsors a lot of the top athletes.
https://www.runningshoesguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/…
@PainToad have you looked at the Puma Propio NITRO or New Balance FuelCell Pvlse? these can both be bought in Australia also Brooks Hyperion are still on the lower height of current shoes. Fortunately Japanese runners still have some options for lower stack height shoes might be worth having a search for some online.
*I'm no expert, just a parent with 10+ years in Australian Athletics due to having a kid that happens to be better than average around a race track.
Thanks! Will check out your recommendations.
Puma has the Propio Nitro on sale - add the AFTERPAY40 code for further 40% off to $94 delivered.
I have Saucony Sinister, they are pretty minimal, not sure if you can still get them
The Adidas Adios 9 also looks pretty good
I think it's a horses for courses type deal. I'm a Saucony fanboy and have a pair of endorphin pro 2s.
But, I also have kinvaras (4mm) stack height and endorphin speeds (nylon plate instead of carbon).
I crack the endorphin pros out for races anywhere from 5k - mara, but never wear them in training.
This deal is tempting for a race shoe that I reckon would last me a couple years based on only wearing for 100-200ks max a year, and only hard out efforts.
Thanks OP, money well spent - by far the softest, cushioning yet awesome energy-return shoes I've tried. Its clearly leagues above popular shoes on ozb like NB Freshfoam 1080.
The 'what about muuh minimalist shoes!' guy and his guano comments can go jump.
They are definitely a unique shoe, even compared to my other race shoes, although I still think the other race shoes I have got suit me better, even though I do feel like these ones are more efficient (I can sustain a faster pace with lower heart rate).
PainToad on 13/08/2025 - 13:08 Comment score below threshold.
