Review on New Balance Womens Minimus Running Sports & Fitness by Chris Elam

I only started running 1.5 years ago, 99% outdoors and I'm 5-10km 3-4 times a week. My first pair of specialty shoes were the Nike Frees. Since I spent half my time in flip-flops and half barefoot, other shoes with more structure were just too uncomfortable to wear, forcing my natural arch into odd positions, preventing my toes from splaying and increasing instability generate with large droplets. A bit like a thick rubber-soled sock, the Nike Free was great for running on trails and relatively flat pavement. A year later I decided to do off-road and cross-country running with 10% plus incline on loose rock/gravel, dust and dirt depending on the season and mixed paved roads on peaks. The Nike Free weren't great for traction or balance on these surfaces, and the outsole was too soft for the inevitable impact of sharp rocks and tree roots. I dug up a pair of old NB cross training shoes, breathable, with broken support and a slight heel drop, and they served me well until I practically rubbed the sole and had to tape the front of my left one. because it would seep gravel and dirt under my toes (and kept using them because I was dissatisfied with other expensive replacements). However, these NB Minimus are exactly the replacement I was looking for! I ordered a half size up based on the reviews - I usually wear 9.5 NB widths but I have a 10 - and they fit like a glove! The sole is neither too thin nor too thick, with good grip. It also has a slightly more textured heel and multiple rubber plugs that run across the heel and arch to help maintain balance and prevent the sole from sliding sideways if you make a mistake. I am skeptical of how long they will actually last as the mesh material is already catching things but will update as more miles are logged.