Despite all the NASA-level cushioning tech hyped in running shoes for decades, runners get injured at the same rate today as they did 40 years ago. That discovery has led to a new theory: Running shoes shouldn’t coddle and control; they should be spare and simple. Minimal shoes encourage a more natural stride and stronger foot muscles — the best defenses against injury. We should trust the foot, and the 200,000 years of human evolution that created it, say biomechanists — not 40 years of marketing. Companies used to pitching pricey shoes with all the bells and whistles are finally catching on. We had 16 runners log more than a thousand miles to find the 11 best pared-down shoes — on road and off.
These are our seven favorite minimalist runners, some more minimal than others:
New Balance 1225
Medium arch, moderate to heavy overpronation
New Balance inspires fervent dedication in its fans for its high-quality, intelligently designed shoes, and the company stays true to form with the 1225. Rather than use a movement-constricting post for pronation stabilization, the shoe has a thin piece of thermoplastic through the arch. That’s why the 1225 weighs only 12 ounces — porky for this test, but minimal for a motion-control shoe, especially from New Balance. “It’s excellent at minimizing fatigue — perfect for my Ironman training,” said one tester.
Asics Gel-Pulse
High to medium arch, neutral pronation
“This is my new go-to shoe,” said one tester. “I can’t pay it any higher compliment.” Why all the love? This 11.4-ounce entry is no-frills footwear for runners — especially guys 175 pounds or more — who are more concerned with an affordable price and well-rounded performance than a shoebox emblazoned with trademarked “technologies.” The Gel-Pulse doesn’t have the springy feeling some runners crave, but the trusty gel in the forefoot and heel provides just enough shock absorption to make for a smooth ride.
Brooks Ghost 2
High to medium arch, neutral pronation
The Ghost 2 weighs in at only 10.8 ounces, but it absorbs impact like a much beefier shoe, thanks to the relatively thick layer of biodegradable BioMoGo foam that runs from heel to toe. Such cushioning sounds antithetical to the pared-down movement, but that tiny bit of extra padding goes a long way toward making long distances a pleasurable — rather than painful — experience. “The Ghost 2 almost seems to say, ‘I’ll take care of your feet; you go for that long run,’ ” said one tester.
Mizuno Wave Precision 10
High arch, neutral pronation
The Wave Precision 10’s scant 9.9 ounces is the byproduct of its ultrathin midsole. Still, Mizuno found room inside for a curvy plastic shock-absorbing plate that offers comfort for running lots of miles at a time, and running them fast. “On my 10-mile Sunday runs, it barely felt like the Mizunos were there — in a good way,” said one runner. Two caveats: Like the Asics, the Wave’s sole won’t put much bounce in your step, and, as one tester warned, “It’s not for the wide-footed.”
Adidas Adizero Aegis
Low arch, moderate to heavy overpronation
Until now, “minimalist stability shoe” was an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp” or “good Brendan Fraser movie.” The AdiZero Aegis weighs a lightest-in-test 9.3 ounces, allowing overpronators to enjoy a rare pared-down feel while still getting just enough control — via the curved plastic plate underneath the arch — to neutralize their gait. At least, so long as they’re staying close to home. “There’s not enough meat on this shoe for a 10-mile run, but for fast performance work or short races, it rocks,” said one tester.
Nike Lunarglide+
Medium arch, neutral to moderate overpronation
The 10.6-ounce LunarGlide+ incorporates a firm rubber wedge on the arch side of the nearly weightless yet supportive LunarLite foam midsole. The notion: If you’ve got a neutral gait, the wedge doesn’t interfere with your God-given perfect mechanics, but if you’re an overpronator, it helps gently guide your foot to a healthier groundstrike. “They feel as fast as they look,” noted a neutral-gaited tester, but an overpronating reviewer asked, “Where’s the support?” Flat-footed folks should look elsewhere.
Ecco Biom A 1.1
High arch, neutral pronation
“This is the closest you’ll get to going barefoot without taking off your shoes,” said one tester. Most runners aren’t ready for such a drastic transition, which is why Ecco recommends that you wear this 11-ouncer only once every few workouts at first, until your legs get used to the free motion it gives you. The wafer-thin sole means the shoe works only for runners with no foot-strike problems, and even then it’s going to take the average runner some time to get comfortable with the Biom A — both its feel and its price.
