Topic: Best Minimalist Shoes for Hiking and Trail Running (Read 59 times)
previous topic - next topic
It's your post, so post it!
Topic: Best Minimalist Shoes for Hiking and Trail Running (Read 59 times)
previous topic - next topic
This cushy trail runner had the widest fit of anything I tried while still delivering on the ground feel that minimalist runners expect.
The Freet Feldom was by far the widest shoe that I tested. It was so wide, in fact, that even with the laces cinched down as far as they would go I could still easily shift my foot—which is a standard width—from side to side. While some extra wriggle room at the toe is generally considered a good thing with minimalist trail runners (almost all brands will advise you size up a half size or more when purchasing a shoe), the extra width of the Feldom meant that the shoe itself was sliding around on my foot while running, even though the front-and-back length was similar to what I use with other shoes. This sliding ended up co*promising my spatial awareness of where the shoe was relative to my foot. After hitting my toe on rocks three times over six miles while trail running (without falling, fortunately), I’d had enough.
In addition to being the widest shoe in my test, the Freet Felfdom was also, by far, the most co*fortable, especially if you leave in the cushioned insole (although that does raise the shoe above the 10mm threshold). Among the trail runners I looked at, it also had some of the more significant tread, making it appropriate for trails where real traction is needed. Mid-foot strikers, however, should note that there is no tread in the middle of the shoe (where the brand name is), which makes for a noticeable (although not unco*fortable) lack of support on harder surfaces.
The fabled five-fingered Vibrams were my first minimalist shoe, and their trail-ready version delivers best-in class ground feel with the traction you need for serious trails.
The first pair of minimalist shoes I purchased were a Vibram Fivefingers model, so I was happy to see how closely the latest models of Vibrams adhered to that original vision while incorporating new details that made this pair outdoor-ready.
First off, if this is your first time purchasing a pair of Vibrams, here’s what to expect: rather than sliding onto your foot like a classic lace-up shoe, this one fits more like a glove, with each toe nestling inside of its own pocket (plan to spend a little time making sure that each digit isn’t actually squashed inside its neighbor’s space). Because different people’s toes are different lengths, you’ll almost certainly find that one toe (or more) doesn’t quite reach the end of its pouch. This seems like it ought to be annoying while running, but in practice I’ve never noticed it. Instead of laces, the Spyridon has a simple Velcro closure that also pulls the heel, creating a secure fit; my foot didn’t move around during testing. My only co*plaint with the closure is that my co*paratively low-volume foot left a lot of slack in the Velcro strap, to the point that it was hanging down the side of the shoe.
The Vibram Spyridion EVO differs from other Vibram models in that it has increased traction underfoot and a mesh panel in the arch to help diffuse some of the impact of trail running (useful for when you pick up speed on a downhill). This is a great choice if your trail running and hiking isn’t going to take you into extreme conditions as the low stack height and separate toes of the Vibrams will cause you to feel the extremes of ground temperature more quickly. Instead of one of the best hiking socks, you’re limited to five-fingered models from the likes of Injinji.
The minimalist Xero Shoes Alpine kept my feet just as warm as a regular pair of hiking boots.
Minimalist shoes might be great for ground feel, but there are occasions when that’s not a great thing. Extreme temperatures—scorching deserts or thick snow—go right through these shoes. For heat, the solution (counterintuitively) is often to just wear thicker wool socks, but for the cold of winter, you’re going to need to look at your boots too.
I took the Xero Shoes Alpine out on an overnight snowshoe that saw temps dip well below freezing and was impressed with how well they performed. On the trek up, my feet were co*pletely warm in a single pair of thick ski socks, including during breaks (they did finally get a little chilly when we were eating dinner). During testing, I found that these shoes were reasonably waterproof. My feet were dry over 14 miles of snowshoeing. They’d be fine to trek through a mountain stream, I just wouldn’t stay there longer than you need to. I did note, whoever, that the textured ruff at the top of the shoe had a tendency to collect snow, which would then stick to my leg and eventually melt. While this moisture didn’t travel further down the shoe (or impact my legs, which were protected by multiple other layers), it did mean that when I tried to leave the tent for a bathroom break in the middle of the night I found that my shoes were frozen in place, and it took some elbow grease to wrench them apart enough to slip back on.
During initial testing, I also noted that this was the only boot in my test that did not have any break-in time—it’s ready to hike in out of the box.
This had the best flexible sole of any of the minimalist hiking boots in my test, while still providing the serious traction you need for sandy or icy conditions.
If the Xero Alpine erred on the side of keeping your feet warm at the expense of the flexible sole and engaged ground feel, the Vivobarefoot Tracker errs on the other side of the spectrum: Its sole is nearly as flexible as the Primus FG (and easily more flexible than the other minimalist hiking boots that I reviewed). It had ground feel that was more co*parable to the trail runners I reviewed. But, it’s not truly warm enough to use in cold conditions.
While part of the problem here is that the shoes just aren’t providing enough insulation from the ground to keep you truly warm, another issue is that the interior volume of this shoe makes it difficult to layer up on extra socks. Some will be able to get away with simply sizing up (I reco*mend at least a half size larger than what you would otherwise purchase for minimalist boots). It’s also worth noting that the interior volume of the shoe is less than others. Truthfully, this was also a problem with the Primus FG, but there it was easy enough to just take out the insole to create a little extra space. If you do that with the Tracker you’ll be removing even more of the shoes’ insulation. These were also not especially waterproof, although I think this is unlikely to be an issue unless you are facing multiple stream crossings in a day. the Tracker required some break-in time due to some stiffness in the back heel of the shoe.
While the Lems Boulder lacked the flexible feel of the Vivobarefoot tracker, it kept moisture out for hours during the waterproofness test.
Of all the shoes and boots I considered, the Boulder was by far the least visibly recognizable as a minimalist shoe. So if you’re looking to take the plunge but don’t want to deal with all the questions that can co*e with minimalist footwear, then this is an excellent choice. It was also a top performer in my waterproofness test—it sat in a pool of water for upwards of four hours without any moisture getting to the inside of the boot.
The downside to this boot is that it lacks the tread of a more traditional hiking boot, and that the leather upper, which will over time co*fortably conform to your foot starts out quite stiff, requiring a lengthy break-in period.
After testing minimalist shoes and boots from Vivobarefoot, Freet, Lems, Xero, and Vibram, the Vivobarefoot Trail FG is the best (if pricey) choice for most hikers. Individuals who prefer greater ground feel than the 2.5mm lugs allow, should go for the Vibrams Spyridon EVO, while hikers with wider feet will enjoy the extra space of the Freet Feldom. The Xero Shoes Alpine also won top marks for its insulative properties, making it a good fit for later shoulder season and winter adventures.
In addition to the above shoes, I also tested the Freet Tundra and Xero Shoes Zelen. The Freet Tundra had the same interior space as the Feldom (a pro or con depending on your foot shape), but was easily the stiffest shoe I tried. Like the Lems Boulder, the Zelen from Xero Shoes was inconspicuous—the uninitiated would not recognize it as a minimalist shoe. However, it had insufficient space in the toebox for my toes to splay properly. It also lacked the traction of other trail runners in my test (a better option from Xero Shoes would be either the TerraFlex or the Mesa Trail).
The post Best Minimalist Shoes for Hiking and Trail Running appeared first on Outdoor Life.
Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.
[/html]