California Track & Running News Apr-June 2013, VOLUME 39 NUMBER 2 | Page 12

CTRN-APR-JUNE_2013--1_Layout 1 4/24/13 8:16 AM Page 12

!

"

04+0/ 4#$+-+:+/)<+++ ; '2(02.#/%'<+6 ;

'542#-<6+

he minimalist craze that began several years ago has worked its way through the entire running
footwear industry. In the absence of industry standards, brands have developed competing
definitions of minimal, as runners and retailers watch with fascination. This minimalist
groundswell has resulted in entirely new brands, brands new to running, and the revitalization of
several companies that, by all appearances, were defunct. No major running brand remains untouched
by this new category.

T

Over the last several years, the Running Network has looked at Minimal shoes as a distinct category,
and we reviewed them separately. However, the shoes we looked at and tested for this cross-category
review made it clear that the minimalist philosophy now influences all running shoe design.
Half the shoes in this review are Performance shoes, more than in any previous review. Lighter
materials and the focus on geometry have redefined what constitutes a Performance shoe. Light weight
used to be the primary distinction of Performance shoes. Now it’s actually the shape of the midsole
that’s more important, as real performance comes from efficient biomechanics. The shoes with the best
shape encourage better running form. Heel-to-toe drop—the difference between the height of the heel
relative to that of the toe—has also become an important design consideration because of the efficiency
of running in a lower profile shoe. One more characteristic of Performance shoes is the stack height:
the amount of foam between the foot and the ground. It significantly determines comfort in
Performance (and Minimal) shoes.
This trend toward the minimal has affected even the heavier Motion Stabilizing and Neutral shoe
categories. Most of these shoes have trimmed down, focusing on achieving their original functions with
less bulk. Christopher McDougal’s 2009 book, Born to Run, was a catalyst of this Minimalist trend, but
its vigorous growth continues because runners are enjoying less. Oh, they aren’t enjoying running
less—they’re enjoying the feel of less on their feet. It’s a new take on the old adage, Less Is More.
—Cregg Weinmann,