looking for minimalist hiking shoes/boots

scandy

Member
Ive been using a pair of your typical, stiff, thick soled, supportive hiking boots for awhile now on any hikes over 10 miles or so, or just anything thats very rough terrain. but ive never been a fan that kind of thing. and just recently, i did an 11 mile hike over some pretty rough terrain in some pretty casual slipper/surfer loafer type things that offer no support and have a super thin sole. and i noticed my feet were much more comfortable, and much less sore afterwords, i felt much more sure footed, had much better feel for any technical climbing, and much less prone to rolling an ankle. only problem is they got beat up, sole coming apart and sides ripping out.

anyone know of some good pretty minimalist kind of shoes that offer a little bit of coverage above the ankle?

thinking of something like this..
http://shop.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=15690986
or this..
http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens/casual/gobi-suede-mens-2091.html
but would like some more options.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
Vivobarefoot has two over-the ankle boots, one vegan, one cow. They're narrower than their other shoes though and not for me. http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens/off-road/synth-hiker-mens-2013.html
http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-...m5IwAABf5nPEmO:20130917124816:s&zfcTest=fcl:3

Merrell has the Proterra mid --- not really a true minimalist, but close.
http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/30884M/74564/Mens/Proterra-Mid-Sport

And Russell Moccasin has the Thula Thula Minimalist (I've ordered mine and they are set to ship on Dec 4th). Custom/hand made all the way.
http://www.russellmoccasin.com/new_products/minimalist_footwear.html

For good weather I wear Altra Zero Drop Lone Peak or my favorite New Balance Minimus.
http://www.altrazerodrop.com/fitness/en/Altra/Men
http://www.newbalance.com/NB-Minimus/minimus,default,pg.html
 
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Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
Belleville recently released a minimalist tactical boot. They look pretty comfortable.
http://www.bellevilleboot.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=97
I have a pair ------ they didn't get it right.
The last they used seems to be a normal last, not an anatomical or Munson Army. They just don't fit right; they lace all the way together and then there is folded slop at the front of the tongue. They also run small and their size 14 is too small for my right foot in anything but a very thin sock.

They might work for a person with smaller/fatter feet though. So just make sure you try them on and jump around alot.
I mail-ordered mine, put them on quick and said, "meh... ...not perfect but I guess I'll keep them..." but I wish I didn't.
 

fisher205

Explorer
Check out Inno8 trail running shoes. I have just switched to them and really like them. Their sizing seems to be inconsistent so it helps if you can try them on.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
I've tried on a few Inov8 shoes but they were all too snug for me.
They offer a good line though. From zero drop to a few milimeters (for newbies to minimalism).
 

huskyfargo

Adventurer
I have a pair ------ they didn't get it right.
The last they used seems to be a normal last, not an anatomical or Munson Army. They just don't fit right; they lace all the way together and then there is folded slop at the front of the tongue. They also run small and their size 14 is too small for my right foot in anything but a very thin sock.

They might work for a person with smaller/fatter feet though. So just make sure you try them on and jump around alot.
I mail-ordered mine, put them on quick and said, "meh... ...not perfect but I guess I'll keep them..." but I wish I didn't.

Man, I really hate to hear that. I'm in the Air National Guard, and I was really thinking about getting a pair of these. I have some Nike tactical boots, and they're pretty darn comfortable, but still not minimalist.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
Man, I really hate to hear that. I'm in the Air National Guard, and I was really thinking about getting a pair of these. I have some Nike tactical boots, and they're pretty darn comfortable, but still not minimalist.
I tried to talk to Belleville about it but they didn't seem to care --- not the customer service drone anyhow.
They fit right in the toes with the minimalist insole; they fit right in the ankle/forefoot/calf if you put in a big honkin' full-arch insole. That tells me they only adjusted the front of the last to create them.
If they adjusted that and fixed the sizing to proper Euro numbers, they'd have a winner. The one thing they got right is the sole; it's perfect for a tactical or multi-use boot.
 

D110

Observer
I wear a pair of Go-Light Scrams that I really like - may not be a true minimalist shoe but are following the same logic. The one warning is they need to be broken in as the heel counter is quite stiff initially, but after that they are super comfortable.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
I took a close look at the Merrell Proterra Mid Sport Goretex today; I think that's the best in breed in the off-the-shelf category. They didn't have my size but I tried on the low non-goretex version and the sizing/fit is comparable to New Balance and Altra.
http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/32158M/0/Mens/Proterra-Mid-Sport-GORE-TEX


Didn't realize 'til now that Merrell is a division of Wolverine Worldwide too...

shoes_iaec1381031.jpg
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
I ordered the Proterra Goretex from Zappos; already back in the box and returning.
The Goretex version is much narrower than the plain Jane. They should've sized it up for the extra lining but didn't.

Gotta sit back and wait for my Russells.
Dec 4th....
 

4runnerteq

Explorer
I wear Vasque Velocity and have had probably 8 pair. Loved them. They have been changed in the past couple years and havent had a chance to try the new modle yet. The previuos Velocity 2 was awful. had 2 pair of them and had to return both.
 

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