Thread: Running/Hiking Shoe Gurus

I've come to ask your opinions...

I played 8 years of soccer and had many pairs of cleats but it has been a long time since I've played in any official capacity. For the past several years I basically have been just using these bad boys adidas Samba Classic Shoes for all of my activities. Soccer, ultimate frisbee, running, racketball, etc... as well as just daily use.

I've recently been attempting to get into a more active lifestyle lest my 18-20 hours a day behind a desk (only a mild exaggeration) cause any further degradation to my body

Anywho, alot of my friends and coworkers have been grabbing these shoes and I was wondering if anyone here has/likes them.

Amazon.com: New Balance Men's MT10v1 Minimus Trail Running Shoe: Shoes

I really like the look of the minimus shoes and how thin they are. I hate having different pairs of shoes for different things which is why I like the Samba Clasics so much. Anyone here have any New Balance minimus shoes?

Also, feel free to post any others you use, if any. Alternatives? I've considered getting the Vibram 5-finger shoes as well, but I have yet to drop the dough on any.

Shoes. They all have different functions and purposes. Any minimalist shoes are good for your leg day at the gym, running on grass or soft dirt. Not good for running on concrete or asphalt. Lack of cushion and support might create knee and other joint issues.

For a long time I was a fan of Asics. They just fit my foot right. New balance seemed a bit too large in the toe box area, allowing my toes to slide around and lead to blisters. Nike has recently upped their running shoe game, for the longest time people bought Nike for the name. Brooks makes excellent shoes also, I have a pair of ravenas.

Questions that need to be asked before purchasing:

-What activity will they be use for? Running? If so on what? Pavement, asphalt, grass, or trails?

-What kind of arches do you have? Low, high, or normal?

-What type of pronation if any?

-Once you answer the above. Do you need a shoe with cushion, support, or both? Or do you need a minimalist shoe with no support or cushion?

Go to a store when you know what you need. Try as many as you want. Fit both shoes at the same time, and jog around. Forget what PPL think. And ignore any sales person. good luck