Is it possible to take a minimalist approach to trail running? Of course. That said, the more technical the trail, the more sure-footed agility the minimally shod runner needs.
Some argue that running in minimalist shoes on rocky, debris-strewn trails increases the chances of stubbed toes, turned ankles and inadvertent stumbles, and that’s probably true if you’re just starting out and haven’t le
Proceed cautiously if you’ve never run much trail before and don’t have a light-on-your-feet nimbleness: You can get pretty dinged up and even seriously injured wearing minimalist trail shoes without some gradual adaptation. If you’ve adapted to minimal shoes on smoother terrain, however, or run enough trails to feel comfortable without the added protection, a light pair of trail “racers” can take your off-road runs to new heights of enjoyment.
arned how to dance over and around obstacles. But those who take the time and effort to adapt to minimal trail shoes like the New Balance 100 (pictured, right) ($75; 7.7 oz. men’s, 6.0 oz. women’s) or the Pearl Izumi Peak XC ($115; 9.0 oz. men’s, 8.2 oz. women’s) can reduce those hazards and find benefits the same as, or greater than, running in minimal shoes on other surfaces.
The biggest benefit is that your feet can feel and react to the ground and allow your running mechanics (posture, arm swing, head position) to be dictated from the ground up. The lighter weight also allows you to spring more nimbly and variably from footplant to footplant rather than landing wherever your foot is going to come down next in a static stride. The more technical (and steep) the trail, the more you’ll naturally land on your midfoot and forefoot and then react to the surface under your foot and spring forward. That’s in contrast to many traditionally built trail runners, which put a relatively thick and stiff platform between your feet and the ground that exponentially reduces natural foot flex and agility (and results in heavier heel striking), but also squashes and protects from the variability of the terrain underfoot.
