Quick post to alert you to a fantastic article by Bryon Powell of iRunFar. Bryon attended the Outdoor Retailer Show and wrote up his thoughts (with photos!) on a wide range of trail shoes set to be released in the coming months (and a few road shoes – including the New Balance Minimus Hi-Rez).
In addition to highlighting a bunch of new models (including some very cool shoes from Pearl Izumi – see PI Trail N1 photo above by Bryon Powell), Bryon also touches on some updates to a few shoes that I have worn in the past six months. Most significant among these are a new, grippier outsole on the Brooks Pure Grit (hopefully will reduce wet-ground slippage), and a 1mm reduction in lateral sole thickness on the New Balance MT110.
I get asked frequently about the New Balance MT110, and yes, I have run in the shoe a number of times. However, I definitely feel a rather distinct thickening of the lateral sole in my pair, and it actually causes my feet to slant inward just standing in them on hard ground. After developing a mild case of posterior tibial tendonitis after a 10 mile trail run in the MT110’s, I shelved them and have not run in them since. Hopefully this will fix a big problem in what is an otherwise nice shoe.
Anyway, I highly recommend checking out Bryon’s trail shoe roundup – lots of great stuff coming for the trail crowd!
See also Sam Winebaum’s posts on the Pearl Izumi and Altra offerings.
About Peter Larson
Funny that you (and Bryon) mention the lateral thickness of the MT110’s. I recently got a pair and walked around thinking that I was crazy. I could feel the slant as well. So far, I’ve found that it fits my posture so I’m waiting to see if it relaxes as I put on miles.
I can feel it on hard ground, not so much on trails. But, even though I can’t feel it on trails as much, that’s where they did their damage to my post. tib tendon
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I’ve shelved my 110’s as well. On my longer runs my ankles were actually sore. No other shoe does that to me.
That Pearl Izumi looks suspiciously like an Altra Instinct.
I have had a similar experience in the MT110. Put 90 miles on them, including and ultra and they feel fine to me while running but when just wearing them around they are not comfortable at all due to the lateral pressure pushing my feet in. A real shame because I want to like them. I have decided to switch to the La Sportiva Vertical K for now.
The MT110’s hurt my ankles as well! I had to chuck them and now I’m looking for another trail shoe.
Oh how I miss the MT 101’s. The 110’s are a completely different animal. I switched to the Merrell Mix Master with some success, but not the great fit of the 101’s for me.