New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail

After I retired my New Balance Ioinix's I decided to try New Balance again.  I was very pleased with the minimalist shoe I had just retired so I went into Brown's Shoe Fit Company here in Fort Dodge and stumbled upon the New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail.  So far I have put about 20 miles in these shoes, so here is my review so far:

Compared to the New Balance Ionix these are true minimalist shoes (not quite barefoot but close).  The heel is still built up a bit so they are not quite a zero drop shoe (heel is not built up).  I have been pleased with the natural running form (midfoot/toe strike vs. heel strike), and this shoe really does promote that as it would be painful to heel strike in these shoes.  The bottoms of the shoes are made by Vibram so they will be durable, and the grip will be great.  I noticed that the bottom of the shoes are a little tougher after I ran on some gravel and was really pleased that I could not feel too many of the rocks, as opposed to the Ionix's.  The shoes are comfy and lightweight, which makes me feel fast when I am running in them.  There is a strap fastened to the front of the shoe, which I can only assume will prevent that area from tearing like my previous shoes.

Traditionally New Balance has not been known for style, but I like the look of these shoes.  You can never go wrong with black and gold (Go Hawks), but they do offer them in different colors for both men and women.  These shoes will take some getting used to, as they are a little more minimalist than the Ionix's and I noticed some foot soreness after the few runs I have done, nothing that will cause injury, just need to get used to the shoe and adjust my strike.  I have not had the chance to test these out on true trails so I am looking forward to getting out and testing them for their true purpose.  So far so good, I am pleased with my purchase, and for 90 dollars they are not too bad on the wallet.  My review is: I would recommend these shoes.