Customer Reviews New Balance MT100

I love this minimalist running shoe. The fit is excellent. The shoe breathes really well which is important to me in the summer. If they were not so popular and sold out of my size, I would be another pair today.

These shoes are great. Almost minimal enough. I thin the heel could have been a little more flat. However, these shoes are great. The upper and tong do nothing else but hold the well designed sole to your foot. The ridges in the laces work very well and were another unexpected bonus. Don't hesitate to get these shoes if you are a forefoot/midfoot runner. they have worked great for me and I'm saving for another pair. As usual, the service from Zappos was great.

The best shoes I've ever worn. I have exceptionally flat feet. In fact, they're so flat that a sports orthopedist once asked permission to take pictures of them because they're the flattest feet he'd ever seen.I wear orthotics in my shoes, but that doesn't prevent my feet from aching at the end of a long day, particularly if I've been walking a lot. These shoes are different. I've walked all over Gothenburg, Sweden in the winter, New York City at various times, I got to the gym and spend an hour on the elliptical, and when I'm done my feet feel fine. The only drawback to these shoes is that they're not great on smooth wet surfaces because of the cleats on the bottom. Other than that, they're the best.I own all three colors of them, and wear them all the time to the exclusion of all my other shoes (and I have a bunch).

These shoes are exactly what I needed. Very minimal and lightweight and durable. Super tough sole (with a rock plate right below the mid-foot) and decent aggressive tread gives a great running feel and traction. I have been running hard trails for a few months in these and love them. Before this I liked La Sportiva a lot and have tried Vibrams too. I think the NB WT100s have stolen the game though. ;) Finally I'd recommend getting a half-size bigger than normal (as is typical with most trail shoes). These have a narrower fit but the flexible mesh upper and super-cool stay-in-place "bubble" laces mean you can adjust the shoes throughout any endurance run. I am not easily wowed, but wow. Shoe perfection...?

So, after running in MT100 for 4 months, I figured it's time for a review: In short, I'd say these are my favorite trail shoes I've ever run in. I'd say these might not be for everyone. As one could expect from such a willfully spartan design there is very little that is "plush", "cushy" or "re-inforced" about the MT100 save the very effective thin rock-plate between the midsole and the fore-foot. There is no medial posting or support to speak of but the shoe is slung low and the lasting feels slipper-like so I've never felt a lack of support (I've run distances up to 15 (trail- and rocky/muddy cascade trail at that-and sometimes with no socks) miles in these so far) and I feel the MT100's have helped my overall form. My only gripes would be these: given that the forefoot and heel tread is somewhat recessed to lower the midfoot of the sole, I feel that on descents it is sometimes difficult to get the heel tread to "hook-up." That said, it would probably be a different story in drier, sandier terrain such as in Colorado or other "deserty" places. My second critique is that the toe box could use a little more armor/abrasion resistance. I love the flexibility/breathability so I think it could be solved by simply applying some heat welded patches or sprayed-on/laminated polymer patches as displayed on some Inov-8 and La Sportiva shoes. Overall shoes these rip: Don't think twice about trying a pair if you're ready for a fast, minimal shoe.

I recently made 3 big changes to my (active) life: started running consistently, started trail running (which is why I like it now)- altered my style to be forefoot striking (what I consider barefoot-style.) I started reading up on barefoot running and, more specifically, why forefoot striking was more correct. The gist I got was that the correct form is the way that you would run without shoes. Landing on your heels barefoot would kill; you need your foot to add to the shock absorption. That makes sense to me. And trail running is just more interesting to me...especially since I now live in France at the edge of a long system of trails. So I wanted a trail shoe. I also liked the idea of minimal (closest to barefoot without the dangers.) I ordered the Patagonias, Cascadias, Innov-8, and these. The Cascadias were like putting on a sweet, sweet cloud of goodness. They were amazingly comfortable and hugged my feet nicely. If you want plush comfort, these are the ones. However, the chunky sole/heel went against my new philosophy. So I braved the minimal MT100s out of principle rather than first try. I love them. They are SUPER light and hug my feet perfectly. They push a bit in the back above the heel (Achilles), but for me this is a positive. There is no pain at all, just a "cupping" that I feel makes it so my heel doesn't lift up at all. The sole is very thin, but impermeable to sharp objects. My trails here are super rocky and I step on everything. The laces are also very unique—like a corkscrew. This makes it very hard for them to loosen up while running. They feel a bit odd when walking, kinda like an F16 that can't glide, so I don't recommend for people to buy as a walking/hiking shoe. These babies are meant to be running off road. You don't hear about these shoes much except for on some pretty hard-core sites/blogs, but I highly recommend them to someone who believes in a minimal shoes and who does not heel-strike. *Caveat: I am no where close to an ultra-runner. I run about 4-6 trail miles, 3 times a week. Also, I've only been out in these 3 times thus far.

I got these shoes to do casual running in and possibly a few walks. I got them because other reviews said they were very minimalistic, which they are! Even so, they are very comfortable to run in and very light. Great shoe, definitely would buy another pair.

These are great shoes if you are already trail running. I run in the desert mountains on really rocky trails, and the rock stop in the front half of the shoe works well. However, you are not going to enjoy kicking rocks, as there isn't much in the way of a toe guard. Your feet need to be strong before you go on long runs in these shoes. They are super light and are as close to running without a shoe as I can imagine. And yes, they have a strong chemical smell that lasts for a while, but if you are running outside, you are not going to notice it.

Great Shoe and fit. Extremely light weight with a firm sole to prevent rock bruising. Great option for Crossfit or the gym as well as trails. Minimal cushion and minimal weight pretty much sums up this shoe.

These are the best shoes I have ever tried for trail running. I have trouble with Nike Free 5.0 because they are always too narrow. New Balance fits my foot better, they are super lightweight, and yet they protect my sole, (I run on the Appalachian Trail mostly). Zappos delivered in two days from the day I ordered. How can you possibly beat that?

Best shoes I've ever owned. I have a serious issue with foot sweat, these are ultralight and breathable. I don't run but I work on my feet all day without foot, knee or back pain.

These are the greatest pair of trail runners I have ever owned, hands-down. Incredibly light and tough. I hope they are never discontinued.

Great shoe overall! It replaced my beloved 790 but if it had to be replaced, this would be the only shoe to do so and get away with it. The shoe fits snugger and makes for a comfortable lighter run. It gives the runner a running with a sock feeling yet enough cushion to please the runner. My personal preference is I like extra cushion and this shoe lacks that for extended periods of use. Great looking and great feeling shoe though so I highly recommend it.

Love these shoes and plan on buying a second pair. So light and breathable, feels like being barefoot.

For service members who are deployed, receiving mail can be a true test of patience. Normally, I have to wait "at least" 3 weeks before seeing any packages, but so far I've ordered two pairs of running shoes from Zappos and received them both in a week and a half. As far as these "particular" shoes, I couldn't be more pleased. I recently bought the "POSE METHOD OF RUNNING" book and the author recommends "low profile" running shoes. The FOB (Forward Operating Base) I work at here in is littered with gravel, so I was forced to buy trail running shoes...and these particular ones fit the "low profile" description. They are incredibly LIGHT and still do a decent job dealing with the rocks. I would highly recommend this site to other deployed service members!

This is a very flexible and minimal trail running shoe. The material is very breathable and it has excellent tread for slippery trails. Two types of terrain I would not recommend running on: large stones (railroad grade) and streets. You can really feel what you are stepping on in these shoes.

I love these shoes. I was looking for a minimalist running shoe and this is perfect. Keeps my foot protected and gives me a little grip, but that’s it. I have zero knee pain since running in these shoes. Very stylish, too - I wear them around even when I’m not running.

Best shoe I've ever run in, road or dirt. Rarely do I buy 4 pairs of a shoe model in one shot, but this time I made an exception. I love minimalist shoes and these bad boys rule the roost. Thanks NB and don't you dare stop making these.

Great shoe! I recently added trail running to standard road running routine, and was used to running in minimal shoes (racing flats & Five Fingers), so my criteria was lightness and absence of cushioning and structure. The MT100 was perfect: good protection from rocks, but no interference with my running style. In fact, I just did a 11 mile road run in them this morning. I've stopped using my racing flats altogether. Only flaw was a really strong chemical odor for the first week or so. It went away after a few runs, but it was so bad I had to leave them outside.

Probably the most comfortable shoe I ever wore. Very light and roomy. Don't expect support or beef. Just a great flexible foot cover. My true size is 12, as usual 13 fit perfect.

I'll be the one to compare these to my beloved 790s. Although these replaced the 790s, the shoe really couldn't be more different. First, in terms of style, the MT100s with the red N are far superior. My wife noticed them right away; I personally would prefer an all black version as both styles in the MT100 come across as a little too metallic / disco for me, but I can't complain about the wife liking my shoes. Next, in terms of performance, I try to trail run as much as possible, but, living in New York, sometimes I just have to run on whatever I can. This, to me, is where the MT100s have fallen short relative to the 790s: these are way stripped down. As a result, I have had major fatigue issues in my legs. Now, believe it or not, I actually consider this a good thing: I'm working muscles in my lower legs that I didn't even know I had, but, man, the transition is severe (even from the 790s!). I looked at my calves after a run the other day, and they were huge. I'm excited about the tougher runs, but I would suggest that you work into these carefully. In the end, your legs and body will thank you for it, but only buy this shoe if you're running on trails full-time (they're far superior to the 790s on this type of terrain), or you're prepared to go to an almost barefoot style of running (which is a bit of a painful transition). For my transition, I'm using my old 790s to help. I run on the MT100s outdoors on pavement about once a week, the rest on the 790s for now.

I have been trying to find a minimalist shoe that is comfortable for a while. My search is over! This shoe is by far the best out there in my opinion. I have used them on the trail and the street. All around great wearing shoe. Being a midfoot strike convert, this shoe has met all my expectations. Comfort, grip, durability, light weight, don't hesitate to buy them. Great price and service from Zappos. What else do you need? Happy trails.

Best running shoe I ever had! They are as light as the Nike Frees, but I found the overall fit better. The snug fit is probably the best part. It feels like you are not wearing a shoe but the protection and grip is there. The laces stayed on well because of their design. They never got loose during a run. The only negative is that horrid chemical smell that takes months to fade away. Wish there were more colors and styles because I would order more. New Balance get rid of that smell and you have the perfect shoe!

My husband bought these on my Zappos account, so I will pass on his thoughts about these shoes. He loves them. They're super lightweight, really comfortable and airy and look good in person. He's been raving about these shoes for a month now. he got them instead of the more expensive 5-fingers vibram shoes and he's happy. His first time out with them he felt so great that he went for a run that was 2 times longer than usual. He's a big fan. One drawback is they really do smell awful when you first get them. We kept them outside. After a month the smell has mostly faded though. My husband thinks these shoes are pretty perfect. I say perfect minus the chemical smell.

Great shoe. Super lightweight, but holds up when running. Because of the material, air and water move through the shoe easily, but that doesn't really bother me. My suggestion: stay away from puddles. Overall, I love them. My one complaint is if you wear low socks, the firm heel might wear on your ankles a bit, but it isn't too bad. And if you've worn New Balance shoes in the past, I would order a half size larger. That's what I did and they fit perfectly.