New Balance

New Balance Men's MT20v1 Trail Minimus Shoe

• Synthetic and mesh
• Rubber sole
• ACTEVA midsole
• VIBRAM outsole
• Antimicrobial treatment on footbed

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004KZP5AG
• Item model number: MT20v1
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (174 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,151 in Shoes (See Top 100 in Shoes)
  • #69 in Shoes > Men's > Athletic > Trail Running

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 69 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars best pair of running shoes my husband has owned August 22, 2011

By Seek Felicity TOP 500 REVIEWER

After going through two pairs of Nike Frees, my husband was ready to try something new. While his original pair of 7.0 Frees lasted for several years and were superb, his second pair of Frees began deteriorating (parts of the sole peeling away) after only a few months and they never really seemed to fit comfortably (despite getting them sized for him). He was interested in the Vibrams and Inov8 shoes, but the designs were a little too much and they seemed to have as many supporters as opposers. He liked the New Balance Minimus line, but the MT10's seemed to have a lot of issues, particularly with the tight toe band.

Enter the MT20. He decided to take the plunge on this updated model, and has been thoroughly impressed since day one. Here is what he would like to share about the shoe:

1) Lightweight but sturdy: Out of the box the shoe is incredibly light and the Vibram sole construction is top notch. Despite being a minimal design, these feel sturdy and the attention to rugged construction is evident, which is typical of the New Balance brand.

2) Fit was accurate: The fit ran true to his shoe size right out of the box, he did not need to go up or down or for the wider size (He's had problems with Nike and Adidas always being too narrow).

3) Comfort: They are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes he has owned to date. The heel cup padding in particular is excellent, and even without socks there hasn't been any irritation.

4) Performance: Performance wise, the Vibram soles are terrific. Not too springy, and not too pliable, they provide a perfect balance between a barefoot feel and providing protection from sharp rocks and glass. They give great traction on grass and dirt without a large tread profile that defeats their purpose. He chose the Trail model because he does 90% of his running on grass and dirt trails, but he's been able to put some road miles on these and confirm that they do just fine and would see no issues with putting a lot of pavement miles on these.

5) Color: The designs might not be to everyone's liking, but he thinks they look much better in person than they do in pictures and he receives a lot of positive questions about them when he wears them to the gym for a lifting workout (as a side note, these make great deadlifting shoes).

These shoes have exceeded expectations and are easily the best pair of running shoes he has owned right out of the box. My husband would recommend anyone looking for a trail running minimal shoe to start here.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Shoe December 12, 2011

By tank

Color Name:Grey/Red| Size Name:10.5 D(M) US|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was never a fan of the barefoot idea until I did my research. I tried this type and not the five toe shoe one because, I really don't like having my toes touched to begin with, and the idea of a shoe sperating my toes was not inviting and the thought was uncomfortable.
I am active duty and the Army just banned the wear of the five toe shoes while wearing an Army PT uniform. With this shoe I can still wear it with a pair of thin socks without discomfort. I did go with a .5 size larger going from a 10 to 10 1/2 just to have room for a thin pair of socks. The shoe feels awesome on the treadmill and on pavement, I ran 2 miles my first try and my calf's weren't killing me the next day. It has plenty of room for your toes to stretch and the rest of the shoe fits nice and snogged. Walking over gravel feels the way it would barefoot, you can feel every rock, but when you run on hard floor, amazingly my feet feel "NO" discomfort, and this is coming from a guy with 12 years active duty, bad knee's, bad ankles, and a bad back, and I LOVE these shoes!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply awesome August 27, 2011

By Jimi

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a major breakthrough in footwear. I have been using five fingers for the past year and they are great, but not very versatile stylistically. I can where these with a pair of shorts or jeans just fine and not get a single look, whereas I'd be getting stared at in the five fingers. These offer a little more support which makes me more comfortable using them on trails, and even biking! These are the best biking shoes I own. I have never liked clip-in bike shoes, and these are perfect. Really allow me to dig into the pedal and offer great traction. These shoes can do it all.

One huge plus for some people will be that they actually feel LESS restrictive around the toes than five fingers, which kind of make my toes feel stiff due to the material separating them. There is plenty of room in these shoes to allow full motion with the toes. I can't wait to see what new balance does with the zero drop minimus coming in the next 6 months or so. But for now, these are awesome. I will never use a normal sneaker again. I've been telling everyone I know to try these shoes. They are really THAT great.

Product Description

Amazon.com

New Balance takes their Minimus line off-roading with the MT20 trail runner. Exceptionally lightweight and breathable, yet ruggedly capable where it counts, your every stride is as sure-footed as it is cool and ventilated. Offering great feel for the contours of the trail, this is a must for taking your heart-healthy cardio into the wild.

Product Description

An entirely different approach to trail running than the traditional running shoe, the New Balance Minimus Trail MT20 takes the proven versatile durability of a Vibram® outsole and combines it with a fitted, extremely minimalist upper that's comfortable with or without socks. This latest edition of the Minimus Trail features a modified upper on the same comfortable sole unit as its popular counterpart the MT10, creating a near-barefoot experience on the trail. Color: Grey + Red + Black

FIT: Designed to be worn barefoot, the Minimus shoes provide a tight fit and snug slipper-like feel. Many of our customers order a half size larger, especially when they intend to wear socks.

CAUTION: This product should be introduced slowly into a running exercise routine. New Balance recommends limiting initial use to 10% of overall running workouts and very gradually increasing time and distance.

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