New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail

The outsole of the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail is made of Vibram material. This material is a special rubber blend designed to provide maximum grip on trails and other terrains. It also is designed to be durable, and it withstands impacts fairly well as a result.

The outsole also makes use of lugs, a common feature in trail shoes due to their additions to traction. The lugs in the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail are multidirectional as well, which makes for even better traction in trail terrains, and when ascending and descending mountains.

Additionally, the outsole’s thickness and material allow it to withstand impacts to the foot which might otherwise cause issues. Overall, the outsole of the Minimus 10v1 trail is a fairly decent piece.

The primary midsole material for the Minimus 10v1 Trail is Acteva foam. Acteva foam is a special foam designed by New Balance, that sees use in many of their shoes. There are several different variants of Acteva.

The piece in the 10v1 is the lowest version, though it still is pretty impressive. It is very similar to EVA foam, a popular choice thanks to its good responsiveness and lightweight nature. The major difference is that Acteva is 12 percent lighter than standard EVA, and also has added materials to make it extra durable, setting itself a bit above.

The midsole also features a slightly wider toe box than some trainers, which helps to add the perfect amount of space and comfort to the foot while striding. There is also a bit of extra padding above the Acteva for a bit more cushion and comfort, which is a nice plus. The midsole of the Minimus 10v1 Trail is a fairly strong piece overall.

The New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail’s upper is composed of a mesh, as is frequently the case for modern running shoes. This mesh does an excellent job of providing both flexibility and breathability thanks to the fact that it is woven.

The upper also features synthetic overlays, which help to add some needed stability to the upper, while also not hinder the flexibility of the mesh.

The area near the front of the upper also has toe protection, which is especially nice on trails, where random and harsh impacts are more common and can be more impactful.

Within the upper is an anti-bacterial liner, which of course helps with odor and is a nice plus also. The upper of the Minimus 10v1 Trail is very good and has the plus of being very lightweight as well.

The New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail weighs in at an astoundingly low 6.3 ounces. For even a road trainer this would be considered very light.

For a trail shoe, which is often a bit heavier, this is extremely light. This, of course, fits in with the minimalist design orientation of the Minimus 10v1 trail. The weight is a key and strong component of the shoe and gives the shoe a light and responsive feel.

Breathability is quite frequently determined by mostly the upper, because of how it is positioned in the shoe, encapsulating the foot. The upper of the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail is made of mesh, as previously explained above.

Mesh is already a great choice for air-flow because it is woven with holes, but the mesh utilized in the Minimus 10v1 is extra light compared to most, making it even airier. Breathability in the shoe is strong as a result, and should definitely be sufficient for the majority of users.

Comfort is fairly good in the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail. The main pieces which contribute to this are the upper and the midsole.

The upper is very comfortable thanks to several of its traits. The mesh that sits atop it is very lightweight and also very breathable, both of which are nice features for comfort. The antibacterial liner is also nice for comfort, as it helps prevent odor build up.

The midsole contributes to the toe box and Acteva foam. The comfortable toe box is a nice plus for the shoe, as it allows for a good amount of space. The Acteva foam provides cushioning and support beneath the feet, also helping with the overall comfort. Comfort as a whole is pretty good in the Minimus 10v1 Trail.

New Balance has recently been growing more and more popular in the style department. Though not as fashionable as some of the biggest players like Nike and Adidas, New Balance still definitely holds on its own and has a style that sets itself apart from other shoes.

The Minimus 10v1 Trail exemplifies this despite being a trail shoe, which is pretty impressive. The shoe has an overall clean design, which doesn’t appear too clunky or overbearing. This might also be due in part to the fact that it is minimalist-oriented.

It features crisp color combinations as well, which is great for those who are a bit pickier when it comes to color. There might be some trouble in using the shoe for everyday use, however, as it is designed functionally for trails. Overall though, the 10v1 Trail is a stylish shoe for a trail trainer and offers good color choices.

Durability is solid in the 10v1 Trail, though not particularly exceptional. The key pieces that contribute to this are the upper, the midsole, and the outsole. The upper is pretty durable thanks to its synthetic overlays and mesh.

These pieces are pretty well constructed and overall make the top of the shoe long lasting, and not too susceptible to tears. The midsole contributes to durability with the Acteva foam.

This foam is similar to EVA in that it maintains its original shape very well over extended periods of time, which helps to keep the shoe responsive and comfortable over long periods. Finally, the Vibram material helps the outsole, by making it resistant to impacts and wear and tear.

Overall, the shoe is not as durable as some other trail shoes and general trainers, but this is also related to the fact that the shoe is minimalist. Overall, durability is decent in the Minimus 10v1 Trail is decent.

When it comes to protection, the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail is again decent, but not outstanding. The main pieces that contribute to this are the upper and the midsole. The upper helps to protect the feet through its mesh and synthetic overlays.

The combination of these helps to keep outside elements out and stabilize the feet. The midsole contributes to its Acteva foam. This Acteva cushions the feet and protects it from harsher impacts and shocks.

Protection could probably be better in the Minimus 10v1 trail, but taking into account its minimalist design, it isn’t bad. Protection is certainly adequate in the 10v1, for the type of shoe it is.

Responsiveness is fairly strong in the Minimus 10v1 Trail. This is nice, considering it is designed as a minimalist shoe, which often places emphasis on response and feels. The major piece that helps with this is the midsole, as is often the case for responsiveness in running shoes.

The Acteva foam is both light and good at returning energy, making it an excellent source of responsiveness within the shoe. The overall light weight and breathability of the shoe also contribute to its responsiveness, by giving it a less burdensome and airy feel. Responsiveness in this shoe is quite strong as a whole.

The upper and midsole are the main pieces which emphasize stability within the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail. The upper helps once again with its synthetic overlays. These provide some needed stability to the top of the feet by securing the feet in place comfortably.

The midsole helps to support once again with the Acteva foam. This foam supports the feet from underneath by reducing shocks and impacts. Support is decent in the shoe as a whole.

The New Balance Minimus 10v1 is optimized for trails, as its name implies. It will see success on the majority of a trail and off-road type terrains.

It is still usable on more common city surfaces, but, one might be better off getting the non-trail version of the shoe if a majority of miles will not be run on the trail. Most surfaces should not give the Minimus 10v1 Trail much trouble, and it is pretty well equipped in general.

The price of the Minimus 10v1 Trail is pretty decent. It pretty much falls in the range of many other popular trainers. Considering the shoe is minimalist, and trail oriented, this is nice, as those two traits tend to make a shoe a bit more expensive.

When taking into account that it is not the most recent model, however, this value does go down a bit. Overall, the quality of the shoe is decent, so unless an exceptionally high price is paid, the 10v1 Trail is not a bad buy for its cost.

The outsole is the heavy influencer of traction within the 10v1 Trail. This is often the case for running shoes, and this one is no exception. The Vibram material plays a role here, helping the grip of the shoe a great deal thanks to its specially designed rubber.

The multi-directional lugs are also a plus, as they aid grip greatly when ascending and descending sloped terrains. Traction should definitely be sufficient on a majority of running terrains.

Flexibility is mostly dependent on the upper in the New Balance Minimus, as is the general case for running shoes. The upper is mesh, which does a great job of allowing the foot to flex and groove, as mentioned before in the upper section.

Apart from this, there really isn’t much else that promotes flexibility in the shoe. Overall though, the flexibility of the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail should definitely suffice.

The key pieces that influence the stability of the Minimus 10v1 Trail are the upper and the midsole once again. The midsole stabilizes the foot by utilizing the Acteva foam. The foam’s ability to reduce impacts and harsh shocks to the foot do a great job of stabilizing the feet during strides.

The upper stabilizes through its synthetic overlays. These help to keep the foot straight while running, but also doesn’t limit the flexibility of the mesh. This helps facilitate a very stable stride overall. Stability in the Minimus 10v1 is pretty good as a whole.

The drop of the New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail is 4mm. This is an exceptionally low drop, though this, of course, fits in with the minimalist design of the shoe. Minimalist shoes usually have low drops, so the 4mm drop serves the Minimus 10v1 Trail well.

- Anti-bacterial interior
- Vibram outsole
- Acteva Midsole
- Minimal profile

The New Balance Minimus 10v1 Trail is a pretty good trail shoe overall. It definitely follows through with its promise of being minimalist and is very lightweight. For the price, the Minimus 10v1 Trail is a decent value overall, and a stylish shoe for sure.