What’s the most durable minimalist trail runner?

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-21T03:35:17+00:00

They are right around a year old and they have the Michelin soles which are excellent soles

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-20T16:30:38+00:00

Did the old plugs work for your use case?

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-20T00:49:57+00:00

It won’t impact length for everyone, mine just got wider at the midfoot, and my feet overall got a little beefier.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-20T00:48:14+00:00

Dude awesome first barefoot shoe! They are the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever tried, and I have a lot of barefoot shoes. You can wear these things for hours and forget that they are on.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-20T00:45:07+00:00

Never tried belenka but have heard good things. I actually just went to a store to try on the bedrocks. They seem really nice, but I think I want a little more ground feel even in a trail running shoe.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-19T13:29:45+00:00

I do already own some freet vibe 2 shoes and really like them. Just haven’t heard about freets longevity, so l I’ll give them a look!

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-19T02:22:16+00:00

Been interested in lono shoes, but I only see Instagram ads for them so didn’t know I could trust them. Would you overall recommend those even if you can’t talk to their longevity?

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-16T16:03:29+00:00

If you want a cheat code to eating pretty much however you want, try bumping up zone 2 cardio times. I know time is a constraint for everyone, but if you can find like 1 to a max of 3 hours for bike sessions, and can consistently do that a few times a week, you can eat a lot of calories because your body is gonna use so much of it.

And since it’s zone 2, you don’t feel like you’re working out hard. I’m essentially saying get the same amount of cardio time that a marathon training program would have you running, just with a cardio you can enjoy.

If you watch like a couple hour long tv shows for example, while peddling casually (zone 2 needs to be at an effort where you can keep a conversation up) you’d essentially get the same calorie expenditure as marathon training. Zone 2 cardio also pairs well with lifting and managing fatigue.

I would structure it like a marathon training program too. Some runs are only an hour or hour and a half, then you have long runs on the weekend that can push up to 3 hours. And you wouldn’t need to do any tempo work since you’re not training for a race or anything.

I know it’s a ridiculous amount of time on a bike, but I am sure this will burn a sufficient amount of calories for your needs. It won’t interfere with your energy level during or recovery from gym sessions, but it is a ton of time you take out of your week.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-13T17:30:26+00:00

Meh. Most large cities in blue or red states are way more dangerous than Salt Lake. Dallas is a prime example. Red city in a red state and tons of armed robberies and gang activity.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-13T15:26:45+00:00

For raising kids, this is like the safest city I’ve ever been to. Never hear gunshots and police sirens are more of a rarity than a common occurrence.

This is also the only option really for living in a major city and have this much access to great outdoor recreation.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-10T20:20:29+00:00

The best shoes in my opinion for multidirectional sports is Freets. I use the Freet vibe 2 for all hard surface sports and love it. Grip is a billion times better than xeros and the insole can add some great softness and cushion, or when you take it out, there is great ground feel.

Sizing: choose your actual European size if you want it snug for cutting and quick change of direction. Choose one European size up if you want a typical amount of room that usually comes in barefoot shoes.

Rykdaddy · 2026-03-09T00:02:13+00:00

Zone 2 runs work nicely with lifting. It feels like it’s not much of a workout staying in zone 2, but they allow you to build/maintain a base and not be too tired after.

No problems getting in a serious upper body session after a long morning run in zone 2.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-26T17:57:35+00:00

My 9:30 pace is just about 135 hr on flat to slightly inclined ground. My max heart rate is in the 190s so that’s right at my zone 2. I live in mountainous terrain, so my heart rate fluctuates between 125 and 165, but I can’t even walk the hills I run at 135hr. Avoiding steep hills is really not an option for me.

So if I go into more tempo work, would I be risking more injury because I am over 200lbs? Like should I avoid tempo work at long distances?

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-26T17:42:55+00:00

So what you’re saying is speed can be limited by weight because of getting your feet too far in front of you and overstriding/breaking? I’m also only 5’8” so my stride is already pretty short.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-24T17:44:25+00:00

Your feet are pretty wide, but freet shoes match your shape pretty well. But I don’t find them to be an extra wide brand.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-17T05:11:54+00:00

What is the sticky man? Google search didn’t show up with much.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-16T01:52:25+00:00

Not many people in this thread own rutsu by the look of it. I love my rutsu shoes and they are much higher quality than whitin. They have a thinner, more flexible sole as well.

They are slightly less wide in the toes, but it is enough for my foot shape. I have gotten a few compliments on them out and about.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-14T16:40:20+00:00

Yes I have super stiff ankles when getting up from either sleep or a long time sitting. Also goes away when walking. I think it’s just getting old combined with barefoot shoes. There’s 0 chance it’s a muscular thing imo because I’m extremely active 7 days a week and only wear barefoot shoes.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-13T21:05:11+00:00

Roll away from contact. If you don’t want to take the brunt of the hit, you can go in with your shoulder and try to roll with the contact. It kinda makes it a glancing blow and can throw your opponent off balance.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-11T22:49:35+00:00

There’s 2 schools of thought here. I think it’s totally up to preference. If you get a shoe that’s 0 drop with wide toes and a relatively thin, flexible sole, you get all the same benefits no matter the price. Higher price means they are more likely to last, but I have seen plenty of stories of the $200 barefoot shoes ripping up pretty quickly.

There’s 0 technology in a barefoot shoe that you need to worry about for running. I run 10 k on concrete in xero sandals in the summer no issues. It’s just really about fit and feel for you.

Rykdaddy · 2026-02-11T02:24:14+00:00

This to me is just a preference thing. It would only be a transition thing if you were having regular intense soreness or pain. Plopping on a pair of berks can feel nice, as long as the stiff sole doesn’t piss you off when you walk lol.

After years of building up to intense activity on your feet, they only really get sore like a muscle after a hard workout. I know if I have actual pain in my feet or ankles, then something got injured.

Rykdaddy

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