New Balance MT110

Two years ago New Balance introduced the MT 100 trail shoe. While they were not the first minimalist trail shoe, they certainly helped usher in the trend towards lighter and lower profile trail shoes. The MT 100s quickly became a favorite among many trail runners due to their lightweight, nimble feel, but they had some issues. Namely, they didn't have the best traction, the upper didn't provide much support, and they had a nasty habit of tearing up your Achilles.

There are four color schemes available for each of New Balance's trail ambassadors Tony Krupicka, Eric Skaggs, Lizzy Howard, and Brandy Erholtz.

With the upcoming version, the MT110 (men's) and WT110 (women's), New Balance did a complete redesign. Based on the the popular Minumus line (see previous reviews of the trail and road versions), the MT 110s are a vast improvement over their predecessors and have many trail runners salivating to get their hands on them. Fortunately, the wait won't be much longer as the shoe is set to be released in January 2012.

Specifications

Weight:

Men's: 7.7 ounces 

Women's: 6.2 ounces 

Heel-Toe Offset:

4 mm (12 mm heel, 8 mm forefoot)

Technology

• Laser Cut Synthetic Upper
• Forefoot Rockplate
• Broad Forefoot
• New Balance Minimus Last
• Socklined Non-Removable Insole

Sock-lined insole is intended to be worn with or without socks.Fit and Feel

The first thing I noticed when putting them on was the large amount of room in the toe-box. I understand the the logic of having room for your toes to splay and I like a bit of wiggle room for my toes, but my fear was that my foot would slide around when running and too much room can make my foot feel too detached from the shoe. 

On my first run I did feel my foot slipping around a bit, but lacing the shoe tighter seemed to solve the issue. After 10 or so miles I had to tighten them again due to a slight stretching of the upper which is common for synthetic leather. The MT 110s are comfortable, wrap securely around the mid-foot, and feel like an extension of your feet on the trail.

The heel cup is a leap forward compared to the previous versions of the 100 trail series. The top edge is softened eliminating Achilles gouging, and the back was stiffened providing an almost suction cup adhesion for keeping my foot locked into the shoe. 

Overall the MT 110s has a much improved fit, yet has retained the nimble feel of its predecessors. The large toe box is still somewhat of an issue for me but this could possibly be solved by getting a half size smaller, and may just be specific to my foot shape and preference.

New Balance MT 110

Testing

Over the past several months I have logged quite a few runs in the MT 110s. Most of which have been on the rugged trails of Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV which range from somewhat rocky to extremely rocky. 

Unlike other minimalist shoes, the MT 110s provide passable protection for use on just about any trails. Having said that, I think most runners should use caution when first trying the MT 110s; particularly if you haven't worn a lightweight shoe or racing flat on trails before. New Balance cautions users of their Minimus line to begin with no more than 10% of thier weekly miles and to gradually increase, and these cautions seem equally appropriate with the MT 110s.  

The improved tread on the MT 110s provides all the traction one would want on trails. I suspect they would be excellent in mud and snow but I wasn't able to test them on either. One rare day when it actually rained in Las Vegas though I rushed out to the trails to test the MT 110s, they gripped wet rock very well and I felt confident on loose surfaces and tight corners.

New Balance printed "Tested in" and "Approved by the Flatirons of Boutlder CO" in the inside of the Tony Krupicka color shown

While the MT 110s provide an astonishing amount of protection for their weight, I didn't feel they provided quite enough on very rocky terrain. For perspective my go to shoes I wear on trails are lighter than the MT 110s and offer better protection in my opinion so don't think I'm comparing them to a trail steam roller.

Additionally, with my forefoot being a mere 8 mm from the ground in the MT 110s, the side of my foot would occasionally pinch on a rock which smarted quite a bit. Because of this, I felt I had to prance around more than normal to avoid the nastier specimens trying to eat my feet. These are just my opinions and to be fair other people testing the MT 110s feel they provide all the protection they need. (Joe Grant wore the MT 110s during the 2011 Hardrock 100 which is possibly the gnarliest 100 miler in the country.)

On longer runs my legs felt more tired than with most shoes. This is probably partially a function of the thin midsole, but could also be attributed to the MT 110s last encouraging a forefoot strike which was counter to my heel to midfoot strike. After using them for a while this soreness became less prounounced but did not completely dissipate. In areas where trails actually have soil instead of sand and rocks I suspect the MT 110s would provide ample support and protection for most runners.

New Balance's MT110 

While it shouldn't be a deciding factor in picking a shoe I think most of us would admit that looks influence the shoes we choose to some degree (okay a huge degree for some of us). The MT 110s definitely are a great looking shoe on and off the trail. One other neat feature of the MT 110s is that the synthetic upper is easily restored to a brand new look after simply wiping them off with. 

The lightness and excellent fit of the MT 110s made me feel quite agile and I would say almost ninja like out on the trail. On shorter trail runs when I want to push it a bit I think the most accurate description would be that they are totally fun. In picking a trail shoe I usually think in terms of a sliding scale between what I can run the fastest in and what I can log my miles in without injury. Despite the concerns I've laid out the MT 110s have definitely earned a spot in my rotation.

Perhaps it is the anticipation and hype of the MT 110s, but they certainly have a cool factor that make me want to love them. They are incredibly fun to run in and I encourage you to come in and give them a try as soon as they are available in January 2012.