Detailed Product Review: Top 5 Best Minimalist Running Shoes For Women

What kind of shoes do you prefer for running? Are you looking for best women’s Minimalist running shoes?

Minimalist shoes have become very popular all over the world, and now they are everywhere. Many runners prefer minimalist running shoes over standard ones as there are so many reasons behind it. These shoes are designed in an amazing way that helps allow the foot of the wearer to work and run efficiently and naturally.

These are the hybrid of traditional running shoes and barefoot shoes that offers an excellent way to most of the runners. They are extremely lightweight that offers runner a comfortable feeling during a long run. It comes with less bulky heel and little arch support but still provides flex and cushioning. These shoes don’t even try to change gait or foot strike through stability or cushioning.

You may find a wide range of minimalist running shoes in the market, but you should look for the right one. Choosing the best Minimalist running shoes for women can make your running comfortable. Here in this guide, we have mentioned Top 5 Best Minimalist Running Shoes for Women that you can look into.

Comparison Chart: 5 Best Minimalist Running Shoes for Women in 2020!

1. Fila Women’s Skele-Toes EZ Slide Drainage Minimalist Running Shoes

If you are looking for comfortable, flexible and lightweight running shoes, then this pair of shoe can be an ideal choice. They are good for running and ideal water shoes as well. They work great in both sand and water. They more likely fit like gloves in your feet and make you feel like walking barefooted. These are among the top-rated women’s Minimalist running shoes that you can look for.

Major Features:

1. Design

Its cushioned footbed makes it quite comfortable during running and prevents from shocks. The open-air mesh ensures breathability and plenty of ventilation. It features synthetic and textile uppers. It is designed with a rubber sole that ensures durability. Skele-toes protect hot sand, murky lake beds, and sharp rocks.

2. Specifications

• Dimensions: 13 x 6 x 5 inches
• Weight: 4 pounds

3. Performance

These are high-quality shoes come with a line of Skele-toes. These advanced shoes can offer you feel of shoeless running apart from protection and support. These lightweight shoes are well known for their high performance. It comes with an air mesh upper, four-way stretch fabric and many other quality features.

What is not good for this product?

It may run small, so you need to order one size up to get perfect fit and size shoes. Design of outsole is not perfect and comes with little pits. They allow little stones to get in and damage the shoe by creating lots of holes. They resist water poorly. It has its issues, but still, this is a good product at this price.

Pros:

• Two smallest toes to make it easy to use and wear
• Bungee with hook
• Upper air mesh to ensure breathability
• Loop closure at back and front to ensure secure fit
• Synthetic outsole for traction

Cons:

• It runs small
• Outsole design is not perfect
• Resist water poorly
• Little uncomfortable

2. Xero DayLite Hiker Lightweight Minimalist, Barefoot-Inspired Women’s Minimalist Running & Hiking Boots

Those women who are looking for something new to add to their footwear rack and daily running activities, then this would be the perfect one. This can be the ideal footwear for lots of adventurous activities. Most of the hikers didn’t need heavy shoes with a bulky heel and cushioned sole that’s why these shoes have become so popular due to their maximum performance and minimalist design.

Major Features:

1. Design

These shoes are water resistant and make you feel comfortable during running. They come with ballistic mesh upper that makes them breathable. Tough tech toe cap offer required protection. These shoes come with Dual-Chevron treads for traction and grip.

2. Specifications

• Dimensions: N/A
• Weight: 9 ounces

3. Performance

These shoes are amazingly designed and make you confident by offering comfort, water resistance, versatility and natural movement features.

What is not good for this product?

It comes with great features, but it may run small so order a size up for secure and comfortable fit and size.

Pros:

• No heel to ensure proper posture
• Tough tech cap for protection
• Wide toe box to make your feet feel relax
• Flexible to roll up
• Rubber sole to ensure durability
• Cushioned insole
• Great grip
• Adjustable heel

Cons:

• It runs small

3. Altra Running Women’s Lone Peak 2. 0 Polartec Shoes

These shoes are perfect to use during any terrain and weather. You can run through puddles, mud, inclement weather and streams by wearing these shoes. They keep your feet dry and war and create a weather resistant barrier between your feet and nature.

Major Features:

1. Design

These are amazingly designed and have lots of unique features. Sandwiched Stone Guard provides trail debris, rocks and much more. It comes with TrailClaw outsole that enhances grip. This is fully cushioned and comes with zero heel height. It is designed with a foot-shaped toe box that helps move naturally. Its shape adds stability and places your feet in proper form and natural position.

2. Specifications

• Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 4 inches
• Weight: 3 pounds

3. Performance

It comes with a rubber sole that ensures durability and uses in any weather and terrain. It uses Polartec NeoShell technology that makes it water resistant. It means these shoes can perform better in almost any weather.

What is not good for this product?

These shoes are available with great features, but they are unstable. Your feet may slip a bit in these shoes when your scramble ups the rocks. Apart from that sizing is also an issue that is associated with these shoes.

Pros:

• Gaiter Trap tab to ensure perfect fit
• Comfortable and lightweight
• Moderate cushioning
• POLARTEC NeoShell technology
• Mesh to ensure breathability
• Ideal for unpredictable weather conditions
• Spacious to accommodate wide feet easily
• No blisters

Cons:

• Unstable fitting
• Size issue

4. Vibram Women’s “V” Minimalist Running Shoes

If you are looking for very comfortable footwear that comes with softer upper and secure fit, then these shoes are for you. These shoes are perforated to increase the ventilation or breathability. It comes with a thinner sole that makes them lightweight and helps you run naturally. It offers you barefoot running experience whenever you wear it and run.

Major Features:

1. Design

They are designed with a synthetic sole that ensures durability. Polyester Lycra Stretch Mesh offers breathability. It is designed with XS run outsole rubber and Vi-lite midsole that offer durability and cushioning. It has cord closure and adjustable pull tab.

2. Specifications

• Dimensions: N/A
• Weight: 1 Pound

3. Performance

They come with great features and perfect for lots of running and gym activities.

What is not good for this product?

It may run one size large so order one size down for secure fit and size.

Pros:

• Comfortable and lightweight
• Thinnest sole
• Perfect cushioning
• Anti-microbial sock liner
• Mesh to ensure breathability
• Adjustable cord closure

Cons:

• It runs large
• Toes are too long

5. Vibram Women’s Bikila EVO Road Minimalist Running Shoes

If you want to experience the barefoot running with slight cushioning, then this would be the best option for you. This is good for a medium distance run. They are for running and rock climbing. This is the softest, thinnest and flexible style of minimalist shoes.

Major Features:

1. Design

This is amazingly designed for the beginners who want to try minimalist design. They come with rubber sole and mesh that offer the perfect combination of durability and breathability. The EVA midsole is to ensure further protection and cushioning without adding additional weight.

2. Specifications

• Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 4 inches
• Weight: 1 pound

3. Performance

It also specializes in Vibram Mega grip pods made of rubber on the sole, which ensures grip and durability. The shoe upper is designed with polyester mesh that offers plenty of ventilation to your feelings and keeps them relaxed during intense training periods. The five finger lacing system offers secure, and snug fit. It comes with a great feature that performs well for runners.

What is not good for this product?

Not too much grip on shoe bottom and they are not water resistant. Sizing may also be an issue for the women who have wide feet.

Pros:

• EVA foam midsole and rubber sole
• Comfortable and lightweight
• It fits like a glove and adds no weight
• Provide good support
• Easy to wear

Cons:

• It may run small
• Not too much grip on bottom
• Not waterproof

Why should you run in Minimalist Running Shoes?

These minimal shoes lack stiff soles, high cushioned heels, and arch support. There are several reasons behind the popularity of these kinds of footwear. If you want to mimic the barefoot running styles of some people, then you should look for these shoes. These shoes let you move or run naturally by keeping your feet stable. You can wear them whole day long, or long distance run as they are lightweight.

These shoes provide minimal hazard protection and no heel cushion. Some runners choose them over bulky standard running shoes. These shoes come with a less bulky heel that makes them comfortable inconsistent long run. Standard shoes tend to encourage the wearer to strike heel first to the ground while running that puts pressure on the runner’s body.

Getting less bulky or lower heel shoes allow the foot to flex and move appropriately. These shoes are available with a roomy toe box that helps enhance balance and grip. They ensure plenty of ventilation for your feet.

What are the Factors that you should consider before Buying Minimalist Running Shoes?

These days most of the professional runners prefer Minimalist running shoes. However, you should be very careful and patient while transitioning from normal cushioned running shoes to minimalist running shoes. Minimalist running shoes are hybrid of barefooted shoes and normal cushioned running shoes. They have a zero drop from heel to toe. They do not offer any substantial support to the foot while running.

You should consider following factors while buying minimalist running shoes for yourselves:

1. Fit: The shoe should be a perfect fit as it has to be worn during running. If the fit is not good and the shoes are a bit tight or loose, then there are chances of hurting your feet in either case.
2. Build quality and material used: Check out for the build quality of the shoe, that is, the material used. You should ensure that shoes are made of a comfortable material; especially from inside as most of the times, these shoes are worn without socks.
3. Sole: The outer sole of the shoes should be good at gripping. It will prevent you from slipping.
4. Closures: Though it may not seem as significant factor, it counts when we talk about usability. Many people find it a bit cumbersome to tie shoelaces. So for such people, there is an option to go for strap closures

Minimalist running shoes are in great demand, and it may be good to use them, but you should always look for aright pair of such shoe. In this guide, you can get top Minimalist running shoes for women product review that can be helpful in choosing right shoe. However all five shoes have their features and utility, but we suggest you look for Altra Running Women’s Lone Peak 2. 0 Polartec Shoes as this comes with all the required features that make your running experience more comfortable.