New Balance New Balance Minimus 110 Trail

New model for this year (Do not check this option if this model was listed as new in last year’s Gear Guide)An update to the award-winning New Balance 101, the 110 offers many of the same features and benefits that made its predecessor successful, including a thin ROCKSTOP© plate in the outsole that protects feet from punctures and disperses shock without sacrificing the natural running feel.

The 110 is now built on the same natural running last (NL1) used in the first installment of the NB Minimus collection. As a result, the 110 features a 4mm drop from heel to forefoot, bringing the foot much closer to the ground than the previous 101, which had a 10mm drop. A new streamlined upper construction features a super minimal single layer of synthetic material all the way around the shoe. This single layer synthetic has strategically positioned perforations offering the runner breathability and support where they need it most. The upper nicely wraps the midfoot area to comfortably hug and support the foot. A redesigned heel counter sees the plush inner lining of the shoe wrap over the top of the heel counter to ensure a soft, luxurious feel and decrease any chance of irritation or abrasion. A sticky rubber outsole provides just the right balance of traction and durability.

As a tribute to the New Balance Outdoor Ambassador team, every color way of the 110 is unique to each athlete and the insert recognizes their respective training location of choice. For example, the men’s black and yellow version is called the “AK” color – standing for Anton Krupicka and it features an insert stamp that reads: “Tested on Green Mountain in Boulder, CO.” The other colors of the shoes are the “ES” (Erik Skaggs), the “BE” (Brandy Erholtz) and the “LH” (Liza Howard).