Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

New Balance Minimus Trail v3

Trail · Neutral · 6.8 oz · 4mm drop · 16/12mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Minimus Trail replaced it

How it ranks

The New Balance Minimus Trail v3 ranks among the stronger trail shoes in our data. Durability and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 2 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Minimus Trail product line. Another 10 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

New Balance Minimus Trail v3

Current estimate: Good

87/100
Overall
87
Durability
87
Value
85
Appearance
85
Comfort
79
Cushioning
70
Confidence

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

13/100

13

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 2 runner ratings.

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.


Pros

  • It weighs 6.8 oz on a 16mm heel stack and a 4mm drop.
  • One of two reviewers so far races cross country in it and got 1000 miles from a pair.

Cons

  • One of two reviewers so far says there is very little cushioning and avoids sharp rock in it.

Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale

Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Minimus Trail v3 rates 87. This shoe has very low certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance Minimus Trail

Each dot is one version of the Minimus Trail, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Minimus Trail

    2024 · 0 reviews

    72 Decent

    20 Confidence

  • Minimus Trail v3 This shoe

    2014 · 2 reviews

    87 Good

    13 Confidence

  • Minimus Trail v1

    2014 · 1 review

    67 Below average

    20 Confidence

Reader Ratings

2 ratings
5/5 2
4/5 0
3/5 0
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
6.8 oz
Release
2014
MSRP
$115
Stack Height
16mm heel - 12mm toe
Drop Height
4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–1 of 1 written review

Reader review

5/5

Overall

A super low to the ground trail shoe that is perfect for the minimalist runner wanted just a touch more protection than 0-drop shoes. Perfect for non-super technical trails and even roads. The only surface I've ran on with it that I dislike it in is talus/sharp rocks. I'm a high school xc runner (~15:45 for 5km), and this is what I race in for xc (and possible track). I wore them for a recent two mile time trial, and they felt just like a low profile racing flat. Since this is a shoe with so little cushioning, I was able to run 1000 miles in it before I felt the need to replace it.

Coolrunner722 · Aug 27, 2014

75 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Alternatives

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More from New Balance

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Reference shoe
Lightest
Lowest price / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Trail
Trail
Trail
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
6.8 oz M
6.7 oz M Lightest
8.6 oz M
Stack
16/12mm
20/16mm
37/32mm
Drop
4mm
4mm
5mm
Release
2014
2024 Q2
2024 Q2
MSRP
$115
$124.99
$155
Best price
$119.94
$115.25 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Good (87)
Decent (72)
Exceptional (98) Best overall
Comfort
Decent (79)
Decent (75)
Very good (92) Best comfort
Cushioning
Below average (70)
Decent (70)
Exceptional (98) Best cushioning
Durability
Good (87)
Decent (76)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Good (85)
Decent (76)
Good (87) Best appearance
Value
Good (85)
Decent (77)
Excellent (93) Best value
Specific shoe

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