New Balance Minimus Trail v3

Name: New Balance Minimus Trail v3
Brand: New Balance

Trail · Neutral · 7.2 oz · 17/13mm stack · 4mm drop

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 above most trail shoes in our data. Durability and value are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating is based on 2 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Minimus Trail product line.

Current estimate: Decent

77/100

Overall

Decent 77

Durability

Good 82

Value

Good 81

Appearance

Good 82

Comfort

Decent 75

Cushioning

Below average 67

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

6/100

Very low 6

Based on

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 9.

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.

Minimus Trail v3 rates 77. 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

40 60 80 100

68 2014 77 2014 71 2024

Release year

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

Minimus Trail

2024 · 0 reviews

71 Decent

53 Confidence
Minimus Trail v3 This shoe

2014 · 2 reviews

77 Decent

6 Confidence
Minimus Trail v1

2014 · 1 review

68 Below average

51 Confidence

Reader Ratings

2 ratings

5/5 2

4/5 0

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.2 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $115
Stack Height: 17mm heel - 13mm toe
Drop Height: 4mm

Runner reviews

Write a 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