A few review requests

So I'm looking to get a new pair of shoes for my trail running, and a pair of calf compression sleeves (not socks). If anyone has experience with any of these pieces of gear, I'd love to hear what you have to think about them!

New Balance Trail Minimus
Inov-8 Bare-Grip
Any calf compression sleeve

Can't help you with trail shoes but I wear 2xu compression sleeves called calf gurads and love them.

NB Minimus Trail: I just picked up a pair. One sales girl said to go 1/2 size up from normal shoe. She must be thinking about room for socks. This shoe is designed to be worn without. Pat Rizzo was helping me and instantly said "don't look like a weinnie by wearing socks."

The shoe feels like a slipper or those aquasocks. There is about zero padding in them. Just your foot and the Vibram sole. Enough protection from rocks but not enough to prevent you from feeling them. Sharp rocks still hurt. The tread feels grippy but does not get in the way. The only complaint is the back of the heel is stiff and rubbed by skin raw. A few runs should solve this as the skin toughens up.

Tony Krupicka helped design the shoe and said "a minimalist shoe won't make you a better runner. A minimalist shoe forces you to be a better runner.". Heel strike in this shoe and you will pay the price.

On really rocky terrain you are better off with a beefier shoe.

Kenny - Thanks! I've heard only good things about 2xu also, will have to pick up a pair!

Tim - Thanks for the minimus review! The main thing I was worried about with them is how the traction ends up being. From the looks of them they don't appear very grippy. I've heard they perform pretty well though.

I wear the 2XU sleeves as well, and they are awesome!

+1 on the 2XU's!

Neil Ruggiero wrote:Kenny - Thanks! I've heard only good things about 2xu also, will have to pick up a pair!

Tim - Thanks for the minimus review! The main thing I was worried about with them is how the traction ends up being. From the looks of them they don't appear very grippy. I've heard they perform pretty well though.

They have plenty of grip, but it really depends on what trail you are running on. Part of Pikes is a loose dry dirt and everything is going to slip on that stuff. I would not worry about it on rocks.

The other plus is the treads stay out of the way so if you have to run on some road first you are good to go. Pikes for example starts on the road in town before turning towards the sky.

My 30 second review on the Minimus:
I went from my squishy Ghost 3s to those (a test run on concrete outside of the store). They hurt. Barefoot running, on the other hand, doesn't hurt. So I decided to save the $90 and keep dirtying up my clunkers. Shrug.

Wish I could help but I can't but did learn some new things today about trail shoes. I guess I should start learning about these shoes since I will be running with Michael in the WS100 in 2013 hopefully.

Mrs. Schuey wrote:+1 on the 2XU's!

make that +2

Nick Morris wrote:

Mrs. Schuey wrote:+1 on the 2XU's!

make that +2

+3 - wear them all the time.