We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
In an era of maximal running shoes, it may come as a surprise to many that minimalism is still having a moment in athletic footwear. However, anyone who has spent time in the weight room or a CrossFit gym knows that a close-to-the-ground feel can be a real advantage. The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 promises to handle even the toughest days at the gym with a barefoot-friendly design.
An ideal gym training shoe provides stability for heavy weight lifting (think squats, deadlifts, power cleans) as well as flexibility for exercises common in HIIT workouts (think burpees, planks, box jumps, jump rope).
Tons of cushion is usually not something you’ll find in a gym trainer, as that impacts stability. That’s why we don’t want you lifting in most of your running shoes.
The best you can usually hope for is enough cushion to make it not feel like you’re actually running barefoot if your workout includes 100-200M sprints.
It’s often a bonus if it looks attractive and is somewhat lightweight and not clunky. Thankfully, the Minimus TR seems to do the job AND not look too shabby, either.
