best lightweight travel friendly gym shoes (men)
#16
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 16
New Balance Minimus. Better than Vibrams, same feel and fit, but they definitely feel and look sturdier.
I took them to europe for 2 weeks as my second pair of shoes, lots of walking, even to the "La Tomatina" tomato fight, they were great for running around. Sockless, took up barely any room and a bit more palatable to wear than Vibrams (I do have 2 pair of vibrams).
http://www.newbalance.com/nb-minimus/
I took them to europe for 2 weeks as my second pair of shoes, lots of walking, even to the "La Tomatina" tomato fight, they were great for running around. Sockless, took up barely any room and a bit more palatable to wear than Vibrams (I do have 2 pair of vibrams).
http://www.newbalance.com/nb-minimus/
#17
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ing-shoes.html
#18
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 16
In the other thread, I praised the MT101's in particular: super lightweight, very collapsable heel box, unstructured uppers. They look more like normal shoes than a lot of the others. I've been running regularly in them about 3 miles, and have not had any problems. Just did a 5k faster than I thought I would. Overall I am very happy with them, and would recommend them for both travel purposes and for general fitness use.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ing-shoes.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ing-shoes.html
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Road race. These shoes are more comfortable than the Merrell Trail Glove shoes I got recently for comparison. The lugs are not at all uncomfortable. I suspect that they will wear down more quickly than the carbon rubber soles of the Trail Glove and other Vibram soles, but if that is true, I still think it's a good compromise.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston
Programs: Star Alliance (Gold), HHonors (Diamond), Emerald Club (Exec Elite), SPG Plat, Clubcarlson Gold
Posts: 20
Thought I'd come back and give an update.
I finally purchased a Vibrams five fingers - and I like it too. Been using it at the gym - very comfortable, light weight, and will be perfect as I travel.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions
I finally purchased a Vibrams five fingers - and I like it too. Been using it at the gym - very comfortable, light weight, and will be perfect as I travel.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
There are 2 things wrong with the Vibram Five Fingers imho 1) it sounds like a cheap vibrator 2) you have to have the right sort of toes - which I don't but I do have 5 of them !
Why is it "fingers" and not "toes" anyway ?
Why is it "fingers" and not "toes" anyway ?
#25
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Marriott LT
Posts: 893
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
Nike Free are a really good choice for most people. Very lightweight and compress well. Also, they have a modest heel-toe drop, which is comfortable for most people. These are the shoes I typically recommend to my colleagues who are looking for a thinner/lighter option for packing.
I wear Merrell Trail Glove 3 currently, which are a minimal shoe (little to no cushion) with zero heel-toe drop (i.e., completely flat). Not for everyone, although these, too, compress almost completely flat and weight very little. If you go with a truly minimal shoe, be aware that you can experience calf and foot pain until your feet/legs adjust to them.
I wear Merrell Trail Glove 3 currently, which are a minimal shoe (little to no cushion) with zero heel-toe drop (i.e., completely flat). Not for everyone, although these, too, compress almost completely flat and weight very little. If you go with a truly minimal shoe, be aware that you can experience calf and foot pain until your feet/legs adjust to them.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,771
I wear Merrell Trail Glove 3 currently, which are a minimal shoe (little to no cushion) with zero heel-toe drop (i.e., completely flat). Not for everyone, although these, too, compress almost completely flat and weight very little. If you go with a truly minimal shoe, be aware that you can experience calf and foot pain until your feet/legs adjust to them.
#28
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
Nike Free are a really good choice for most people. Very lightweight and compress well. Also, they have a modest heel-toe drop, which is comfortable for most people. These are the shoes I typically recommend to my colleagues who are looking for a thinner/lighter option for packing.
I wear Merrell Trail Glove 3 currently, which are a minimal shoe (little to no cushion) with zero heel-toe drop (i.e., completely flat). Not for everyone, although these, too, compress almost completely flat and weight very little. If you go with a truly minimal shoe, be aware that you can experience calf and foot pain until your feet/legs adjust to them.
I wear Merrell Trail Glove 3 currently, which are a minimal shoe (little to no cushion) with zero heel-toe drop (i.e., completely flat). Not for everyone, although these, too, compress almost completely flat and weight very little. If you go with a truly minimal shoe, be aware that you can experience calf and foot pain until your feet/legs adjust to them.
Helps that family member works at corporate HQ, finding everything turning to swoosh
#29
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
The Trail Glove 4 were just released this spring, I believe, while I've been wearing the 3s for about a year, so haven't had a chance to try them on - maybe next time I swing by REI. Given what I'm seeing about the TG4s, the upper should be just as soft and packable as the 3 (and the original Trail Gloves, which I also still have lying around).