New Balance 101 Trail Run Shoe - Men's - 2010 BCS

First up, check out the weight of these shoes. My pair of 10.5's weigh exactly 1 lb (8 oz each). For comparison, my Brooks Cascadia 4's weigh 1 lb 10 oz per pair. That's a massive weight difference. The NB 101's are amazingly light. But that also means that they provide minimal support and minimal cushioning. So this shoe is going to feel *very* different to a traditional trail shoe.

If you're a trail-runner and have been watching the barefoot running revolution, been wanting to dip a toe in the water, but can't quite bring yourself to run in the (ridiculous-looking) FiveFingers, then this is the shoe for you. The 101 provides an impressive amount of foot protection for the weight, while still retaining great ground feel. Hallelujah!

What's not to like? Well, firstly, I found that they run a little small. I ordered a 10, which felt too tight, and had to return them for a 10.5. After a few runs, the shoes have stretched a little and now feel a little roomy, so maybe I could have got away with the 10. Hard to say. But it seems like they run about 1/4 size small, so if in doubt, I would suggest sizing up. (Maybe they are sized for use without socks?) Also, when I first put them on, the arch felt a little high (no real reason for arch support in a minimal running shoe!), but within a run or two, the arch seemed to flatten out, and was unnoticeable.

Finally, I've only put about 25 miles on these shoes, so I can't comment yet on their durability, or their capability in a wide range of conditions. I'll try to update this review when I've had more trail time in them.

The soft black spots on the bottom of these shoes allowed a thorn to go straight through, which is now permanently lodged in the sole, and I can feel with each step. Aside from this design flaw, these are extremely lightweight yet are just enough protection to still let you feel the trail. While I cannot recommend these due to the weak spots, I look forward to the next effort in this category.

Despite being such a lightweight/minimalist shoe, the 101 provides ample protection from rough terrain with a surprising level of comfort. My feet do not require much arch support, and I am plenty happy in a lightweight mesh shoe, so this design is perfect for me. However, it should be noted that the 101 is not the shoe for runners who need significant arch support or a thick cushioned sole. Another important point is that this is strictly for the trails as the sole will rapidly deteriorate on cement/asphalt. If you are looking for an “all purpose” shoe, you will need to keep searching.

Despite those two points, the 101 is the best trail shoe that I have yet to find. The upper material is composed of a nice light mesh that is able to take a serious beating. The toe is reinforced with a thin rubber guard for a little stub protection. The sole has been updated from the previous version (100) to include a solid plate of “rockstop” plastic. This is very effective at preventing bruising and allows me to run over almost anything without any discomfort. This reinforcement also helps to add a few more miles to the life of the shoe. There is a slight rocker built into the sole, and as a result the padding under the first toe is a little thin. Overall, a very comfortable and capable trail running shoe.

Tough shoes, this is my second pair, great foot strike and a firm feeling. The foot base is a little narrow, so running on sharp rocks can tear the lower part of the mesh on the upper. I cannot wait to try a pair of MT110s.

I have trained in the NB100s for a while, and was waiting for the 101s. they seem to have improved the fit with the 101, especially the back of the heel pocket which always was tough on the achilles previously. I still am breaking through the shoe after high mileage on the outside of the foot, but its better than with the 100s. Overall, fits true to size, and has great traction on the trails. My favorite trail shoe currently. I would not recommend it for runners looking for a cushioned ride though. Definitely a minimalist shoe.

Have been trail running for 20+ years, and have worn many different trail shoes: from the old one-sports and montrails, to vasque, saucony, and the like.

Shoe fits true to size. The weight is similar to and they feel something like a running flat. Having used them on the track for interval work and on the trail, I find they work well for both. Despite the light build of the uppers, they seem well suited for the rough mountainous trails around Flagstaff, AZ. The rock plates provide more than adequate protection. I thought they small amount of cushioning might allow rocks to hit the foot from the sides around the forefoot, but this has not been a problem. For those who are looking for a neutral shoe with an even height between forefoot and heel, you can really feel the difference in comparison with other trail shoes. You don't feel like you are leaning forward when standing still, or that they heel is in the way when trying to focus on a forefoot or midfoot landing (e.g., on downhills).
Thus far, haven't been out on a longer trail run. Will be interesting to see how they feel after 40 or so miles.

As a trail runner in the heart of the rockies (Utah), finding a good, light, low profile shoe that still offers good protection is really hard to do. I have 300 miles on mine, and have decided that the 101's are pretty dang close. They just feel good when you put them on, like you don't really notice they're there. The low profile design makes it nearly impossible to roll your ankle - there's nothing for your foot to roll off of, and the rockplate does a killer job at keeping those pointy rocks from bruising your feet. Both features make it an excellent choice for trails. The traction is sufficient, but isn't going to get you through any gnarly mud or snow, where only deep lugs will help. Paired with the Kahtoola Microspikes, I've been able to run in them all winter.
My only real 'complaint' of the shoe is the design of the toebox. The outside edge makes a sharp inward turn right around the pinky toe. I've developed little callouses on my pinky toes from it, and thats the first place I'm starting to see some wear on the outside of the shoe. If it was shaped more like the new NB Minimus Trail(just tried some on yesterday!)it would be that much closer to perfect. The Minumus is also very close, but does not have a rockplate- and would be a great option for those that want less drop (4mm) and more ground feel, at the cost of some protection.
In short, for me, for now, the MT 101 does an excellent job of delivering exactly what it supposed to.

I picked up a pair as i was transitioning to a more minimal style of running. I actually ran a number of long runs on the snow covered roads and they were great. Once the snow was gone, it was a little to minimal for my liking (on the road). On the trails they are flat out light and nimble with just barely enough cushion and rockplate to keep you happy. I did a 50k trail race in these and the only trouble I had was in the muddy spots where the shallow lugs of the NB 101 are virtually non-existant. I would suggest that these are perfect for fast, dry, short to mid distance trail races. If you are wanting a minimal trail shoe to run ultras, go for it.
Oh...love the laces, it amazes me the laces that come on some shoes today that simply do not stay tied well. NB has these laces with the varying thickness, well they work great.

While the interior of the shoe is not as comfortable as my Minimus MT20s (leading to a few early blisters until my feet toughened up - i run sockless), these are still my favorite shoes to run trails in. Enough protection for sharp roots and rocks to allow for more carefree running and just enough padding in the sole for longer runs (my longest in them has been 14 miles and my feet have been fine). And these shoes are ridiculously light at just over 7 ounces. Still looking forward to the updated MT110 next year but these will hold me over easily till then. Great shoes with a reasonable price.

I have now had these trail runners for about a month and love them more each time my feet are in them. I have been running in salmon xt wings for the past few years and enjoyed what they offered. The past year I have also been doing smaller runs in a pair of five finger treks ( which I thoroughly enjoy). I wanted a trail shoe that would help me transition to the barefoot/minimalist style of trail running and these NB 101 did just that.

The first time out I didn't wear socks and did get chaffed on the Achilles, but have since chosen to wear light socks. The bridgedale speed demons are a perfect combo as they are VERY thin in the toes and In the arch area, but have cushioning right in where ya need it.

As far as sizing goes I went with what I normally where. Size up if u plan on wearing socks that add volume.(bridgedale speed demons and xhale don't really). All in all these shoes rock with the rock plate, great truncation and weight. We will see how they hold up, but for the price I expect to be satisfied with durability. I am looking forward to trying out the NB Barefoot shoes next.

I wear mine all the time. To the store. Walking around. My absolute favorite golf shoe!! I have been wearing them for about a year. Ready for a new pair. The best shoe I have ever owned. I usually wear a light sock with them. They wash great and have held up very well.

My favorite running shoes so far

My favorite running shoe so far

I wanted to like these shoes, I really did. I actually loved them the first few runs on nice trails with minimal roots. But once I got them on to the more technical trails here on the North Shore of Vancouver I found my feet felt too vulnerable amongst baseball sized rocks and mud (the sole itself felt protected from puncture though the upper did not.)

Perhaps I would have gotten used to this but I wasn't able to as the sole delaminated from the outer right toe box on the right shoe after less than 50km.

Others here seem to feel the opposite to these points but I think I'll pass on the hype and go back to another shoe.

First off, I bought a size 10, which is what I normally wear in New Balance shoes (and have been fitted as that size at one of their stores before). New Balance is normally my go-to shoe company for shoes that fit my feet well.

Right after wearing them, I wore them as approach shoes for climbing. I immediately noticed the rubbing on the outside edge of my pinky toes, causing blisters. Lots of dust and grit got into the shoe, so I chalked the blisters up to the grit. I chucked them in the back of my car and didn't have a chance to use them for a while.

Tonight, I decided to give them another try, this time on a treadmill at the gym. I figured no dust, so I should be fine. Wrong... I had to stop after 1 mile because I already had blisters. I looked on New Balance's website, and see lots of complaints about this also.

Bottom Line:
Pros: super light, rock stop works great
Cons: mesh upper lets grit & dust in, outside edge rubs on your toes giving blisters, insoles wad up every time you take the shoes off after wearing them barefoot

I used to be a runner but am now a fat old guy who occasionally runs trails. I have owned a lot of trail runners in my day an this is my favorite. Wore it two weeks ago for Dances with Dirt Team relay in Brown County Indiana. Three stages of up and down of about 12 miles. Never took the shoes off and felt great. Stable, comfortable, LIGHT! I am buying another pair if I can find a 10.5

These shoes were amazing on the trails. They lost a star because they "were" amazing. They only lasted about 2.5 months before the tread flattened. Still, while they had enough tread they were fantastic. Light, responsive, good rock plate all around monsters.

I bought these shoes for trail running, as I already had a pair of minimalistic shoes for flat surfaces. I just recently switched to the minimalistic style shoe so these took me a few miles to get used to them. Once i did they were awesome. I ran 8 miles in them the first time out and was feeling great at the end of the run. For trail running, where you typical strike with forefoot and toe these are great. I would not recommend these for heel toe running as they don't provide much impact resistance in the heal. I did not experience any pinky toe discomfort as the some previous reviews had complained about, but I have a narrow foot and there is plenty of room in the toe for me. I could see how a wide foot might have discomfort there. Hope New Balance continues this line of shoes for years to come.

Dig the new shoes. Very light weight and breathable. Expect wet feet if you hit puddles, rain or snow.

These just didn't work for me. I have heard great things about them and wanted them to work. Unfortunately, they are just really tight in the toeboxk. There was a lot of pressure on my pinky toe. My feet are average width. I tried sizing up from a 12 to a 13 and they were still too tight. Most New Balance usually fit true to size for me, but I had to return these.

I have since purchased the NB Minimus and love them.

This shoe practically weighs nothing. It's very minimal and if you're looking for something with little or no padding, this is your shoe. Great on the trail. It's feather-weight makes for nimble maneuvering around nature's countless obstacles. IF you need more padding and support, not the best shoe for you.

awesome shoe, i have not had it on the trail yet, but i have been walking and some light jogging with this shoe. super low profile, feels like you are truly running barefoot, stoked to go running.

Great shoes, comfortable too. I don't (or haven't yet) use them for trail running, but they're more than great and stylish for every day use.

The picture doesn't really explain the look of the shoe. The shoe is reflective and the color kind of changes depending on how light is hitting it. I think that the shoes are cooler and a lot more flashy then the picture shoes. These shoes are very light and seem to be really durable. These are both my first new balance and first running shoe. They are comfortable and I love how air can flow right through the mesh layers. I love this shoe.