New Balance MT100-WT100 Review
May 17, 2010 by Travis Liles · 319 Comments
Over the past year, New Balance’s MT100 (men’s) and WT100 (women’s) have gathered quite a following among fans of minimalist trail shoes. Designed with the help of Anton Krupicka and the Skaggs brothers, there aren’t a lot of extras on these shoes. Watch the following video for a closer look at this lightweight, trail-worthy shoe. As with future video reviews on iRunFar, you can also skip ahead to written summary of the video review.
[This is the first of what we hope will be many Trail Trials with Travis Liles video reviews here on iRunFar. He's previously produced great video reviews on FlatlandUltra.com and, more recently, at his website, RunTheUltras.com. We're excited that he's joined the iRunFar family.
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New Balance MT100/WT100 Review
The New Balance MT100/WT100 (hereinafter MT100 for simplicity’s sake) is an evolution of the New Balance 790. It’s a marquee shoe in the current set of low profile trail shoes. A men’s size 9 tips the scale at a mere 7 ounces and change. Be aware that you’re wallet will weigh more than after buying most other trail shoes as the MSRP is a mere $75. For the over eager, iRunFar has previously shared a sneak peak at the MT101/WT101 due out late in 2010. Below, we’ll look at the shoe’s outsole, midsole, and upper.
Outsole
The MT100′s outsole is trail specific, but is suitable for some road running. The shoe is particular adept on packed dirt. It is not the shoe of choice for sloppy mud.
The New Balance MT100's lightweight, trail-worthy outsole.
The foremost half of the outsole features lugs a few millimeters thick. Minimally textured rubber stretches from the arch back to the heel, which is home to the shoe’s most significant lugs for braking. The outsole features circular cutouts that reduce weight.
Midsole
The MT100 has a single density midsole, meaning that the shoe does not have a post for pronation control. On the other hand, the midsole is raised on both the inside and outside of the midfoot. This results in a fair amount of support for the shoe’s weight.
The New Balance MT100's surprisingly supportive midsole.
The Rock Stop rockplate sandwiched between the outsole and midsole offers decent push-through protection in the forefoot and midfoot. The TPU plate does, however, mean that the shoe is a bit stiffer in the forefoot than some comparable models and creates a pivot point at the rear of the rockplate.
Upper
The upper is primarily mesh backed by lightweight fabric and has minimal overlays. These combine to provide a sock like feel that gives the foot room to wiggle around. However, the upper also does not offer much lateral support, which can be problematic on technical or switchbacking trail. The highly breathable fabric allows water to quickly drain from the shoe.
The New Balance MT100's highly flexible upper.
The ankle collar and heel counter are made of a material akin to nerf foam. Unlike conventional shoes, there is no fabric covering the foam on the shoe’s exterior. Some users, including iRunFar’s Bryon Powell, have had the hard foam at the top of the Achilles notch slice into the skin covering the Achilles while running sockless. Other runners have experienced similar discomfort while wearing socks. If needed, the upper portion of the Achilles notch can be cut away. New Balance is aware of the problem and is addressing it in the MT101.
The MT100 also has a minimal tongue consisting of a single layer of the lightweight mesh/fabric combination that makes up much of the shoe. The “sausage like” Sure Laces keep the shoe secure and laces locked tight.
New Balance MT100/WT100 Giveaway
Well, we’ve given away the five pairs of New Balance’s MT100 or WT100. The winners are Jeremy Slatton of Barnhart, MO; Glen D of Shrub Oak, NY; David; Randy Snyder of Bismarck, ND; and Derek of Weybridge, VT.
Call for Comments/Questions
While the contest is as simple as noted above, we’d love some more info from our readers. If you’ve previously worn the MT100 or WT100, please let us know what you like about them? If you’ve worn other minimalist shoes, what do you like such shoes, in general, and what has you the most excited about the New Balance shoes?
As always, please ask any questions you might have about the shoes.
[Note regarding comments: We might delete all non-substantive, contest-entry comments after the contest concludes so as to make the remaining substantive comments more useful to future readers.]
[Disclosure: The Amazon link in this article is part of an affiliate program that helps support iRunFar. If you haven't guessed, New Balance is providing the five pairs of MT100/WT100s.]
Related articles:
- New Balance MT110 Preview A preview of New Balance's MT110/WT110....
- New Balance MT1010 Review A review of the New Balance MT1010....
- New Balance MT101 Review An in-depth review of the New Balance MT101/WT101, a lightweight, low-profile trail running shoe....
Filed under Contests, Shoes, Video ·
Travis Liles resides in Troy, Illinois where he is a husband, father, budding Race Director for the Mark Twain 100, and is a technical specialist for a software company. In his spare time, he tries to figure out how to train in the flatlands and race in the mountains, while producing "Trail Trials with Travis Liles" video gear reviews for iRunFar.
All posts by Travis Liles
I finally got on the MT100 bandwagon and I absolutely love em. Haven’t quite reached double digits in them yet, but they are great for fast running on not-too-technical trails. Feel like I can climb faster in them due to the light weight and yes, the heel design is great for the downhills.
I like the look of this New Balance minimalist trail shoe. I want to give it a try. Currently I run in a Brooks trail shoe and I do some track running in a Nike Free.
RUN4EVR,
Cheri
I’ll have to go thru y’alls comment list to see folks opinions on running 50+ miles in them…I’m thinking about using them at Western. A new pair SURE would be nice to change into at Foresthill! 8)
Moogy, Collingwood, Ontario
I love my 100s and have been pretty amazed that I can wear them on the trails. They are the lightest and most minimal shoes I have (I also run in NB 790s and have run in the Mizuno Mushas). I’m really looking forward to the 2nd generation of the 100s!! Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!
Having gone from the big, “body-armor” type Montrail shoes down to the slightly more minimalist Inov-8 line, I’m looking forward to trying out the MT-100′s as the next step.
John
Auburn, AL
Love to give these a try Bryon!
Thanks!
I’d be really curious to try these. Particularly because I naturally land on my forefoot, so I wonder how minimalist shoes would work for that?
If I don’t win these, I might be compelled to buy a pair on my own to test out!
Forgot the city!
Longmont, CO.
I have been running in about every different pair of shoes I can get my hands on, but the last time I tried New Balance was probably in the 90s. Time to continue finding what works!
Alex
Pocatello, ID
Wonder if I can use these as a replacement shoe for my vff’s in a Tri…
James
Arlington, VA
Would love to give them a try!
Washington, DC
YO! I would LOVE a pair of these shoes. Add my name in to the mix. Great stuff!
I would love to have a good lightweight pair of trail shoes.
Bob
Orangevale, CA
Love this shoe! I have ordered a second pair becuase there is nothing like floating over just about any terrain. If you want to be better on the trails give these light weight gems a try!
I’ve been running in these shoes all year. They are fantastic. I feel like they have transformed my running. I’ve since tried to run in my previous favorite shoe (Montrail Mountain Massochist) and it just doesn’t feel right. If they discontinue the MT100 I’ll have to learn how to run all over again. I’m tempted to stock up a life time supply.
A free pair would super. Please enter me in the contest.
Ryan Wixom
Albuquerque, NM
Using the VFFs right now but I’m looking for a bit more protection on the rougher stuff. These look the biz!
Andy Reed
Canmore,AB
Canada
Travis Truman
Lansdowne, PA
heard a lot about these shoes…would love to try a pair out.
Jon Harrold
York, PA
They look great.. Sign me up.
John Dayton
Helena, MT
I love my firebleades but the toe box is a little too small, maybe these would suit the bill. First year of trail running with my first 50km in 12 days. Thanks for the resource Bryon, you guys are doing a great job.
Mark Ryan
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Add my name to the list of hopefuls.
Thanks,
Brian
Have the older version and love them!
Mikaila
Columbus, OH
put me in the mix… would love a pair of these!!!
Stack
Charlotte, NC
I need a new pair of shoes.
Ridgefield, WA
looking forward to trying these
Ed Werner
Lincolnshire, Il
I’m currently running in Columbia Ravenous & Montrail Mtn Masochists. I’ve been very eager to try these lightweight MT100′s. They seem perfect for summer trail season.
Dan
Portland, OR
Thanks!
I would love to give this a try.
Ed Foster
Mission, BC
Canada
Great review, I’ve been looking for a replacement for my well-worn Asics.
Mike
Cincinnati, OH
I’ve been wanting to try these, I’ve been running in Nike frees but I want something lighter, with less going on.
Steve
These shoes look great. I’m definitely going to check them out. I’ve been running 1/2 marathons for the last year or so, and am thinking about mixing in some trail running/training.
These look like the perfect shoe for my next challenge!
I would love to try a pair of these trail shoes!
Melissa,
Guyton, GA
My son in law Travis Liles an ultra trail runner recommended this shoe. I would love a pair for free. Ron Lowder 217-787-8348 x 203
I’ve been wanting to try these shoes for ages it seems like. But never really had the oppertunity. The real bummer is if I win I won’t be able to try them for a few months though cause I’ve been sidelined with back problems.
Nick Lang
Lawrence, KS
Travis,
Great review on the MT100s! I wear the 790s (without the insole) quite a bit and love the low profile and overall lightness of the shoe. They’re comfortable and I look forward to trying the MT100s or the 101s that are coming out in the future.
David Stores
Washington, Missouri
would love a pair!
Adam fitzgerald
Mt. Pleasant SC
I have had calf problems and have had to cut back my running over the last several years. I focused on changing my form to be more efficient, wear compression calf socks and run almost exclusively on trails or a track. I also found that motion controlled shoes did more harm than good, so on the recommendation of my local running store, Second Wind in Setauket NY, I purchased a pair of MT100′s. I love running in them, they make me feel like a kid running through the woods. My dog Max and I are now slowly building our mileage back up on the Greenbelt trails of Long Island and having a great time doing it!
I’ve wanting to try these out… Count me in and I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks
brad cherry hill, nj
I love free shoes.
I live in a truck between Reno and Sacramento.
Super cool. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!
Michael Halter
Lancaster, CA
I’ve been running trails for years in road shoes and would love for these to be my first trail shoes.
Washington, DC
love my “hundos”… won a trail marathon the first time i ran in them, and wore them for my first hundred miler a week later, finished in 23:08 with no blisters… more recently i just won an extremely muddy 5k in them… great shoes, super comfy… did cut into my heel on the first run, but havent had trouble since then, have a back up pair, but they last forever! they dry super quick too
‘Twould be great to try!
Bill Susa
Burkittsville, MD
In looking for some light wieght trail shoes. I’d love to see what it’s all about!
Ted nunes
Visalia ca.
Great all around shoe.
Brandon Rodgers,
Los Osos, CA
Currently wearing Montrail Mtn Masochist on trail, Brooks Ghost on road, and VFF to strengthen feet while walking about town. So far, so good. Ready to introduce low-profile trail shoe.
Thanks for the review and the give-away!
Sophia
Monterey, CA
Love a pair of those. Never worn NB trail shoes although years ago had good luck in their road shoes. Currently in Vasque trail shoes but would like to try something a tad lighter espeically as I am now a tad lighter :-)
Cheers
Ian
Naperville IL
Love my Roclite 295′s, but have been gobbling up any info I can get about the MT’s. Would love to find a pair of shoes for harder packed trails where I need a little more cushion and a little less traction.
Steve Godfrey
Orangevale, CA
Used to run in the 790s as well as the NB XC shoes. The 100s are the perfect balance of light/minimal shoes but with slightly improved protection in the mid-foot. My favorite shoe and I’m ready for a new pair!
Need to try something lighter. The Wildcats are feeling kinda heavy these days…
Seattle, WA
These look super sweet. I would love to win a pair.
Pam Walker
Westland, MI