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These things are great! I have been wanting to get into minimalist running, but I had a hard time finding shoes in my size. I have very wide feet and normally wear 4E width. The only minimalist running shoes I found that come in wide sizes are made by New Balance. This model does not get advertised as minimalist, but it really is. I compared it to New Balance's Minimus shoes, and they are pretty much the same thing. These shoes are available in 2E width, but that worked fine for me. It seems like this shoe would fit a wide range of widths by lacing them up looser or tighter.These shoes are extremely light, just as you would expect from a minimalist shoe. The sole is very thin and it almost feels like you are only wearing socks.
Finally, I like how these shoes look. Most minimalist running shoes look very silly (like the Vibram Five Fingers). But the New Balance 730 almost look like regular running shoes. I know that many people say that they don't care about how they look or what others think. If you are one of those people, good for you. I wish I had your attitude. But I am the type of person that does worry about looking weird. I appreciate that I can walk around with these shoes and not look funny.
**** update on 4/2/13 ***
After a year, these shoes are holding up just fine. I run in them 2 or 3 times a week for approximately 3 miles on pavement. I have had no issues and they don't seem anywhere close to requiring replacement yet. I will say that because it is such a light shoe, it offers very little protection. This is to be expected. When I step in puddles or get sprayed by sprinklers, my socks get wet instantly. (I don't run sockless. That would be too stinky for my liking.) Also, I stubbed my toe on a curb while running one night. The shoe provided no cushioning. It hurt like hell and my toe bled. Maybe a minimalist trail running shoe would offer more toe protection.
Best Deals on New Balance Men's M730 Running Shoe
I have acquired a range of shoes in the past few years, mostly taking advantage of closeout deals on expiring models trying to experiment a bit with some of the various styles out there. I picked up the 730's when I found a good deal on them. I bought the orange and grey which look very nice. Build quality seems decent as well, although I have seen some online reviews mention it isn't quite up to the standards of the true minimus line. I wear a size 12 and these fit just fine.I am 6'3" and around 210. I generally run 3-5 miles (8:00 mile pace)at a time and about 3-5 times a week (outdoors and on a treadmill). I have some Kayano 17's which are on the traditionalist side with tons of cushioning and support as well as some vibram five finger which are approaching true barefoot. In between I use New Balance 890v1's and Saucony Kinvara 2's. The 730's lack an insole and have a fairly thin foam layer underfoot with a layer of tougher material between the foam and the road. They have a very minimal drop from heel to toe, which I think is 3mm. They are very light and flexible. A large toe box compared to other shoes and it has a strange curvature to it. Almost looks a bit clownish when you are holding them but look fine on the feet.
Lifting weights, crossfit, and general workouts are great in them. Very stable base, somewhat flat and wide bottom, and the lack of cushioning I think helps with balance. When I run in them though I can feel a big difference in the lack of cushioning compared to even the Kinvara 2's which are around the same weight. I tend to limit my runs in these both in length and times per week due to the pounding. They do help get me on my forefoot a lot more though but the kinvaras have a similar 4mm drop and are helping just as much. Plenty of room for the toes to splay as well. Very close feel to the vibram's, at least to me. That may a good thing though if you like that feel and just don't care for the individual toes aspect of the vibrams and want to wear socks.
These won't be the shoes I would jump directly to if you are transitioning from a traditional shoe. I picked them up mainly because I got an outstanding deal on them and wanted to see if they were an improvement cushioning wise from the vibram (which I don't like to run it) while moving a bit more minimalist from the Kinvara 2's which I love. Glad I gave them a try and they a good choice as long as you know what you are getting into. For me the Kinvara line is a better option and the 730's were one to many moves toward minimal. You can find the Kinvara 2's around the same price. The Kinvara's are just about as light, very flexible, and I am suprised by how much cushioning they offer to a bigger runner such as myself. I use my New Balance 890's as more of a cushioned yet lightweight trainer (after running several 5k's in them earlier in the year) and the Kinvara's when I want to go faster and lighter. Once I wear the 730's out, I won't be returning to the style, not because it is a bad shoe, but rather it just wasn't the right shoe for me.
Honest reviews on New Balance Men's M730 Running Shoe
I run about 15 miles a week. I've gone through many pairs cushioned shoes with no hope of improving my sore outer sole condition so I decided to try something new. Ta-dah! First 5k run in these puppies flew by like nothing! I also noticed that there was no typical sole aching after the brief run. These sneakers fit true to size and snug like a pair of socks. They are very comfortable to wear around, whether it be in school, on the trail, or just on a casual hang-around. I've received numerous compliments on these shoes since I've bought them.Note: This New Balance model has very little to no cushioning at all but a thin sole to protect the feet from rocks and pointy objects just like the Vibram FiveFingers. If you're not used to fancy-colored sneakers then these probably won't suit you well because they're sure to catch the attention of everyone around you!
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