Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. When most people go hiking, they reach for stiff, heavy, boots ...

Want more tried and tested recommendations from the RW editors? Sign up to our new weekly newsletter Kit Bag. Click here to subscribe. There’s nothing quite like running in minimalist running shoes.

There’s nothing quite like running in minimalist running shoes. They have thin soles, are flexible, and are optimized for responsiveness, so you can get a better feel for the earth beneath your feet.

Modern running shoes deliver speed and comfort via carbon fiber plates and towering midsoles. When you strip all that away, you’re left with almost nothing separating your feet from the ground—a.k.a.