For about two months now, I’ve been running with less shoe around my feet. I’ve been alternating between two zero-drop shoes: the New Balance MR00 (which we’ll call the Minimus); and the MV2 (“M V Squared”), a performance shoe by Newton. The time has come to review both.

The original pic for this article had a big bloody “vs.” in the middle, and lots of fire and explosions. But it wouldn’t be fair to declare a winner. After all, I’m not comparing apples to apples in this post; as I said before, the MR00 is a cushioned minimalist-style shoe, and the MV2 is for road-racing. I’m comparing apples to very, very apple-like oranges.

Anyway, on to the categories!

Fit

Minimus: This slipper is long and loose. It works for my feet, but a narrow-footed runner would probably find it baggy.

MV2: The ‘Squared is tight, but it has such a soft, light upper that it doesn’t squeeze or pinch. It just feels like a race-day shoe.

Feel

Minimus: This shoe makes me feel like an overweight ninja. It’s so light that I can really get a good cadence going, and so thin on the bottom that I feel every bump in the road (in a mostly good way).

MV2: The feel of the forefoot lugs creeped me out at first. It was like having a couple balls of yarn under my forefeet. But now that I’m used to it, the extra cushioning feels a lot more protective than the Minimus.

Function

Minimus: I wouldn’t recommend this shoe to anyone who isn’t ready to run minimal. Try to trudge or land on your heel and you’ll discover that there’s no soft padding to protect you. The low profile is excellent for weightlifting, however. It works for the run to and from the gym, and everything in between.

MV2: While the MV2 is inherently less stable than the MV2, it was my go-to for each week’s long run. I found its design far more protective than the Minimus.

Bottom Line: Wide-footed runners will find something to love in each of these shoes. For the true minimalist experience, I highly recommend the Minimus. For a go-fast shoe with a little extra protection, try the MV2.