New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe

Review by Erin Trail

The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe is just as the title describes – a shoe that’s constructed for tough days at the gym.  It features a dual-density underfoot minimalist barefoot construction with a tough but comfortable upper.  The BOA® Fit System aligns anatomically across the top of the foot with three straps for tightening them down. The soles are super sticky, giving the wearer plenty of traction.

Detailed Review

I’ve been looking for a gym-specific shoe for my lifting and plyometric workouts.  I’ve been wearing zero drop lace-up shoes for a few years and wanted to try something that was specifically designed for gym work.  The New Balance Minimus TR BOA v2 Gym Shoe definitely delivers.

My gym work consists of a heavy lower body day (deadlifts, squats) combined with some more explosive moves (long jumps, box jumps), a heavy upper body day (chest press, shoulder work, grip work), some HIIT work (burpees, swings, etc) and core work.  All of these workouts require a stable and comfortable foundation (my feet) to establish good form and power. I need shoes with good traction and mobility for my gym sessions.

My first impression of the New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe is how light they are.  Each shoe weighs approximately 7.5 oz.  I also immediately noticed how grippy they are. They are squeak-on-the-floor grippy.

The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe also has a very barefoot, minimalist feel.  There is almost no cushion to these shoes.  There is no removable insole that adds cushion, everything is build into the sole and midsole of the shoe. This makes for a very precise feeling in the gym, which is great.  Due to the very minimal sole, they do feel very close to being barefoot.  For me, these shoes are just a bit too minimal for daily wear outside of the gym.

The BOA® Fit System spans across the top of the foot, and when tightened, the upper really conforms to the top of the foot.  The BOA® PerformFit™ Wrap are arranged so they wrap around the top of your foot anatomically (instead of down the center).  The result is a very comfortable and secure fit with no hot spots.  My heels are solidly locked into these shoes, even while lunging or doing hip-dip planks. I love that my feet are secure and that the shoes will stay on my feet, even with some pretty crazy gym moves.

The contact points around the ankle are great.  The heel/achilles part of the shoe hits my foot just right. The tongue of the shoe is a very soft, almost neoprene like fabric.  I can wear any kind of sock (no-show, ankle, or higher) and the shoe contact points don’t rub or irritate me.

I found the upper fabric of the New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe to be lightweight and breathable.  My feet didn’t get overly hot and the upper fabric moved well with my feet.

The styling of the New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe is also nice.  The black upper and white sole gives a minimal visual feel to the shoe. The gold accents (women’s version) gives the shoe a nice subtle pop. The BOA® PerformFit™ Wrap gives just a bit of an edge and modern feel to the overall look.

Closing Thoughts

The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Gym Shoe delivers.  It’s a gym shoe that’s minimal in feel but delivers a lot on function.  From the grippy sole, the barefoot design, to the BOA® PerformFit™ Wrap and Fit Systems, the shoe provides a stable foundation for any kind of gym work.

Erin Trail