The other day I was in a running store picking out a pair of new shoes for my dad. My father is the epitomic simple man. Case in point: earlier that week the strap-on pair of Crocs I bought for him three years ago finally snapped. He duct-taped them back together and kept going. His only running shoes were the cult-classic grey New Balance 993s, but those too had been worn down to the nubs—and my mother was beginning to be embarrassed walking around in public with a man wearing either duct-taped sandals or ripped up, grey sneakers.

I finally had to intervene. Knowing my father wouldn’t be down for anything other than his grey standbys, I decided to just get him a new pair. Walking into the store I was amazed to see a wall-to-wall collection of nothing but light, “minimalist” shoes. Way off in the corner, almost as if they were being punished, sat a pair of grey New Balance 993s. Known for their massive stability and cushioning, the 993s are like the Cadillac of the running shoe world.

Almost immediately the saleswoman started rattling off all the changes that had been made to the 993. Lighter, less stability, more “feel for the ground” she said. “So do stability shoes even exist anymore?” I finally asked her. “Well, yes and no,” she replied. “Shoes are still being designed for stability and cushioning and all that, but the emphasis now is ‘less is more’.” I looked down at the Pearl Izumi Streak II road shoes I had on and nodded—less is more.  

Streak II, $110

I used to think that my running form was so incredibly off that I needed every shoe-designing gimmick in the entire world to make a difference. Stability? Check. Cushioning? Check. Motion Control? Dear God please give me some sort of control out there. Double Check.

As an older (sigh) and wiser runner, I’ve learned to trust in my sole. And what I discovered in doing so is that my feet do actually know where to go—and as long as I keep my muscles balanced my feet can even generate some speed. Enter the Streak II’s. Designed for racing and training, these super lightweight running shoes are ready for long miles and fast sprints. The 360-degree lacing system conforms to the top of the foot, so those with very narrow feet (like me) and wider-footed runners can find a comfortable shape.

The Energy Foam cushioning system is just enough to help with energy transfer between the road and the runner, but not enough to add any significant weight on these 227-gram puppies.

The biggest design feature on these was also found on the Streak I—a segmented forefoot. By dissecting the foot, these shoes give the runner a more “barefoot” sensation—one I noticed immediately. I was, however, also able to put these on and knock out 10-miles without having to build up to it like I’ve often had to with other “minimalist” shoes. Available in men’s (lime green, shown) and women’s (pink).

isoTransition, $115

If you’ve ever had a bad experience with a quick-lace system in a triathlon shoe, you know how scarred it can leave you. I had a pair completely fly off during a deep-sand run in an XTERRA race several years ago. The problem was that my narrow feet just couldn’t be strapped in with that particular brand’s quick-lace system. At the end of the race I considered having a ritual burning of the shoes in our campfire, but relented when my then-boyfriend reminded me how much money they’d cost. And how bad burning rubber smelled.

I somewhat reluctantly agreed to wear the Pearl Izumi isoTransitions at the recent Desert International triathlon. I wore them a few times before and they seemed to stay snug—but I had been fooled before. On race day I was pleasantly surprised when they stayed secure and comfortable through the whole course, and even a short deep-sand section.

The key to the isoTransition’s secure fit is their 360-degree lacing system, and the hook system they put on the end of the lace to secure it back on the shoe. The lacing system conforms to your foot no matter how wide or narrow it may be, and the hook ensures that the shoe stays at the same tightness and doesn’t loosen as you tick off the miles.

The rest of the features on the isoTransition are similar to the Streak II: a seamless upper that’s super lightweight and breathable, and their Energy Foam cushioning for efficient energy transfer. The isoTransitions also have a quick-draining Ortholite sockliner so you can slip them on—no matter how wet/sweaty/gross your feet are in T2—and stay comfortable. Available in women’s (turquose, shown) and men’s (red).