The Fascination With My Footwear, Part 2

Jamie Chaos

April 13, 2011

I’m posting this simply because I know that for some reason, you guys seem to give a shit about what I wear in the gym. As such, I thought I’d let you guys know about my new love in the way of shoes- the New Balance Minimus Trail. These shoes are what Thor would wear if he decided to go running, and make the Nike Frees seem like something that a drunken kindergartener would create out of clay for a hobo who wanted shoes designed to work with his iPod to track his movements while weighing marginally less than the same volume of lead. In other words, these things are the tits. They’ve got microbial insoles, which means that they aren’t kicking after wearing them all day without socks, they don’t slide on your feet, have much greater structural strength (so your feet don’t roll in them while squatting heavy either), a sewn-in tongue (which I love, because the tongue on every other shoe slides to the side all fucking day long like it’s a black guy leaning over the center console of his fucking Escalade), better soles (made by Vibram), and they’re so light you don’t even know you’re wearing them.

I’d say more amazing things about them, but it’d just sound like I was trying to verbally fellate the creators of these wondrous shoes. Which I am. I intend to get the non-trail version as well because I love these things so much, but for now, I rock the shit out of the MT10s (and will likely get a pair of the Women’s ones so I can get them in a color other than the ones I have and orange. Since I switched to these, I’ve hit a single on jump squats with 375 and constantly feel astonishingly spry for a guy, which is impressive for a guy who does so little athletic movement that I make Chris Farley seem agile by comparison. Are they magical? Hell no, but they do rock the fucking bells.

They’d both wear them… if they weren’t dead.

Ditch the Chucks and get with the Minimus.

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Jamie Chaos

I am a former all-time, all federation world record holder in raw powerlifting at 181lbs, a record I broke just to say fuck you to the internet’s “lifting” community and the powerlifting community at large. Over the last ten years I’ve written over 500 articles on strength training, nutrition, and supplementation, and continue to do so simply to fight the tide of weakness and sadness that currently pervades the scene I’ve called home for the better part of three decades. I’ve got personal trainin certs, BodyPump and BodyCombat certs, a BA in History and East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona, and MBAs from the Vienna University and University of South Carolina on my side, in addition to some sick lifts and a hell of a lot of rage. What the fuck have you got?

23 responses to “The Fascination With My Footwear, Part 2”

Javier

April 13, 2011

Solid stuff, but don't forget that cardio post you mentioned at the end of RAYODT. I could really use some more ideas on that, as roadwork is not amusing. I may have a muay thai fight scheduled at the end of the summer, so any tips on that topic would be greatly appreciated.

– http://www.idontwanttogasandgetmyasswhooped.com
Manveet

April 13, 2011

I just checked the pricetag on those.

$130 Canadian

Negro please.
TimKelley

April 13, 2011

I got a pair in the charcoal/yellow and love them too. I don't get nearly the same odd looks in the gym now as when I would wear my Vibram FiveFingers.
Joe

April 13, 2011

Much needed info. Thanks!
Anonymous

April 13, 2011

They look just like the old Nike Presto.
Janez Kravcar

April 13, 2011

130 canadians is cheap. Good runnig shoes, or good shoes of any kind, start at 100 euros in EU (a bit more than 130 canadians).
Great shoes tho'! But i started to use skate shoes for my weightlifting, because i get them almost for free. Ruining my adidas running shoes for heavy ass calf rises, squats, leg presses & other, is like throwin' money through the window.
Abe

April 13, 2011

@Janez I also use skateboard shoes for leg-days, or any sort of heavy lifting. I think the unrelenting soles and decent heel support works great.. although it also causes super-sweaty toes…
Dray

April 13, 2011

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I fucking love these posts.

My old wrestling shoes fit me pretty well for the time being.
Lewis

April 13, 2011

I will stand by my Free's for now, which will be for about another 2 weeks before they become absolutely unwearable. haha I have actually been looking into something different then the Free's and I have had a bit of interest in the F-Lite 230 Inov8's. However I might find your New Balances to be a suitable substitute for the Inov's as I can't find the Inov's in black.
Anonymous

April 13, 2011

Just buy a pair of weightlifting shoes, they will last you forever.
Ben Selby

April 13, 2011

Jamie, why don't you just get a decent pair of weightlifting shoes?
Jamie Lewis

April 13, 2011

I've never even considered it. I generally wear whatever I happen to have on into the gym, or whatever I plan on wearing, and generally don't lug much (if any) gear into the gym. Additionally, I'm about the furthest thing from an olympic weightlifter that there is.

To the person in re the cardio post- it'll be up this week. I was just buying some time with this post. The upcoming posts that are partially written are that one, one on Kirk Karwoski, and another lifting vid/article.

Lewis- I'll check out the Inov8s. People have been asking me about my kicks since I bought them, so I figured you guys would be interested.

Manveet- I thought your funny money was finally worth the same as ours. Fuck man- how are the Canadians mismanaging their economy as badly as Obama?
Andrew

April 14, 2011

here's what i do, grab the cheapest trainers i can find walk up to whatever rack I'm about to use and kick those fucker (shoes) off in the corner, it took a bit to get used to but i now prefer no shoes.
cdshaw

April 14, 2011

If you guys are into minimalist shoes I'd check out feiyues. These shoes are amazing about 18$ after shipping from Amazon.
Lewis

April 14, 2011

Pretty soon I will have to roll to the gym shoeless as I can't find anything decent in 13's. It is even hard to find Free's in size 13. haha If I have no luck online I only hope that the mall here in Adana, Turkey has something worth spending my money on.
Lewis

April 14, 2011

…….and Obama jokes never get old. HAHAHA
Rant

April 15, 2011

Dray's mom's armpits are so hairy, she looks like she's got Don King in a neck lock.
Dray

April 16, 2011

It would be awesome to see my mom put Don King in a neck lock.
Glen MacCharles

April 17, 2011

I think it's hilariious that you guys send him messages asking about his shoes and shit. Fucking fashionistas. LOL!
Rant

April 17, 2011

That's because virtually everyone who reads this blog is gay. And Jamie has 'Deca delts', incase you hadn't noticed (ooh, cue Jamie's censorship delete button!!!)
Thanos

April 17, 2011

The fashionistas is a very good movie.
Craig

April 18, 2011

I always thought Farley was pretty fucking agile for a fat guy.
Jamie Lewis

April 19, 2011

Deca delts? Is that a real term?

Fashionistas did fucking rule. Good ol' Belladonna bringing it.