For months, I’ve been hiking and running in the Sierra Mountains, traipsing sandstone cliffs in Utah, and recreating in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, barefoot. Or, at least, close to barefoot, while wearing the minimalist zero-drop Notace Yama T1 shoes.
Barefoot running has reached a surprising level of popularity. People have latched onto the idea that zero-drop “barefoot shoes” can support the body’s natural mechanics by facilitating movement that reduces impact. That concept is what drove the Boulder, Colo.-based running brand Notace to launch its first shoe, the Yama T1.
Notace’s founder, Cedric Scotto, leveraged his background in footwear manufacturing and biomechanics to introduce this Japanese-inspired barefoot shoe that combines simplicity with a natural design. I put around 100 miles on these shoes during my testing. Here’s what I learned about the Yama T1 along the way.
In short: The Notace Yama T1 ($180) is a minimalist, zero-drop hiking and running shoe designed to support the body’s natural biomechanics. It has a wide toe box, reinforced side panels, and an eTPU midsole. The simple design is rugged despite being so light, and it stood up to 100 miles’ worth of abrasions. It’s not without room for improvement, but for its first minimalist outdoor shoe, this is a solid entry from Notace.
Compare the Yama T1 to shoes on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Running Shoes.
As someone who’s always looking for new ways to support a connection with the outdoors, these barefoot shoes seemed to promise me exactly what I was looking for.
The idea is, barefoot shoes like the Yama T1 encourage a (more natural) forefoot strike, instead of a (less natural) heel strike. That supposedly reduces impact and allows the body to run as it was designed to. I was excited to put them to the test.
Initial Impressions
Right out of the box, the Yama 1 greeted me with comfort. They fit easily over my foot, and were comfortable to walk around in.
However, from the start, the tongue of the shoe began curling in on the sides. That hasn’t changed in over 100 miles of hiking and running. While it’s relatively easy to adjust manually with a finger before lacing up your shoes, it’s annoying. I’ve only ever experienced this issue with the La Sportiva T.C. Pro climbing shoes (which were comfortable enough to ignore the tongue).
On my first run, I hit a trail that was close to home in the Rockies. It was well-trafficked, hard-packed dirt with dozens of small hills where I could take these shoes for a spin. As I crested the first hill on the trail, I noticed a touch of rubbing from the rigid lip of the heel. But after loosening the laces on these shoes a few times, the issue seemed to subside.
On the descent, my heel stayed in place, preventing my toes from jamming in the foot box. And my toes were able to splay out naturally, increasing my balance along the way. About 5 miles later, I’d experienced almost no foot fatigue. I definitely could’ve kept going.
Comfort & Fit
While Notace suggests sizing up by half a number in these shoes, my standard size felt roomy enough lengthwise and just as comfortable widthwise. The toe box, while not specifically designed for wide feet, provided plenty of room for my toes to help me maintain balance.
The mid-foot felt snug without being overly constrictive, maintaining support and affording control. If you have the option to try these shoes on before buying, it might be a good idea.
Build & Details
The Notace Yama 1 is ultralight. A woman’s size 9 weighs just 7.5 ounces. That would make them the third lightest shoe on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Running Shoes. Lower weights make a big difference when it comes to reducing foot fatigue.
These barefoot shoes come with a 3mm removable insole. The lugs have a height of 3mm, the total stack height is 15 mm, with a 0mm drop height from heel to toe.
The midsole of the Yama 1 is made from an engineered eTPU, known for its durability, flexibility, and energy return. But in barefoot shoes like these, the runner should expect minimal return, since the body absorbs the majority of the impact.
The upper materials of the Yama 1 feature a double mesh construction, which supports breathability while also adding durability to the shoe.
Price & Affordability
The retail price of the Yama 1 is $180, which is competitive with some barefoot shoes such as the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail Knit Shoe. But it’s about double the cost of Xero and Lems Shoes. Compared with the shoes on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Running Shoes, they’d be the third most expensive on the list. While the Yama’s current price point isn’t unreasonable, it might make price-conscious spenders think twice.
Trail Performance
At one point, I took these shoes down a wet canyon in the Utah desert to test their ability to withstand moisture. The upper mesh design kept my feet feeling dry and comfortable while I ran across sandy banks.
Eventually, I descended into the creek, fully committing to submerging them in the water time and time again. To my surprise, the Yama 1 drained extremely well. Instead of manually emptying my shoes every time I crossed the river or waiting for the moisture to evaporate, the mesh naturally allowed the water to slip out from the shoe interior before beginning the drying process.
Once I’d ascended out of the canyon, I ran across a series of sand-covered hills, which is where these shoes truly excelled. In environments where there’s little debris or opportunity to run over sharp and pointy objects, these shoes made me feel more connected to the environment without increasing my risk of injury.
Room for Improvement: Grip & Sole
My biggest complaint about the Notace Yama 1 is that it lacks grip. While these shoes performed moderately well in sand, on dirt, and on low inclines, they were less effective at keeping me feeling sure-footed while navigating steep, slick rock, and wet surfaces.
On one occasion, I wore these shoes while canyoneering in Utah to test their durability, and found myself regretting the choice since they felt unpredictable and unlikely to support rock hopping on the ascent. While the reinforced side panels stood up nicely to the abrasive desert, the soles of these shoes left something to be desired, despite their multi-directional lug pattern.
As someone who’s struggled with chronic plantar fasciitis and has even had surgery on one plantar plate, I went into the testing of these shoes cautiously and skeptically. However, after a few months of testing and approximately 100 miles of usage, I found myself open to incorporating this shoe into some of my regular mountain treks due to its comfort, performance, and durability. I even started wearing them for weight lifting at the gym.
The Notace Yama 1 offers a great barefoot shoe option for those who tend to recreate on well-groomed and developed trails. Their lack of protection can make encountering gravel and large rocks uncomfortable. And their questionable grip makes them less favorable for highly technical trails. Yet they remain nimble, comfortable, and durable even after 100 miles of usage.
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