I know, trust me I know what you're thinking. And you're right: these are about as opposite of minimalism-based shoes as you can get. I know.
But Karl Meltzer, Dave Mackey, and the countless other trail runners that wear them, can't all be wrong. And the thought of the North Face 50 miler and some extremely technical Pine Mountain Trail, both make me willing to see what all the hype is about.
We'll see as soon as they arrive...