Merrell Barefoot Bare Access

Oh! How I wanted to love these! I've been loving running in Saucony Hattoris for about a year now, but they don't really work for me for non-running use. These Merrells come so close. Great toe room. Little or no drop. Fairly minimal. Good-looking. There were two problems. The big one was that there is mild arch support in these -- a raised portion in the arch area. Probably many people wouldn't notice/mind, but I really want a flat shoe to let my feet do their own thing. That was the deal-breaker for me. Secondarily, these didn't feel like zero drop shoes to me. I know they are supposed to be, but they sure seemed to lose a few millimeters from heel to toe. I think most would really like this shoe; wish it had worked for me. On sizing, I get my Hattoris in 9 and wear them without socks. I got these MBBAs in 9.5, which was the right size, but definitely with socks.

I'd also recommend: Saucony Hattori

Love the shoes. First time in minimalist footwear. Have ran about 40 to 50 miles in them so far. One disappointment, the outsole on the right shoe started to separate from the upper. Not good. Contacted Merrill. After a few days they responded that they would inspect the shoes after I shipped them back to them and repair or replace them in a time frame of 3 to 4 weeks. I felt that the time frame was needlessly long. I ended up super gluing the outsole back in place and after about 10 miles or so the repair is holding up nicely. So great shoe that is working well for me but disappointed in the failure and subsequent response.

Nope! If you are looking to switch to barefoot/minimalist running style due to chronic knee injuries, like me, then I cannot recommend these shoes. Last year I switched to the Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove shoes, true minimalist running shoes. It took almost nine months for me to transition to those shoes from the heavy, pronation control type of shoe. It was not an easy transition, but my knee pain went away! Those shoes eventually wore out, so when I went looking for another pair, I saw these and thought, hey they are advertised as "barefoot" shoes, I' will try them. That was a big mistake. Almost immediately after switching to these shoes, my knee pain came back. The problem, I believe, is that with these shoes added padding, it takes away enough of the ground feel, that it encourages me to return to sloppy running form, and hence, knee pain. If on the other hand, you are looking for light weight shoes to walk around in or ride your bike (which is what I now use these for), they are fine for that. For those seeking to switch to the barefoot/minimalist running style, my recommendation is to go with one of the true minimalist shoes, like the Merrell Trail Glove or Vibram Five Fingers.

I love these. This order was for two more pairs. They are light and flexible, not quite barefoot but close enough. The toe box is wide and comfortable. The shoes seem to hold up well for being so light. The color and design look fine with anything.