Merrell Barefoot Sonic Glove SKU: #7813356

Rachel

from North Dakota

Frustrated or claustrophobic in standard running shoes? Missing/need good ground feel? Worried about separated toes on technical trail? Ditto. As a fully transitioned minimalist/barefoot ultra runner the search for a trail shoe to fit those needs lead me to the Sonic Glove by Merrell. Right out of the box I quickly fell in love with these shoes. In fact my 2nd run in them was over 20miles. Now with over 100miles on them I can honestly say they are phenomenal! Here are a few of my favorite features & why: Zero Drop. Not much to add here as it speaks for itself, but kudos to Merrell for getting this right while so many others trying to join the minimalist market have neglected to. Flexibility. If you're used to VFFs these will feel a bit on the thick side at first. That said, you can easily curl the shoe from toe to heel & twist it side to side. It's that flexible. The ground feel is great for a shoe that's capable of protecting you from those nasty roots & rocks. The closed mesh (#1 reason to spend the extra money on this model). It keeps the grit and moisture out while maintaining breathability. I've comfortably run in 95F with high humidity. The lacing system. It connects beautifully with the tongue of the shoe via loops. This is how the shoe is able to hug your arch (much like VFFs in the midfoot) and as a result keeps your foot in place giving it that glove-like feel. The only con that I can note is heel rub by the achilles that can cause some blistering. Given how many things these shoes do absolutely right, I feel that is a reasonable issue and one that is easily resolved by some athletic tape applied to the area before a run. One last thing, I opted to go with the men's version since I have wide feet & wasn't sure if Merrell designed the shoe slightly differently in the women's model like they did with the Pace Gloves. They fit true to size so ladies I suggest following the standard men-to-women's size conversion.

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram

Andrew R

from Savage, Minnesota

The shoes look and feel great, but the toe box is a little too wide, and the shoe is too long overall. I ordered my sonic gloves a full size smaller than what I usually wear and they were still extremely long. These shoes are built for people with very long, narrow feet. Other than the sizing issues, these shoes are great for just about anything, whether it be a long run or just a casual summer day.

Jeremiah F

from United States

So I am a 260 pound competitive strong man and powerlifter. I run on average 4 days a week. 2 days for 30 minutes of light running, two days of HIIT training. I had been buying running shoes that were thicker soled just because I felt the need to cushion my impact then one day I had an aha moment. I realized, it's my shoes causing this pain having the incline from heal to toe. I bought these shoes to see if I was right. I was. These shoes are great, they're extremely comfortable, I wear them all the time, even at work. No more knee pain no more leg pain and as counter intuitive as it is, its great having the 4mm sole. Once you get the hang of the barefoot running style and stop putting all the stress of your stride on the front of your knee, because of the heel incline, you'll start feeling so much better. Even when I walk I don't heel strike any more. I am certain I will be buying at least 2 more pairs in the coming months. Also yes, this is for people with narrow feet. I do not have narrow feet, but these shoes are still great.

Jason M

from Wichita, Kansas

These have a very good minimal feel, there is no obnoxious heel cushioning. I feel fast and agile in these shoes. My feet are a little wide, causing some initial discomfort, but the shoes break in within a week and they are very comfortable now. The soles seem very durable for being so light and flexible, but are somewhat slippery in wet conditions. I will review these again in six months after seeing how they hold up over time.

Brands I'd also recommend: VivoBarefoot, New Balance Minimus.

Bill H

from Trenton NJ

I had been training for a race without proper running shoes and was blown away by how much of an improvement I saw once I got these shoes. My first 5k time cut a full 7% off my previous best, which was unbelievable. Be aware that these shoes offer absolutely no support to speak of- they are aptly named as they are like a "glove" for your foot. I have intermittent ankle problems, so I have to wear a brace or wrap when I run in these because they have zero ankle support at all. Something to look out for. I also love that they're vegan shoes, as it can be hard for me to find good ones.

Anonymous

from Idaho

Great shoes. These are basically the same as the Trail Glove with a water resistant upper. These will definitely be my "go to" shoes for the winter.

Anonymous

from California

I love these shoes, but they won't work for everyone. The arch support is very obvious and unless you have the perfectly shaped foot for the arch (like me) it will be uncomfortable for your foot (like my wife). Love having a "barefoot" shoe without toes, though!

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram

Anonymous

from Washington, DC

This is my first pair of the Sonic Glove line of shoes. I got this to replace a pair of Pirelli I had with very low profile soles. That was the only thing I was looking for, and I wanted to try something other than another Pirelli, the Merrell was the only other shoe in this price range with styling I liked. After wearing these for two weeks, I love them so much more for their support and natural feel. It truly feels like a glove without looking obnoxious. Wearing it for the first time did feel a little odd, but I barely noticed it on my feet by the end of the week.

Anonymous

from nj

Only problem is sizing: I wear 8.5 in standard running boots, but had to go to 7.5 in these to match my foot length. When I did that though, they were too tight over the top of my foot right below the laces where I can't loosen them. I suppose my feet are short in length and tall in height, since I have similar problems with VFFs and couldn't wear Saucony Hattoris. I've found the True Glove model to be looser over the top. Sizing issues aside, these are so much more fun to hike around in than boots! There's enough rubber under you to give you a great grip and some protection, but they're thin enough that you're still aware of what you're walking on. Can't feel grass like in VFF KSOs, but sometimes the protection is worth it. The Sonic model is water resistant and warmer than standard open mesh shoes. Good when it's cold, but in warm conditions my feet get wet. And FYI: of the Sonic, Trail, True, and Tough gloves, the only difference is the outer material. I wish Merrell would tell us that.

Brands I'd also recommend: vibram fivefingers, saucony kinvara

Adam K

from Urbana, Illinois

This is very comfortable but also very tight fit. I've only been wearing them about 4 weeks, so it's too early to judge long-term durability. But I love that they keep my feet dry, so I can cross-fit in them and also wear them around town.

Stan B

from Kansas City Mo.

What a great shoe! This the way that we were created to walk in a shoe! My feet have never felt better and legs have stopped aching and I walk almost 8 miles a night at work!

Brands I'd also recommend: I would not! Just stick with the Merrell's

Rich

from Los Angeles, CA

I have owned a few of the Merrell glove shoes and these are just as excellent! The Sonic Gloves are basically the same long-lasting Vibram sole as the Trail Gloves with 0 drop so it feels, at least mechanically, like you are running barefoot. However, the advantage these have is the upper material. I can run on cold mornings and my feet stay warm. This was a problem I was having with the Trail Glove's mesh upper. And when running on dusty trails, the upper keeps the dirt out! Overall these shoes are comfortable for long runs on a variety of terrain and I can't wait to see the next offering from the good folks at Merrell barefoot.

Anonymous

from Ocean City, MD

I wear an 11½ Tough Glove, but an 11½ Sonic Glove is too tight. Do yourself a huge favor and consider going up half a size.

Anonymous

from San Diego, Ca.

Since the woman's sizes didn't have widths wide enough, I bought a medium width in a men's shoe (with customer service help to choose size). The size fits perfect. I have them on right now. My requirements were lightweight and comfortable. They have a wide toe box which I need because of bunions. I walk 3-4 miles a day and the arch support seems like it is good enough for that. A plus is they are water repellent as well.

Anonymous

from Florida

I wear a size 11.5 men in just about every running shoe out there, the Hattori has so far been the only one that didn't feel true to size. I read all of the reviews written about the Merrell Barefoot Sonic Glove and decided to go with a half size up and order a 12. That was a mistake. This shoe is true to size, and I strongly recommend sticking with your usual running shoe size. I can't review anything else about the shoe being that I'm returning this pair as soon as possible. I ordered them for crossfit and outdoor running, and I am confident these can handle Marine Corps pt. Zappos has been awesome as always, I'm deployed to Afghanistan and still got these shoes in nine days!

Anonymous

from West Chester, PA

Great shoe for its intended purpose. It is truly a barefoot sneaker, but that is what I was looking for. I use it mostly for weight lifting and it gives a good feel of the floor with no actual in-shoe support, which is what I was looking for. I highly recommend this shoe.

Tim H

from Philadelphia, PA

This is a decent shoe, but it didn't fit me quite right in the heel. I ended up going with the Merrell Barefoot True Glove, which was more comfortable, easier to lace, and has more breath-ability. They're a little on the small side for the same size as well. There's nominal arch support.

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram

Benjamin

from Freeport

Having purchased this pair of shoes a couple of weeks ago for hiking, I am simply in love with them. They are one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever purchased. However, they do run around a half-size too large! I usually wear a 10.5 and I wear a 10 in these. They are stylish enough to wear going out, and well made enough to hike and free-run in. The 125 dollar price tag, which had me apprehensive at first, has been well worth it.