Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove SKU: #7718407

K. H

from Spring Hill, FL

Love the feel and my runs have been excellent! Going to do a 5K in them this morning. I did order my normal size but had to return and get a 1/2 size smaller. Ran with socks first time, but barefoot is much better. Can't say enough about the shoe!

Chip J

from New York City

I have Vibram Five-Fingers. They are hard to put on, and are just too weird looking. I'm tired of both liabilities. These shoes have the same benefits and don't have the cumbersomeness or weirdness factors. I'm a huge fan of barefoot-ish footwear and this is the best I have, all in all. Buy them.

Shaun

I normally wear size 10. Tough Glove was right on size, with loose toe box. Trail glove runs small, so order up one size. I ordered 10.5. Shoes are new, but I love the style, fit and workmanship! Much better for Valgus toe and hammer toe then five fingers.

Brands I'd also recommend: None compare

Anonymous

from Indy

I am so pleased with these shoes. Awesome, wide toe box. They weigh nothing. I can feel the ground really well. No need for socks. If you like being barefoot, but need some protection. These shoes are for you. A+.

Brands I'd also recommend: Keen, Olukai, Birks

Adam W

from Waleska,GA

I have owned Vibram Five Fingers since they were first released way back in the day, but recently began to look for a pair of true barefoot trail sure to compliment my barefoot footwear collection. After testing a few out, I settled on the Merrell Trail Glove and I am glad I did. So far, the quality seems great. The shoe is well constructed and provides a great barefoot feeling out on the trail. It is nice to have all of the toes enclosed sometimes, esp running or hiking on unfamiliar terrain (think broken toes). The heel is slim and glove like, while there is a bit more space in the toe box for allowing the toes to move about when hiking/running.

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram Five Fingers

Anonymous

from S Carolina

I bought these because I can't wear 5 fingers in uniform. These are great. I read several reviews from magazines about these. These are as closet to bare footing as you can get with a full shoe on. I have a couple of Puma models that are very thin but are not as good as these. These are plenty wide in the toe. There is just enough padding in the sole to allow me to run on gravel without pain but I can still feel the ground. They are very light and the lacing system is awesome. These things snug up to your foot like a sock without feeling tight. They are listed as D width but in the toe box they are like extra wide. I have wide feet and these are plenty wide in the toe box. The sole has incredible traction considering how thin it is. These would be the best shoe I can recommend to someone looking to transition to Five fingers or all natural.

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram Five fingers

Sean

from Washington DC

These are just awesome. My first experience "barefoot" running and I'm really excited about it. Really changes the way you run -- my calves are killing me. Feet feel great, however. You can rock these sans socks. The fit is just perfect -- nice and roomy toe box as everyone says. I have no idea what the vibram five fingers are like so I can't compare them. I will say that I ran half on road, half off road this evening and I did find these to be a bit slick on wet grass and dirt -- nowhere near the grip of my Salomon pro 3ds which are what I use for trails. I don't think I would do more than a few miles of tough trail in these, mainly because I prefer the grip and stability of my Salomons. But these really are an amazing product. Seem super well made and they are comfy right out of box. Pull the trigger on these asap. You won't look foolish like you will with the five fingers.

Brands I'd also recommend: Salomon

Bobby L

from Kent, CT

Wow! What a great minimalist trail shoe! I've been running in Vibram Five Fingers for almost 2 years and have been looking for something that would give me that little something more for the intense trail running I've incorporated into my training. This shoe does it. The toe box is huge. I can splay my toes and fold them on top of each other. It offers no heel to toe drop and feels true to "barefoot" form when running in it. It provides just the right amount of protection for rocks and buried roots you'll hit on the trails and the traction is amazing through water, snow, and ice. The shoe is extremely light yet the laces offer a nice snug feel around the meat of your foot. It's very airy and I have taken them (no socks) through streams and find they dry faster than any shoe I've used in the past, limiting the chances of moisture slippage leading to blisters. I read many things about difficulty in sizing, but I didn't have any issues. I typically wear a 10.5 and that's what I ordered for this shoe and fit is perfect. For VFF wearer's, I wear a 42 in VFF's and the 10.5 trail glove fits like a charm. I'll continue to endorse this shoe as I feel it's the best minimalist trail shoe on the market today!

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram Five Fingers

Anonymous

from Birmingham, AL

These shoes have easily paid for themselves in the toebox alone which is substantially large. No more stubbed toes, no more losing toenails, and no more blisters on your pinky toe. One piece of sage advice I learned the hard way: you will feel everything on the trail, so stay off rocky trails. I bruised both my heels and instep on my first run. These shoes are best used on trails that are primarily dirt, dead leaves, and pine straw. Also, they do force you to run on the ball of your feet. If you normally run with that technique, you'll take to these easily. Else, ease in to them on shorter runs. Overall, I love these shoes and would buy them again and again.

JD B

from Kalamazoo, Michigan

I should start by saying I have not run in my Merrell Barefoot Trail Gloves, at least not yet. I may one day. I am not an avid runner, more of a cyclist and occasional runner. An aside about a separate product: I wore Nike Frees for about five years until very recently. I did run extensively in my last pair (as I was overseas and away from my bicycles) and they were great. I mostly wore them for casual and work (in an office with fairly lax dress code enforcement) use. I would not shut up about those shoes. I would evangelize about Nike Frees to anyone who would listen. Over five years, I probably went through six or seven pairs, none of which I really wore out, just upgraded or changed styles. My last pair were quite worn when I gave them away to a guy overseas. I decided to try a change, so I ordered a pair of these online, sight unseen. Within about fifteen seconds of walking around my house in the Merrells, I knew my love affair with the Nike Free was over forever. This is the shoe I have been waiting for my whole life. I am way more excited about this shoe than any heterosexual male ought to be about any shoe, ever. But there you have it. The sole is a perfect combination of firmness and flexibility. It feels much more like walking "barefoot" than any other "minimalist" shoe I have ever tried. Yet the side of the sole curves in to provide a certain measure of arch support. I do have fairly high arches, but my feet have always been strong enough that I haven't obsessed about finding great arch support. Those who have avoided "minimalist" shoes because of the arch support issue may want to give this model a serious look. The liner is comfortable with or without socks. I usually go without -- almost always, in fact -- but the shoe has enough "give" that it's quite comfortable either way. The large toe box is a major component of the shoe's comfort, but it must be said that it makes the shoe look just a wee bit dorky. If you can live with that in the name of comfort, go for it. The only very slight drawback of this shoe is that it doesn't stretch the way my Frees did...I actually have to loosen the top few rows of laces to get in or out of them, then tighten them back by hand to tie them up. I could treat my Frees as if they were almost slippers -- I don't think I'd tied or untied them in over a year by the time I got rid of my last pair -- but those days are over. Again, small price to pay, but it should be noted. The online "professional" reviews (mostly running magazine sites and blogs) I consulted before picking these shoes were uniformly enthusiastic about them. They have exceeded the very high expectations created by those reviews. I am pleased to add my voice to the chorus of those who absolutely love these shoes.

Brands I'd also recommend: Nike Free (maybe)

Anonymous

from Reno Nevada

I am suprised I like this shoe as much as I do. It took some getting use to, as I had never had a shoe with no heel, nor this little padding. After a week or so I found it to be very comfortable and even preferable to my other trail runners. I feel as though my feet are getting a better work out and getting stronger as well as my ankles. There was a bit of soreness/tenderness in my ankels as well as the pads of my feet, but that disapated in a week or so and my feet feel fine. I have about 100 miles on these so far and no delamination or signs of serious wear.

Anonymous

from Stafford, Virginia

So far so good. I'm not an experienced barefoot runner, so I have to allow for lack of technique and conditioning in my review. Fit is true to size - 12 in my case - nice open toe box, heel stays put. No rubbing or hot spots. I feel the seam on the inside of the upper in the left shoe, but no hot spots so far. Have used only for road running - may try trail one of these days. I definitely recommend these for those wanting to go from mega-drop traditional shoes to barefoot without killing yourself on pebbles, glass, or blistering pavement. My knees are not complaining yet.

Anonymous

from Atlanta

I'm totally new to barefoot running, but I love 'em. I've worn them almost everyday since they were delivered, from grocery shopping, to running, crossfit lifting and even a Beerfest. Ankles were a little sore at first, but I think that's because they were all I ever wore. The very tips of my toes touch the ends, so maybe I could have gone a 1/2 size bigger, but I don't even notice that when I'm walking or running.

Patrik R

from San Francisco Bay Area

These shoes are definitely minimalistic but they are so comfortable , so light, provide great ventilation, the outer sole are extremely sticky. I love them.

Anonymous

from Texas

I'm not sure if it's fair to compare these to Vibram FiveFingers since they're two totally different shoes, but I've seen the Trail Glove recommended several times as an alternative to VFF's and that's what I bought them for. They do have a nice secure fit in the heel and midfoot and the toe box is wide and roomy. The Vibram outsole is the usual great quality and provides a little bit of ground feel, though nothing near that of the VFF's. They also provide the best fit when worn without socks; however, parts of the lining feels a little rough and there are a few seams that rub very slightly, so only 4 stars for comfort. Overall, they're a great shoe when used for they're intended trail running purpose, and will probably out-perform VFF's in some cases. Don't get me wrong, the Trail Glove is an excellent shoe, but since I'm comparing to VFF's today, I have to say they're still a notch or two below on the comfort scale. If you like this kind of shoe, you might also check out the new Altra Adam (not out at the time of this writing, but due soon).

Brands I'd also recommend: Vibram, Chaco

Yehle

from Massachusetts

I really like these and find them really comfortable for running (and playing soccer!) on grass. Because of the boxier toe (almost square across the front) compared to traditionally "pointed" running shoes, those of us with a longer second toe might want to consider a 1/2 size up. It's a tricky trade off if you also have a narrow foot.

Steve

from Portland, OR

I love these shoes. They are super lightweight, and a good gym shoe. Very comfortable, true to size. Color is bright, but not neon bright.

John R

from Atlanta

I've been barefoot running for the past year and a half using Vibrams or just going straight barefoot. I decided to try these out and have really enjoyed them. While you do not get the tactile feedback that the Vibrams afford, you do have excellent protection for your feet, without the padding to alter your natural form.