Merrell

Trail Glove 7

Men's

Okay here me out. All the 4/5 star reviews must have never tried any version past the 5 cause they don't know how could it could be. I've been using the trail glove since the 3rd, when I was younger I ripped my calves using traditional running shoes. Merrells barefoot minamilist trail glove was the solution that brought me relief and I could finally run again. Barefoot shoes are a slow slog to restrengthen your muscles but it's worth it. The 3 was a good entry it fit to your foot well and was great on the trail even as just a walking shoe and served me well, the trail glove 4 was the pinnacle. The shoe that truly got me back into long distance trails, it felt like a slipper you could feel everything and the overall design looked amazing I went through 1500km in my first pair before they couldn't go no more. I'm originally from nz so these shoes come late and leave early so I had to improvise and try and find somewhere that will ship to nz even at a ridiculous cost. The knit 4 looked like it was the pinnacle of pinnacles but alas Noone would ship it and I never got to experience it's brilliance. The trail glove 5, not as good as the 4 but a solid shoe. I went through 4 pairs each doing somewhere between 1000 - 1200kms before being retired to walking shoes these shoes took me on ultras with no worries and interested looks from other runners. These stayed on shelves only a little longer then the 4 before the 5 came along. The 6 was a disappointment the tread design was interesting and the lace up system changed and increased pading and stability wearing them in was painful compared to the others, my first pair only did 300km if that before being retired due to the tread being ripped off from the usual trails I took my 5. The living systems on the 6 was difficult to get into even when worn down. They fit down a size compared to the previous but overall I tried to like them. Now the 7. I didn't even know they released a new version as nz dosnt even know cause we just got the 6!! Reimagined design, tread similar to other barefoot on the market. Support gone... it looks almost like the trail glove 4 knit.. could it be. No a massive disappointment so much so that I went and got another 6!! Ste toebox is a swamp I have to go down 2 sizes to try and make it fit nicely the tread slips and slides on all terrain cause the shoe doesn't mold nicely to your foot it's like a oversized diving shoe that's filled with water. I guess I'll have to wait for the 8 but the way they're going merrell might just cut the shoe from their line up and I'll have to find a new barefoot shoe. Just bring back the trail glove 4 you know every trail glove lover will buy several pairs to last them a lifetime.

I've owned almost every trail glove , for fit wise they went back to the basics , full length outsole and wide forefoot ... allows the foot to be a foot

Merrel goes back to barefoot basics with the TG7. Wider toe box allows for natural toe splay. Heel is locked firmly in place with no slippage. And best partthey got rid of the arch support! Your arches flex naturally in this shoe. The TG7 sole is too thick and stiff for a true barefoot shoe; but I'm willing to trade a little sensitivity for greater sole protection. (I'm a weekend warrior with tender feet. I trail run and hike in mountains and hills with lots of sole-bruising rocks and roots on trail.)

These are solid! I would technically give them a 4.5 out of 5 because the Trail Glove 4s were my favorite iteration of the shoe and deserve a 5, but these are definitely a step back in the right direction from the TG6s. Probably more support and less toe space than a "true" barefoot enthusiast would want but still an excellent shoe for trail runs if you step on a root or large rock. Full disclosure, as much as I like these they aren't getting a ton of use because my feet have become healthy/strong enough for the vapors full time. I'll review those as well for reference!

The soles are way to sticky for walking impaired.