Customer Reviews Merrell Barefoot Bare Access

Excellent shoe for minimalist runners. Has more support/foot protection than the Merrell Sonic Glove, and so is more comfortable for longer runs. My only gripe is that the inside liner is more of a "mesh" fabric that is somewhat abrasive when compared to the Sonic Glove -- got a few hot spots on my ankles before fully breaking them in. You may want to wear light socks for the first few weeks.

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.

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.

Awesome shoes! These are my running shoes. I started 'barefoot' running last August and really like these. They are very light, flexible and comfortable.

I stopped running a number of years ago because of knee pain. The minimalist style of running and these shoes seem to have fixed that. I have no more knee pain. I can definitely feel my calves and other lower leg muscles working harder. These shoes are incredibly light weight.

Love this shoe, only complaint is that the sole wants to peel away from the body of the shoe, particularly on the inside portion where the ball flexes. I've had 2 pairs: 1st one came apart after 3 weeks, the second one is starting to after just 1 month. However, I am pretty rough on them.

I ordered these as a step down from Nike Frees. I wanted a zero drop shoe, but with a little padding. I received them and they fit / felt great. I went for one 4 mile run, and the shoes started to fall apart. The sole started to delaminate from the upper right by the ball of my foot on both shoes. I notified Zappos immediately and Zappos replaced them just as immediately because Zappos is awesome. I was convinced that the same thing would happen, but, so far the replacement pair has been holding up well (just over 50 miles). I have the smoke/red color combo and I will say that the red part of the sole is getting chewed up pretty quickly because it appears to be constructed from some sort of soft foam. Bottom line: these shoes look good and feel good, but I probably would not buy the same pair again because of questions about durability.

My husband is in restaurant business. He is on his feet for 10 hours a day, sometimes. He has worn every style of Merrell for years. His back never hurt before. He was so excited to find this shoe, lighter and cooler. But, he was barely able to move when he came home after wearing this pair of shoes for one day. I was almost in tears when I saw him crawl home, take the shoes off, and crawl to the bed. It was just very pitiful. I am returning the shoes today. Zappos is great, though! I am ordering 4 more pairs of shoes today for my husband to try.

I've been a minimalist runner for about 9 years. I switched to this shoe recently from the Vivobarefoot Ultra M. I really like the Ultra M's, but they wear out way too quick. I was hoping the Merrell Barefoot Bare Access would be a good solution. Unfortunately, I believe this shoe caused me to develop metatarsalgia. Maybe it's coincidence, but I've been running injury free for 9 years. I have flat feet. Maybe you won't be impacted if you have arches. I was averaging around 30 miles/week when the injury occurred. I did a half in 1:35 before finally succumbing to the injury. I will appreciate any comments of others that have experienced this. I hate to blame the shoe if it's just me getting old.

I bought these and another brand of minimalist shoe at the same time. I thought I wouldn't like these and would love the others...but I was wrong. I returned the other brand and I love my Merrell Bare Access runners. I can't believe I didn't switch to these earlier.

Very happy with this product - really comfortable running shoe.

Great shoe. I have been wearing the Nike Frees for the past two years and decided to go more minimal. Just like my other Merrell shoes, they have not disappointed. I have just over 50 miles on them and they still feel like new. Plan on running a full marathon in these.

Best shoes I have ever put on my feet. Great for working out or for everyday wear. Marked as no arch support but do feel as though there is some--just the right amount for me. Not quite a half size too big but slightly bigger than marked. Sizing down from a 14 to a 13 not a good option. A half size would have been perfect but not an option. I love these shoes!

Simply one of the best shoes I have ever had on my feet. I never want to take them off. Snug and supportive (in a minimalist way) without being too restrictive. Great for running and everyday wear. I love the breathability; however, like most shoes that claim to be anti-odor, it simply isn't true. Seem to wash okay though. Sizing is way off. I am a consistent 14 but ended up in a 13 which just fits. Socks make them almost too small. Wish they made a 13.5 but happy nonetheless.

My first experience with barefoot shoes. There was no break-in, comfortable from the first time I wore them. I really like the natural feel and comfort.

I normally wear a size 8-8 1/2 street shoe, but in running shoes, I wear a size 9 1/2. These fit like my previous shoes that suggest to order a 1/2 size up.

Zappos was there when I needed a second pair of seemingly discontinued shoes by Merrell. Wide forefoot, and narrow heel...just what I needed. Great comfort, and relief from high arches and heels.

I love this shoe. I wouldn't put this shoe on and go on a distance run if you are not fully accustomed to minimalist running. I put about 18+ miles on them so far (3 weeks). I still need more cushion and support from my everyday running shoes but this will be great for my speed work and casual wear.

I have been searching around for the perfect shoess to wear while doing in home workouts. I do Insanity and P90X on either a low-pile rug or berber carpeting so I have been looking for minimalist shoes with almost no tread. These Merrells are perfect with flat soles and Vibram grip where needed. They fit true to size and the toe box is wide enough for my feet. They are super light weight and stylish as well! I previously ordered the Inov8 230 and they just had too much tread and the toes were a little too pointy for me and would get crushed often. I highly recommend these Merrrels and might even pick up the trail version for running in the park.

I have been wearing these for about a month and really like them. It is my first "barefoot" shoe and I must say I really like it. This is not for those who like a cushy shoe, this is for those who want a true barefoot running/walking shoe. I work in a warehouse and run around in these all day and they are great! I usually wear Sanuks, and these are better! My feet are a bit wide, and I went up a size and that worked very well. I also like the quality of Merrell.

Good shoes. Light and well made. They run small in size. I am a 8.5 and I ended up with 7.5 for size. I tried the New Balance version of barefoot shoes, and a few others but this was my favorite for feel and look. I also use the vibram five fingers. I have two different versions of those, but these are a little less flamboyant than five fingers, which is good for me as I am living in a middle eastern country and try not to stick out more than I already do. I think the best and cheapest bet for barefoot sneakers is plain old Chuck Taylors, but these shoes are good if you want to spend more money to look super cool and high speed.

Great running shoes, give yourself a week or two to adjust to them and you'll love them. I usually wear a 10.5, bought 10's they fit well with socks, a touch big without but comfortable.