Customer Reviews Merrell Barefoot Life Zest Glove

I really wanted these shoes to work out. They look more stylish on than they do in the pictures. They are a perfect style for a comfortable shoe to wear to the office. The problem for me was the toe box - it is not square enough. The slope along the outside is too steep, causing my smaller toes to get squished. It's too bad, everything else about them is perfect.

I thought I would love them. I do not. VERY cute on, but my toes are jammed up in the end while the ankle feels a bit loose. I am returning.

There is really only one reason you are getting these flats: you know to expect little to no arch support as these are in the "Barefoot" line of Merrell's shoe. Of course, they are cute with a great design and gorgeous colors, but the reason to get these are not those. If you are looking at breaking into the minimalist shoes, these will be great, but expect to be uncomfortable wearing them for a little while because you are utilizing muscles that are usually not in use with other regular shoes. I have the "Tan" color, and they are exactly as pictured. The leather is thin and soft, which makes them very comfortable. The die-cut design is very cute and appealing. The shoes are form-fitting but not suffocating or too tight. I normally avoid shoes with a stretchy back but the back is only minimally elastic, and not annoying like other elastic-backed flats. Even with the form-fitting size, I would say they are ALMOST a half-size too big. I say "almost" because they still fit and don't slip around and I am worried that if I order a half-size smaller, they may be too small. These really almost fit like a glove.

This shoe was immediately comfortable as soon as I tried it on. The leather is super soft and molds to your feet and the entire shoe is so light. It was true to size if you don't wear socks. It does have a barefoot-style sole, so if you're not used to that, I don't recommend it. It's pretty flexible and soft, but not so thin that it hurts to walk over pebbles once in a while. I like that it's easy to slip on and off, but still stays snugly on your feet while walking. The only thing I don't like is the logo and how the sole comes up at the back. I think it'd look more sleek if it just had a normal back.

Darling and comfortable. True to size, but I have a narrow foot, so keep that in mind. Inserts fit fine, if you find you need them. I first bought in the tan; however, I thought it was impractical as it is a nubuck and would get very dirty. I returned for the black...love them.

I ended up ordering a half size smaller than I usually wear in Merrell's and the fit was better than my usual size in this particular shoe. I love my Pace Gloves and a pair of black Mary Janes (the name escapes me at this time), but this Zest Glove just does not have the toe room the others have. I purchased these as a "casual dress" shoe for work part-time and am fairly happy with them for that. The bad thing is, though, for wearing them 2-3 days a week for 4 months, they are showing wear in that the lining inside the shoe at the toe is coming apart from the leather. I am sad about this, because it's not what I expected for the price of this shoe. Perhaps the lining is there for the construction of the shoe and not support...time will tell, I suppose.

Like the other reviewers, I found these shoes to be very cute but tight in the toe area. I exchanged my usual 7 (which I am in other Merrells) for a 7.5. I purchased this in Tan with the aim of having a comfortable sneaker-like shoe that was cute enough for a nice dinner out and a key need when traveling. Surprisingly, I haven't had any issues with the barefoot/minimalist style, in fact I've barely noticed it and it feels like a regular pair of flats (a very comfortable one).

I ordered a half size larger than my regular shoe size and I'm glad I did. I had to use "glide" anti-blister stuff for the first several wears; the top cuts into my left foot for some reason. Now they're broken in and I am very happy with them. Very cute-looking casual shoes. These are not my first pair of barefoot shoes, so I knew what to expect going in. I like this style of shoe and find it to be very comfortable.

I really wanted to like these. They are cute, the leather is very soft, and I'm into the minimalist shoe thing. But although they feel like they are the right size when sitting or standing, as soon as I start to walk, my heel slides forward (probably in part due to the tight elastic around the heel), and the front of the shoe digs into the top of my foot, and my toes get squished. These are the most uncomfortable shoes I own. I figured that they were supposed to be a little snug and "fit like a glove," but my feet hate them. Too bad I've worn them around a bit, thinking they'd stretch a little, so now I can't return them. Perhaps if they were a little larger, they would've worked out. But I don't know whether that would've stopped my foot from sliding forward as I walk. Very disappointed in these Merrells.

Love these shoes! Great with a pair of skinny jeans, work pants or dresses. Warning: souls are flat and do not have much support. Great for spring and summer.

I almost returned these and spent a couple of weeks deciding whether to keep them or return them. I am so glad I kept them because they are now one of my favorite pairs of shoes! The sole is truly thin and flexible with NO arch support whatsoever. So if you aren't used to barefoot shoes, that is kind of a shock when you put these on. You can feel rocks and sharp edges under your feet as you walk. At first I felt like my foot would move around in this shoe and that the heel cup might rub, but after actually wearing them for the past year, that hasn't been the case. There was no break in period at all and I never got a blisters or pain, even though I always wear them without socks. The toe area has stretched just a bit but if they feel tight to begin with, I wouldn't expect them to stretch out significantly. The elastic part around the heel is really comfortable. The best part of these shoes is that they are cute as well and look a bit more dressed up than flips, sandals or tennis shoes, which are my normal mom go-to shoes. I usually wear them with jeans or capris but have worn under a long maxi dress to an event when I didn't feel like wearing heels. I wear them out to dinner all of the time and even though I feel like I am wearing little slippers, I actually look put together. Win! I have pretty average width feet and they are exactly true to size for me.

These are the walking shoes for the walker and the traveler. They are light weight for packing. They are incredibly comfortable for walking. I bought them for functionality over looks, but to my surprise everyone asks where I got them because they are so cute. They get a bit stiff after being drenched, but then soften again with a little use. Basically, I love them!

They feel like silk! I bought them a half size larger to accommodate socks but tried them on with bare feet, they felt so good I did not want to take them off.

I've been wanting to try barefoot flats for some time, and I really like the Merrell brand. (I have the hybrid barefoot running shoes, and they're great.) So I bought this one as it was on sale. I usually have wide feet, so I go for a 7.5 wide, sometimes a 7.5 normal or a 7 wide. In this case, this shoe was reviewed as narrow, but it was not narrow for me at all. In fact, the 7 was quite comfortable on me. I even tried the 6.5 but the opening near the toes was too constricting. They look sturdy and have no support (which is why you'd buy barefoot shoes). Plus, you don't need to wear socks with them. These are really attractive shoes. Simple, with a flower cut out pattern. I love them! These are my new go-to shoes, since they look nice with a fancy dress, but also casual enough to wear with jeans.

I bought these in black for my Las Vegas daughter to wear before changing to the required black heels for her job. She loved them! Claims they are the most comfortable shoes ever. So when she decided to visit Chicago and expected to walk a lot, I sent her these in blue. More squeals of delight! She found them perfectly sized with no breaking in period. Her only complaint was that she was caught in the rain and once they were thoroughly wet, wearing with no socks caused blisters. So keep them dry and if you do get caught in a downpour, have a thin pair of dry socks. She said after they dried, they have been super good again. Thinking I might have to try a pair.

I love the Merrell Barefoot shoes, and these are no exception. One difference from the running style is that the sole seems a little thinner in these. I find them great for walking and travel, as well as day to day.

I love Merrell barefoot shoes and this one is no different. Yes, there is no arch support or cushioning but that's the point of a minimalist shoe. These are cute with a casual dress or for work. Very comfortable so far!

Great soft comfy shoe. Too long for my foot even though I ordered same size as my other Merrell shoes.

I buy from Zappos all the time, but neglect to write reviews. This shoe, however, merits special praise and a few words. I walk everywhere, including to the Metro from my house and office. Cute shoes that work for both my commute and the office are hard to come by, but these are winners. No break-in required. Comfortable all day, the first day I wore them. The top was a little tight, but stretched quickly and didn't cause discomfort. Just bought a second pair and plan to take them with me to Europe next month.

Super-comfortable, took my true size, look nice enough for my business professional light office. Great for walking around. They also stand up to rain well!

I love this shoe! It's cute, soft and I can wear it with my 1/2" heel orthotic without stepping out of the back of the shoe.

This is a great looking shoe. It is all I wear since I found this barefoot shoe. I now own four pair. It is a barefoot shoe and as such does not need an arch. I have arches again since I have been going barefoot.

Cool, unique shoe! So far I've gotten a compliment on these shoes each time that I have worn them. They are a barefoot technology shoe & that should be noted, but that said - I got these for work and they have fared surprisingly well! I work 12 hour shifts walking & standing on cement floors in a hospital. I got these as a casual work shoe that I could wear with my maternity skirts & dresses this summer. After lots of searching & misses, I am happy with these shoes and surprised that my feet don't ache at the end of the day. The light leather color can get scuffed/marked, but so far it has easily been washed off.

I wear these shoes every chance I get. They are extremely comfortable and cute. I've never found shoes that I am able to stand in all day without pain somewhere except for these. I got them in black and will probably order another pair in a different color.

These shoes are beautiful. The leather is buttery soft and the upper is extremely comfortable. They are a bit wide, which makes them feel maybe a half size larger, but lengthwise, they're very true to size. I actually put some very thin insoles in them to give a little added cushioning, and to take up a little bit of the space and now they're perfect. I love the flexibility/minimalism of the shoe, but needed just a liiiiittle bit of padding, since there is really none at all (of course, it's a barefoot shoe after all). These shoes are very versatile, and can be worn with jeans or a summery dress. Finally, dressy-ish shoes that are comfortable too!