Customer Reviews Merrell Bare Access Arc 4

I really wish these would have worked for me. I've struggled with plantar fasciitis and discovered, a couple of years ago, that going barefoot helped to rid me of the pain. I try to buy shoes with as little arch support as possible as my feet tend to do best in those. Unfortunately, these have a little too much support and I wasn't able to wear them very long before my feet started to get tired.

I felt myself standing straighter. Just too narrow in the toe box.

I wear 8.5 in several other Merrell shoes, but this one feels too big. The toe seems to bend in the wrong place for my foot.

These have more arch support than I expected from a barefoot shoe. The arches were in a weird place for me (I have a low-volume foot with low arches) so they are going back.

I previously left a review about the sole peeling back on the shoe after light use. I contacted Zappos (who has AMAZING customer service) and they refunded the cost of the shoe and let me know this is very unusual for Merrell. So don't be afraid to try the shoe. Hopefully my situation was just a fluke.

I think the sneaker is really cute and very comfortable, but unfortunately after just 2 months the sole of the shoe started to peel back. I only wear them 3 days a week to work, so I was surprised that they are already showing wear.

Merrell Bare Access Arc 4 were both too big and small. Too wide around my toes and also my toes hit the front of the shoe in an uncomfortable way.

The arch is super hard. Ouch! I got the red color and they are pink? I mean pink and kinda match the pink shoe laces which I was planning to replace. Now I want something with more sole, but I was barefoot running, these would be perfect as they are super light, mesh, and have just enough sole to protect your foot. I might've dealt with the arch but I just can't do that much pink...so not red?!

Wanted to like these but the rubber formed arch gave me back twinges after wearing for one day. It seems to push my feet into a different position. If they didn't have the hard arch the fit would be perfect for me - wish the arch was removable!

I was excited to find a minimalist shoe with a little bit of cushion, but these have too much cushion in the arch so my foot feels like its hanging on the arch. Nice roomy toe box, wish they worked!

These are very comfortable even with my bunions. I am size 8½, purchased a 9. The downside is that there is absolutely no support for my flat foot, I was able to sneak my orthodic into each shoe and was on the fence about whether it would work. It seems to be fine but I expect some support for such expensive shoes.

I am giving these three stars. These are nice shoes, but if you are used to running in Vibram Five Fingers, do not buy these. The sole is way too thick. It does not give you the minimalist running feel at all. The shoes are otherwise nice and comfortable though. I am returning them since I cannot use them for running.

Again, like other Merrell sneakers I have tried, the opening for the ankle is giant on me, and my ankle feels like is swimming in the shoe with a low tongue. Definitely feels like a wide-width shoe, even on my slightly wide feet. Also, this felt more like a negative heel-toe differential (as in my heel felt like the lowest point) rather than a flat shoe as specified, although could be that I am more used to sneakers with a higher heel.

Have been wearing these today and have noticed that they do not have the nice elasticized gathering at the upper heel, the way the Merrell Dash Glove did. So these are a little sloppy for those of us with narrower heels. But on a best-of-the-worst rating (worst being anything other than a Merrell Dash Glove), I will keep these until Merrell returns to sanity and gives us back our Dash Glove of 2012-13.

The Bare Access Arc 4 is about as close as I can find to my Merrell Dash Glove Apollo (I have four pairs of these Dash Glove and am glad I splurged as they kept me shoed through the lean years of not finding happy shoes). It is pretty close to the Dash Glove; my major concern is the fabric selected, as I can see the lacy overlay cloth filling with grit and burrs on the trail (take note, Merrell!). Please bring back the Dash Glove and make the world's feet a happier place!

Great looking shoe, nice and light. After about 5 minutes of wearing it around the house my feet cramped up and were killing me. The heel felt oddly low so the shoe put a lot of pressure on my arch.

Merrell shoes fit my big, wide feet wonderfully...once upon a time. But I am afraid that time has passed. These shoes are adorable to look at and feel very lightweight. I wanted them to fit. But they are much too tight.

Too narrow in the toe box. The ball of my foot was on top on the seam. Wish they fit because I could feel myself standing straighter in the low lift heel.

Interior lining on right show is loose and folding over to create a lump on the side, which is irritating the side of my foot.

Exchanged initial pair due to an oddly fitting last that felt tight in the toe, wide midfoot, and too tight across the tongue. The next half size up are now too loose, feeling more like a full size up than a half size up. Just an awkward shoe in any size for me, your experience may vary. I love the Vapor Glove 2 so sticking to that one for weight lifting (although I do occasionally ram my toe into the cap, it's 90% liveable)

I LOVE the look and feel of this shoe BUT I was not expecting the drop heel in the back. None of my other shoes have that so I am afraid that it will cause back problems when walking. They really do NOT feel like a BAREFOOT shoe. VERY disappointed!

Like the shoe but the bump at the arch is too far towards the heel for my foot. Gave me a tweak in my knee walking around the house.

I really wanted to love these shoes (I have the Merrell Vapor Glove and love them), but the arches are really high. I have normal arches, and these made me feel like I was standing on little mounds - very uncomfortable! Not sure why a minimalist shoe needs to have high arches like this, kind of defeats the point, right? They are also too narrow/tight across the top of the foot (but there is plenty of room in the toe box).

This is the weirdest shoe! It has the narrowest arch I've ever encountered and there is no insole. My size 8 arch supports (Superfeet) couldn't fit in this shoe because it was too narrow. Also, it looked super cute in the picture, but is more of a dull grey in reality.

These shoes felt like a lemon. It felt like I was putting the wrong shoe on the wrong foot. I honestly don't understand how anyone could find these appealing. I was disappointed, but am returning them and Zappos is awesome!