Customer Reviews Merrell Bare Access Flex

I have another pair of Merrell running shoes that are a size 8 and fit great. I purchased these in a sizes 8 and they were a full size too big for me.

I've only worn them twice for one hour Orange Theory workouts, but so far so good.

These shows seems great. It is taking a little getting used to in the midfoot area. I'm not sure it is the perfect show for me, but I loved my previous merrells and I wanted to try this pair. The customer service rep said another model was closer to the design of the discontinued model I was using and I'm thinking I should have gone with that shoe instead. I like them, I'm just having issues adjusting to the different footbed here.

Great-looking shoe but a little darker than I expected with less contrast between the dark violet-blue and the black detailing. Very comfortable and lightweight.

My Bare Access Flex fits perfectly. For my size 10, 72 year old feet, that is a huge plus. I have one concern and one suggestion. First, I was spoiled big time with my first Merrells, a white Bare Access Arc 2, which now have over 3000 miles on them simply because in four years I have found nothing to compare with their quality so keep wearing them. So, my concern is actually the quality of materials in the new Flex. The sole appears to be thinner and with less give, so not quite the hard-surface walking comfort of my older Arc 2. I also miss the soft lining and pull on heel strap and the beautiful vinyl striping on the sides. Second, a Suggestion: Maybe someone at the top could have the blueprints pulled for the earlier Wonderful Beautiful Superior Quality Arc 2 and bring them back into proud production. In the meantime, these fit and feel good; we'll just see how they hold up.

I've had the same experience as a lot of other people here: this is probably the best running/daily wear shoe I have ever had in terms of comfort (and style!), but my pair quickly developed large tears in the upper fabric right where the side of the large toe bones hit the crease area. I'm hoping to see the exact same shoe come out with some more durable fabric and/or stitching - - or has it already? Best shoe ever, just needs some tweaking.

Here's what I like about these shoes: They are lightweight while providing good support ~ great for around the house, on gentle trails, and perfect for traveling near & far with carry-on only baggage. The colors are great ~ my black/metallic lilac goes well with my black, gray, and blue denim pants. A happy surprise ~ I really like the flat, stretchy shoe laces; they stay tied better than the round ones I've had in previous Merrell's. Not as great: the footbed arch hits too far back on my foot. Hoping this issue will resolve itself with more wear.

I usually wear a size 7, but wear a 6.5 in this shoe. I use this shoe for competitive tennis. Going to Nationals, so I am competitive. I used to have plantar issues, and that problem quickly resolved once I switched to a zero drop shoe. It takes some getting used to, as all those little foot muscles have to start working to support the foot, but that only took a couple weeks for the muscles to strengthen. I love them, I feel totally grounded on the court. I would have given a 5 star, but since they are not designed for tennis, they wear out quickly. The toe box fabric rips at the bend crease and the tread wears quickly on the ball of the shoe. I am replacing about every 2-3 months, I do however play a lot of tennis. Still, I hope they never discontinue because I really love it on court.

These were a gift for my wife who needed a new pair of running shoes. I bought her a pair of hiking shoes last year and she was curious if Merrell sold running shoes and wanted a pair since the hiking shoes are very comfortable. This running shoes did not disappoint and provide the comfort and fit she like for running.

I am on my 4th pair of these shoes. I don't have to wear any inserts, arch support is great, super comfortable, BUT they develop tears on the outside of the shoes after only a few months. This happens where the two types of materials come together on the shoes. It doesn't tear all the way through, but it is annoying just the same. I will continue to buy them because they are really light on the feet. I put an average of 25 miles a week on them.

Good shoes but they seem to run a half size too big!

Very light weighing shoe with great arch support. I own two pairs and am about to order another pair!

The arch seemed higher or more firm that previous Merrell shoes but after several wearings, they seem fine. These size 11's fit better than previous pairs.

I love the look of these shoes. The 7-1/2 squeezed my toes; the 8 felt good on toes but arch was in the wrong place for me. Thanks for being understanding Merrell. I really did not want to send these back.

These are pretty decent sneakers that need some initial breaking in, but are fairly comfy afterwards. They don't feel as much like a barefoot sneaker as I would like and I highly prefer my Trail Gloves. These seem to have more support to them that actually adds unwanted pressure to my feet, but overall they're a good shoe.

This shoe is so lightweight and comfortable. It fits perfect and I have narrow feet (usually most shoes fit in length but are too wide.) Awesome arch support too! Highly recommend this shoe.

I think I finally found my style, zero drop! I'm older, overweight and have aching knees, history of bulging disc and low back pain, as well as plantar fasciitis. My feet, knees and back had not been happier in years after buying these. I have been able to do so much more and spend many more hours on my feet over the last four months since buying them. My only complaint is within a few weeks I could see the wear marks in the mesh material above the toes at the flex point. Within two months there is a large spot where the black is all worn off and suspect it will be a hole soon. l bought another color because they are so comfortable, but wish there were more styles in zero drop.

I love these shoes. I ordered a size larger than usual because I insert orthotics. I could have gone up another half size. I have a bunion and my big toe crosses over the next toe a little. Where that happens, my toenail gets rubbed.

I tried these for walking, as I have recently been thru trying shoes with more cushioning which I thought I needed. But they didn't work out for various reasons: bulky, blisters, etc. These have been working fine and I've worn them immediately on 5-7 mile walks with no issues. I love the light weight, the non-bulky look and the fit with the wide toe box, which does not look bad (no clown feet). I ordered my usual shoe size (9m) not my usual athletic 9.5m, as the shoe runs slightly larger than other Merrells I have had. Even though they just have a hard rubber sole, they have provided me with adequate cushioning. I wear a thin sock and the fit is good.

I bought these because I loved my other Merrell running shoes so much the sole is nearly gone! Unfortunately these were too narrow in the middle of my foot and I had to send them back. The wide toe box was great and the look is fantastic but the fit in the middle of my foot was so very narrow it was not workable so I cannot enjoy them.

With wide, short feet and high arches, finding a shoe that fits properly is a daydream most of the time. But Merrell came through again with this lightweight runner! The upper is flexible, with plenty of space in the toe box. The 7.5 fit my 38cm length very nicely. And although I was apprehensive about the arch support, I hardly noticed it while clocking in five miles a few minutes after arriving home (no hot spots, either). In fact, except for the different feel of the new sole, I hardly noticed I had shoes on at all! Definitely worth the money.

Unfortunately this shoe did not suit my feet! I would caution people who have dimensions on the narrow-side, because the toe box was extremely wide personally. Oddly enough, the heel was nice and narrow and fit well. The fabric covering the toes folded over as well.