MERRELL Men's Trail Glove Barefoot Shoes, Smoke/Adventure Yellow

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

I purchased a pair of Merrell Trail Gloves a week ago and haven't taken them off since (aside from sleeping)! My initial intent in visiting my local EMS was to pick up a pair of VFF's, but my attention was quickly drawn to the Merrells after many failed attempts at getting the VFF's on my feet (apparently this is common for newbs like myself). The Merrell's offered the same sensory experience with a thin Vibram sole that has no rise from toe to heel, and a very large toe box up front that allows your toes to stretch and move naturally inside the shoe. As this was also going to be my first pair of minimalist shoes, it was also easier for me to decide to buy the Merrell's because I wanted to wear them daily and had some concern about the unusual appearance of the VFF's.

A quick word of caution to anyone else venturing into minimalist footwear, I found out the hard way that running is a different experience in these shoes, take it easy in the beginning! My first run in these was on a paved surface (per the instructions on the Merrell Barefoot website), however, it felt so easy and natural to run that I went much farther than recommended, and my calves have paid the price for the last 6 days (I finally feel like I can handle another, much shorter run, a full week later).

Overall, my experience in these has been incredible so far, my fiancé even purchased a pair the day after I bought mine because I loved them so much right out of the box! She has spent significantly more time running in them than I have and after several transitions back and forth between her Merrell's and traditional running shoes she's decided that barefoot is absolutely the way to go, not once have I heard her complain about the pain she normally has after her typical daily runs.

I do plan to purchase a pair of VFF's in the near future as I continue my adventure into the barefoot world, but these Merrells will always be a go to shoe for me, I have 3 other pairs of Merrell shoes,they are a company I have come to trust, and the build and quality of the Trail Glove is no exception. Another great product from Merrell and another great purchase from EMS.

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

This is an excellent barefoot style trail shoe. Good for pavement, as well. I've used th eVibram Five-Fingers for almost two years now, and I wanted to try a somewhat more traditional (i.e., not split-toe) shoe, and Merrell delivers nicely. I'm a big fan if Merrell's other shoes, so it wasn't hard to take the leap and buy these, although I made sure to try them on to get a good fit. I wear a 10 in all my other Merrells, and this shoe is no different in sizing. I can wear a sock or not with no appreciable difference in feel or fit. The toe box allows my toes to splay very well on landing, and the shoe feels very comfortable overall. I run a lot, bike a lot, lift a lot, and these shoes are great for all sorts of x-training. Lateral movement is no problem, and sprints feel easy to get up and go. Highly recommended.

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

I bought the trail glove after trying and returning the vibrams. The trail glove has the same vibram sole, but a lot more room for your toes, which is nice. They did take a little getting used to, and had very minor discomfort in the beginning. Now I'm thinking about a second pair, because they're so comfortable, I wear them everywhere! I would highly recommend these to any outdoor enthusiasts!

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

This is a really great shoe for sprint training. It's traction is good, it is very light, and it really works and strengthens foot and calf muscles. It is also the most comfortable shoe I've ever bought.

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

I've had these for around a year, and wore them to the Tough Mudder this weekend. Just about the only thing that held up well was these shoes.

The EMS blog recommended these for the Mudder, and they were pretty darn near perfect. Only real issue is they drain water, but only from the mid, so when my shoes filled up with water, I had to stop and tilt my foot back to dry them out.

I like them for everyday use, but I wasn't able to run on hard surfaces without getting shin pain. As a trail shoe, they are really a perfect, minimalist option.

I was able to wash the Mudder out of them, but I'm retiring them nonetheless. I got another pair that I'll start breaking in for next year's Mudder.

Comments about Merrell 1020631 MERRELL Men's Minimalist Trail Glove Running Shoes:

I have used many types of running shoes through the years. I interval train, running sprints on a motor-less treadmill, "Curve." The Merrell barefoot is by far the best. The search is over, I'll never purchase any other brand.