Merrell Trail Glove Review

PRICE: $110
WEIGHT: 6.2 ounces
WEBSITE: www.Merrell.com

The Merrell Trail Glove men’s shoe was named the Runner’s World Magazine Best Debut in 2011. These extremely lightweight minimalist shoes are often called “barefoot shoes” because while running in them your feet feel as free as possible, but they are still protected from any rocks on the ground. The Vibram sole is durable, but very thin and flexible, allowing for a very natural feel while in use. The heel and ball of the foot are both the same distance from the ground, creating the zero-drop element in this shoe. This is key to the barefoot style of running.

User Reviews

With nearly 300 reviews of this style found right on the Merrell website, it’s a valueable resource for anyone thinking of making this purchase. These are the reviews we found most helpful:

I will take one pair every 6 months for the rest of my life… Thank you! It took a few days to get used to the barefoot feel and get my muscles/tendons stretched and ready, but there is nothing better than these shoes. Taking a hike, climbing a rock or two, riding a bike, and just doing anything while feeling like there is almost NOTHING on your feet but having them protected and comfortable at the same time, is AMAZING! ~daric127

After purchasing these shoes new, I have only been able to wear them three times. Each time I wore these, they dug into my achilles to the point that I had to stop and take them off. Even with socks, they were unbearable. It seems where the “lip” of the sleeve that encircles your leg, right at the level of the pull tab, is the culprit. The shoe fits fine elsewhere. It is not too short, I have plenty of room in the toe area. Don’t know what to do. Have had Merrell’s before and loved them. I’m very disappointed. ~wsh171

Before getting a pair of these shoes, I just couldn’t shake several running injuries — particularly plantar fasciitis. It took me a while to get used to these shoes, but once I did I noticed that my running form had completely changed. I’m happy to say that it’s been 2 years since I made the switch and I haven’t had a single problem since. I’ve recently gotten several friends to try these shoes out as well and they’ve had almost identical results. These are worth every penny and then some! ~Andrew P Brewer

I got these shoes to work in since my job frowns on five fingers. I have always been uncomfortable in cushioned shoes, but did not know why until the barefoot movement began. The trail glove is certainly more comfortable than a conventional shoe, but the arch in the right shoe (my right foot is slightly smaller than my left) irritates my forefoot sometimes. I’ll continue to wear these to work, but may look into some other minimalist shoes when they wear out and will run in my five fingers. ~Clay R