With the Trail Glove 7, Merrell remains the frontrunner in the barefoot category. Key innovations include more natural foot positioning for a truly minimalist feel, a Vibram EcoStep outsole that hugs the foot for maximum support, and a minimalist midsole made from our best FloatPro foam. The total height of these shoes is 14 mm. Run barefoot with the Trail Glove 7.
With the Trail Glove 7, Merrell remains the frontrunner in the barefoot category. Key innovations include more natural foot positioning for a truly minimalist feel, a Vibram EcoStep outsole that hugs the foot for maximum support, and a minimalist midsole made from our best FloatPro foam. The total height of these shoes is 14 mm. Run barefoot with the Trail Glove 7.
in 1 offers
The lowest price for Merrell Trail Glove 7| AfterPay Available right now is $160.50.
Prices last updated 13 Mar 2025.
Merrell Trail Glove 7| AfterPay Available
With the Trail Glove 7, Merrell remains the frontrunner in the barefoot category. Key innovations include more natural foot positioning for a truly minimalist feel, a Vibram EcoStep outsole that hugs the foot for maximum support, and a minimalist midsole made from our best FloatPro foam. The total height of these shoes is 14 mm. Run barefoot with the Trail Glove 7.
With the Trail Glove 7, Merrell remains the frontrunner in the barefoot category. Key innovations include more natural foot positioning for a truly minimalist feel, a Vibram EcoStep outsole that hugs the foot for maximum support, and a minimalist midsole made from our best FloatPro foam. The total height of these shoes is 14 mm. Run barefoot with the Trail Glove 7.
Last updated at 13/03/2025 12:45:52
originally posted on merrell.com
Okay here me out. All the 4/5 star reviews must have never tried any version past the 5 cause they don't know how could it could be. I've been using the trail glove since the 3rd, when I was younger I ripped my calves using traditional running shoes. Merrells barefoot minamilist trail glove was the solution that brought me relief and I could finally run again.Barefoot shoes are a slow slog to restrengthen your muscles but it's worth it. The 3 was a good entry it fit to your foot well and was great on the trail even as just a walking shoe and served me well, the trail glove 4 was the pinnacle. The shoe that truly got me back into long distance trails, it felt like a slipper you could feel everything and the overall design looked amazing I went through 1500km in my ... MoreOkay here me out. All the 4/5 star reviews must have never tried any version past the 5 cause they don't know how could it could be. I've been using the trail glove since the 3rd, when I was younger I ripped my calves using traditional running shoes. Merrells barefoot minamilist trail glove was the solution that brought me relief and I could finally run again.Barefoot shoes are a slow slog to restrengthen your muscles but it's worth it. The 3 was a good entry it fit to your foot well and was great on the trail even as just a walking shoe and served me well, the trail glove 4 was the pinnacle. The shoe that truly got me back into long distance trails, it felt like a slipper you could feel everything and the overall design looked amazing I went through 1500km in my first pair before they couldn't go no more. I'm originally from nz so these shoes come late and leave early so I had to improvise and try and find somewhere that will ship to nz even at a ridiculous cost. The knit 4 looked like it was the pinnacle of pinnacles but alas Noone would ship it and I never got to experience it's brilliance.The trail glove 5, not as good as the 4 but a solid shoe. I went through 4 pairs each doing somewhere between 1000 - 1200kms before being retired to walking shoes these shoes took me on ultras with no worries and interested looks from other runners. These stayed on shelves only a little longer then the 4 before the 5 came along. The 6 was a disappointment the tread design was interesting and the lace up system changed and increased pading and stability wearing them in was painful compared to the others, my first pair only did 300km if that before being retired due to the tread being ripped off from the usual trails I took my 5. The living systems on the 6 was difficult to get into even when worn down. They fit down a size compared to the previous but overall I tried to like them.Now the 7. I didn't even know they released a new version as nz dosnt even know cause we just got the 6!! Reimagined design, tread similar to other barefoot on the market. Support gone... it looks almost like the trail glove 4 knit.. could it be. No a massive disappointment so much so that I went and got another 6!! Ste toebox is a swamp I have to go down 2 sizes to try and make it fit nicely the tread slips and slides on all terrain cause the shoe doesn't mold nicely to your foot it's like a oversized diving shoe that's filled with water. I guess I'll have to wait for the 8 but the way they're going merrell might just cut the shoe from their line up and I'll have to find a new barefoot shoe.Just bring back the trail glove 4 you know every trail glove lover will buy several pairs to last them a lifetime.
originally posted on merrell.com
Merrell Barfoot Shoes are the Best Barefoot shoe out there hands down. I made the switch to the barefoot shoe lifestyle about 12 years ago and have never looked back. I tried a few other brands that claim to be barefoot along the way, but nothing has ever compared to the Merrell Barefoot series in comfort and function. Make no mistake I only wear either the Trail or the Vapor glove in what ever I do; So these guys are on my feet everyday from work (Office & Jobsite), to training at the gym, on the trails, road runs, races, tri-Athlons, adventure races, playing sports, playing with my kids, coaching, hanging out, going out, what ever the occasion these are my go to shoes. Barefoot is more than a shoe style it is a lifestyle choice. It will change your feet, ... MoreMerrell Barfoot Shoes are the Best Barefoot shoe out there hands down. I made the switch to the barefoot shoe lifestyle about 12 years ago and have never looked back. I tried a few other brands that claim to be barefoot along the way, but nothing has ever compared to the Merrell Barefoot series in comfort and function. Make no mistake I only wear either the Trail or the Vapor glove in what ever I do; So these guys are on my feet everyday from work (Office & Jobsite), to training at the gym, on the trails, road runs, races, tri-Athlons, adventure races, playing sports, playing with my kids, coaching, hanging out, going out, what ever the occasion these are my go to shoes. Barefoot is more than a shoe style it is a lifestyle choice. It will change your feet, strengthen your ankles, lower calf muscles, adjust your stride, etc. back to what it was meant to be before we all started wearing shoes with heals so thick that you can't feel the ground you are walking on and have so much cushion that it causes heel strikes when you run. Since changing to barefoot shoes and correcting my running posture I have never had the likes of shin splints or any real foot/lower leg pains again, Once you get thru the initial use of your foot, ankle, calf stability muscles that you don't use in the "traditional" athletic shoe... They will be sore for the first few weeks as you restart to use the muscles that you have not been using since you were a toddler... It is smooth sailing and you will not want to turn back to those old overly padded ways again. So just my 2 cents for whom ever wants its, but once you go Barefoot you will not want to go back.
originally posted on REI
As a big Merrell brand fan which are every version of my daily, hiking, fishing, and now running sneaker I wanted to get into a more "minimalist" sneaker for running & functional strength building versus the 5 inch foam sneakers that are so popular. Turning to Merrell Trail Glove was a great entry, although it did take some time (and some hurt) to work up to a consistent 3-6 mile run in these I am very confident it's 100% worth it! They are awesome for every day wear as well and I've gotten so used to them, putting back on another different type of Merrell sneaker with thicker soles just feels "off" and not right. So I really do like these sneakers.One Huge problem with them... durability! Like I said, I worked my way up to 3 / 6 mile runs but this was over a ... MoreAs a big Merrell brand fan which are every version of my daily, hiking, fishing, and now running sneaker I wanted to get into a more "minimalist" sneaker for running & functional strength building versus the 5 inch foam sneakers that are so popular. Turning to Merrell Trail Glove was a great entry, although it did take some time (and some hurt) to work up to a consistent 3-6 mile run in these I am very confident it's 100% worth it! They are awesome for every day wear as well and I've gotten so used to them, putting back on another different type of Merrell sneaker with thicker soles just feels "off" and not right. So I really do like these sneakers.One Huge problem with them... durability! Like I said, I worked my way up to 3 / 6 mile runs but this was over a little time. In about 3 months I put an estimated 430 miles on them. For these Trail Glove sneakers that carry the name Merrell which to me (at least) means quality, rugged and long lasting to wear a silver dollar sized hole right through the right heel means something is off with this shoe. Super disappointing here, I've never worn a sneaker out that quick and never so unevenly.For me, to transition into a "barefoot" shoe these were absolutely worth it. I think other shoes of this type might have been a little harsher for the initial intro into this style of foot wear. But learning my lesson on how quick they were to wear I will be searching for something different, hopefully I can stay within the Merrell fam again.
Okay here me out. All the 4/5 star reviews must have never tried any version past the 5 cause they don't know how could it could be. I've been using the trail glove since the 3rd, when I was younger I ripped my calves using traditional running shoes. Merrells barefoot minamilist trail glove was the solution that brought me relief and I could finally run again.Barefoot shoes are a slow slog to restrengthen your muscles but it's worth it. The 3 was a good entry it fit to your foot well and was great on the trail even as just a walking shoe and served me well, the trail glove 4 was the pinnacle. The shoe that truly got me back into long distance trails, it felt like a slipper you could feel everything and the overall design looked amazing I went through 1500km in my ... MoreOkay here me out. All the 4/5 star reviews must have never tried any version past the 5 cause they don't know how could it could be. I've been using the trail glove since the 3rd, when I was younger I ripped my calves using traditional running shoes. Merrells barefoot minamilist trail glove was the solution that brought me relief and I could finally run again.Barefoot shoes are a slow slog to restrengthen your muscles but it's worth it. The 3 was a good entry it fit to your foot well and was great on the trail even as just a walking shoe and served me well, the trail glove 4 was the pinnacle. The shoe that truly got me back into long distance trails, it felt like a slipper you could feel everything and the overall design looked amazing I went through 1500km in my first pair before they couldn't go no more. I'm originally from nz so these shoes come late and leave early so I had to improvise and try and find somewhere that will ship to nz even at a ridiculous cost. The knit 4 looked like it was the pinnacle of pinnacles but alas Noone would ship it and I never got to experience it's brilliance.The trail glove 5, not as good as the 4 but a solid shoe. I went through 4 pairs each doing somewhere between 1000 - 1200kms before being retired to walking shoes these shoes took me on ultras with no worries and interested looks from other runners. These stayed on shelves only a little longer then the 4 before the 5 came along. The 6 was a disappointment the tread design was interesting and the lace up system changed and increased pading and stability wearing them in was painful compared to the others, my first pair only did 300km if that before being retired due to the tread being ripped off from the usual trails I took my 5. The living systems on the 6 was difficult to get into even when worn down. They fit down a size compared to the previous but overall I tried to like them.Now the 7. I didn't even know they released a new version as nz dosnt even know cause we just got the 6!! Reimagined design, tread similar to other barefoot on the market. Support gone... it looks almost like the trail glove 4 knit.. could it be. No a massive disappointment so much so that I went and got another 6!! Ste toebox is a swamp I have to go down 2 sizes to try and make it fit nicely the tread slips and slides on all terrain cause the shoe doesn't mold nicely to your foot it's like a oversized diving shoe that's filled with water. I guess I'll have to wait for the 8 but the way they're going merrell might just cut the shoe from their line up and I'll have to find a new barefoot shoe.Just bring back the trail glove 4 you know every trail glove lover will buy several pairs to last them a lifetime.
Merrell Barfoot Shoes are the Best Barefoot shoe out there hands down. I made the switch to the barefoot shoe lifestyle about 12 years ago and have never looked back. I tried a few other brands that claim to be barefoot along the way, but nothing has ever compared to the Merrell Barefoot series in comfort and function. Make no mistake I only wear either the Trail or the Vapor glove in what ever I do; So these guys are on my feet everyday from work (Office & Jobsite), to training at the gym, on the trails, road runs, races, tri-Athlons, adventure races, playing sports, playing with my kids, coaching, hanging out, going out, what ever the occasion these are my go to shoes. Barefoot is more than a shoe style it is a lifestyle choice. It will change your feet, ... MoreMerrell Barfoot Shoes are the Best Barefoot shoe out there hands down. I made the switch to the barefoot shoe lifestyle about 12 years ago and have never looked back. I tried a few other brands that claim to be barefoot along the way, but nothing has ever compared to the Merrell Barefoot series in comfort and function. Make no mistake I only wear either the Trail or the Vapor glove in what ever I do; So these guys are on my feet everyday from work (Office & Jobsite), to training at the gym, on the trails, road runs, races, tri-Athlons, adventure races, playing sports, playing with my kids, coaching, hanging out, going out, what ever the occasion these are my go to shoes. Barefoot is more than a shoe style it is a lifestyle choice. It will change your feet, strengthen your ankles, lower calf muscles, adjust your stride, etc. back to what it was meant to be before we all started wearing shoes with heals so thick that you can't feel the ground you are walking on and have so much cushion that it causes heel strikes when you run. Since changing to barefoot shoes and correcting my running posture I have never had the likes of shin splints or any real foot/lower leg pains again, Once you get thru the initial use of your foot, ankle, calf stability muscles that you don't use in the "traditional" athletic shoe... They will be sore for the first few weeks as you restart to use the muscles that you have not been using since you were a toddler... It is smooth sailing and you will not want to turn back to those old overly padded ways again. So just my 2 cents for whom ever wants its, but once you go Barefoot you will not want to go back.
As a big Merrell brand fan which are every version of my daily, hiking, fishing, and now running sneaker I wanted to get into a more "minimalist" sneaker for running & functional strength building versus the 5 inch foam sneakers that are so popular. Turning to Merrell Trail Glove was a great entry, although it did take some time (and some hurt) to work up to a consistent 3-6 mile run in these I am very confident it's 100% worth it! They are awesome for every day wear as well and I've gotten so used to them, putting back on another different type of Merrell sneaker with thicker soles just feels "off" and not right. So I really do like these sneakers.One Huge problem with them... durability! Like I said, I worked my way up to 3 / 6 mile runs but this was over a ... MoreAs a big Merrell brand fan which are every version of my daily, hiking, fishing, and now running sneaker I wanted to get into a more "minimalist" sneaker for running & functional strength building versus the 5 inch foam sneakers that are so popular. Turning to Merrell Trail Glove was a great entry, although it did take some time (and some hurt) to work up to a consistent 3-6 mile run in these I am very confident it's 100% worth it! They are awesome for every day wear as well and I've gotten so used to them, putting back on another different type of Merrell sneaker with thicker soles just feels "off" and not right. So I really do like these sneakers.One Huge problem with them... durability! Like I said, I worked my way up to 3 / 6 mile runs but this was over a little time. In about 3 months I put an estimated 430 miles on them. For these Trail Glove sneakers that carry the name Merrell which to me (at least) means quality, rugged and long lasting to wear a silver dollar sized hole right through the right heel means something is off with this shoe. Super disappointing here, I've never worn a sneaker out that quick and never so unevenly.For me, to transition into a "barefoot" shoe these were absolutely worth it. I think other shoes of this type might have been a little harsher for the initial intro into this style of foot wear. But learning my lesson on how quick they were to wear I will be searching for something different, hopefully I can stay within the Merrell fam again.
The latest redesign is not an improvement. The sole and arch are fine. The Oyster/Gum color combo is aesthetic and trendy. The ankle room is much smaller and the tongue is much longer. It rides well up my ankle almost to my shin. I am a women's 10.5 and I've been buying Trail Gloves for years, so I know my barefoot size. I was advised to order a size smaller as these allegedly run large, but I tried a 10 and even a 10.5 and still they were small, with that tongue that came up and rubbed my shin. I didn't bother trying the 11 because the new construction was just not to my liking. I would say these run small, and the ankle room is much diminished, and the tongue design is silly. Additionally, these are confirmed to be a vegan-friendly design, however this feature is ... MoreThe latest redesign is not an improvement. The sole and arch are fine. The Oyster/Gum color combo is aesthetic and trendy. The ankle room is much smaller and the tongue is much longer. It rides well up my ankle almost to my shin. I am a women's 10.5 and I've been buying Trail Gloves for years, so I know my barefoot size. I was advised to order a size smaller as these allegedly run large, but I tried a 10 and even a 10.5 and still they were small, with that tongue that came up and rubbed my shin. I didn't bother trying the 11 because the new construction was just not to my liking. I would say these run small, and the ankle room is much diminished, and the tongue design is silly. Additionally, these are confirmed to be a vegan-friendly design, however this feature is not listed anywhere in its description or materials and therefore does not populate in the results for a keyword search on the site. I had to call and speak with a very nice representative to confirm if it maintained the veg-friendly construction. Why not include it in the materials description so that it can be found in your search results? I would not have even known the 7 had been released if not for an online ad after I re-ordered the 6, because I only search for vegan shoes. Customer Service was top notch in helping me exchange the 6 for the 7 and eventually returning both sizes.
This is without question the worst Merrell "Glove" (Barefoot shoe) I've ever tried. I have half a dozen different Merrell barefoot shoes and the Vapor Glove 3 Luna Leather is my all-time favorite shoe. This shoe, however, does not deserver to be called a "Barefoot" shoe. It has basically abandoned everything that made Merrell Barefoot shoes good. To put it simply, this is not a minimalist shoe, it doesn't belong in the Barefoot/Glove line, and it leaves me thinking that Merrell has decided to focus on fashion over function.First, the toe box. Look closely at the Trail Glove 6 and what you'll notice is that it doesn't match the shape of the traditional Merrell Barefoot shoes. Instead, it looks like any of their other narrow, fashion-oriented shoes that is ... MoreThis is without question the worst Merrell "Glove" (Barefoot shoe) I've ever tried. I have half a dozen different Merrell barefoot shoes and the Vapor Glove 3 Luna Leather is my all-time favorite shoe. This shoe, however, does not deserver to be called a "Barefoot" shoe. It has basically abandoned everything that made Merrell Barefoot shoes good. To put it simply, this is not a minimalist shoe, it doesn't belong in the Barefoot/Glove line, and it leaves me thinking that Merrell has decided to focus on fashion over function.First, the toe box. Look closely at the Trail Glove 6 and what you'll notice is that it doesn't match the shape of the traditional Merrell Barefoot shoes. Instead, it looks like any of their other narrow, fashion-oriented shoes that is anatomically incorrect and does not provide adequate space or shape for the human foot.Secondly, the extreme tightness around the arch. I could barely get my foot into the shoe, even after sizing up, and it was still incredibly uncomfortable. Probably among the most uncomfortable shoe I've put on my foot in the last ~5 years. Anyone who's worn any minimalist shoe is going to find this bizarre and unnatural.Thirdly, this is an incredibly stiff and inflexible shoe. There is no meaningful ground feel here. Don't get me wrong, I understand that trail running shoes typically have a little extra padding to protect feet on rough trails, but this goes way beyond that. Once again, this is just not in any way a minimalist shoe.Lastly is the overall narrowness of this shoe. Any good minimalist or barefoot shoe will have a shape that generally follows the natural shape of a human foot. This shoe doesn't. It looks more like a pair of Chucks with their incredibly narrow, rounded-point toe. These are not just narrow for Barefoot shoes, these are narrow for any shoes. That's a bad thing in general, but it's completely unforgivable in a minimalist shoe.This is the first time since Merrell introduced their Barefoot line that I've been disappointed. Not just in the shoe, but in Merrell, too.
This is without question the worst Merrell "Glove" (Barefoot shoe) I've ever tried.I have half a dozen different Merrell barefoot shoes and the Vapor Glove 3 Luna Leather is my all-time favorite shoe. This shoe, however, does not deserver to be called a "Barefoot" shoe. It has basically abandoned everything that made Merrell Barefoot shoes good. To put it simply, this is not a minimalist shoe, it doesn't belong in the Barefoot/Glove line, and it leaves me thinking that Merrell has decided to focus on fashion over function.First, the toe box. Look closely at the Trail Glove 6 and what you'll notice is that it doesn't match the shape of the traditional Merrell Barefoot shoes. Instead, it looks like any of their other narrow, fashion-oriented shoes that is ... MoreThis is without question the worst Merrell "Glove" (Barefoot shoe) I've ever tried.I have half a dozen different Merrell barefoot shoes and the Vapor Glove 3 Luna Leather is my all-time favorite shoe. This shoe, however, does not deserver to be called a "Barefoot" shoe. It has basically abandoned everything that made Merrell Barefoot shoes good. To put it simply, this is not a minimalist shoe, it doesn't belong in the Barefoot/Glove line, and it leaves me thinking that Merrell has decided to focus on fashion over function.First, the toe box. Look closely at the Trail Glove 6 and what you'll notice is that it doesn't match the shape of the traditional Merrell Barefoot shoes. Instead, it looks like any of their other narrow, fashion-oriented shoes that is anatomically incorrect and does not provide adequate space or shape for the human foot.Secondly, the extreme tightness around the arch. I could barely get my foot into the shoe, even after sizing up, and it was still incredibly uncomfortable. Probably the most uncomfortable shoe I've put on my foot in the last ~5 years. Anyone who's worn any minimalist shoe is going to find this bizarre and unnatural.Thirdly, this is an incredibly stiff and inflexible shoe. There is no meaningful ground feel here. Don't get me wrong, I understand that trail running shoes typically have a little extra padding to protect feet on rough trails, but this goes way beyond that. Once again, this is just not in any way a minimalist shoe.Lastly is the overall narrowness of this shoe. Any good minimalist or barefoot shoe will have a shape that generally follows the natural shape of a human foot (see: earlier Merrell "Barefoot" shoes). This shoe doesn't. It looks more like a pair of Chucks with their incredibly narrow, rounded-point toe. These are not just narrow for Barefoot shoes, these are narrow for any shoes. That's a bad thing in general, but it's completely unforgivable in a minimalist shoe.This is the first time since Merrell introduced their Barefoot line that I've been disappointed. Not just in the shoe, but in Merrell, too.
I've had a saga with barefoot/minimalist runners and these are the only shoes I've found to date that work for my feet. They may not be for everyone--which is expressed in some of the other reviews--but thought I'd share my experience in case it's helpful for anyone.I switched to barefoot/minimalist running about 3.5 years ago due to a plantar fasciitis issue. My first minimalist shoe was the Trail Glove 6, and the plantar fasciitis went away in about 6 months with those shoes. I went through 2 pairs before Merrell discontinued them (though I know they can still be found) and released the 7. Reading some of the reviews and about some of the changes--particularly that the "barefoot" identification that Merrell put on the 6's was no longer on the 7's--I went looking ... MoreI've had a saga with barefoot/minimalist runners and these are the only shoes I've found to date that work for my feet. They may not be for everyone--which is expressed in some of the other reviews--but thought I'd share my experience in case it's helpful for anyone.I switched to barefoot/minimalist running about 3.5 years ago due to a plantar fasciitis issue. My first minimalist shoe was the Trail Glove 6, and the plantar fasciitis went away in about 6 months with those shoes. I went through 2 pairs before Merrell discontinued them (though I know they can still be found) and released the 7. Reading some of the reviews and about some of the changes--particularly that the "barefoot" identification that Merrell put on the 6's was no longer on the 7's--I went looking for other shoes. I knew that the 6's would eventually disappear forever, and wanted to find something that would work for me longterm. I tried Vivobarefoot, Xero, and Merrell's own Vapor Glove 7. The Vivobarefoot and Xero were too wide for my feet--I have quite narrow feet--and the Vapor Glove ended up being *too* minimalist and caused a new plantar fasciitis issue in my other foot.So I decided to give the Trail Glove 7 a try. I will say that they are not perfect, but after trying a variety of other "barefoot/minimalist" shoes, they're so far the only ones that work for me. Again, I have narrow feet. If you have wider feet, they might not work for you. I appreciate the protection from sharp stones, etc., and the stability that the thicker sole provides seems to be helping with my plantar fasciitis. If you really want that barefoot feel, these may not work for you. But for me at least they do still allow forefoot landing, which I find to be the primary factor in preventing and resolving injuries.I do also appreciate some of the changes that Merrell made with the 7, but other changes I don't love. I do like that the arch support has been reduced. I don't love the new tread design--which is basically the same as the Vapor Glove 7's now--but it works. I get the sense it may wear faster, though, than the 6's sole did, requiring more frequent replacement. The sole is also grippy in odd ways.Another change that seems to be present in the 7 is that it feels like there's a bit more heel than on the 6's. Not height, but girth. As I said above, they still allow for forefoot landing, but I have to concentrate on my overall running form a little more than I did with the 6's to achieve that. Finally, I also am less thrilled with the lace design on the 7's than on the 6's. The laces are super slippy now and it's hard to get them snug around the middle of the foot. I might try to resolve this issue by replacing the laces.Overall, I am satisfied with the Trail Glove 7. They are the only minimalist runners that I've found so far that work for my feet, allowing me to continue to run. And that's priceless.
I’ve been running in Trail Glove series shoes since 2011, and this new model of the shoe heralds the very first time I’ve experienced extreme discomfort while running in a pair of these once fantastic shoes.The first thing I noticed is that they run big, so I wore thicker socks, hoping to keep friction to a minimum, but no such luck. They shuffle around on my feet with every step, and don’t feel stable at all like my previous TGs, and I now get hot spots within a couple of miles. They don’t lace up as well as the older TGs, and the sole is WAY thicker, leaving me sort of bemused as to how they can still call this a barefoot shoe…The previous TG shoes ran true to size, did not move around on your feet, and I never once felt any discomfort, hot spots or blisters ... MoreI’ve been running in Trail Glove series shoes since 2011, and this new model of the shoe heralds the very first time I’ve experienced extreme discomfort while running in a pair of these once fantastic shoes.The first thing I noticed is that they run big, so I wore thicker socks, hoping to keep friction to a minimum, but no such luck. They shuffle around on my feet with every step, and don’t feel stable at all like my previous TGs, and I now get hot spots within a couple of miles. They don’t lace up as well as the older TGs, and the sole is WAY thicker, leaving me sort of bemused as to how they can still call this a barefoot shoe…The previous TG shoes ran true to size, did not move around on your feet, and I never once felt any discomfort, hot spots or blisters even on the longer runs. If I had known these shoes were going to become larger, bulkier and less comfortable, I’d have bought five or six pairs of TG 3,4 and 5, which were all far better running shoes than these uncomfortable and clunky things.I’m now headed out to the secondary market to see if I can find some new old stock TGs from the previous generations. If I can’t, then it’s clear that I need to start looking elsewhere for my running shoes, which really leaves me disappointed now.I’ve depended on this model for half my career to carry me through countless physical fitness tests, 5K, 10K and Cola Warrior races, and it darn near breaks my heart to leave them behind.Go back to the basics, Merrell, and please bring us some real barefoot shoes again!
The trail glove has lost its way. It started as a true minimalist shoe. It protected your feet and that’s about it. My first pair in 2011 lasted for 6 years, including training for and running a marathon plus 5-6 runs a week. I threw them out once the first hole appeared in the soles. I’ve purchased four pairs of trail gloves since that pair, each failing much faster and getting more and more bloated. The previous pair I purchased (5th generation) failed in a few months - the upper fabric disintegrated where the shoe flexes after two months of use. This latest pair, that I’m reviewing, is too new to speak to their longevity, but they are the least minimal trail glove I’ve owned. So far they are a fine shoe, but they aren’t a trail glove, they are something else. ... MoreThe trail glove has lost its way. It started as a true minimalist shoe. It protected your feet and that’s about it. My first pair in 2011 lasted for 6 years, including training for and running a marathon plus 5-6 runs a week. I threw them out once the first hole appeared in the soles. I’ve purchased four pairs of trail gloves since that pair, each failing much faster and getting more and more bloated. The previous pair I purchased (5th generation) failed in a few months - the upper fabric disintegrated where the shoe flexes after two months of use. This latest pair, that I’m reviewing, is too new to speak to their longevity, but they are the least minimal trail glove I’ve owned. So far they are a fine shoe, but they aren’t a trail glove, they are something else. It’s like if Honda put the civic badge on a minivan. It might be a fine vehicle, but it’s not what the civic has historically been. If I could go back to 2011 and purchase 10 more pairs of the original trail glove, I would. I doubt merrell will read this, or change anything if they do, but I’d love to see the trail glove find its roots again. If you want a minimalist running shoe with lots of extra fabric and rubber, this is fine, but if you want a true minimalist barefoot shoe, look elsewhere.
I have worn every version of the Trail Glove ever produced and been very pleased to this point. My Trail Gloves are used for many applications: hiking, running, lifting and everyday wear. I could not be more disappointed in version 6. I have given these every chance to break in (which none of the other generations required) but they are just not comfortable in any situation. The sole is very stiff and unresponsive, the shoe is so narrow that it actually pains my foot to wear after an hour or so. I have gutted these out for many months, but will be finding a new home for them. I see there is a version 7 out now but am very apprehensive to purchase given the design and function of version 6. Would very much like to see a return to fit, feel and function of versions 5 ... MoreI have worn every version of the Trail Glove ever produced and been very pleased to this point. My Trail Gloves are used for many applications: hiking, running, lifting and everyday wear. I could not be more disappointed in version 6. I have given these every chance to break in (which none of the other generations required) but they are just not comfortable in any situation. The sole is very stiff and unresponsive, the shoe is so narrow that it actually pains my foot to wear after an hour or so. I have gutted these out for many months, but will be finding a new home for them. I see there is a version 7 out now but am very apprehensive to purchase given the design and function of version 6. Would very much like to see a return to fit, feel and function of versions 5 and prior. Sadly, I think my time with Trail or Vapor Gloves and possibly Merrell is over for the time being as I do not want to spend another $100+ to find out if version 7 fit and preform well. Was unable to find and email to send feedback to, so hoping this review will suffice. Merrell, please return to the roots what a barefoot shoe should be, If I wanted something narrow and stiff we could purchase and of the other offerings. Apologies for the negative feedback, but hoping honest feedback will help with development and identifying customer trends and desires.
