Merrell Men's Trail Glove 4 Runner

I've been a fan of Merrell Trail Gloves since I bought my first pair in 2012. Back then, I wanted a minimal shoe for everyday use and light walking. I tried the Vibram FiveFingers but quickly gave up on them because they sparked too many unwanted conversations and were too much of a hassle to keep clean (since you don't wear socks with them).After the FiveFinger experience, I was so glad I found the Merrell Trail Glove. They gave me the same barefoot feeling, but with a more standard look. They served me well for years until I finally needed to replace them. I then moved to the Trail Glove 3. The 3s were equally as good, though I did have to step down a half size. After a year and a half, and a lot more walking than previously, the 3s finally wore out.I tried looking for back-stock of the 3s, but couldn't find any in my size. So I reluctantly bought the Trail Glove 4. When I first put them on it was immediately apparent they weren't the same Trail Gloves that I loved so much. They were tighter, with a shallower toe box and a MUCH stiffer sole. I also didn't like the new lacing system. I almost returned it that day but wanted to give it some time. After a couple weeks of continued use, the uppers did break in a bit and now are more comfortable. But the stiffness issue remains.One of the things I loved about the original Trail Gloves, and barefoot shoes in general, is the way you can "feel" the surface you're walking on. It gives you a better sense of your surroundings and makes you feel connected with your environment. It's engaging to feel the textures of the surfaces you walk on (e.g., concrete sidewalk, asphalt roadway, dirt trail, etc.). With the Trail Gloves 4, that's no longer possible.On the positive side, if you're walking on a hard surface and you step on a small rock, it won't hurt as much. But with a minimal shoe, part of the experience is being aware of your path and stepping wisely.I'm fine with Merrell producing a shoe like this, but they should have given it a different name. The term "glove" indicates that it'll fit like one: be supple and not require any break in. The Merrell Trail Glove 4s are no longer that shoe, despite being stamped "barefoot".UPDATE (Mar 18, 2019)After about 200 miles of walking, mostly on sidewalks and not in the rain, the material on the uppers where the toe box flexes, has developed cracks (see pics). That material seems to have a couple layers, so it's not a structural issue (yet) but it does detract from their appearance.My Trail Glove 3s lasted 350miles, but only because the sole wore through—the uppers still looked fantastic when I retired them. With the 4s, I anticipate the opposite will be true, but we'll see after another 100 miles!

I've had the original Trail Glove, followed up by the Trail Glove 3. The first Trail Glove was the best. Initially, I was disappointed in the Trail Glove 3 because they added that strange wedge of arch support on the inside of the foot and it was a foreign feeling. I did, however, grow to like and appreciate the Trail Glove 3. The Trail Glove 4 is no exception. I like the changes they made to the shoe. The tongue, as opposed to being it's own separate piece, is now integrated into the shoe, so it's more like a flap. I have noticed the toe box has gotten narrower over the generations of Trail Glove. Though some don't like this, I still think the toe box gives my toes plenty of room to splay when I run. I like this new version of rugged tread on the sole, offered by the always reliable Vibram. Pictures posted of the TG3 and TG4 side-by-side for comparison.Though style much of a worry for most, I think these are definitely the most attractive looking Trail Gloves yet. I got mine in Vertical and they look so nice I almost don't want to get them dirty.As always, I am incredibly pleased with this Merrell product and it will continue to be my athletic shoe of choice. For those who are interested in minimalist running, you can't go wrong here.

I can't stress enough how awesome these shoes are. I drive a big brown truck (with a matching uniform) delivering mess all day. I'm walking anywhere from 5-12 miles a day for 8-14 hours. I started wearing these for their weight (lack thereof) and bc I hate boots. I've worn vibram toe shoes sprinting and while working out so my feet are used to being in a barefoot state for some time. Walking around all day, no matter my environment or weather, I have really enjoyed wearing these Glove 4s! Even if they do tend to hold a strong odor, yet somehow dry very quickly.

I have EE forefeet, but size D heels, and I prefer zero-drop, so I have to compromise. I have run in: VFFs, VivoBarefoot Neo Trails, New Balance Minimus Trail and MR00, and Merrell Vapor Gloves. When I can, I run barefoot on the beach at the waterline. The MR00s were my favorite road shoe until they went out of production. These are my favorite trail shoe so far. As others have stated, the sole is a bit stiff for a "minimalist" shoe, but they are zero drop and the benefit of the stiffness is protection on rocky trails. I have bruised the balls of my feet, so I appreciate the sole-armor. I hardly notice the stiffness when I am running in any case. The toebox is too small for me, but not uncomfortably so. It's probably fine for someone with a normal-width forefoot. My pinky toes get squeezed the most, but the rest are fine. With the 11.5mm stack, the heel end seems narrow enough to be unstable, but again, I don't notice it when I am running. The tread is going to wear out fast if I don't stay off the pavement. I wish they made a version with road tread.

I really wanted to like this shoe. Unfortunately, I found that the way the toe-box height tapers toward the tip of the shoe reduces the available space for your toes. Seen from the side you could imagine it's triangular/wedge-shaped as opposed to something more rectangular. As a result, the tops of my toes and toenails rubbed against the fabric upper, even though there was plenty of space until the end of the shoe.I returned them unused and so can't comment on what they're like to live with. I do, however, agree with the other reviewers that have complained about the raised arch in the outer sole: I can imagine this being a source of chafing and would be happy to see Merrell omit this feature in the next iteration of the shoe. Otherwise, I can say that the sole is flexible, the heel cup comfortable, and it looks a bit more "normal" than a Vapour Glove 3. It's a shame that the Trail Glove 3 which everyone raves about seems to be sold out absolutely everywhere!

Having had the trail glove 2&3 I bought these expecting similar results. The design has changed so the tongue is built into the shoe. This has the effect of making your foot feel like it’s continually being twisted. It may only be slightly, but I think there is less support in the heel than the previous versions. My biggest complaint is the toe bed. In previous iterations my toes have been able to splay out giving a more natural barefoot feel. The Trail Glove 4 feels much narrower and my feet have been riddled with blisters because of it.

I've found the trail glove to be a comfortable trail shoe which lets you feel the ground beneath you. The sole is thicker and has a slightly more cushioned feel than the vapor glove, which ensures running over a stone or branch doesn't feel too uncomfortable. As these shoes are designed to have a barefoot feel, they have a zero drop from heel to toe. So if you're used to running in shoes with a higher drop, which is typically most running shoes, it may take some time to adapt to these, but it is well worth it. The shoes wrap snugly around the foot. This is thanks to the flexible upper, the elasticated laces, and the contoured sole. This snug fit means the foot always feels secure in the shoe. This said, the toe box is nice and wide which gives your toes plenty of room to spread out when you're running and makes them extra comfortable. The grip on these appears to be more suited to dry trails. I have found them to perform well running through fields, woodland trails, hard gravel trails and road. I wouldn't consider using these on wet muddy trails as you'd probably end up spending most of your time on the floor. So far I've been on trail runs of up to 10 miles on these and have not had any problems and am seriously considering using them for marathon and ultra distances if they perform well over longer training runs. I think they're a great pair of shoes and certainly worth trying if you're curious. Even if you try them and don't get on with them for running, they're ultra comfy and great for walking around in, so if you can get a good deal on them in a subtle colour I'm sure you'll still get use out of them.

These shoes are really good, except for people with wide feet.If you are using a (.5) size be aware that there is an elastic running from the tongue to the side. This squeezes the foot and creates cramps. See the pic for the piece I'm referring to. It has taken me months to get the piece to stretch out enough to stop causing cramps. I still can't tighten the shoes properly though.I buy Merrell as the sizing works for me and this is the only shoe I've had this problem on.Outside of that though these shoes are great and perform as you would expect. They get a solid 4 stars.

I bough these to transition from standard trainers to barefoot running, I've been looking at them for a while and hesitating to buy them, but I'm so glad I did, my feet took a little time to get used to the lack of arches and inches of foam, but they are gradually getting used to the natural shape and building the strength to support me more naturally. The build and fit is good, nice and snug and they feel secure when put to the test.