This is a great overall trail shoe. Right out of the box this shoe felt great. For me the toe box has the right amount of room. The heel feels good but the the fit around the ankle could be a bit more snug. I don't like to have to tighten the laces too much to compensate for this issue. The only time where this really becomes a problem is in the mud. The traction and grip of the sole are great. The weight,depth,width and overall protection of the shoe are perfect for any long run. I am able to maneuver quite well through the rocks and roots without getting hung unlike some of the other shoes I have worn that are designed like a snow shoe for stabity. I'm a big fan. By the way the do produce am audible sqeak when you walk. To fix this problem,don't walk.

Just keep running!

The Mercury's are a very comfortable and protective shoe. The toebox is wide and has a good bumper, which combined protects well against toe stubs on rocks and stuff. The fit is good overall except I do feel that the heel is wide. I've also used the Blur and found the fit of that shoe's heel to be a bit more narrow. I used the Mercury recently to run the entire Massanutten 100 mile ultra race. This race is known for its rocky trails. I thought the Mercury was very protective against the rocks. The only downside was that I thought the shoes took a long time to dry out after they got wet.

The Vasque Mercury lands squarely between two of my other favorites, the Vasque Endorphin and the North Face Prophecy. Both the soles and the uppers of the Prophecy are very light, it fits well and feels very good for casual walking. The Endorphin has a relatively heavy sole and light uppers. My foot feels far more protected on rough trails and rocks. The Endorphin also boasts excellent traction. The Mercury, by comparison, has a light sole and a somewhat heavy and more stiff upper. You may need to break these in a bit. They offer light weight and very good control, but would not be my first choice on rocky trails. A plus is the reflective inserts. Night walkers will notice cars giving them a wider berth. These have a more urban sensibility in function and appearance. Try them out.

I love Vasque hiking boats and have two pair. These trail running shoes seemed like a good deal for the money but as I read in other reviews they squeaked when you walk in them and yes they did!! I had to return these shoes because the squeak was just to much form me while walking around in them. I think they were well built but not sure where the squeak was coming from. If you are going to use these shoes just for trail running then maybe the squeak will not bother you!