Merrell

Trail Glove 7 Running Shoe - Men's

Decent midsole with abrasion resistant toe box.

The ideal barefoot trail running shoe for soil cement / gravel trails, people who don't drag their feet, and so and so on. If you have to run in an area that sometimes has thick underbrush, and uneven terrain, often a variation of the Moab / Moab Speed is a better choice. This is also good as a casual running shoe for 10KM loops / tracks, given the area around the toe box wouldn't get wet easily, if you were wearing 100% impermeable rain pants, gaiters, two pairs of socks, and some Body Glide / anti chafe on your toes and heel. It won't last as long as the Moab obviously, as it doesn't have the reinforced heel, even though it has arch support via the midsole, but it cost far less money, so definitely not a bad deal at all. It doesn't have to be 100% waterproof, given breathability is a very big concern ( though I don't like it as much as the old Chameleon line, although these have a 14mm / shorter drop as they are for barefoot running, and they would probably do better in very hot weather. ) I can agree with myself, that this is definitely not a shoe for tap dancing, doing heavy farm work, or biking. If there were alternatives, from personal experience, I would suggest another Wolverine Worldwide brand that has Goodyear Welt stitching, either an 8" oil / chemical resistant transitional boot, a logger's boot, an ironworker's boot, or something with a ripple sole for steep muddy clay embankments. An EVA wedge outsole with Polyester / Nylon Goodyear Welt stitching is better for people who want ultra low replacement costs at the entry level bracket. Over the long term though, it would be far more expensive than a boot with a Vibram sole ( with heavy use, you'd have to resole frequently, so the cost goes up. )

Good looking shoes

Bought them more for looks and not for running. Wear them to work and dates with wife. I run either in sandals or barefoot.

Perfect, but wears out FAST!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

9

Height:

5' 8"

Weight:

145

They run BIG first off, (I wear size 10 for Nike shoes but a 9 was perfect for these). They are the best fitting all around do anything shoes i've ever had. However, I do a fair bit of sidewalk walking with my dog and the heal is nearly worn out after less than 6 months. The tread blocks are too small I suspect and wear quickly especially in the heel (i'm a heel striker but this wear is far greater than with other shoes i've had). The tread blocks are also small enough that on a damp trail they get filled with earth and become slicks (I wear full on hiking shoes when I expect conditions like this). I love these shoes so much, just wish the tread was a little more chunky to last longer. If you do dry dirt trails these would be perfect.

Great for Green Environments

Very light shoes for daily walks in green environments but not for urban walking. Very little material design on the inside so wear thick socks for maximum comfort. Tread, style, and color choices is typical reason to buy this Merrell shoe.

Very comfy from the start

Enjoy them a lot. First barefoot shoe. Will buy again.

The perfect shoe - a real keeper!!

As a lover of barefoot shoes with a bit of cushioning, I have been hoping Merrell would go back to producing a zero-drop shoe with a 14mm stack height (as they did years ago). The more popular stack heights of 3mm and 6mm don't offer enough protection for walking fast on sidewalks. Merrell seems to have listened to my dreams because the Trail Glove 7 is the near perfect shoe for me. Not only does it have the 14 mm stack height with zero drop that I was looking for, but in addition the 2.5 mm lug sole on the bottom makes the shoe rugged without loss of flexibility. I bought two pairs (in men's because I didn't like the women's pastel colors, men's 7.5 works for my women's size 9 feet although it took a couple tries to figure that out). I love the two colors I picked: pine/gum and nutshell/dazzle. I use both of my Trail Glove (TG) 7 shoes all the time - for everything from a walk into town to hiking on trails. They feel like an extension of my feet. Right out of the box they felt like I had been wearing them for years. They are soft, light, easily bendable, barefoot-ish and yet slip-proof and gently supportive. I hope Merrell makes this in fall colors, keeps this line going, and gets beyond the pastels for women. It would be great to have this exact shoe in a more waterproof material for winter. A heavenly shoe. (I am 65 and live in the Pacific Northwest; I bought one pair of TG 7 from REI and the other from the Merrell site online.)

Versatile

I love this shoe, I bought a second pair in a different color. It fits as expected. It’s a very light and extremely versatile shoe. If I bring one pair of shoes on vacation, it’s these. I can use them at the gym, playing various sports, walking around, all kinds of hiking, etc. I’ll likely buy a 3rd pair soon, highly recommend.

They do not last at all. VERY weak threading.

I tried to get into this barefoot hysteria, but my feet were having none of it after 30+ miles. So now they are destined to become house slippers. I forded creeks and slammed them into jagged sharp rock without a single complaint, the soles are great. The tread has held up admirably but the threads holding the laces have already begun to fall apart. My right shoe threads are literally falling apart in multiple areas. I would not recommend these to anyone wishing more than a month of use. I bought these at a Merrell store near me a month ago and might try to do an exchange. Junk.

Best shoe yet

This is by far the most comfortable shoe I’ve owned. I’ve found the perfect shoe for my feet. I have an arch so the zero drop stuff isn’t all that comfortable for me, this shoe is minimal but has nice arch support. I bought 3 different pairs and now can’t go back and wear previous versions of the trail glove as they are too constricting and aren’t nearly as comfortable as this shoe.

Better than expected

Having previously owned Xero Barefoot sandals and subsequently witnessed them fall to pieces after only 6 months use, I was hesitant to look at barefoot style shoes again. A friend of mine recommended I try them again, he was raving about his pair of Trail Glove 4’s on the Cape Raoul hike. So I tried them on in store for size, having read others reviews I figured that would be the best idea to ensure I get the right size, and then ordered online. I ordered a US size 12 men’s. For size comparison, I previously wore US size 11 men’s Nike Trainers for dry hikes. The fit is superb and I have been easing my way into them. I like how they have a slightly thicker sole than your hardcore barefoot shoe and I think those who recommended them for beginners are spot on. I’ve been enjoying them so far, the way they hug the ankle with a ‘runners loop’ and how spacious the toe box feels. I look forward to testing their grip on the Cradle Mountain, Mount Amos & Murchison Summit hikes. I’m confident they will outperform my old shoes.