Customer Reviews Merrell Trail Glove 7

I love these shoes. They are light and super pliant - like being barefoot, but with support!

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 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 really like the barefoot feel with the right amount of support. The wide toe box lets my toes breathe maintaining a balanced stance.

Very comfortable on hikes. Sole very secure on the trails in these rocky and gravelly national parks.

I was reluctant to try the Trail Glove 7 because the previous version had lost it barefoot "feel". (I was very unhappy about that fact because the TG4 were my favorite shoe). I'm happy to report that the new model is once again the trail shoe I have been missing.

Very light weight - I love the fact that I can slip my foot in or out without having to tie. They are also very grippy.

Really like these shoes. They are comfortable and look good on my feet. True to size.

One of the better iterations of the Trail Glove to come along in awhile! No oversized arch support, no gimmicky lacing, no complex outer sole -- just a simple, plain comfortable shoe. I think the sizing issue may come down to your toes i.e. I have Morton's toe (second toe longer than the big toe) so the shoe for me fits true to size. If you have more normal feet I suspect the half size down recommendation may provide a better fit. The only thing I'd change is to move the top lace over point distally 1/4" as it can irritate my ankle on occasion.

4th pair over many years. Best ever. VERY comfortable.

I absolutely love the barefoot shoes and they just keep getting better. The most comfortable shoe I own.

So far, shoes are great! Me and my shoe are currently on a 48 day cruise. Lots of excursions. Sure the will hold up under pressure.

The shoes are perfect for everything. Traveling, fitness center, and mountain hiking. Especially for hot days it's the perfect match.

Phenomenal shoes. Extremely comfortable. Good for tennis, walking around town or trail walking. One of the most comfortable running shoes I ever had. Remarkable.

Had always worn the trail gloves for the last 10+ years. These versions seem really great. Love the look, wide toe box. And just enough cushion that the trail gloves typically offer. These feel like a return to the classic trail gloves that people love. I've tried Altra, Nike, Solomon, but these are really great. Come out with a high top version for hiking Merrel!

My new Trail Glove 7's are my 27th pair. The latest updates and tweaks are readily apparent. The fit and feel could be the best of all the pairs I have worn. The new tread design and wraps really do make my runs feel smoother and stable. I run on a combination of crushed granite gravel trails, concrete, and asphalt surfaces in the middle of Houston. Keep up the good work! Thanks!

Awesome shoe! I started running with the Trail Glove 4. Trails and road running. I've never looked back. I never get blisters, I've never had a toenail fall off, and my feet never go numb for running long distances. I've done a 50 mile trail run in the trail gloves and I've run numerous road marathons. If you're on the fence about the shoe's, just give them a shot. So far I've loved every new version and every new alteration made to the shoe. Can't wait for the Trail Glove 8, whenever that may be!

Love my Merrells! My third pair from this line! The oldies still work for yard work! Great fit great feel. Light but still good for meduim terrain. And they look great! Q

This is the culmination of the best features of the legacy trail glove iterations into an incredibly comfortable and capable package. The new sole is super grippy/sticky, reminiscent of those fancy gloves that pro football receivers wear (make contact and it sticks!) AMAZING!

Comfortable and aesthetic. Well cushioned. This is not a "barefoot shoe" and, thus, provides limited ground feel, but appears to have zero heel drop and adequate toe space. Durability is unknown as I've only been wearing them for an about 4 months, daily and have noted significant sole wear.

A little more support and structure than other barefoot shoes. Makes them great for long hikes.

I can use for walking and even run on concrete/pavement. It has just enough cushioning to preserve barefoot feel but still be gentle on your feet. I can use on harder surface longer vs my Vapour Glove 6.

I live in Florida so I needed comfy shoes for work, playing my drums, hiking and going to the beach. I really dig them right now!

Primarily used for weight lifting and recovery runs. Great ground feel. As mentioned, a bit more cushion than previous versions, but it is better for me.

RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, I wore these shoes to an 3-day music party! Last weekend, Phish rocked Atlanta and we danced for 3 days straight and my feet never bothered me for a second! I'm a big dude and this is my 3rd pair of Trail Gloves and i'm sure they won't be the last! Super shoes for a reasonable price! 10/10 5-stars! Would definitely recommend!

Put them on and my feet loved them. Im trying to break into "barefoot" shoes and they are amazing so far. Great fit and grip . Would recomend using a lacrosse ball on your foot just before you get them to stretch your foot and strengthen it.