Merrell Men's Vapor Glove 3 Trail Running Shoes

Product Information

For my size 10 model, the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 has a weight of 5.6 oz which puts on the lighter end for shoes built for outdoor and indoor use. This model’s mesh upper also breathes really well which is a nice perk of this shoe. In addition, the EVA foam insole and Vibram outsole are also composed of at least 30% recycled materials. If you care about the materials used in your shoes, then I think this will be a nice pro that comes with the Vapor Glove 6. Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Cons If you have a flat and wider midfoot, then I could see the sole of this model bothering you. To add to this, I think if you didn’t resonate with the fit of prior Merrell Vapor Glove shoes, then you’ll find this shoe follows suit with its fit. If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, drop a comment below and share what model you currently wear and I can help you out accordingly. Price Breakdown I did miss the burrito tongue closure sported by the trail Glove cousin but rest assured there is enough padding to offer protection and comfort without the bulk. Fit of the Merrel Vapor Glove 4

All that being said, if you want a shoe that has a budget-friendly price that can hold its own for more casual hikes and outdoor wear, but then also performs well in the gym, then I think the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 is a good option for you. Who Shouldn’t Invest In the Merrell Vapor Glove 6? Overall, though, I think the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 will excel in a wide range of hiking settings, especially in warmer months. I’ll likely use this shoe as I use the Vapor Glove 5 which is on hikes that have water crossings. If you have notably wide feet, then I would say tread lightly when looking into this shoe. This shoe should work for most, but again, if you have a flatter midfoot and arch, then you may not enjoy this shoe’s overall fit. The outsole also does a pretty good job of providing traction for different exercises. When doing things like kettlebell swings and walking lunges on different surfaces, I never had slip issues with this shoe.We like that the Vapor Glove is thoughtfully designed with the hope of an extended lifetime. Opting for abrasion-resistant Cordura mesh, the upper does a great job of balancing breathability and durability. Add in a substantial rubber toe rand and well-placed patches of TPU on the edges of the forefoot and around the heel cup, and you have a shoe with a long-lasting top half. I would however limit how much you’re running in this shoe on pavement if you want the lugs to last and hold up. For day-to-day use, I’ve enjoyed how easy this shoe is to slip on for longer dog walks. I just wish they looked a little more casual. Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Sizing Again, this shoe does remind me of a water shoe in many ways and I’ll definitely be using them this summer for my hikes that have creek crossings and for rainy or muddy excursions. My only gripe with this shoe for versatile training is that the little arch in the sole may be uncomfortable for some as they jump more due to the arch compressing and flexing throughout your training session. Testing the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 for Hiking, Short Runs, and Daily Wear

On top of this, you may want to pass on this shoe if you’re wanting a model for functional fitness or for road running. The thinner sole and lightweight mesh upper may not be the most durable for these training contexts as well. Performance Assessment On top of this, they have a good level of breathability, so if you’re doing something like HIIT or athletic-style sessions in warmer settings then I don’t think your feel will run overly hot in this model. Another thing that I think is both positive and negative about this shoe is its width. For narrow and neutral-width feet, I think you’ll enjoy the amount of room you get in the toe box for toe splay as it’s spacious but it doesn’t feel like it’s too much.Despite these concerns, I never really noticed a huge detrimental impact on my running and I even suspect the slight differences in design from other barefoot shoes helped strengthen the little bones and muscles in my feet even further. Lower marks for the initial hassles for an otherwise great fit. Gait Cycle Performance However, I think if you’re wanting a barefoot shoe that you can wear to train and hike in and wear more formally, then you may have a hard time doing so in this shoe. You might want to look into something like the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG. Since these shoes are designed to be highly versatile, I wanted to put them to the test in a wide range of use contexts to help shed light on where they excel and where they fall short. For short runs and daily wear, this model has also performed pretty well. I think the Vibram outsole should hold up fairly well over time and I have yet to see any durability issues with this model.

In wider barefoot shoes, you can sometimes slide when their width doesn’t align with your foot anatomy, so this model should be perfect for narrow and neutral-width feet. For wide feet, these should work, but I don’t think they’re the best option for notably wide feet. Testing the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 for Versatile Training The ground feel is similar to the Vibram V-Alpha’s if you are looking for a closed toe shoe that keeps the excellent proprioception offered by this style of sole. On top of this, the sole also articulates pretty well so if you want a barefoot shoe that has a nice level of flexibility, then I think you’ll enjoy how the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 performs for lifting.As you would expect in a minimalist shoe, there's not much to talk about in the 3mm insole other than the fact that it's stitched into the shoe and therefore unremovable. Normally a traditional lace closure with such a minimal upper is room for concern, however, the Cordura mesh is uber strong and offers exceptional breathability. I did notice that the front half of the foot has a slightly muted proprioception during foot strike and toe-off with the closed toe when compared to a Vibram Fivefinger and having free little piggies. Merrell Vapor Glove 4 is a commendable minimalist, zero-drop trainer that exceeds at providing the right amount of protection and proprioception.