Merrell Men's Trail Glove 5 Fitness Shoes

Product Information

Rather than a full-rubber toe rand, a slightly thicker layer of TPU protects the front of the shoe from abrasion and the potential of the mesh ripping, while also cutting down on weight. The knit upper of the Trail Glove 5 3D affords a lighter, sock-like feel compared to the regular laced version. Ben from Orange wrote a review of the product over at Snowys and describes the Trail Glove 5 as having an “intrusive arch” and suggests that “if you have very high arches then they may suit you”.

A newly widened forefoot that allows toes to splay, paired with a breathable TPU mesh upper construction, gives the shoe a truly barefoot sensation that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. While not the same, beloved barefoot-runner it was in past models, the Merrell Trail Glove 5 proves its merit as a minimalist trail running shoe. But for those of us who already have a comfortable amount of pronation in our gait, we found ourselves pushing back against it, and actually supinating — something that is not a normal part of our running posture. With the additions of a rock plate and a relatively stiff midsole that dictates foot movement, this new Trail Glove loses sight of its original intentions as a barefoot running shoe.

Coupled with a good merino sock your feet will remain warm and comfortable, but with good breathability.

A well-lugged outsole makes for a grippy ride through any trail conditions, which boosted our confidence in response to making quick adjustments to balance. As more of a minimalist, rather than barefoot design, the Trail Glove is one of the most versatile shoes in our review. I wore them pretty much everyday—to and from work (9-10km) and up in the Dandenongs or You Yangs or Brisbane Ranges at the weekend. With only 3mm of midsole between you and the ground, the Trail Glove 5 makes every last bit of it count.

Supportive, low-profile, lightweight, and grippy, this shoe boasts a list of attributes we seek out in responsive trail runners. To be sure, I have had some tendon issues with my right foot in the past so the agitation could be related to that.

I’ve noticed the soles are a little slippery on some tiles and footpath materials, but on slippery rocks they offer ample grip. Vibram rubber spans the entire length of the shoe, climbing far up the back of the heel where it meets a TPU heel counter. Created by studying the foot in motion, this trainer is designed to enhance the foot’s natural ability to stabilize the body during rapid changes in movement.

But, by introducing a rock plate and midsole construction designed to enhance stability, this new iteration of the Trail Glove moves away from the basic principles of minimalist footwear.

This makes the shoe a standout for bombing down twisty single-track, shuffling along a narrow creek crossing, or even just doing workouts at the gym. I usually just wear a thin cotton ankle sock when going for my arvo walk but there was a little movement in this configuration. The result is the brand’s Barefoot 2 technology, which expertly balances an anatomical fit and zero-drop with enough stability and underfoot protection. Give yourself a few short, easy runs per week initially to adjust to the sparse cushioning, and gradually build up your speed and distance. I wear a US10 and the Merrell guys suggested the Trail Glove would be fairly true-to-size so sent me a US10.

We dipped our toes into one of Merrell’s bestsellers, the Trail Glove, that’s reminding us of how awesome a minimalist ride feels. If I thought the shoes were crap I’d have no choice to but either keep silence, or share my opinions with you, the reader. But for the minimalist who is looking for a versatile trainer, this shoe makes a compelling case when compared to bulkier trail runners.