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johnnyjohnny
August 23, 2023
SERiOUS BAREFOOT/MiNiMALiST SHOE WiTH OTHER FUNCTiONALiTY TOOi
if purchasing as a barefoot or minimalist running shoe, this would be one of the top hard core serious such out there. my other comparable that i run in is the xero speed force. both are very similar but for hard core barefoot/minimalist runners the vapor glove 6 requires full conditioning capable of using a shoe with only 6mm of sole. the xero is only slightly more forgiving with 7.5mm. these are both exceptional shoes for that use, probably the best out there. they both have the option of functionality for other activities, weightlifting or in the gym use being the most obvious, the flat grippy soles will work well with weights, plyometrics, etc. casual use is another great use for these as they look super with well fitting jeans, or shorts. they both fit super well, but if pressed i'd say the vapor glove is a bit more like a sock. while there's much confusion about the sizing, and i thought i'd need to return the glove for a much smaller size, they were in fact correct that it's true to size. i take a 12.5 in BOTH the xero speed force and the vapor glove. the vapor glove is about a quarter inch longer at that size, but that all is taken up by larger padding behind the heel, which i did not at all feel in any negative way. so when wearing the same size in each of these shoes, if you look down you should see they are equally as long and give equal amount of space to your foot. if you look behind your heel tho, you will see the extra quarter inch back there...which means it's of no consequence to sizing. finally, while most of xero's runners have fronts that look a bit like clown shoes, this vapor glove is a bit more form fitting up front, so while a very curved last, it doesn't have that clown shoe look. and neither does my xero, the speed force, mainly because it is so minimal they don't have the weight to waste to put that extra material in the front. so, in the end (no pun intended) i'd say these are both exceptional shoes which also LOOK exceptional when used casually with jeans. the xeros are a bit more pricey, and the the vapor glove a bit more form fitting like a sock. as for that casual wear issue, i totally plan to ditch my cowboy boots and wear my black vapor gloves with my boot cut jeans, they look so good. and i love my cowboy boots. as for which one i'll wear more in my minimal runs of over an hour on asphalt and concrete? probably the xeros, only because of that extra 1.5mm of sole. i've just transitioned over to these very hard core run shoes and may use the vapor gloves slightly less on hard surface runs only because i can still use a bit more toughening up of legs/feet. but if you're up to it, these are probably the ultimate barefoot/minimal shoe.
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My new favorite shoes!
I have recently been trying to improve my balance by trying minimal or barefoot shoes. I first bought the Trail Gloves, and there is nothing wrong with them, but I didn't feel the ground beneath my feet as much as I had hoped. Next I bought the Vapor Gloves, and these are exactly what I was hoping for. I have been wearing these daily for about a week now, and they are quickly becoming my favorite pair of shoes.Things to consider if you are trying to decide between the trail and vapor glove:The trail gloves seem to have significantly more padding which might be better for some people who want to walk or run long distances, both on hard surfaces such as concrete, or on terrain where there are lots of pointy type rocks! I can see these as a good introduction to minimal or barefoot shoes. It didn't take much time to get used to these.The vapor gloves may take some getting used to as they have a very thin sole. You will feel most every little thing you walk on, these Aldo seem to have alot more flexibly, which i find to be amazing.Size wise, they both seem to fit pretty true to size. I wear an 8.5 or 9 in nike or puma, so I first got the Trail glove in 9, and the Vapor glove in 8.5. I feel like I could have gotten them both in 8.5, as the vapor glove didn't feel tight or uncomfortable in any way. Also I don't have wide feet at all, I can wear pretty narrow shoes such as puma speed cats.In conclusion, if you want something with more of a true barefoot feel, go for the Vapor Gloves. If you prefer a bit more padding under your feet, go for the Trail Gloves! These are both great shoes!
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Very Light. Very comfortable.
I'm a PTA and work in a sports based orthopedic outpatient clinic. I'm using these Vapor Glove 6s to Replace my previous shoe, the Vapor Glove 3. Honestly I looked for the 3s again before settling on these shoes. My 3s have lasted years and just now started developing holes in the upper. I was blown away by the longevity. I did go down by half a size, but that's because the 3s I had were a half size big. These 6s fit similarly to the 3s, size for size.The 6s are so light, even compared to the 3s. Aesthetically they are quite similar in shape, and very nice looking for a barefoot runner. Very breathable and very comfortable. No break in time really required. Extremely flexible and a nice, wide toe box. The midfoot does come off a little more snug and padded, but this is a plus for me. You can role the shoe or twist it with ease and it springs back to form with no issue.Vibram soles are always a plus, although these ones seem a bit softer than the 3s, so I have some doubts as to their longevity. With that being said the first 4 or 5 runs (treadmill) have shown no wear or tear, and the grip is phenomenal. You will feel everything underneath you, and don't expect a ton of protection underfoot - but that's not what these are for.Another thing that sticks out is the lacing system on these. Seems a little less robust on visual inspection compared to the 3s, but I haven't had any issues with the 6's system to date and the laces themselves have a nice feel to them and they perform (don't come untied) well while running. I also wouldn't throw these shoes in the washing machine as it seems they might not do well under that sort of agitation.As of this point, I'm quite happy and impressed with this iteration from Merrell. It's a great shoe and it's performing quite well. I paid ~$73 for the shoes. If I can get 400-500 miles, it'll be high value for the money spent, in my opinion. Assuming they hold up appropriately, would absolutely reorder.
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