Almost perfect
I love these shoes and they are close to perfect! Originally gave them 4/5 because there was a little spot where the sole appeared to be separating from the upper, but after several months of heavy use they are basically still as good as new.I have some ankle issues and tight calves, so I thought barefoot shoes might help me strengthen the ankle muscles and allow my calves to stretch without a chunky heel. So far, they seem to be helping. I was initially concerned about stability, since one of my feet kind of collapses (overpronates) and this shoe doesn't really have arches, but honestly I have way less knee and ankle pain wearing these than a typical shoe. The zero drop is awesome.The toe box is pretty roomy (more roomy than they need to be for my narrow feet, but still comfy) and the heel is snug. I've been wearing these hiking on dry (and sometines rainy) days in the PNW with no problems and I wear them to class every day as well. I wear size 7.5 in most shoes, and these were true to size.The rubber sole is somewhat asymmetrical, meaning one shoe has slightly more coverage than the other on the toe. Kind of weird, but not a big issue. They really do fit like gloves. The arch area hugs my foot nicely and it barely feels like I'm wearing shoes. The only thing that keeps them from being perfect trail shoes in my mind is the lack of tread and the low ankle (which allows lots of dirt, rocks, and leaves to get in). I would love to see a shoe like this with a neoprene sock built in.Compared to vivobarefoot's magna trail shoes, these are way nicer and comfortable. The vivobarefoots are wide and clunky, while the merrells are form fitting.
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Love them!
I love all Merrell shoes and this is my third paid of barefoot sneakers. I do have a high arch but I also love being barefoot, so these are absolutely perfect. I wear these to work, I’m on my feet pretty often, some sitting as well, and I feel very mobile in these shoes. They also look really cool, I think, professional but cute at the same time. I have a little toe of one foot that was broken years ago, so it’s fatter than the other little toe on my opposite foot. If I have a prob with shoes, that’s where it pushes into the shoe too much and hurts. These shoes are a snug fit all around, and I can just feel that toe. But the other two merrell barefoot shoes I’ve worn out over the years confirmed to my feet beautifully and by the end of the first day wearing these, I hardly noticed the toe anymore. My favorite shoes...can’t wait to wear them again!
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A
A Hayne
September 30, 2021
year and a half later
The wear shown in the attached photos is after almost daily use since late March 2020. I bike to/from work most days (about 2.5 miles total per day). I replaced the default laces with stretchy ones to make the shoes easier to slip on. Shoes have been quite comfortable throughout. I've gone on a handful of hikes with them, and I can't really recommend hiking in particularly rocky terrain due to the lightweight-ness of the shoe and how thin the soles are. Mountainous terrain in southern AZ left my feet feeling pretty rough afterwards. However I hiked a bit in Olympic National Park and they performed just fine for that particular terrain.Treads are starting to wear a bit near the heel and ball of my feet. The treads held up longer than I expected them to, but perhaps not as long as I would have liked for paying just upwards of $100 for a sneaker-type shoe. They also started squeaking a bit more on tile floors in the last few months, possibly due to the treads wearing?The leather (above the toes mostly) started to warp maybe half a year or more ago, hasn't affected the fit really, but doesn't look as nice as they did at the start obviously. I haven't polished or cared for the leather in any way other than wiping them clean once in a while with a damp rag and drying afterwards, so proper care could possibly extend their longevity and keep their shape/appearance.These are almost more of a glove for your feet, so if you do parkour or some kind of outdoor gymnastics, urban ninja work, or stalking in the woods, you may appreciate the amount of grip you have on wherever you're stepping.
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Stylish zero drop shoes. Grip well if on ice
Overall great shoe! Super narrow even for me!Pros:Grip very well- love the grip they have, actually helps when on ice! Suede option I love. Durable. Light. Stylish!!!Cons:Toe box is awkward- toes able to spread out but there is room in front of my toes. Buying size smaller was too small. Think it’s just the rubber making it feel like there is more room. Rubber comes up ontop of shoe, makes walking off. But guess it helps if you stub your toe.Arch support- there is minimal support. You will need to walk correctly, takes more conscious effort.Width- I have narrow feet but these are extremely narrow shoes! Probably why the arch appears low.I do like these. They are more casual and do not look like an athletic shoe. Wish they would make a suede newer version!
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