Like Vapor Glove, Only More Affordable
So, these are obviously “inspired” by the Merrell Vapor Glove, which is the dirty, beat up shoe in the accompanying photos.I am a committed barefooter, and when I wear shoes, I have done okay with the Vapor Glove. Last two times, however, even though ordering same size of Vapor Glove, the sizing felt off, and they didn’t feel as good on my feet as the completely battered ones in the photo, which are my original Merrells.I was tired of forking over almost a hundred bucks for a shoe that didn’t feel *great* so I thought I would give the TLSA a try.I have had them about a month and they are doing great. I don’t do hard starts and stops in them, and thanks to an old labral tear, I no longer run, so they are perfect walking, TRX, lifting, body weight shoe. They are roomy so I can grip with my toes, the soles are flexible, and there is nothing bothering me from the inside of the shoe, though it does feel better to spread toes with a sock, as it is not an entirely smooth surface up in there. I still wear without socks, though.You can see from photos that the TSLA is a little less form-fitted, a little more boxy than the Merrell, but for what I want — which is a shoe that keeps me from burning my feet on the Florida asphalt, or cutting them on rocks or glass, these shoes do a GREAT job.These shoes do not offer “support,” which I don’t want anyway. I prefer to let the natural working of my foot muscles create a stable arch and let my foot function the way it is supposed to. They are a good option for a wide-toe-box, zero-drop shoe.I am a six-foot woman with a size 11 women’s shoe, which is usually a men’s 9 1/2. I bought these 1/2 size up, in a men’s 10, and they are a *smidge* big, but it’s what I prefer.Don’t know how long they will last, but I’ll be buying another pair. They are close enough to the function of the Merrells at a far better price, and I’ve been frustrated by Merrell’s size inconsistency.I can’t speak to runners, and I don’t know how durable they are yet, but I do recommend recommend these shoes to low-impact athletes.Update June 2022: I've beat these things to death and repurchased twice. They last about 8 months with very hard use. At one point, work was having me walk 22,000-25,000 steps per day. The seam by the toe where the rubber met the cloth top split, but the sole and shape lasted. I'm not complaining at all. I really beat these shoes up!
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Chris Hahn
April 27, 2022
A better value than Merrell
I've had several pair of both Tesla and Merrell Vapor Gloves now and for the money, the Tesla is a better value. Take the Merrell name off the shoe and there isn't a bit of difference between these two shoes for comfort, durability, fit, longevity, or the mileage you can get out of them. Bottom line- if name brand recognition is important to you, get the Merrell Vapor Glove. If value is important to you, get the Tesla. But, if you believe that spending 2-3 times as much on the name brand item over the lesser known brand that is equal or better in value, go right ahead. It's your money.Update- After 74 miles (120KM) of road running on asphalt and concrete, you can see the results on the soles on these shoes. That distance only counts the road use, not treadmill. If you want to include that, it would be about three times as much, but I dont track my treadmill mileage. Granted, some of this wear and tear can also be linked to my gait. Results- Minimalist shoes like the TSLA naturally force you to run on the front part of your foot since you dont have the unnatural cushioning that most wedge shaped soles have. These are Zero Drop, minimal padding and shaped like your foot. Hence, natural running. And since the body is self-correcting when it comes to running, by not having the extra absorbtion of all that cushioning on your heels, you will naturally keep your heels off the ground, use your arch and front half of your foot to run; thereby reducing the shock and impact on your lower legs, knees, hips, etc.. Notice no wear at all on the heels of these shoes. I still recommend not only these shoes for running, but just about any kind of zero drop, minimalist, foot shaped running shoe. The low cost of these is a definite advantage. I'm quite sure they are made in the same factories as the name brand shoes that you'll pay 3-4 times as much for. Remember, running should be like sex. If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right.
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GradyNesto
September 08, 2024
Good value for money - you get what you pay for
Price caught me as I was looking to replace my go to Merrell trail gloves.I was looking for some minimal trail shoes to play disc golf -- for the price of these I figured why not try.+ Super light+ Super minimal+ Fit similar to the Merrell trail gloves -- albeit not as snug- not very durable -- first day wearing to disc golf and made a bad pivot off tee pads and ripped hole on top of left shoe. Fabric on top is super thin. Left foot started sole started separating after about month. Right started separating about 7 months in. I wore these shoes solely disc golfing. So maybe an average of 3-4 times a month, typically 3-4 miles. Bought in Dec 2023 and they lasted til Aug 2024 before I replaced.Overall not bad considering the price. That being said better for light trail duty. Light hikes and nothing I'd consider for trail running -- I don't trust they'll last long taking a beating. I mean c'mon disc golf ain't exactly a strenuous sport.
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