Merrell Trail Glove - Day 1

It's time to start a multi-stage review of the new Merrell Trail Glove.  With the craze of barefoot (or near barefoot) running that has been sweeping the running world for the last several years.  I thought that now would be a good time to try out a pair of these new style shoes.

I first got interested in the dynamics and possible benefits of barefoot running when I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  And have slowly been changing my running form but as yet had not changed my shoe type.

I went to one of my favorite outdoor stores today and purchased the Trail Glove.  I wear an 11 in Vasque and tried on an 11, 10.5, and a 10 in the Trail Glove.  The first thing I noticed was how much they fit, well, like a glove along the sides of my feet.  The next thing I noticed was that the 11 was way too long for my foot.  There was little to no difference in the length between the 10.5 and 10 although the 10 felt even tighter along the sides.  I ended up getting the 10.5. And was warned by one of the salespeople to only wear them for a few hours a day at first and to wait at least a week before running. 

I've had them on for a bit now and they definitely feel interesting, good.  They are glove like along the sides and heel which flexes and fits perfect for walking.  It is a mental adjustment to not 'feel' all the cushioning under the footbed.  And after just a few hours of wearing them I have not yet noticed any unusual foot fatigue.

I'll continue to update as my time in these shoes progress.