Merrell Men's Tough Glove Barefoot Running Shoes

Modern Moccasin
October 28, 2011

I have owned the full leather Tough Glove for six months, and have used them for trail and road running and as a second shoe while traveling Europe. These are my first 'bare foot' style shoe. The shoe is of superb build, design, and material quality. The high cost is indeed reflected in the quality. I think of these as modern day moccasins; allowing decent protection from the ground while maintaining agility and tactile sense. Like a custom made leather moccasin, they hug the foot securely, with no perceptible movement between shoe body and the foot. They work equally well for running or casual use, but I have found they really shine with running. Walking with a load (backpack) makes a hard heel-strike more likely, and the zero cushion of this type of shoe makes a heel-strike on pavement very harsh. It took me weeks of short runs to build the foot/calf strength to land on the mid-foot, and not the heel, but now I would not go back to traditional running shoes, even though I can not sustain as much distance in these (due to not being trained up for barefoot). Soles are proving durable. Soles are very slippery on any surface with moisture - much more so then my boots or other shoes. These are *not* the shoes for very rocky terrain or cobblestone paths. At least not until my feet are tougher. I am 5'8", 140#, and wear a consistent size 9 shoe. I purchased an 8.5 and it is now perfect after a very slight stretch-in period. Bottom line: A very well-crafted, attractive shoe, that can change how you walk and run. Consider them a new training regime and start off slow. I am looking to buy a second pair, I like them so much.

Great Casual Barefoot Shoe
September 02, 2011

The Merrell Tough Glove is a fantastic shoe. I purchased the Aluminum color and have used it for casual situations. I am flatfooted and my ankles also roll inwards somewhat so normal thick soled shoes mess up my back. I was a little worried with these shoes when i first got them because of the way the shoe is small in the middle. To my surprise, the shoes fit wonderfully and are so much more comfortable than all the thick soled and cushioned shoes I've tried. I've owned these shoes for several months and I got the chance to take them into the woods on a muddy trail. The Vibram Sole had fantastic traction when everyone else was slipping. Although the shoes had mud on them and it had started to cake on the bottom, I left the muddy trail and went to a restaurant. By the time I got there, the shoes had kicked off all the mud and looked perfectly clean. Overall a great shoe and I'm completely glad I took a chance on them.

Light, Intuitive, and Versatile
September 02, 2011

Excellent shoe - this is the only thing that fits the bill in addition to 5fingers. Minimalist design and excellent workmanship... Great for workplace, light hikes, and the trail. Molds to your feet, so it is very intuitive from the first time they are on your feet. A lot softer then other merrell trail models. Fits a little large - I am usually 10.5, and the size 10 fits perfectly. Great color, too (brown). This will be an "all-around" shoe for me. As always, great service from Altrec.

Great Minimalist Shoe for the Office
July 26, 2011

I bought these shoes specifically to wear to work and other events which wouldn't be appropriate to wear my Vibram Five Fingers or Merrell Trail Glove. The sizing was kind of hard to figure out and I had to buy a couple of pairs and then return the one that didn't fit well. I actually got a size smaller than I normally wear and it fits well after about 6 months. The toe box is pretty wide and the unique lacing system works well. It does really feel like a glove. The outsole is a little thicker than I would prefer. They would be great for trail running where you are afraid of an object puncturing the sole but too much for day to day use. They are definitely stiffer than any Vibrams I have tried but still give way more feel than a traditional shoe. I would recommend these for someone who insists on a traditional looking minimalist shoe for work or for trail running.

As comfortable as barefeet
June 13, 2011

These shoes are incredibly comfortable!!!! They are the best barefoot trail runners with great traction and extremely light weight. I run a lot of mountain in British Columbia and I can go anywhere in these.... They are also great for doing anything ..... I wear them anywhere. These shoes don't have any support (Which is the intention of the shoe...) so if you have never ran in barefoot shoes ease into these as you will injure yourself if you don't train your muscles to run barefoot or with ultra minimalist shoes. These shoes might fit a 1/2 size big. This are a great shoe...I wish I bought a couple more pairs!!!!

Running in the Tough Glove!
May 29, 2011

After GLADLY jumping on the barefoot bandwagon, I began my search for footwear that provided a normal toe-box (no five fingers for me yet). Quickly narrowing the search to the Merrell line was easy since they are getting fabulous reviews everywhere. Although, I could not find ANYONE giving reviews (on more than 5 sites) on The Tough Glove for running purposes! Every person seemed to write about how they, "finally found a barefoot/minimalist shoe they could wear to work" or "a shoe that looks good with khakis..." etc. I wanted to buy the Tough Glove because of the all leather construction and possible better longevity than the mesh. After reading reviews based on fitment, I chose to order a half size down from what I normally wear in Nike Shox. I wear a 10.5 in Shox and ordered a 10(medium) in the Tough Glove. The fit was perfect! I wear a VERY thin running sock with them and still have the right space. But, I can wear them sock-less and they fit well too. I prefer thin running socks to keep my shoes smelling wonderful. So, down to performance. This Tough Glove is JUST THAT! Tough, Durable, yet very flexible. People would guess that running in a mesh-less all leather upper with zero breathing holes would be hot - and it isn't. I live in Texas and it is currently at the end of May. I have logged 16 miles in these Tough Gloves and am loving it. Due to the lack of people reviewing this Tough Glove as a running shoe, I plan to do a you/tube video review once I hit 50 miles. The Vibram sole is very durable as they have always been. My friends Vibram Five Fingers are slightly more flexible than the Merrell. But this in no way has impeded my appreciation for the Tough Glove. My thinking is, the Tough Glove will last longer...maybe? My buddy who owns 2 pair of Vibram Five Fingers is now buying a pair of Merrell's after trying mine on. He said he has been actively looking for a normal toe-box minimalist shoe too. One more fact that assists with your decision: The Merrell Glove series shoes are FLAT. No heel rise like other so-called "minimalist" shoes. If you are interested in truly embracing the barefoot running style and are simply looking for a quality flat covering for the pad of your feet - this is it!

Great more shoes for offices
May 20, 2011

I use other Merrell Barefoot for running. I needed to get a couple of pairs that are more 'forma;l' looking so I can wear them at the office. So the black and brown colors are perfect for me. I also wear them at the driving range. I love the feeling of being very close to the ground when hitting golf balls.

Great Shoe!
April 19, 2011

I've had my tough gloves for about a month now. I really like how light they are. They are just like walking with (leather) socks on if you wear them without socks. If you wear them with socks, they feel kinda like converse. I bought the "aluminum" ones. I'm a youngin but I still enjoy being able to wear shoes without people making fun of my "toe shoes" These look like normal shoes. I went for an eight mile run in them and they worked out pretty good, but I still prefer my Inov8 running shoes for running. The toe plate works well (compared to water shoes) and saved me quite a few times on the trails. Overall, These shoes are amazing. Best (walking) shoes I've ever owned, and second best running shoes I've tried. The sizing is about a half size small. I measure out as 11 3/4 at Nordstroms and I ordered an 11 ...and my toes touch the front occasionally, like when I'm walking down hill. An 11 1/2 would probably be a tiny bit too big for me though. I don't mind the slight rubbing occasionally so the 11 works for me. (If you have normal sized feet, like an exact 10, or 9 1/2, get a half size smaller. If your feet are in between sizes (like mine) get the lower of the two sizes)

Comfy
April 10, 2011

Shoe runs about a half size small, even without socks. These shoes are possibly the most comfortable shoes I've had. The other day I took off my house slippers because these shoes were more comfy. Great for barefoot running. Breath surprisingly well for all leather.

Great Shoes
March 31, 2011

I really like the trail gloves I had so I wanted something that looked alittle bit more professional which would allow me to wear it to work, so I picked up a pair of the tough gloves. These shoes are great. Since I travel alot, the shoes barely take up any space in my luggage. After wearing the shoes for a few days straight, it very difficult to go back to regular shoes. Its definitely a must have.

Tough Glove Barefoot
March 22, 2011

Very comfortable and can be worn with or without socks. They appear to be well made. I purchased these to wear in the office and I think they will do nicely.