MerrellMen's Vapor Glove 6 Sneaker

Back in 2018–2019, I picked up a pair of Trail Glove 3s (I believe that was the current model at the time). They were exactly what I was looking for: minimal, very flexible, and overall a barebones type of shoe. The kind where you can feel the ground beneath you (sometimes a little too much, but that’s the point), while still offering more protection than being barefoot.Later on, I tried one of the newer Trail Glove models, the 6s if I remember correctly, and accidentally got a half size too small. Even so, they became a favorite after breaking them in. They felt a bit stiffer than the older model, but still great for the all trails, even the rockier ones I find myself one from time to time. However, I was curious about a possibly even more minimal feeling shoe.That led me to try the Vapor Gloves, and I quickly realized these were the true barefoot feel I had been looking for.So all of this is to say: on a scale of 0 to 5, where 5 is a thick, cushioned Hoka-style sole and 0 is barefoot, the Vapor Gloves are a 0.5, and the Trail Gloves are a 1.These are also wide foot friendly.

I needed gym shoes. Running shoes I have is too high on the heels. This was perfect. The soles are thin enough to feel the floor while doing squats or deadlifts. I actually prefer running in these shoes as well. I have wide feet, and these were pretty accommodating. True to size. Breathable. Looks good too. With Lock Laces, they become slip-on shoes.Best gym shoes I've ever had.

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.

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.

I really like the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 sneakers, they are super comfortable, lightweight, and dry out fast. The fit (9.5 US) is spot on. My only gripe is they’re a bit pricey considering how fast they wear down.

Exactly what I wanted, fits great and has hold over 6 months of heavy use