Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

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Take to the trail with maximum performance and minimal fuss. With their sock-like fit, the Merrell Vapor Glove 3 trail-running shoes provide excellent ground feel and agility.
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View all Merrell Men's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running |
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Trail-Running Shoe Type | Light-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Barefoot |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 0 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Mesh/thermoplastic urethane |
Lining | Mesh |
Outsole | Vibram TC5+ rubber |
Rock Plate | No |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 12 ounces |
Gender | Men's |
7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
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U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
UK | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 |
EU | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
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Beautiful shoes, weigh next to nothing. The only issue is that they are about a half size too big. I wear a size 10 across all shoes, with these, my big toe stops where the mesh meets the rubber. The width is excellent. Will be returning them for a size 9.5.
I've worn Merrell's for years - I have a pair of Trail Glove Amazons I've worn since ~2012 and they're still going strong. I've never had a problem until purchasing these. The fit is perfect and the comfort is great. However, brand new out of the box there was about a 1/2" - 3/4" section of the sole that was not glued to the upper. Considering durability concerns expressed by others I'm leery and returning these. I love Merrell shoes and really do hope this is not an indication of a downward trend in quality. The attached picture shows the gap in the left shoe compared to the right. I even curled up the right shoe to show there is zero separation there.
I train in and run road races in Vapor Gloves 10 milers to marathons. I Liked then so much that I bought 2 more pair of Vapor Glove 2s. Now just waiting to wear them out after which I’ll purchase a pair (or two) of the Vapor Glove 3 (or 4 by then) Very happy to see the extra reinforcement at the forefoot inside on the Vapor Glove 3 as this is where on the original & VG2s the fabric had a hard time resisting the width of my foot & thin out & break through. If you are still running in the VG2s, applying Shoe goo (inside and out as reinforcement) initially to the uppers at that area you’ll effectively do what the VG3s have now. Great update to the Vapor Glove Merrell! Keep up the excellent work.
Although this is not very close to actual barefoot running, these shoes are incredibly light and well ventilated and perfect for long distance running. The material seems to be of premium quality, specially the sole, but the glue joints of the upper mesh and the sole can be made more rugged and long lasting. Runners who runs in zero drop shoes would love the wide toe box, flexibility, and moderately firm hold in the heel area to prevent foot slipping inside the shoe. Overall the shoe is good, except it can be made more durable.
Having had previous Vapor Gloves, I had to try the latest one, as Merrell had fixed some of the previous issues. Seeing the one in red just beckoned me to push the purchase button and I am not disappointed with the look - simply killer! I immediately replaced the laces with self-locking elastic ones in red and I am totally liking the way they look and trust me others are asking me what they are and where did I get them. The only issue I have with them is that they are less then perfect in terms of comfort. My running days are behind me so I where them as all-day wear. Not sure if they were designed for that, but I can deal with a little discomfort given how they look on my feet.
I've been running in Merrell's trail runners (either the Trail Glove or Vapor Glove) for 9 years and I'm a huge fan. However, I've watched their quality go downhill significantly in recent years. My current pair of Vapor Glove 3's are very comfortable and I enjoyed using them for 5-10km trail runs 2x per week--but within two months of light use, the material on top has worn in several places, with holes developing in key places. They will be unwearable soon. Very disappointed with the quality of these runners. Note that I bought the women's version, but it is no longer featured online here.
They're vapor light and fit like a glove. My new go-to for all-around use, including mixed-terrain running and light hiking. They make great camp shoes as well. I noticed immediate changes in my running and walking style. With zero drop and ultralight pliability I now feel the terrain and the inner muscles of my feet working, I automatically choose my steps differently (especially on downhills), and I feel more integrated when out there roaming around. Stoked on these.
Overall always happy with Merrell products and not my first pair of barefoot shoes. I've previously owned Trail Glove's. Fit, form, function, and styling are on par with Merrell's standard. Note: I am very harsh on shoes and spend many hours walking (quickly) a day. These are intended for running but I use them for my "on my feet" lifestyle. Unfortunately I will need to replace these simply because they are breaking apart where the fabric and rubber shell of the shoe meets, which makes me hesitant to purchase another pair of Vapor Glove's. I hope this was helpful.
I had a pair of the Vapor Gloves from a couple years ago. they were great but It was time to replace them. My wife ordered a new pair of Vapor Glove 3 in Dec 2017. They were great for the first week. then i noticed the stitching on the tung had come loose and would soon fail. Merrell was kind enough to send replacement pair. i started using the replacement in Feb 2018. it is now April and these shoes are on the verge of failing. the mesh on the lower instep has about a 2" in length deep surface rip you can see through. not good! this seems like a issue that should of shown up in real world testing. i know these things happen but i am disappointed. i feel like the shoes should of lasted 8 months to a year under its intended use.
These are the only shoes I reach for. I call them “street slippers.“ Very comfortable and with great ground feel. I wear them with socks and with an insert, but there is still plenty of sensitivity to the ground. They are really good for feeling one’s “root“ when doing tai chi, for example. In addition to plain dark colors, the only thing I wish the designers would bring back (in version 4?) is the loop on the upper above the heel. That loop makes them much easier to pull on. ( I do find myself shying away from reaching for the pair I have that do not have the loop.) At 72 years old, I look forward to wearing these for the rest of my life. My feet love them.