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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Merrell Trail Glove 3 Review}} The Trail Glove is my favorite all-round Minimalist shoe. It's not as light as the Mizuno Wave Universe, but it's a little mo..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Merrell Trail Glove 3 Review}}
The Trail Glove is my favorite all-round Minimalist shoe. It's not as light as the [[Mizuno Wave Universe]], but it's a little more comfortable and lasts a lot longer. I've purchased my first pair of Trail Gloves over two years ago, and they're still going strong. I don't run in them much, but I wear them walking and I've nearly worn my first pair out. The Trail Glove is also a nice shoe for casual driving (it's not fire retardant for competitive driving.) I have the version 2 and 3 of the Trail Glove, and the changes are only cosmetic, so I'm grateful that Merrell hasn't screwed up a great shoe. While this is the Trail version, I find it's ideal for Road use as the outsole is not aggressive. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove outside]]
|}
=Cushioning, Running Economy, & Performance=
There is [[The Science of Running Shoes| scientific evidence]] that a little cushioning can improve [[Running Economy]], which means it takes less effort to run at the same pace. The Trail Glove shoe does not offer enough cushioning to provide that increase in, so you'll probably be slower than you would be in a slightly more cushioned shoe.
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The Trail Glove is a well-designed minimalist shoe with great longevity. It isn't a fast shoe by any means; it's actually the slowest shoe I've tested. If you want a faster minimalist shoe, go for the [[Mizuno Wave Universe]], but the Trail Glove will last much longer. On the other hand, if you want a truly fast shoe, then look to the cushioned [[New Balance RC5000]] or [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. The extra cushioning gives an improvement in Running Economy that will make you faster in the RC5000 or Hyper Speed than any of the minimalist shoes. Note that while this the "trail" version of Merrell's glove series, it's the version I choose for road running.
* {{H:cushioning}}. There is no cushioning to speak of. There is a tiny bit of foam, and the outsole will give a little, but this is a true minimalist shoe.
* {{H:drop}}. The Trail Glove is zero-drop, as you'd expect (but don't always get) from a Minimalist shoe.
* {{H:structure}}. Because there's no cushioning, there's no scope for multiple densities of foam. The Trail Glove wraps the arch area, but doesn't provide any "arch support" to cause problems.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The Trail Glove is very flexible when compared to most other shoes but it's outsole does mean there is some slight resistance to flex.
* {{H:outsole}}. There is harder rubber over the entire contact patch of the Trail Glove. While this is marketed as a trail shoe, the outsole has only slight lugs and limited grip in soft or muddy trails. I've found the rubber is hard wearing and provides sufficient stickiness.
* {{H:shape}}. The Trail Glove is nicely shaped, and one of the few shoes where I don't have to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]].
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is a little thicker than many shoes, but breaths acceptably well. There is no padding in the upper, but few seams and overall I've found the Trail Glove to be quite comfortable.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Trail Glove has a thinly padded, traditional tongue that is held in places by a tab for the laces.
* {{H:lacing}}. The laces are slightly rounded, but work okay; I've had the occasional issue with them not staying tied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. Thankfully, there's not a traditional heel counter, just a thing strip of reinforcement that doesn't do much.
{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Merrell Trail Glove and Mizuno Wave Universe==
The Trail Glove and [[Mizuno Wave Universe]] are both minimalist shoes, but they approach minimalism in different ways. The Wave Universe is extremely light weight, and less than half the weight of the Trail Glove. However, the Trail Glove will last far longer than the Wave Universe.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 top]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 bottom]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 inside]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 outside]]
|}
==Merrell Trail Glove and New Balance RC5000 ==
While the [[New Balance RC5000]] is stunningly light, it's not a minimalist shoe like the Trail Glove. Instead, the RC5000 provides more cushioning than you might expect, and enough for me to categorize is as an optimal shoe rather than Minimalist. Because the RC5000 provides enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]] it will be far, far faster to run in than the Trail Glove.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
==Merrell Trail Glove and Vibram FiveFingers ==
The FiveFingers are one of the earliest manufactures to focus on Minimalist shoes. I've had many pairs of FiveFingers, and there's a lot to like about them. However, getting the FiveFingers to fit right is tricky, as they need to match the shape of your foot quite closely or your toes won't go into the toe pockets. While having individual articulation for each toe is nice in theory, I've found that as long as I have enough room for my toes to spread and move naturally, I don't need that level of independence. As a result, I find that the Trail Glove is a better all-round minimalist shoe than any of the FiveFingers.
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The Trail Glove is my favorite all-round Minimalist shoe. It's not as light as the [[Mizuno Wave Universe]], but it's a little more comfortable and lasts a lot longer. I've purchased my first pair of Trail Gloves over two years ago, and they're still going strong. I don't run in them much, but I wear them walking and I've nearly worn my first pair out. The Trail Glove is also a nice shoe for casual driving (it's not fire retardant for competitive driving.) I have the version 2 and 3 of the Trail Glove, and the changes are only cosmetic, so I'm grateful that Merrell hasn't screwed up a great shoe. While this is the Trail version, I find it's ideal for Road use as the outsole is not aggressive. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove outside]]
|}
=Cushioning, Running Economy, & Performance=
There is [[The Science of Running Shoes| scientific evidence]] that a little cushioning can improve [[Running Economy]], which means it takes less effort to run at the same pace. The Trail Glove shoe does not offer enough cushioning to provide that increase in, so you'll probably be slower than you would be in a slightly more cushioned shoe.
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The Trail Glove is a well-designed minimalist shoe with great longevity. It isn't a fast shoe by any means; it's actually the slowest shoe I've tested. If you want a faster minimalist shoe, go for the [[Mizuno Wave Universe]], but the Trail Glove will last much longer. On the other hand, if you want a truly fast shoe, then look to the cushioned [[New Balance RC5000]] or [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. The extra cushioning gives an improvement in Running Economy that will make you faster in the RC5000 or Hyper Speed than any of the minimalist shoes. Note that while this the "trail" version of Merrell's glove series, it's the version I choose for road running.
* {{H:cushioning}}. There is no cushioning to speak of. There is a tiny bit of foam, and the outsole will give a little, but this is a true minimalist shoe.
* {{H:drop}}. The Trail Glove is zero-drop, as you'd expect (but don't always get) from a Minimalist shoe.
* {{H:structure}}. Because there's no cushioning, there's no scope for multiple densities of foam. The Trail Glove wraps the arch area, but doesn't provide any "arch support" to cause problems.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The Trail Glove is very flexible when compared to most other shoes but it's outsole does mean there is some slight resistance to flex.
* {{H:outsole}}. There is harder rubber over the entire contact patch of the Trail Glove. While this is marketed as a trail shoe, the outsole has only slight lugs and limited grip in soft or muddy trails. I've found the rubber is hard wearing and provides sufficient stickiness.
* {{H:shape}}. The Trail Glove is nicely shaped, and one of the few shoes where I don't have to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]].
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is a little thicker than many shoes, but breaths acceptably well. There is no padding in the upper, but few seams and overall I've found the Trail Glove to be quite comfortable.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Trail Glove has a thinly padded, traditional tongue that is held in places by a tab for the laces.
* {{H:lacing}}. The laces are slightly rounded, but work okay; I've had the occasional issue with them not staying tied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. Thankfully, there's not a traditional heel counter, just a thing strip of reinforcement that doesn't do much.
{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Merrell Trail Glove and Mizuno Wave Universe==
The Trail Glove and [[Mizuno Wave Universe]] are both minimalist shoes, but they approach minimalism in different ways. The Wave Universe is extremely light weight, and less than half the weight of the Trail Glove. However, the Trail Glove will last far longer than the Wave Universe.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 top]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 bottom]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 inside]]
|[[File:Mizuno-Wave-Universe-5-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Mizuno Wave Universe 5 outside]]
|}
==Merrell Trail Glove and New Balance RC5000 ==
While the [[New Balance RC5000]] is stunningly light, it's not a minimalist shoe like the Trail Glove. Instead, the RC5000 provides more cushioning than you might expect, and enough for me to categorize is as an optimal shoe rather than Minimalist. Because the RC5000 provides enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]] it will be far, far faster to run in than the Trail Glove.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 top]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 bottom]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 inside]]
|[[File:Merrell-Trail-Glove-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Merrell Trail Glove 2 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
==Merrell Trail Glove and Vibram FiveFingers ==
The FiveFingers are one of the earliest manufactures to focus on Minimalist shoes. I've had many pairs of FiveFingers, and there's a lot to like about them. However, getting the FiveFingers to fit right is tricky, as they need to match the shape of your foot quite closely or your toes won't go into the toe pockets. While having individual articulation for each toe is nice in theory, I've found that as long as I have enough room for my toes to spread and move naturally, I don't need that level of independence. As a result, I find that the Trail Glove is a better all-round minimalist shoe than any of the FiveFingers.
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}