The Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 6 Sneaker, available in a striking BURLWOOD color and size 8.5, epitomizes the brand's commitment to minimalist footwear. Designed for those who cherish the barefoot experience, these sneakers enable a natural stride while providing essential support.
The shoe features a Vibram® EcoStep outsole, which not only enhances grip but also maintains an exceptional connection to the ground, making it ideal for trail running and outdoor training. The breathable mesh upper ensures that your feet remain cool and comfortable during intense workouts.
Feature | Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 6 | Altra Escalante 2.5 | Saucony Kinvara 12 |
---|---|---|---|
Weight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Moderately light |
Stack Height | 6mm | 24mm | 22mm |
Outsole Material | Vibram® EcoStep | EVA foam | Rubber |
Breathability | High | Medium | Medium |
When considering the Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 6 Sneaker, it's essential to evaluate various aspects such as comfort, performance, and environmental impact.
Comfort: These sneakers are designed for minimalists, and as such, they offer limited cushioning. While some may find this ideal for a more natural foot movement, others might feel a lack of support over longer distances.
Performance: With a total stack height of just 6mm, the Vapor Glove 6 excels in delivering a grounded feel. The Vibram outsole is a standout feature, offering remarkable traction across different terrains. You can trust these shoes to keep you stable whether you're navigating gravel paths or uneven trails.
Environmental Impact: It's commendable that Merrell incorporates recycled materials into the construction of these sneakers. This dedication to sustainability aligns well with the values of environmentally conscious consumers.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a shoe that supports a barefoot running style while remaining lightweight and eco-friendly, the Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 6 is a solid choice. Just be mindful of the minimal cushioning if you prefer a more plush experience.
Category | Score | Description |
---|---|---|
Comfort | 4/5 | Lightweight with minimal cushioning. |
Performance | 5/5 | Excellent grip and responsiveness on trails. |
Breathability | 5/5 | Very breathable upper for warm conditions. |
Sustainability | 5/5 | Constructed with recycled materials. |
I prefer minimal sneakers to wear to feel the ground more now than ever before. I have worn similar sneakers to these and wore them out and I cannot find those out there anymore to buy and spotted these Merrill Vapor Glove 6 sneakers very similar to other sneakers I used to wear til they wore out. So, I got 3 pairs and they fit as expected. I don't wear socks with mine because I prefer to feel the ground when I walk. Their soles are thin, but grippy on most surfaces. I am most certain these soles won't last very long with me because I walk alot and within a few months, I will have holey soles on these sneakers, but hope I am wrong. They are well made, pretty comfy and look great too. 5 stars.
This was my first pair of "barefoot shoes"I love them and currently would not want to wear any other shoes.Fit great, look great, feel great.I spilled bar and chain oil on the toe of one today, does anyone know a safe way to clean that oil out on these?
They are very breathable, very lightweight, and VERY comfortable!I need high-arch insoles, and this shoe has its own insole permanently sewn in, however they seem very minimal and therefore the shoes accepted an insole insert without issue.I have worn this style of shoe for about 10 years now and they seem to last about 2 years for me, and I walk my dog about 15-20 miles a week
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've worn Merrell for many years, slight break around the Vapor Glove 3, but these seem to be holding up well to daily use.My only complaint is the rubber soles really hold on to smells. I stepped in some dog p**p and I can't get the smell out - have tried bleach, baking soda, shout, vinegar + random combinations of all of those and I can still smell it. (Update: lemon juice and baking soda got the smell out).
Loyal vapor glove wearer. Sadly these are separating at the big toe bend area. I only wear them on weekends for casual wear. The mesh is pealing away from the rubber. Glue has failed. I have never gotten these wet. Not abused. Not even running in them.
Got these for my 14 year old runner. He loves them. They have enough structure and support but are good barefoot shoes. His feet are a little wider than typical and he says they are very comfortable. They feel like a glove. They would probably be too narrow for my other child who has wider feet.
I’ve owned multiple pairs of the vapor glove three and fours. This is the most stylish and lightest version but the tread wears out suuuper quickly. Like bald and in one month quickly with daily use.Not worth it for the retail price and will be looking for something different in the future.