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Top Pros
Top Cons
Reddit Reviews
DaddyLongLegolasJust got some merrell barefoot trail shoes for this purpose. Trail glove 7. Best for me w no-cushion smartwool socks. Mixed reviews of merrell over the years but very pleased w these.
lonefrog7Trail glove 7 also crush my toes, small toe box. Had to go back to Altra.
Maleficent_General35Merrell trail glove 7 these are the shit
Quick_Elk3813The two main barefoot shoes Merrell has is the trail glove zero drop shoe with medium padding, and The vapor glove which is also a zero drop barefoot shoe with minimal padding, they seem to come out with a new set of vapor and trail glove every 2 to 3 years and they look good but I haven't tried them but I know the last model of trail glove 7 was a very good shoe in my opinion.
Yeah, the tread wasn't bad off-road but would wear down quickly on the road, the new model looks like it will last longer on road runs, I would slip a bit in the rain on white road lines and man hole covers with the 7s but that's pretty standard for any shoe. I'm optimistic about the new model vibram grip is usually pretty good, it will be interesting how the new models toe box and general for is designed.
Careful-Plum-8825Im looking for an alternative to altra mt king 2, stack between 1-2 cm but not 5 cm stack? the merrell trail is to narrow for me but other than that pretty perfect with a firm and rather low stack.
DogOfTheBoneTopo Pursuit has replaced Lone Peak for me. I felt Altra's quality has drastically declined and Topo is a good alternative. I am mostly a Merrell Trail Glove person these days, Pursuit is the one trail shoe I own that's not barefoot style.
EnumidarMerrel Trail Glove, theyre amazing
Hot_Jump_2511Fellow Pennsylvanian here... and this struggle is real! I'm somewhat in the same boat as you as I've been trying to find shoes that are protective against the rocks and roots of our region while also being durable enough to get your money's worth out of the shoes. Here's my progression of footwear over the past 5-7 years or so along with some insights you can take as suggestions. None of these options are zero drop though except the Merrell trail gloves. Adidas Terrex - Pros: good coushion, plenty of padding and protection against rocks. Cons: not wide enough for my feet and they changed the cut of the heel stabilizer to be too high. Merrell Trail Glove - Pros: out of box comfort and very light. Cons: not at all good on rocks. Asics Gel Venture - Pros: out of box comfort and good tread. Cons: not durable, not wide enought, bad quality control. Merrell Moab Speed 1 - Pros: great durability of shoe body, available in wide sizes, and sufficient protection against rocks. Cons: tread is not durable. However, this is probably my favorite trail runner and I wish it was still in production. Its a 500 mile shoe with 300 mile tread. Brooks Cascadia 13 and 15 - Pros: quality tread and good rock protection. Cons - not as wide as I'd like in their 2E size and the heel lock fabric deteriorated quickly causing blisters on my heel. New Balance Hierro V7 - Pros: good coushion and heel support. Cons - that damn flappy thing on the heel, lack of padding in the tongue, durability. Brooks Cascadia 16 - Pros: great rock plate, awesome tread, and wider toebox in 2E size. Cons - shit quality. Regardless, I went through 3 pairs and just dropped the 3rd in the trash after hiking up Old Rag in Shennandoah a week ago. 500 mile tread on a 250 mile shoe body that is not worth the cost. Merrell Moab Speed 2 - Pros - lightweight and PA approved rock plate. Cons - durability and the redesign in general. Wore these on a 260 mile section hike and they messed up my feet and gave me blisters on top of my toes. Was fully refunded though. Merrell Nova 4 - arrives in the mail today in advance of a 120 mile AT section in central Va in a couple of weeks. Might move onto Topo Terraventures or Ultraventures next.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Deep mud and soft ground
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Salomon - Speedcross Series
Best for Quick draining and drying for wet trails
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Altra - Lone Peak Series
Best for Road-to-trail transitions
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Nike - Pegasus Trail Series
Best for Steep technical descents
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Altra - Lone Peak Series
Best for Technical rocky terrain
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La Sportiva - Prodigio Series
Best for Ultra-marathon racing
Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series
