My friend, the company you need to go visit is Vivobarefoot. They are not as cheap as your Chinese shoe, but they are the wide-toebox, no-support, tough-as-nails-soles that you have been looking for. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/ Because of them, every shoe that I wear for every occasion can be minimal and I get to feel everything under my feet everywhere I go. I even have fancy black leather shoes for special occasi…
Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
41–50 of 61 posts
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#42I really liked the Merrill hikers I started buying about 10 years ago. I wore out about 4 pair over the course of about 6 years. Then they quit making them and the next time I tried to buy a pair of Merrill's none of them were near as good. There were a lot of discussions on a backpacking forum I belong to about this and the universal consensus came to be that Merrill was no longer a shoe we could recommend. As they…
second to that. I had many pairs of Merrills. The last pair lasted ~6 months, and the interior fabric had torn apart and the padding was entirely ruined. I don't even exercise that hard, and I don't pronate. the sole wear was fine, but the uppers were ruined.
I’m sad to hear my recent bad Merrills we’re not a one-off. I know people who swear by Keen, but I can’t stand the toe box. Might have to try to get used to it for the next pair.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#43My friend, the company you need to go visit is Vivobarefoot. They are not as cheap as your Chinese shoe, but they are the wide-toebox, no-support, tough-as-nails-soles that you have been looking for. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/ Because of them, every shoe that I wear for every occasion can be minimal and I get to feel everything under my feet everywhere I go. I even have fancy black leather shoes for special occasi…
I’ve had the same two pairs of Vivo Barefoots for 10 years now (since I worked with Galahad briefly at their tiny Bermondsey studio). They are excellent shoes and last a long time. The current off/road ones (which look a bit like climbing shoes) are superb.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#44He should just coat the soles in ShoeGoo and patch as necessary. Same for the high wear areas of the cloth.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#45My friend, the company you need to go visit is Vivobarefoot. They are not as cheap as your Chinese shoe, but they are the wide-toebox, no-support, tough-as-nails-soles that you have been looking for. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/ Because of them, every shoe that I wear for every occasion can be minimal and I get to feel everything under my feet everywhere I go. I even have fancy black leather shoes for special occasi…
Those prices are astronomical, though. $240 for a pair of shoes, when according to the author of the original article, something that serves the purpose is available for a dollar a pair?!
I giggled at that!
I bought a pair of (similar-looking to the article's Chinese shoe) shoes for $17 at Target one day after I stepped into a puddle on the way to work. I figured they'd last me perhaps through the summer of occasional wear; can't expect much for $17, right? Instead I wore them everywhere for about 3 years. Comfortable in all weather and terrain except when it was wet.
I should get another pair on the way home...
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#46Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
Probably they're more expensive in the US than the UK. Wait till they have a sale and get them for 50% off.
$120 is still astronomical.
Value is dependent on the person; Vivo shoes are worth a lot to me.
I do not know another shoe that fits my extra wide feet (see my other comments in this thread).I've had foot pain from narrow shoes (before I realised my feet were so wide) that keep me from enjoying life for weeks.
I have Vivo shoes that are still perfectly fine and at least 6 years old. They last better than my expensive laptop does.
I can move in these shoes (I like "alternate" sports like parkour). I used to wear shoes that were too long, to get the width that would fit. I'd always have an empty inch in the front of the shoe getting the way whenever is tried to do tricky movements. I also really dislike stiff soled shoes now that I'm used to Vivos.
If you don't care for what Vivo offers, don't get 'em.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#48I really liked the Merrill hikers I started buying about 10 years ago. I wore out about 4 pair over the course of about 6 years. Then they quit making them and the next time I tried to buy a pair of Merrill's none of them were near as good. There were a lot of discussions on a backpacking forum I belong to about this and the universal consensus came to be that Merrill was no longer a shoe we could recommend. As they…
Have you found the "new" Merrill?
No. There's no real consensus on that on the forums either.
My current pair of hikers are "RedHead Caliber" from Bass Pro and they cost about $50.
They're pretty close to the Merrill's I used to get as far as fit and comfort right out of the box and I was impressed with that. I didn't need to get aftermarket insoles or break them in. The soles are soft, similar to the Merrill's I liked and they grip good, and so far the waterproofing has held up after getting them wet about a dozen times (not soaked, just splashed wet) but I've only had them for about 6-7 weeks.
I don't expect they'll hold up as good as the Merrill's I used to buy but I can buy two pair and a good lunch for the same cost so it might work out just as good. So far I like them a lot.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#49I'm not a runner but I am a hiker and what I learned was to buy resoleable boots (obviously this opinion is of no value to runners). There are lots of decent midpriced boots but all have the soles glued on. Typically they don't even last 1000 miles before they wear out and need replacement. The problem is that by then they have adjusted properly to my foot! Now i've had the same boot for almost a decade, having been…
Brand recommendations? The last three half hight hiking shoes I’ve bought have fallen apart in months...
I've got a pair of Meindl walking boots still going strong after about 10 years. Not sure what their quality is like now though as I haven't had to buy another pair.
Re: Merrell Trail Glove Failures and Minimal Running in a Communist Shoe
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
second to that. I had many pairs of Merrills. The last pair lasted ~6 months, and the interior fabric had torn apart and the padding was entirely ruined. I don't even exercise that hard, and I don't pronate. the sole wear was fine, but the uppers were ruined.
I’m sad to hear my recent bad Merrills we’re not a one-off. I know people who swear by Keen, but I can’t stand the toe box. Might have to try to get used to it for the next pair.
I bought a pair of Keen's after I quit Merrill. They lasted a long time, close to two years of pretty heavy use and gripped very well, but they needed an aftermarket insole right out of the box and cost about $140 or more. They were good shoes but were never close to as comfortable as the old Merrills.