I would however limit how much you’re running in this shoe on pavement if you want the lugs to last and hold up. For day-to-day use, I’ve enjoyed how easy this shoe is to slip on for longer dog walks. I just wish they looked a little more casual. Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Sizing I think if you’re wanting a lightweight barefoot shoe for a little bit of everything, then the price point for the Vapor Glove 6 makes sense. This shoe does a good job of being decent for casual training and outdoor wear. The Barefoot 2 execution on the midfoot comes out a little loose if you’re used to a snug, arch wrapping support.

If you have a flat and wider midfoot, then I could see the sole of this model bothering you. To add to this, I think if you didn’t resonate with the fit of prior Merrell Vapor Glove shoes, then you’ll find this shoe follows suit with its fit.On top of this, you may want to pass on this shoe if you’re wanting a model for functional fitness or for road running. The thinner sole and lightweight mesh upper may not be the most durable for these training contexts as well. Performance Assessment For the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, I think most will be safe going true to size in this model. I found the length to fit true in this shoe and they have a fairly adequate throughout the toe box.

Over the course of my testing process with the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, I’ve found a few things to enjoy with this model. To assess the performance of the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, I’m going to cover their performance in a wide range of contexts. I’ll discuss how they perform for lifting, versatile training, short runs, hikes, and daily wear. For my size 10 model, the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 has a weight of 5.6 oz which puts on the lighter end for shoes built for outdoor and indoor use. This model’s mesh upper also breathes really well which is a nice perk of this shoe.Overall, though, I think the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 will excel in a wide range of hiking settings, especially in warmer months. I’ll likely use this shoe as I use the Vapor Glove 5 which is on hikes that have water crossings. Merrell Vapor Glove 4 is a commendable minimalist, zero-drop trainer that exceeds at providing the right amount of protection and proprioception.

All that being said, if you want a shoe that has a budget-friendly price that can hold its own for more casual hikes and outdoor wear, but then also performs well in the gym, then I think the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 is a good option for you. Who Shouldn’t Invest In the Merrell Vapor Glove 6? On the lightweight chassis, you get a sturdy Cordura mesh upper with TPU reinforcements on the inside arch, outside pinky toe area, and heel. If you have notably wide feet, then I would say tread lightly when looking into this shoe. This shoe should work for most, but again, if you have a flatter midfoot and arch, then you may not enjoy this shoe’s overall fit. My only gripe with this shoe for versatile training is that the little arch in the sole may be uncomfortable for some as they jump more due to the arch compressing and flexing throughout your training session. Testing the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 for Hiking, Short Runs, and Daily WearSince these shoes are designed to be highly versatile, I wanted to put them to the test in a wide range of use contexts to help shed light on where they excel and where they fall short.

In addition, the EVA foam insole and Vibram outsole are also composed of at least 30% recycled materials. If you care about the materials used in your shoes, then I think this will be a nice pro that comes with the Vapor Glove 6. Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Cons For multi-directional work and plyometrics, the 2mm lugs give you enough grip for most surfaces and on turf and rubber gym floors, this model did a good job of providing me enough traction to push my performance. No noticeable difference in wear versus the Megagrip compound on my other Vibram soles, all which have held up over many, many miles thus far. Is there a midsole in the Vapor Glove?

Our Verdict

However, I think if you’re wanting a barefoot shoe that you can wear to train and hike in and wear more formally, then you may have a hard time doing so in this shoe. You might want to look into something like the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG. The outsole also does a pretty good job of providing traction for different exercises. When doing things like kettlebell swings and walking lunges on different surfaces, I never had slip issues with this shoe.