Now that the roads are clear from another 10 inches of snow here in Massachusetts, I decided to go out for my first run in my new Merrell Pace Gloves. Was supposed to be an easy 5 miler - ended up being much faster because I felt so great! The Pace Gloves are the BEST shoes I’ve ever run in and I’m not just saying that…they felt tons better than even my VFF Bikilas (see my shoe history below). I have somewhat wide feet (not excessively so) and between the Injinji socks and the wide toe box of the Pace Gloves, my feet were in heaven! My toes were free to splay as much as they wanted with no excess movement. The sole is just thick enough to keep my feet warm and provide traction (for those times I was in the snow/slush) but not so thick that I lost the ground feel. I think as the sole breaks in a little that will improve even more so. They are breathable, but felt warm and comfy in 33 degrees (a heat wave!) I’m SO glad I got them! Shoe history (in chronological order since I first started running 2 years ago): Asaics (a variety of styles), Nike Lunar Glide, Mizuno Wave Rider, Saucony Kinvara, Nike Free 3.0, Saucony ProGrid A4, VFF Bikila.

I was really looking forward to trying the Pace Glove, as I could finally wear a minimalist trail shoe with socks, meaning I could run in the cold. I own both the Five Fingers KSO and Trek Sport, but can't fit socks in them. The Pace Glove manages a great blend of ground feel, trail-hugging tread, and rock protection with a nice wide toe box and the flexibility of laces. However, from the ankle backwards the design team forgot what a women's running shoe is all about. Women have narrow heels! Whereas the FF KSO and Trek Sport have an excellent heel anchor built into the velcro strap design, the Pace Glove dispenses with any mechanism to keep the heel and the shoe in contact. Instead there is a useless piece of pleated fabric that rubs against the Achilles tendon. There isn't even the option to use a heel lock lacing pattern, as the last lacing loop is too far down the foot. So when I wear these shoes I will be stuck with the additional ankle stress of constantly losing rear-foot contact with the shoe. As an ultrarunner, I consider that a fatal flaw in a shoe. Note to Merrell's design team: a feminine running shoe isn't about dainty patterns and pleats--it's about designing for the female foot!

I have had bad ankles my whole life. Long story short, there are two bones in my foot that should be one. They never fused properly. I was told it is a common abnormality, whatever that means. Whenever I walk a lot, particularly over uneven ground, my ankles ache. I frequently misstep, turn, and/or sprain my ankles. It seriously feels like my ankle just buckles out from under me when I take a step. One minute I'm walking, and the next I'm on the ground in pain. I usually end up on crutches for a week or two out of every year, and the problem seems to be worse when I'm more fit and active, so it isn't a weight-related issue. When I heard about the minimalist movement, I wondered if it would help me. The first few times I wore these shoes my feet and legs felt odd, not painful, just odd. Now I can walk all I want, even on uneven ground and on stairs, without the ache in my ankles. I've always wanted to try running, but I've always been to scared to try it. Now maybe I will, starting very slowly of course. I don't claim that these shoes have fixed my problem or even 100% compensated for it, but I do know that they have made a substantial difference. I'm a single mom, and my budget is extremely limited, but I'm planning to buy another pair of your barefoot shoes. That says A LOT. Thanks for helping me in my journey to get back in shape and reclaim my health.

I am new to barefoot shoes. These are my first pair. They are amazing! I put these shoes on and they felt like any extension of my body. I actually took a picture of them and texted it to a few of my friends with the caption, "I feel like I was born with these shoes on!". One friend responded back, "But you hate wearing shoes!". I do prefer to be barefoot whenever possible. This is the next best thing. Thank you Merrell!

Having terrible knees, I reasoned that, with barefoot sneakers, my feet could do the twisting and balancing ... while my knees stayed stable. And, my reasoning worked!!! Wearing these shoes I can garden for hours at a time - my garden is on a hillside and there's lots of ups and downs. They fit me like a glove and I've even ordered a second pair. thank you Merrell.