I am a firm believer in having a few different tools (shoes) in the toolbox. With a standard toolbox, you grab the right tool for the job, whether it’s a screwdriver or a hammer. My Bare Access Trail running shoes have been on about 300 miles of rock, mud, and some road over the past few months. I typically run in my Merrell Vapors, but when I am ready to get into some gnarly, rocky, rooty, mixed terrain trails, I reach for my Bare Access Trails.

Why run in the Bare Access Trail?

Since I prefer a zero-drop shoe to accommodate my needs, this has become a staple in my weekly rotation of road and trail running shoes. I tend to run in either the Bare Access Trail or the Bare Access Ultra depending on what terrain I will be covering on any given run. I try to keep a little variety in my runs because variety is the spice of life, right?

What’s it feel like?

With the Bare Access Trail running shoe, you’ll find a wide toe box, aggressive knob’s to grip any muddy or rocky trail, protection against obstacles on the trail, and plenty of flexibility and natural movement to the shoe. I cannot have a trail running shoe that is stiff as a board and has no flex in it, and this one does the trick perfectly. You’ll get the cushion you need to run long on those roots and rocks without breaking the ole metatarsals, but not so much that you lose feeling and contact with the natural world around you. This shoe allows you to maintain responsiveness but get the protection you need for hard trails.

Do you recommend it?

I definitely recommend this trail running shoe for mixed-terrain runners who dabble in everything from loose rock and gravel to muddy, slippery trails to hard sharp rocks and those darn roots that just jump out of nowhere and try to trip you up during your runs. It’s also a great looking shoe with all the typical Merrell flavors – some basic color schemes for those of us who like a more conservative look, and some colorful offerings for people like me. I like a little color on my run. Don’t forget to get them dirty right away, they work much better when they are dirty.

Merrell also has a women’s Bare Access Trail for you ladies who like to get a little muddy on the trail.

What do you think? Have you trail-tested the Bare Access Trail running shoe? What’s your review? Do you prefer a different Merrell trail running shoe? Share your reviews, thoughts and comments below!