First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate myself for 2 milestones. First is for having to make this second post, and second is having to write something more than 500 words without expecting payment from some anonymous online boss.
Now, on to the topic at hand. What is minimalist running?
Minimalist - someone who makes/wants everything to be simple by not using a good amount of his/her money. (lol)
Minimalist running has actually become more and more popular these days and minimalist gears, such as shoes, have been popping out once in a while. One of my favorite was the Vibram Five Fingers, but unfortunately, I can't seem to find a good fit in stores here in Cebu. This led me to buy my Merrell Trail Glove.
The real essence of minimalist running is running barefoot but with the current conditions of the roads, I don't think it would a good idea. Plus, having gears that are associated with hands (Glove & Five Fingers) is quite an interesting idea.
So, on to the review of the Merrell Trail Glove.
Again, these are not for the hands. These are for protecting your feet while running and still having the feeling of being "barefoot." How? It has a narrow soles that allows you to feel the terrain almost the same if you were running barefoot. Now, barefoot isn't such an easy feat. You have to know the proper technique because, like any other sport, you could hurt yourself.
Right off the bat, one can easily say that these shoes are quite a beauty. The design shouts out that it's more of a regular looking running shoes than it is something used for barefoot running. This would be good if you were to use it as casual shoes also. The Trail Glove fits nice on my feet. I'm usually a size 8 US but I bought a size 7.5 for a snug fit. I definitely recommend trying it on before buying to know how it exactly feels on your feet. Try running on it around the store if you can (throw some "yeeha's" in there too).
 |
| Snug Fit :) |
In actual use, the shoes feel really light. I have to say the laces were quite a bit of annoying especially that they could tangle with some twigs and other stuff on the trail. It would have been better if lock laces were used but then again I could just swap it if I wanted to. Using the shoes in an actual trail for the first time is really fun. With it, you can truly "feel" the trail. It's like having a good foot massage while walking in the park, except it's not a park and it's not a good foot massage either. It's best to avoid sharp and pointy rocks to help yourself from the pain (unless of course you're a masochist). The threads of the shoes you get a good grip on rocky and slippery surfaces. I've also tried these shoes on roads. It's far more comfortable and less painful because the road is far more predictable than an actual trail.
 |
| In action! |
Overall, it's a great shoe. A bit expensive --- I paid 4,095php for it (approx. $100) and it isn't perfect, too. I would say it's a good shoe to start with if you are moving towards barefoot/minimalist running. It will definitely help you protect your feet from debris. Have fun running free! :)
SUMMARY:
Pros:
SUMMARY:
Pros:
- Close to barefoot experience.
- Can be used as an everyday shoe.
- Doesn't look "odd."
- Good entry-level shoe.
- Comfortable.
- A bit expensive (For my taste).
- The laces are quite annoying.
 |
| on the traill |
 |
| Flirting. XD |
