It's new shoes day!

"Dr_Watson" (dr_watson) 07/15/2020 at 12:29 • Filed to: None

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I’ve never been this excited about shoes before so I had to share.

My brother is an avid runner. We stumbled into a conversation about shoes the other day and he recommended I look at Merrell Trail Glove 5 shoes due to my complaints about how I can never find running shoes that fit my feet.

I have a very wide toe section of my foot (advantageous when I was a competitive swimmer but bad for fitting in shoes) but normal middle and heel so wide sizes don’t work. The way almost all shoes come to a point crushes my outside toes. This has generally forced me into buying things a half size larger than I need to get more toe room. But that’s not ideal as just like with wide sizes the rest of my foot is then swimming in the oversize fit.

These things however are a miracle. The toe box is significantly wider than a standard runner, I was able to buy them in my real size so they hug my heel perfectly but I’ve got enough room up top to wiggle my toes. The only thing that compares in comfort is a pair of Teva sandals.

I’d never even heard of Merrell before, but now they’re my favorite shoe  company. Hopefully they make good driving boots. I’ll find that out Sunday.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 12:50

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I’ve found Merrel shoes are still too narrow for my 4E foot. New Balance usually has something that will fit my duck feet.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 12:51

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My wife’s hiking boots are Merrell s - she loves them.

Wacko > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 12:53

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They have been around for a long time. I love my pairs of merrells, since I also have wide feet. So far they are lasting me longer than any other make I had. I loved my salomons but they break up in less than a year...

smobgirl > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 12:55

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You may also want to try on some Altras if you get the chance. 

(I have the opposite problem - normal toe  box but super narrow heel and midfoot. I haven’t had to untie a pair of shoes for my entire adult life). 

Cash Rewards > smobgirl 07/15/2020 at 13:01

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Yes, but zero drop is a tough transition

Cash Rewards > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 13:03

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I second smobgirl's recommendation, but zero drop shoes need to be a slow transition if you're used to running with a traditional 10mm drop

Dr_Watson > Cash Rewards 07/15/2020 at 13:09

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Would that be why my brother recommended I wear my old Nikes every other day for a couple weeks to avoid getting sore arches?

Gone > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 13:12

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Merrell makes a lot of quality footwear - lots of hiking stuff . I have opposite issues. Normal toe box and midfoot, but very narrow heels. Thank god for Sidi moto boots and cycling shoes...

Cash Rewards > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 13:20

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For me it wasn't arches but calf and Achilles. I was told start at 25% of your distance and work up from there. Alternating shoes is good, too. Looks like those are a zero drop shoes just like altra, so yeah. Proceed slowly at first.

facw > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 13:35

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I got some Trail Glove 4's after someone here on Oppo recommended them and I like them a lot. I’m not running in them though so just hiking is almost certainly less stressful. From reading the reviews at the time, it seemed like people thought the 5s were a bit closer to conventional trail running shoes with a little more sole than the 4s and the Vapor Glove 3s.

smobgirl > Cash Rewards 07/15/2020 at 13:58

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Trail Glove is a zero drop shoe though?

Dr_Watson > smobgirl 07/15/2020 at 14:00

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yes they are. My brother recommended I alternate with my old Nike runners for a couple weeks to get used to them. 

Cash Rewards > smobgirl 07/15/2020 at 14:03

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Yeah, apparently. I haven't worn Merrell in years, didn't know they had those.

Cash Rewards > Wacko 07/15/2020 at 14:04

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It’s been about a decade since I wore them, but I oddly had the opposite experience. Maybe worth checking them out again

Dr_Watson > facw 07/15/2020 at 14:05

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My brother has TG4's he told me to go with the 5 because I guess the toe box is roomier on that model. 

DipodomysDeserti > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 14:14

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I wish Merrill would stop changing the Trail glove. I loved my original ones.

smobgirl > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 14:26

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I run in NB Minimus shoes, which are a 4mm drop, and I absolutely can’t handle anything else anymore.  I tried to buy a pair of Adidas to try last year and couldn’t handle 8mm. Weird how it makes so much of a difference! Definitely heed his advice :)

Svend > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 17:39

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In the last near 20 years, I’ve only worn Loakes Oxford shoes, Hitec Magnum boots or Merrell trail shoes. I’ve two pairs of Merrell Trail Frogs, one 13 years old, the other 14 years old. Still going strong, just replace the insole every year or so.

These are 14 years old, worn nearly every day.

The Compromiser > Dr_Watson 07/15/2020 at 21:40

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All I wear when not in Docs. I can feel the pedal in them and they weigh nothing. A friend turned me on to them. He started wearing them for rock climbing. 

JMKarstetter > Dr_Watson 07/16/2020 at 02:20

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I’ll have to look into these again, I still wear my original Trail Gloves, the first gen every now and then, I also have a pair of Merrell Embark GoreTex I wear for cooler weather.