Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove, Kids
Barefoot Trail Glove Kids
Retail price: $60
Upper/Lining
• Synthetic and mesh upper
• Hook and loop closure system for quick adjustability
• No irritating inside seams make socks optional
• Microfiber footbed treated with Aegis® antimicrobial
Midsole/Outsole
• Specially designed outsole has a wider base for increased ground contact providing stability for young feet
• EVA Midsole 1mm forefoot shock adsorption plate maintains forefoot flexibility and protects the foot by distributing pressure
• 0mm ball to heel drop keeps you connected to your terrain
• Vegan friendly footwear
• Vibram® Trail Glove Kids Sole / TC-1 Rubber
• Weight: 4.3 ozs
Findings: Ian, age 9, wrote this review of the barefoot shoes:
I was excited to get to try out these new shoes. When I first tried them on, they felt good. It felt like I was barefoot and I could feel the ground better. I like the way the bottom of the shoe looks—it looks just like a foot. The shoe looks cool. And blue is my favorite color so it worked out great.
The first big hike I wore them on was at Russian Lakes in Alaska. We hiked 10 miles the first day and 12 miles the second day. I carried a backpacking pack that weighed over 20 pounds. The sun was really shining the first day and it was hot! The mesh on top of the shoe helped to keep my foot cooler which was a good thing. The next day it was rainy. The mesh made my foot get a little wet, but it just cooled my foot. The wet feels comfortable after awhile. The bottom had a good gripper. I didn’t feel slippery at all, even when it was raining.
I would recommend these shoes to even my best friend because they work great for me and I really like them.
Mom’s review:
Ian said it well! From a mom’s perspective, these shoes have done a lot of hard miles this summer and they hardly show it. I’ve bought less expensive shoes in the past that hardly last a couple months of hard kid use. A quality shoe that lasts is worth it. As for ankle support, these shoes rely on the oldest support system out there–your own muscles. Although not everyone agrees with me on this, I’m a fan of kids building up their muscles to support their ankles rather than relying on their shoes to do the job for them.