Merrell Vapor Glove 6 - Women's Review

The Vapor Glove 6 is the latest iteration in a line of well-loved barefoot shoes by Merrell. These shoes are lightweight at just 10.4 ounces for a pair of US size 9. They have a small six-millimeter stack height, a wide toe box, and a flexible outsole, so we felt grounded with every step we took.

Performance Comparison

Ground Feedback

The Merrell Vapor Glove has one of the best ground feedback results of our entire lineup. These shoes have just six millimeters of materials underfoot, so we could feel almost everything we were stepping on. However, this stack is just enough that we don't get any sharp pains from stepping on rocks or twigs. Rather, we have a more dampened feeling as we walked around. We were surprised at just how much we could feel under our feet in these shoes. Even small sidewalk cracks could be felt as we tested them out.

The Vibram outsole is very flexible, twisting and turning with ease during our tests. While your feet don't actually bend this way, it is a good representation of how the shoes will flex with your feet in any direction they do bend. The wide toe box also allowed our feet to splay out fully and we never once felt restricted in these shoes. The shoes don't have an insole, so if you are new to barefoot-style shoes, there won't be any additional cushion for your transition. However, with a proper adjustment period, this might not be a big deal.

Stability

Because these shoes are so low to the ground and have a wide base, we felt extremely stable. They contour the heel with a slight curve, which was different at first, but we grew to love this. Step by step, we felt like our feet rounded with the shoe as our feet struck the ground.

The upper is made from lightweight mesh and polyester. We got a nice fit with the lacing system, with enough room to let out slack for a more relaxed fit. And if we were going to pick up the pace, we could tighten these down to feel snug in the shoe as we ran. The Vapor Glove is comfortable right out of the box, but within just a few wears we felt even more comfortable in them, increasing our confidence in their stability.

Traction

The Vapor Glove feature a Vibram outsole. This feels softer and more flexible than Vibram outsoles we have seen on hiking shoes and boots. However, these shoes also don't feature the beefy midsole often seen in these footwear options. Instead, it as if we get all the traction features from the sticky rubber, without the external lugs and stiffness. The inverted lug pattern proved to be fairly effective on most terrain. However, we were very impressed with its performance on wet rock and sand.

We traversed river sides, often walking in the river and back on land. Most shoes would struggle with this transition, causing slips on rock. However, the Vapor Glove kept us stuck on the rock with ease. The soft outer allowed our feet to naturally fold over the boulders as we traversed the river, and the sticky rubber kept us from slipping on rocks we would've normally expected to slip on. We took these shoes to the beach and were also impressed by how they bit into the sand. Small pebbles would often get lodged in the tread. However, sand was no issue and dropped out with each step.

Weight

These shoes are among the lightest in the lineup at 10.4 ounces for the pair of US size 9s. The lightweight design can be attributed to the minimal materials used. There is only six millimeters underfoot, and the upper is a breathable mesh material. Everything about this shoe is lightweight, so we aren't surprised that they ended up on top in this metric.

That said, if you live in a seasonal location, these will be cold in winter. The mesh quickly absorbs moisture, so we wouldn't feel confident wearing these in the snow. For colder weather, you might need a second set of shoes to keep you warm and dry. Luckily, these options exist, they just aren't the Vapor Glove 6. However, as we wore these on our warmest days, we were happy we had them on. We mostly forgot about them because they felt so light on our feet.

Durability

With the lightweight design, we were concerned these shoes would fall apart within the first few wears. They mostly proved us wrong. We hopped in and out of rivers, bumped against rocks and branches, and even wore these during travels abroad. We didn't have any major concerns.

The rubber outsole extends over the toe and helps prevent bumps against the mesh upper. This also protects your toes from unwelcome stubs, which we appreciated as we walked in the river. Even when these got dirty, we threw them in the wash and had no trouble getting them clean again. However, these aren't the most durable in the lineup. Leather options and those with more stack height will likely last longer. Though, it should be mentioned that during our tests, we had no major issues.

Should You Buy the Merrell Vapor Glove 6?

We think the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 is an excellent barefoot shoe, and we happily recommend it to most people. The versatile design is capable of hardpack trails, sandy beaches, grocery store runs, and normal wear. Our feet were happy in these thanks to their wide toe box and minimal stack height. However, this small stack height also makes them less inviting to those who are new to barefoot shoes. We suggest a shoe with slightly more stack height or an optional insole for those who are easing into the style. Additionally, the Vapor Glove is great in warm weather but not so much in winter. The airy fabric doesn't insulate the foot well. So, you will likely need another set of shoes for colder months.

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