Merrell has discontinued the Bare Access Arc 4.
REASONS TO BUY
Soft midsole is comfortable for running
Breathable
REASONS TO AVOID
Rope climbs damage soles
Too soft for lifting
Merrell Bare Access Arc 4 - Women's Review
Merrell Bare Access Arc 4 - Women's
Credit: Merrell
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
Hands-On Review
The Bare Access Arc 4 is a minimalist runner with 0 mm of heel to toe drop. At 5.8 ounces (164 grams) it is one of the lightest shoes in this review. It is available in dark gray, light gray, red, black and green, and has reflective highlights. With a Vibram rubber sole you can even take this shoe on a trail run and feel comfortable about your footing.
Performance Comparison
The is a great looking and comfortable minimalist running shoe. Complete with reflective details, this shoe helps you stay visible during an early morning or late evening run.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Weightlifting
This running shoe was not designed with weightlifting in mind. However, with no heel to toe drop you can use them for light lifts. The main limitation to lifting in them is the soft sole. At heavier weights we wanted a firmer sole like that of our Editors' Choice winner, the Nike Metcon 3.
Lisa Ray tries out this shoe with some clean and jerks. They did ok at lighter lifts, but we were not comfortable lifting heavy in these shoes because of the soft soles.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Running
The Merrell Bare Access Arc 4 had one of the highest scores for running in this review. They are light on your feet with a comfortable amount of cushion. As a minimalist running shoe they also perform well on trail runs with just enough protection from sharp rocks.
Sensitivity
With the soft sole it is difficult to tell where your body weight is on your feet. Check out our Top Pick for Running WODs, the Reebok Sprint 2.0 - Women's, for a shoe that is just as good for running but has the added benefit of better sensitivity for weightlifting.
Support
The benefits of having a cushioned sole for running create some drawbacks when trying to lift in this shoe. When trying to stand up out of a deep front squat we found our weight shifting too far onto the front of our feet when we needed to be able to stay back on our heels. Comparatively, the Inov-8 F-Lite 195 - Women's scored just as high for running but has a more supportive sole for lifting.
The softer running sole of this shoe made it hard to stay back on our heels when standing up out of a squat.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Protection / Durability
Rope climbs are notoriously brutal on shoes that were not designed to handle that kind of wear. We were sad to see damage on these shoes after only 15 rope climbs. The Vibram sole began to separate from the softer foam midsole as there is no protective rubber in that area. A shoe that will definitely not come apart like this is the Nike Metcon 3. It has an indestructible grippy rubber sole that wraps up around the instep of the shoe.
These shoes are not designed for rope climbs. After only 15 rope climbs the sole started to separate from the shoe.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Breathability
The Merrell Bare Access Are 4 scored in the middle of the pack for breathability during our testing. Although not as breathable as the Inov-8 F-Lite 195, this shoe was still airy enough to keep us comfortable during hot workouts.
Comfort
Even though they are not great at lifting, our shoe testers absolutely loved these shoes because they are so comfortable. They have great arch support and you can spend all day walking around in them with no problem.
Best Applications
These shoes were built for running and that is what they are best at. Workouts that combine gymnastics movements, jumping and running are perfect for this model.
These shoes are comfortable and great for running, but the soles are too soft and not a good choice for lifting.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Value
At a retail value of $95, it is nice to spend less than a hundred dollars on shoes. If you are searching for a shoe primarily for running WODs then this model is great for the money. However, if you want shoes that also work for weightlifting, you might find yourself purchasing an additional pair of shoes. For just a few dollars more you can get our Best Buy winner, the Reebok Nano 2.0 - Women's. The Nano 2.0 is a more versatile option than this shoe.
Conclusion
These minimalist running shoes are comfortable and great on the road. They work well for gymnastic movements and plyometric workouts as well. However, they are not a good choice for lifting workouts and don't fit the bill for an all-around CrossFit shoe.
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Audrey Hammond