The merrell trail glove 3 is a great option for those who love to feel the tough and difficult trail while wearing a shoe that was built for speed.
Merrell trail glove 3 vs 4.
Merrell glove 4 trail vs vapor when looking for the merrell glove 4 it quickly becomes apparent that there are different models.
The truly minimalist sole of the original now has a rigid arch support wedge which if you re actually used.
This helps the foot remain in place give you good fitting and cushioning.
Primus trails sg and fg vs.
Merrell though has found a way around this.
The trail glove 3 from merrell caters to the needs of minimalist runners or those who are looking for an option that is as extremely close to barefoot running.
Which is what makes the trail glove 3 and all of merrell s latest minimalist models such a disappointment.
I haven t used the vg4 but from the images online they look similar in construction to the trail glove 4 while retaining the design of the vapor glove 3.
The difference is indeed relevant and has a serious effect on the day feeling and features.
If you re looking for a shoe that minimalist but offers more protection and a little more cushioning than a true barefoot shoe like the excellent merrell vapor glove i think this should be on your shopping list.
With both shoes the ground feels good they have a good reactivity and protect against stones thanks to the anti scratch plate.
As stated incorporated into the trail glove 4 is the vibram tc5 outsole.
The tg4 is a great all round all terrain barefoot shoe and can be used on straight as well as technical trails whereas the vg3 is an excellent lightweight shoe that i find meant more for.
In the merrell trail glove 4 the thickness is 11 5 mm while in the merrell trail glove 3 it is 12 mm.
The merrell omni fit lacing system gives a glove like fit.
This material allows the runner to feel the trail beneath their feet without incurring too much physical stress.
The added feature of version 4 is the padded collar and tongue.
I tried these on at my local rei when my original trail gloves finally wore out and was so disappointed i could have wept.
But it has much less to do.
Of course both shoes do not have differences in height between the front and back is what is called zero drop shoes.
The fourth version has larger changes than the earlier merrell trail glove 3 which was only a cosmetic change.
Unlike other shoes the tongue of trail glove 4 is a continuation of the upper part rather a separate tongue.