Merrell Trail Glove 7 vs 8: Did they make it better or worse?
Almost every time Merrell releases a new version of their popular Trail Glove barefoot hiking shoe, instead of making small updates to style, fit or features, they often take huge swings that change the shoe dramatically, frequently to the dismay—but occasionally delight—of their fans.
The Trail Glove 6, for instance, which we’ve reviewed, was a massive design failure, in my opinion. The introduction of the Trail Glove 7, however, was what brought the shoe line back from the edge of certain doom.
But once again, Merrell made some big changes with the Trail Glove 8, alienating some fans of previous versions. But is their ire warranted? I tested the 7 and 8 to find out how the newest addition to the line holds up.
A New Style of Trail Glove… Again
Once again, the style of the newest Trail Glove changed dramatically.
Coming from the Trail Glove 7, the 8 saw reductions in the wrap-around sole that came up higher into the arch and around the toe—the benefit being added protection from rocks and roots on the trail. There’s even a new mesh upper. Most notably, the tongue of the shoe is “burrito” style now, meaning it’s connected to and wraps around from one side, not both. I actually liked this feature because it helps keep the tongue in place on long runs when other tongues might slowly migrate to one side. Ever have to stop in the middle of a run to straighten out your tongue? No need with the Trail Glove 8.
The 8 also has a redesigned mid-foot for a slightly looser fit. Over the past few generations, the mid-foot has widened and the arch has become less aggressive, which is a welcome feature because the 6’s arch was so pronounced it was borderline painful before breaking in. The 7 was wider and significantly less aggressive—right on the money in my opinion. The 8 is wider still. While I haven’t had comfort issues with the 8, the new design seems to be problematic and downright painful according to some customer reviews.
In fact, the only thing that has stayed the same between the 7 and 8 is the minimalist design ethic like many of our favorite barefoot shoes that we’ve reviewed here at Terradrift.
Trail Glove 7 vs 8: Specs
|
Feature |
Trail Glove 8 |
Trail Glove 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Style |
Zero Drop Multisport |
Zero Drop Multisport |
|
Upper Material |
Breathable Mesh and TPU |
Breathable Mesh and TPU |
|
Sole Material |
Vibram® TC5+ |
Vibram® Ecostep |
|
Stack Height |
12mm |
14mm |
|
Drop |
0mm |
0mm |
|
Weight (Per Shoe) |
7.76oz |
8.46 oz |
|
Recycled Materials |
Partial |
Partial |
|
Vegan Friendly |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Lug |
2.5mm |
2.5mm |
Design
Aesthetically, both shoes look like they’re meant to be on the trail. However, the newest version has character and leans more towards sneaker than technical. For that it’s probably better suited to trail-to-tavern outings. The 7’s big toe cap, for instance, makes it look like a hiking or running shoe than anything. Personally, I find the 8 a little more visually interesting.
Performance
Both the Trail Glove 7 and 8 perform admirably when it comes to hiking and light trail running. I tested them in the summer and fall in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains on dusty trails, trail running and hiking 3-5+ miles most of the time.
Both feature a Vibram sole and 2.5mm lugs, though the exact formulation of rubber has changed. The grip on smooth rock surfaces is virtually indistinguishable between the two, though the new lug design on the 8 is more varied, which I found to offer slightly better traction on rocky, dusty trails. The 7 has the same narrow repeating pattern across the entire sole.
Comfort
Both the 7 and 8 run true-to-size, have a moderately stiff sole, but flexible enough to wrap around small–medium sized rocks on the trail. Like most minimalist shoes, I did feel those rocks, but not enough to cause pain or fatigue. Plus, there’s a tiny bit of padding in the insole to offer just a touch of squish and just enough protection while still allowing your toes room to move around and feel a bit of what’s underfoot. I did find the footbed shape in the 7 more comfortable when running and hiking—it’s just a tiny bit more secure in the mid-foot, with a moderate, comfortable arch.
What about the tongue? I found both comfortable on the 7 and 8, though I do like the new burrito tongue on the 8 for its simplicity and ease of putting on the shoe. The only weird thing I found with the 8 is the position of the laces toward the top of the tongue. I found that if you tie them to the tightness of a typical shoe, it creates a pressure point across the top of your foot. Backing off on the laces a bit fixed the issue while still staying secure.
For long day hikes and trail running (8-16 miles), both remained comfortable, with no hot spots or rubbing. As meantioned with the laces, I did find the 8’s to be a little more challenging to tie with just enough pressure to be comfortable throughout the hikes and runs.
Sustainability
Both the Trail Glove 7 and 8 are vegan-friendly, with 100% recycled mesh upper, lining, laces, and webbing, and 30% recycled, integrated EVA foam insole. The 7 pulls out ahead ever so slightly with its Vibram EcoStep outsole which uses 30% recycled rubber.
As I’ve noted in previous reviews, while Merrell does implement recycled materials here and there they seem to have stagnated otherwise, with its public-facing sustainability page still showing initiatives to be complete by 2025. Sadly they haven’t shown the level of effort I would expect from a brand of their size. Watchdogs like Good On You have even ranked the brand’s initiatives as “Not Good Enough.”
Bottom Line
While I didn’t have any major issues with either the 7 or 8 (which both run true to size, btw) I found the shape of the 7’s footbed to be more comfortable for hiking and trail running. It also offers better protection from rocks and roots with the one-piece sole that covers the toe cap and comes up high into the arch.
The new version is a downright respectable shoe that with plenty of flexibility and protection, just not quite as much as the 7. It may even be my favorite iteration of the shoe that somehow still bears the name “Trail Glove.”
That said, if you’re able to find a running or outdoor store that carries both the Trail Glove 7 and 8, I highly recommend giving each a try. After all, everyone’s feet are a little bit different. And since Merrell has shown no interest in settling on a design for the Trail Glove, if you find a style you love, maybe buy two pairs.
