Barefoot running shoe review: Merrell Vapor Glove vs XERO Prio

[@Urban0utlawGT]

i struggled with ankle problems on and off for years before researching barefoot or minimalist running shoes. i bought a pair of vapours exactly like the ones on the vid. i haven't had one injury after running more than 500 k in them. give me merrells any day of the week.

[@hugo9846]

same here. my lower back and metatarsals cried tears of relief when I started using the vapor glove 3's. I love them now with all my heart. I'm going to buy the 4's soon.

[@sergeboivin566]

I absolutely adore my Trail Glove. I bit more substandtial sole than the vapor glove, but still incredibly flexible and comfortable

[@VitoBell]

I'm new to your videos and to the barefoot lifestyle! Your videos are really great, I particularly appreciate how honest you are!!!

[@InfamousAustinT0]

Your videos made me feel confident in purchasing a pair of Vibram. I don't regret it at all. Getting many miles done in them.

[@g1AntR0boT]

around the 9 minute mark you say the Merrells hurt your achilles. How do you run in them at all ?

[@weisscoaching]

I've been using Xeroshoes Prio for about a year now, mostly for casual walking. Countless miles walked in them and I like them. In summer, they can get pretty warm and I don't really like running in them. Compared to VFF V-run, Xeroshoes are far behind. The durability of the sole is great but I destroyed the upper on one of them (probably due to our amazing road bumps). One more thing regarding durability of material used in minimalistic shoes. I would generally agree with you Steve, but my VFF V-run lasted over 2000kms of training. Traditional shoes, despite having more material to go through, need to be changed faster because the padding inside wears out much faster than the outside rubber and so they lose their cushioning abilities.

[@kalclashfitness]

Couldn't agree more dude - the V-runs are far superior to these. And yeah the padding goes on traditional shoes, but I often question whether that's accurate or whether it's a marketing ploy to get you to buy shoes more frequently.

[@weisscoaching]

@@kalclashfitnessthat is actually the funny part. Do you need to switch the worn-out shoes ? I suppose that you can create very uneven shoe due to the extra padding - you pretty much sculpt it to fit your foot shape and landing and since you have more material there, you have a lot of room to shape it. This can create a very uneven surface that you run in and promote injuries, etc. The second thing is that once there is little padding, people start to feel uncomfortable because they are not running on puffy clouds :D Which plays into the marketing - oh you should buy a new pair because you should not feel the ground, silly! Which is something we want to :D

[@drathmor1401]

there is a lighter and even more minimalist version of the Xero shoe called speed force now ment solely for running you really should give them a try next time your in the market.

[@patrickdewhurst3378]

@@weisscoaching In the book 'Born to Run' ( don't hate me for being that guy who mentions the book lol) the author claims that shoes are actually far superior when they break down. One guy in the book even ran ultras in a pair of shoes that, when they wore down, swapped feet. As in, right shoe on left foot etc. and ran like 1,000 more miles in them. I don't know if there is any validity to it since my experience has always been big blisters on my arch when the padding breaks down.

[@weisscoaching]

@@patrickdewhurst3378%F0%9F%98%85%F0%9F%98%85 I have recently made a review of Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FGs and I can safely say that worn out shoes cause injuries . The good news is that to wear them out takes a long time ;)

[@ThomasTimlen]

You mentioned rubbing in the Prio - but looking at your laces (on both shoes) it appears that you do not use a lace-lock tying approach. I started using lace-lock tying this year (with a pair of Topos) and the results have been great, my heel is really secure in the shoe, no forward slipping on downhill segments - so using lace-lock is now a routine I employ for all runs.

[@toddboucher3302]

Thanks again love having the videos again Funny thing about Xero sizing the sandals are true to size. I have 2 pairs size 10 and that's what I wear. If I was interested in these I would need 11-11.5 that's strange. In sandals ventures older model 5.5 mm and new model is Genesis about 4mm They are great. I enjoyed my vapor gloves but my V-run are the most enjoyable. But the sandals sole will last a super super long time. Looking to pickup some of the new Vapor gloves 4 soon, hopefully.

[@kalclashfitness]

I definitely need to try the sandals, they'll be next on my list...

[@chellsee4167]

I have the Genesis as well and love them.

[@98percentGorilla]

I use Vapor Gloves on any terrain without pointy sticking up things and Trail Gloves on anything gnarly (canal tow paths and those shitty council laid compacted gravel paths). The Vapor Gloves are as minimal as you can get apart from VFF KSOs but if you step on something sharp you're going to feel it. The Trail Gloves have a 'rock plate' built in which protects against pretty much anything but there's a bit of structure to the shoe so it's not strictly minimal. My current Trail Glove 6's are quite a bit more structured than all the earlier versions. Having used every Trail Glove since version 1, I'd say they were at their best in 2 and 3. Version 4 was really off for me in terms of the footbed shape which seemed to have changed dramatically from the previous version 4. Version 5 corrected that from my point of view but had serious durability issues - I had two pairs which both started falling apart after 200 miles. Interestingly although the Vibram soles are pretty indestructible the uppers are a weak link. Every single pair of Trail Gloves I've ever had has had the same problem - the mesh upper always splits open at the foot crease. This doesn't happen with Vapor Gloves so I think it's something to do with the way the more rigid sole in the Trail Glove bends at that point. Don't fancy Vivo because I always found the shop in Neal Street a bit snotty, so was thinking of switching to Xeros after my current pair of Trail Gloves but Made in China is a big no for me (my Merrells are made in Vietnam) so I'll stick with what I've been doing.

[@jazzmanjm8]

I’m more interested in the cat in the background! Out hunting in the trees!

[@TheMoonSeesMe]

I run in the Xero DIY sandals. They are 4mm thick 'true feel' sole only. All Xero shoes have a 5000 mile warranty and will replace them at a reduced price if they wear through. I always wear through them by about 2,000 miles so I send 'em back and get 'em replaced. They may do the same for the Prio so if you wear through the soul you could get them replaced at a reduced price.

[@patrickdewhurst3378]

I know this is an old comment, but I have their DIY's as well. Curious if you run in them, and if so- what tying system do you use?

[@Julie-my6ds]

Bought my first pair of merrils on Amazon for £49 last week ;) really notice the difference in posture when switching between them and my regular shoes.

[@kalclashfitness]

Nice! That's a good bargain!! Yeah it's night and day when you start running in a barefoot shoe! So much more enjoyable

[@Julie-my6ds]

@@kalclashfitness being a tiny woman is finally starting to pay off :p shoes tend to be cheaper the smaller the size. If you have the time or inclination, would be cool to see you try and review some of the cheaper options out there. I keep seeing news brands on Amazon like saguaro etc.

[@deanb61]

+1 for the Vapour gloves; I tried some vibrams 5 fingers, but even with dry feet in the shop they took 10 mins to put on with toes in the right place; that would just kill my T2 time :)

[@jayaychare7318]

my last run was when new balance minimus zero was out. loved that shoe and easy to run ultras in them. discontinued so on the lookout

[@ulster7717]

I had the prio but the toe glue gave out after a few months. To be fair to xero they gave a full credit. I was surprised however that the heel on the prio was showing early signs of wear and would have failed their 5000 mile warranty by half. I found the merrell by chance and was astonished at the price , feel and fit. So much so I bought a second pair of Luna in leather for casual use. Hope they last longer than the Prio, V5F and vivo barefoot as I can go through some of these in 6 months and I only walk in them. For me 6 months is approx 800 miles.

[@theDalaiLloyd]

I had the sole problem and 5k miles would never happen either. I probably walk around maybe 25 miles a week and have gone through 2 pairs in 8 months. I didn't like their return policy. I felt like they fucked up with the sole thing, and they should have immediately corrected it. Sorry, new pairs in the mail rn, and there's a return label for the shit pair. Instead, being typical, they insisted there was no way to send me another pair without sending the old ones first (they're my only shoe shoes). Their only advice was to just spend a hundred bucks on a new pair, and then return the old ones for a refund. They also offered to send me some shoe goo. Its nothing to nobody, but I like to promote what i believe in, and I've told a lot of people around me about being barefoot/minimalist. I was telling people about xero shoes, but that's all done. Not that it matters 🤗

[@ulster7717]

Lloyd Wagner . Agree entirely. I can only assume that most people who buy them don’t do the mileage we do😀. I can now report that my first pair of merrell are showing signs of wear on the sole. With barefoot looks like you just have accept they are only good for six months with the mileage we do.

[@mgetmeinahalfpipe]

In depth stuff, nice. I've got, it feels like, a library of five fingers at home and wanted to comment on the bleeding. I run almost exclusively in El-x's for the ground perception, so I naturally tried the KSO evos. Essentially the same except with lacing system, but they have this weird rubber decal running across the top (for decoration, have the bright blue pair with black rubber bits). For me, I get lacerated by this even after a 5km or less, on the inside/top of my feet. I can't really wear them (even with socks) as my skin never recovers as its super thin in that spot. My daily shoe is the vapor glove 3 like in this video, and I also have noticed some weird twinge in my achilles after running in them. Not severe, but something going on. I commented before on a pair of Xero sandals I had, which fit fine but the soles are insanely stiff and you can't feel anything in them, so for me thats a running deal-breaker.

[@SJK-uc6lf]

I had a pair of Merrell Gloves when they first came out. I had to get rid of them because they were digging into my Achilles so much that it caused bleeding.

[@luceinbattaglia9425]

Vibram5F.. The best! Nothing really seems to get closer to them😉🔝💪🦁

[@manny_f]

Very detailed review/comparison, thanks!

[@billmurray1199]

That cat was trying to get at a Robin in your tree. Glad you pointed out sizing of shoe, Highlights one of tge downfalls of online ordering and delivery if manufactures can't be aligned on their sizing. Ill stick to vapor glove.

[@gerhardbekker646]

I have the Merrell 3 and they are on approximately 600 km. Showing quite a bit of wear on the upper, which is fair I rate... Really enjoyed them. I already ordered a Vapor Glove 4. They are, however, so thin that if you step on a little stone, it really hurts. I literally bruised my foot this week on a bit of a bigger stone... PS: You have a beautiful cat :)

[@mgetmeinahalfpipe]

I went through my upper (mainly across where the fore foot bend is) on my first pair of vapor glove 3's. The rest was intact!

[@charliejones8346]

I love barefoot running and that free euphoric feeling it gives you and I'm recently missing it a lot! I started my journey in Vivobarefoot trainers but wore them out quickly so watched your reviews and thought I would switch it up. I tried to get some Vibram Fivefingers hut struggled to order a pair in my size and gave up on that for the time being. I then went for the Merrell Vapor Glove 3s and absolutely loved them. Great to run in, grippy and felt barefoot without a doubt. Had no injuries (other than bruising from stones which was expected now and again) but I killed them in 2 months every time I got a new pair! Sadly had to stop buying them due to that and I did find the upper threading wore out quickly also. Now I'm back to boring Nike Free Runs because they still have a bit less padding than your conventional trainer but I miss that barefoot feeling and was considering Xero Prios after amazing reviews elsewhere. However, I worry about sizing and rubbing being an issue. I wish they would come up with more durable materials to use so I can make good looking barefoot trainers last longer and so they are worth the money!

[@paulysci925]

Charlie Jones they fixed the sizing true to size and they are 50% off on the website through cyber Monday. I hope you get this message!👌

[@TirnanHealy]

I use Xero prios and they are fine and comfortable

[@CyprinusCarpioDiem]

For people with wide feet (talking feet like hobbits), the Vapor glove is very narrow. It feels like a xc shoe.

[@casparbosch5615]

Glad I saw your comment! Any brands/models you'd recommend?

[@OnTheRecordOfficial]

Caspar Bosch Are you looking for something to go trail running? If so, I can speak for the Xero Terraflex. Check out Lems, all of there shoes have a wide toe box as well!

[@cknight4281]

Merril toe box is too narrow for minimalist shoes. I dont think you need hobbit wide feet to notice this. Most of the other brands have a wider toe box

[@Crepitom]

Agreed. I went for Xero Hfs. Joe Nimble was wide too, but more expensive.

[@brett2344]

The vapours are way too narrow for a barefoot shoe!! Does not allow for proper splay at all… do love the vibram soles but the narrow fit is disappointing!! The Prios although slightly thicker with the true wide toe box are amazing!!! Splay all day🤙

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

2years ago i bought prio based on their sizing instruction and my toes were hitting the front of the shoes. i am not in the us which means returning them is not practical so i gave them to a family member. i ordered half size bigger than the first one and it would have been the perfect size for me but they sent me half size bigger than what i ordered and it was frustrating. i still use them but only for short recovery runs because my feet slides a bit inside the shoes. my kso evo (first vff) that i bought only 2 months ago,however,i could already run 15km with them and average faster pace from same effort. i'm trying to decide now whether to get v trail or v run as my next pair - i'll buy them both but can't buy two at same time

[@robertsoliz6821]

Did you say the xero shoes are waterproof?

[@meanwhileinespoo1265]

I have the same right foot width problem as you. had to get a pair 1 to 1.5 sizes bigger so my little toe on the left foot doesnt touch the edge... feels a little like clown shoes because they are so roomy but love the shoes... got them for more casual use without looking minimal

[@DouweBuruma]

I ware Xero HFS size 44, and Merrel Vapor glove 3 size 44,5 EU.

Bought vapor glove 3’s last year and absolutely love them. Only issue is they get pretty thin and start to tear on the thin upper material by the side of my big toe. Have a lot of miles on them so i guess i got my moneys worth out of them. Just ordered another pair of 3’s because i think the 4’s will give a totally different feel and I am just too happy with the 3’a to risk it. They are truly minimal

[@stevemack5234]

just purchased vivobarefoot went for a 5 k run light trail run they gave good feed back on ground perception also own a pair of vibram fivefinger which in comparison the vivo feel slightly lighter but like you say is a personal preference interested to see what you think if you have the chance to try a pair of vivobarefoot?

[@matthobbs2740]

Same here. I’ve been running completely barefoot for the last three years. I felt had to buy a pair of closed in shoes for running on holiday in Australia as my wife doesn’t think that it’s safe going barefoot out there with all the nasty biting poisonous things around. Unfortunately going from barefoot to prios wasn’t what I expected. I ware 4mm Xero DIY sandals already. Their great for general day-to-day ware and you get brilliant ground feel. I got quite a lot of rubbing with the Prios. My big toes splay quite a lot and like you got blood on the side of my toenail after 6 miles. I wanna see if I can stretch the toe box up, but the ground feel is mushy. Wearing them wasn’t any fun.

[@chrisjpeltz]

Looks like the MErrell are a bit narrower in the toe box. What was your experience with roominess in the front?

[@paulysci925]

Any feelings about the xero speed force?

[@cooncourt]

Whats your thoughts on Vivo Barefoot?

[@enigmaticreverieproduction5169]

Pricey!!!! I had the vivo gobi 2 and loved them, sole didn’t last long and the leather inside ended up getting a hole. Won’t buy their shoes again due to cost. I loved my vapor gloves but for my wide foot the vivo sole felt better, vapor gloves was narrow in the middle. Currently waiting for zero shoes to come

[@BloodMeridien]

Are the Prios faster to run in and do the soles articulate along those segmented lines. Will they give you a break from 5Finger sore calfs and stiff ankles?

[@kalclashfitness]

Hey man, nah they're not faster and wouldn't give your feet or ankles a break. The vapor gloves I would say are faster than the xero

[@drathmor1401]

speed is reliant on you, not the shoe

[@moredatesmorefiber3526]

You should get the tsla barefoot sneakers

[@andrewlee149]

I've had a pair of Prios for a year and a half and run about 1100 miles in them. They barely appear to be showing wear on the soles, so I'm pretty confident at this point they'll make it to at least 3000, maybe the 5 they say? I did have some issues when not wearing socks with blisters, but no issues when wearing with socks. I don't use the insert that comes with them.

[@theDalaiLloyd]

That's amazing. I haven't made 1,000 miles in 2 pairs. My Xero Shoes are being replaced very soon.

[@andrewlee149]

@@theDalaiLloyd are the soles wearing out or the upper part? (Or both?)

[@theDalaiLloyd]

@@andrewlee149 The soles have wear, but inside the soles are being shredded. The fabric between my foot and the rubber is chewed up by my heels, balls (doh), and toes.

[@jfitness432]

Are there any minimalist shoes you would recommend for playing tennis on a hard court

[@ted56637]

Vivo makes a court shoe. Very flat, good heel support.

[@MrJonny5o]

I have Merrell Vapour Glove 4 and they don’t have removable insoles.

[@louie7939]

hi steve, i know u use strava and was wondering wat you think about the moving time feature. It wont give me a true pace as it doesn't count when you stop or walk very slow etc. Wat do you think about this and how would i get around it? or do you think its not that big a deal

[@wanyuepeng3913]

I'm new to your channel. I like your contents a lot! Just curious, how much weekly mileage do you usually do on average in minimalist running?

[@slavasss2189]

Who said that xero is running shoe...? Xero itself, bcs they have only few models in their product range? To me - its pure lifestyle shoe

[@kalclashfitness]

The owner of the business told me it was a running shoe

[@danieldauber8335]

@@kalclashfitness It's true, Xero markets them as running shoe. But I personally wear them only as every-day shoes. I find the sole too stiff and - that might sound funny- too LOUD when running. Great comparison BTW, Steve!

[@andrewalvarez2080]

You should try Xero Speed force running shoe.

[@anpham4071]

How are the vapor gloves "barefoot" shoes when they're so dang narrow?? It's more minimalistic...but definitely not barefoot IMO

[@Jivolt]

Prios are excellent everyday shoes but I can’t run in them. I need the absolute minimum shoe like my Vivobarefoot EVO Pure or FiveFingers EL-X when running. But nothing beats pure barefoot running.

[@brianfogg5172]

I have also found all kinds of problems with Zero sandals. Less than quality design and poor packaging covered up with clever advertising. No more Xeros for me.

[@kalclashfitness]

That sucks dude, yeah of these two the merrells would be my choice but Vibrams come before both

[@alecwithac69]

I love my xero sandals. Wear them all around the house.

[@d_no_allyn_86]

Described the ground feel as if they're different while still making them sound about the same feel.. lol. Strange. Idk how you could feel the ground only inside the shoe. Does the grass transfer to the inside of the shoe, through the soul when you run? 🤦‍♂️😅

[@bensimmons7683]

You ever try vivobarefoot

[@grobetrotter5969]

Hey Steve, in what shoes do you race?

[@98LuckyLuk]

I recently bought an minimalist running shoe from AliExpress for 20€. I would like to ask if you have any experience with such cheap options, especially because I find modern running shoes totally operpriced, especially regarding durability.

[@kalclashfitness]

Didn't I already respond to this comment on another video? Maybe I missed it. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with them dude, it they're legit then I'll consider them.

[@98LuckyLuk]

@@kalclashfitness I did ask it on and older video but I must have missed your response. I will tell you. They look like VFF just without deperate compartments for the toes.

[@kalclashfitness]

Ok cool man, I'll check them I could do with saving a few pennies

[@danieldauber8335]

I'd be interested in this question, too!

[@98LuckyLuk]

So I received them last week and went for a few runs the last days and for 20€ they are quite nice, really surprising quality for that little money (apart from the crappy insole, which is fortunately removable), but I have to see how they hold up. I am optimistic, however, because they seem quite sturdy. Of course shoes for 100€ will be nicer, but for me they are totally sufficient. www.aliexpress.com/item/Unisex-Men-s-Running-Shoes-Summer-Breathable-Sneakers-Gym-Walking-Shoes-Outsole-Toes-Quick-Drying-Running/32860233256.html This is the particular model I ordered. It is rather expensive compared to the rest on that site, but it has a seperate tongue (most of them do not) and the material, sole and overall construction looked the most promising. According to their sizing chart I should've ordered a 43, but I went with a 44 which I ususally wear and I got a little room (maybe 0.5 cm or a little more) in the front, so the recommended sizing will fit more like a sock than a classical shoe.

[@Crepitom]

I tried the merrel glove 4, it is way too narrow for me. I bought the Xero Hfs. They are more flexible and minimal and lighter than the Prio. Might go for vibram v-run in the future but sole is pretty narrow too.

[@killakode1]

Crepito I’ve been using xero primo for 3 years and they are my most comfortable shoe to wear

[@Crepitom]

cookiemonster66 I like my Hfs but the sole is too slippery when it is raining or has rained.

[@chadeklund9835]

Have not tried xero yet but I can say this. I do parkour and the vibram 5 fingers ripped a hole in the shoe on my 3rd jump. Absolutely terrible. Now the Merrell was slightly better as it lasted 1 day before I was almost through the sole. Still terrible. I'm beginning to se a patter with vibrant soles. have a pair of freet flex right now and I'm almost 10 sessions in and almost through the sole. Better but still not great. The best for durability I've ever had is the vivobarefoot motus. Lasted 6 months of intense training, about 4-5 days of parkour a week for 6 months. These were the best foe me. I do want to try xeroa next but the 5.5mm is a bit thicker then I'd like, my freets are a 2.5mm shoe, so I may use them for bigger drop days but probably will just wear them until destroyed.

[@christianmunkjensen8817]

Did you make a 15 minute video without putting them on your kitchen weight?

[@KaizerBillimoria]

Why keep looking off to your side?

[@mohamednouidha3698]

Hi, can you recommend a minimalist shoe for cold weather. I live in canada btw. Thanks.

[@drathmor1401]

zero has a colder weather version and even just the prio gives more warmth than the Merrel

[@markdalton3900]

Trail glove tears my heels up

[@georgeg3592]

i want both of these shoes

[@TheFukwitz]

where you at? Giz a vid a week or every couple. Big ups!

[@essidrovital6397]

XERO is for beginners to progress into barefoot running

[@yoso585]

It always befuddles me how so many want the barefoot feel but don’t want to go barefoot.

[@slickswim5224]

The areas I run in would be so dangerous to have my bare feet in

[@Blingem14]

Neither, Joe Nimble or Vibram

[@sergeboivin566]

Your cat steals the show :-)

[@theDalaiLloyd]

Awesome video. I could NOT keep soles on my Prios. After 2 (glorious) months with those shoes, I tried re-gluing the sole on a couple times. I ran them daily without the liners, and normally without socks (anti-monkey butt powder FTW), and wear through the entire inside of the sole. Same thing with my Xero Daylight Hikers, although the sole is still on them. I've worn through the inside of them in just a few months, and the laces were terrible. I replaced them with mil-spec paracord, and they're much better. Unfortunately, I can't be running around these Oregon coast hills with raggedy shit causing blisters, so I'm going with Merrell very soon. Leaning towards the trail glove 5 3d at this point...

[@theDalaiLloyd]

Oh, I actually left the liner in my daylight hikers, and completely destroyed the heels in like 5 seconds. I get it about minimalist shoes not lasting as long, and Xeros are my first entry into barefoot life, but I'm not impressed.

[@Jerry-zf3cn]

Seriously, why didn't you just weigh them yourself? Never take the manufacturer's word for anything...

[@chellsee4167]

Don't you point that Merrell at me, yoo-hoo! :P Who else was distracted by the cat in the tree?

[@andywalker7582]

I was. Took me a while to realise it was a fairly small tree, as the cat looked the size of a mountain lion as it climbed down.

[@Alex-ze9tv]

Hilarious. Sounds like both shoes are terrible for you. One runs your feet raw and the other tears up your achilles.

[@hansnielsen6280]

Nice cat parkour video ...

[@hameedullahjasat2560]

Okay so we want a video of your cat

[@christophersmith3254]

Fury was robbed

[@codforlife]

you were born with size 12 feet?

[@kalclashfitness]

I'm a viking, we're born different

[@stephenwong9670]

I always find it funny white people makes such a big deal about barefoot shoes. Where I come from, if you go barefoot, you just don't wear shoes.

[@fgabor45]

good to you.

Stephen Wong Yeah going racial is the way to make a comment

[@yourbore]

I find it funny that Asian people don't wear shoes. Where we come from, people wear shoes.