Merrell Barefoot Spring 2012 Preview

Although they just arrived to the minimalist market less than a year ago, Merrell certainly seems determined to make up for lost time.

In Spring 2012, the company is plunging in with both feet, introducing multiple product lines intended for virtually any activity you can think of. My Merrell rep sent me the official press release and some advance photos, and it’s honestly somewhat mind-boggling to keep track of all the options the company will offer next year. I’m going to be involved with testing some of these products – but to keep things simple (and to prevent me from getting carpal tunnel syndrome from writing so many reviews), I’ll focus mostly on the running products, some of which are shown below.

But first, a general rundown of four new Barefoot lines Merrell will offer in the Spring, and the number of models in each: you’ll see the Barefoot Run for road running (2 models), Barefoot Train for general athletic training (3 models), Barefoot Water for water enthusiasts (10 – count ‘em, TEN models), and Barefoot Life for everyday casual use (7 models). They’ll also offer an Access line (2 models) that is intended as a transitional shoe, with a zero drop platform and moderate (8mm) midsole cushioning.

Merrell Women's Dash Glove

The Barefoot Run line will be the road running counterpart to Merrell’s outstanding Trail Glove and Pace Glove minimalist trail shoes. (See my men’s Trail Glove review here, and my women’s Pace Glove review here.) These will also come in gender-specific versions: the Dash Glove for women, and the Road Glove for men.

Merrell Men's Road Glove

Although my wife has tested Merrell’s Barefoot shoes (with a Lithe Glove review coming shortly), she’s most interested in the Bare Access Arc, one of the new transitional models for Spring. Her preference is for zero-drop shoes with moderate cushioning, such as the GoLite Amp Lite and the Altra Intuition (review coming shortly also).

Merrell Women's Access Glove

I’m somewhat curious as to how sales of the new Barefoot lines will fare across the board; one possible downside of so many options is that there may not be any standout model that makes a big impact on market share like the Trail Glove managed to do this summer. There’s bound to be a certain paradox of choice involved with so many new models hitting the market at once, and it wouldn’t surprise me if several of the new styles disappear fairly quickly after release, especially in the water and lifestyle categories. Time will tell, though – and I’ve certainly guessed wrong before.

All of the Spring 2012 styles are scheduled to be released in February, and select items will be reviewed here as well. If you’re interested in the very long-winded version of this preview, the entire press release follows below.

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Merrell Expands Barefoot Designs to Run and Play Naturally with BareForm Fit and Zero Drop Approach


Spring 2012 Marks New Road Barefoot and Access Running; Barefoot Water; Training and Lifestyle Shoes


ROCKFORD, Mich. (June 2011) – Bringing the benefits of barefoot running to other activities, Merrell expands its barefoot-inspired shoe offerings with new Barefoot Run road running shoes, Barefoot Train, for athletic training, Barefoot Water for water enthusiasts and Barefoot Life, for a connected fit and feel in all steps of life. In running, Road and Dash Gloves offer a natural fit for road surfaces. New Merrell Access running designs are “gateway” running shoes that maintain Merrell’s zero drop, foot contoured design approach with a 8 mm M-Bound cushion for an entry into natural movement. New barefoot styles will be available in February 2012 at Merrell retailers and on merrell.com.


“As we looked to design the next generation of Merrell Barefoot, we did a lot of listening and learning,” said Craig Throne, vice president of global marketing at Merrell. “We realized that the benefits of barefoot running should be leveraged to other activities where enthusiasts want a barefoot fit and ground feel but need a bit of protection. Our Merrell approach is simple, we work from the ground up knowing that the closer a runner is to his or her terrain, the better a runner’s form.”


Run Naturally – Barefoot Running Shoes
Connecting runners to the road with a natural stride, Merrell introduces gender specific barefoot road running shoes that provide a zero drop ride to let feet land pancake flat. Dash Glove for women is a synthetic leather and mesh running shoe with DWR treated uppers to repel water. Reflective details offer visibility in low light. Road Glove for men is a synthetic leather and mesh running shoe with a fused rubber toe bumper for durability and protection.


Knowing that runners have individual needs, Merrell is providing a range of barefoot options for the “right shoe for you.” Merrell Bare Access (for men) and Bare Access Arc (for women) are positioned as “gateway” running shoes that maintain Merrell’s zero drop, foot contoured design approach with an 8 mm M Bound cushion for an entry into Merrell’s BareForm movement.


Bare Water
Water enthusiasts can now experience the benefits of Merrell Barefoot. From stand-up paddling to scrambling through rivers and canyoneering, Merrell Barefoot Water allows feet to feel the underwater terrain with the slight protection needed. A Vibram sole provides extra grip enhancing traction and performance on boards, riverbeds and boats.


For men, Current Glove is a water-friendly lace-up with drainage ports in the heel and toe to shed water. For a quick-cinch fit, Rapid Glove is a slip-on with an adjustable in-step webbing strap for a precise fit. New barefoot water worthy sandals include: Hydro Wrap, a sandal with a rear sling for stability and three strap hook and loop closure for adjustability; Aqua Wrap, a secure fitting, double hook and loop closure sandal; Battari Wrap, an easy on and off sandal; and Paciki Wrap, a barefoot flip flop.


For women, Swift Glove is a lace up with a bellows tongue to keep debris out. For an easy on and off water companion, River Glove is a Mary Jane styled slide. Sandals that keep enthusiasts connected include Pipidae Wrap with a three-strap closure system and secure heel and Hylidae Wrap, a playful criss-cross strapped design with a toe loop for added femininity.


Barefoot Train
From yoga to circuit training and Cross Fit, Merrell Barefoot Train shoes encourage natural motion to align and empower the body. The BareForm design allows the foot to splay pancake flat for greater stability and sensory feedback. This improves alignment and stimulates muscles for optimal strength and conditioning. Introduced in the fall, the Embark Glove Gore-Tex and Sonic Glove soft shell barefoot shoes for men offer next-to-skin protection for any fitness adventure. For women, the new Lithe MJ Glove offers the power of connection in a fabric and synthetic leather Mary Jane style ideal for cross training.


Barefoot Life
Putting the power of intention on feet for everyday adventures, Merrell Barefoot Life shoes sport the wellness and foot strengthening benefits of barefoot in stylish silhouettes to wear out to dinner, at work or to the farmer’s market. Each step is taken the way nature intended. Two new styles for guys offer just enough underfoot protection, while letting feet land flat and feel the terrain on which they play. Edge Glove is a progressive, athletic sneaker and Slant Glove is a slip-on moc. For women, five new whimsical styles keep feet connected and body aligned. Serene Glove is a barefoot ballet slipper with a playful ankle ribbon for unique styling. Delight Glove is a casual moc and Wonder Glove is a cute Mary Jane style. For warm weather jaunts, Spirit Wrap is a barefoot sandal with an ankle wrap detail and Burst Wrap is a barely-there flip-flop.


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Merrell’s mission is to inspire the outdoor athlete in everyone by aligning its “Let’s Get Outside” brand to increase outdoor participation with running and adventure races, festivals and other community events to increase outdoor participation. By partnering with events such as the Oyster Racing Series, the Down & Dirty Mud Run, the Naked Foot 5K, food and wine festivals and the Mountain Jam Music Festival, all representing a similar inclusive outdoor ethos, Merrell is working to inspire more people to get outside and live outdoor lifestyles. Once you're out there, Merrell provides the shoes and clothing to keep you going in full comfort and performance. Merrell is also a partner and proud supporter of our Public Lands through its affiliations with the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day and National Parks Foundation. These synergized partnerships aim to make our natural playgrounds more visible and accessible in an effort to inspire more people to get outside and enjoy their natural resources.



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VIVOBAREFOOT Aquarius Kids' Shoe Review

A couple of administrative notes before today’s post …

*If you haven’t done so already, remember to leave a comment here to enter my giveaway drawing for a copy of Barefoot Ken Bob’s book. And speaking of giveaways …

*I’m still waiting to hear from Lisa and Running Farmer to claim your CLIF Bar prizes. You’ve got until midnight Wednesday to drop me an e-mail before I pick somebody else.

**

Relationship experts will tell you that when you find yourself in an awkward situation with somebody, it’s often best to simply identify the source of the awkwardness right off the bat, then move forward once it’s been somewhat diffused. With that in mind, I have to say that this is one of the most awkward reviews I’ve ever posted.

The Aquarius ... a VIVOBAREFOOT dinosaur

That’s because the product in question isn’t something that any of you can potentially buy; it’s a product that we received from VIVOBAREFOOT in late spring, but was pulled from the company’s inventory just a couple of weeks ago. But, you know … since I got them for free and all, I figured I’m at least obligated to say something about them.

Actually, the situation highlights a couple of noteworthy points about the company: one good, the other not so much. We’ll start with the bad side first, and get to the silver lining later. As much as I love VIVOBAREFOOT shoes, one ongoing frustration I have with the company is that they seem to change their inventory quite often – sometimes seasonally, sometimes permanently. And it typically happens that just as I’m falling in love with a model, it disappears from the website.

Here are a couple of examples: the black Lesotho shoes I reviewed a few years ago are far and away my favorite formal shoes, but if I ever need to replace them, I’m out of luck. Last year it was revamped as a casual canvas model, and this year it’s out of the lineup completely. Likewise, my 8-year-old daughter’s absolute favorite Oaky shoes – the ones she got kicked out of gym class for wearing, then won a track meet in – are a thing of the past as well. I never imagined that a shoe would trigger one of those coming of age moments for us … but there you go. We’re an odd family that way.

Now it’s my older daughter’s turn to get hooked on a model that no longer exists: in this case, the Aquarius children’s shoe. Basically, it’s a scaled-down version of VIVOBAREFOOT’s best-selling Aqua model (which contrary to my little rant, has been constant fixture in the company’s lineup for years). She’s used it for just about every activity you can think of, and it’s been a great all-purpose sneaker for her now that the school year has begun.

All the right specs

Rather than go into an in-depth spec review, I’ll just tell you that all of the things I love about VIVOBAREFOOT shoes are here: the Aquarius is totally flat and completely flexible, with a 3mm puncture-resistant sole, a comfortable mesh and neoprene interior lining, and eco-friendly construction elements. The shoe is fairly lightweight at just 5oz.

Too much synthetic, not enough mesh

The only drawback I would point out on the Aquarius is that the upper is probably too much nubuck and not enough mesh. They don’t appear that they would ventilate very well, and my daughter does report that the shoes get warm fairly easily when she’s running around in them for a while.

Velcro closure; removable foam insoles

There’s also a removable memory foam insole that you can use to improve the ground feel or increase the interior size. Our strategy with VIVOBAREFOOT kids’ shoes has been to start with the insoles in, then take them out once the shoes get a little bit snug. That way, you can probably get another half-size worth of growth before you have to replace them – not an insignificant point when you consider that these shoes are literally irreplaceable.

Of course, the flip side of this constant turnover is that VIVOBAREFOOT generally comes out with new styles that were better then the ones that preceded them. Instead of the Lesotho, they have the Ra, which (although I haven’t tested it) appears just as sharp-looking. There’s also an upcoming kids version of the Ra which would be comparable to the Oaky: stylish appearance, but ready for anything. And to replace the Aquarius, the company will introduce the Neo Kids later this fall.

VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Kids, Velcro version; laced version also available.

With a completely mesh upper, a children’s version of the Neo would address the main limitation I identified on the Aquarius, and I’ll certainly be interested to see how they compare. Having tested the grown-up Neo as well as the Neo Trail, I can attest that the shoe is well-made, and if all the same VIVOBAREFOOT hallmarks are present in the kids model, it looks to be one of the best all-around activity shoes in the children’s minimalist category.

VIVOBAREFOOT’s Neo Kids is currently displayed on the company website, but isn’t available for purchase yet – however, you can sign up to be notified for updates about the release. Target date for the launch is sometime in October, and I’ll also keep you posted here with updates and a review as able.

*Product provided by VIVOBAREFOOT
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.




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Barefoot Running Step By Step: Book Review and Giveaway

Before today’s barefoot-related post and giveaway, a barefoot-related announcement: earlier this year, VIVOBAREFOOT offered a workshop in New York City with barefoot running expert Lee Saxby. The multi-day event provided practical and theoretical components of barefoot running, and participants earned certification to join a growing network of barefoot coaches.

If this sounds like your sort of thing, the company is offering the workshop again, this time a little further west. The next session is October 26-30 in Denver, CO, and will again feature Lee Saxby and the same curriculum as the New York course. The cost is fairly steep ($3000), but if you’re passionate about barefoot running and looking to develop or enhance your personal training resume to share the benefits of barefooting as a career move, this might be an investment worth making. Check out the VIVOBAREFOOT Training Clinic website for details.

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Of course, another way to enhance your knowledge on a particular subject is to do a lot of reading - and when the topic is barefoot running, there are more and more options out there to choose from. One of the most noteworthy offerings comes from another well-known guru, Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton, whose new book Barefoot Running Step by Step is coauthored by Los Angeles Times fitness columnist Roy Wallack.

In the interest of disclosure, I should say that I was interviewed to contribute to this book, and ended up on the cutting room floor (or, in digital parlance, in the recycle bin of the writer’s hard drive.) Roy Wallack contacted me through this website, and we had a long phone conversation about my rationale for taking up barefoot running and whether I was going to stick with barefoot running for life. (This was shortly after I had published my multi-part Barefoot Files series, which is still available for reading on my right sidebar).

I’m not particularly upset about being left out of the book – in fact, now that I’ve read it, my exclusion makes a lot of sense. As I’ve described before, I don’t have a particularly dramatic back story about becoming a barefoot runner; it was just something I had thought about for a while, and one day finally decided to try it. And after an extended, generally successful progression to barefoot running, I ultimately decided that my long-term preference would be to use minimalist footwear for my ongoing exploits in ultrarunning. As it turns out, those factors made me something of an oddball among everyone else featured in the book.

Barefoot bliss, Summer 2010

That’s not to say I disliked the finished product, however. More than anything, Barefoot Running Step By Step is a comprehensive instruction manual for anybody interested in becoming a barefoot runner. It draws heavily from Barefoot Ken Bob’s website, which for many years was the only Internet outpost to provide any instruction or support for barefoot runners. (And honestly, I always found the website quite cumbersome to navigate, so having all the important information in one collection is quite refreshing.) Ken Bob was one of the earliest advocates of barefoot running - his website started in 1997, which is a relative epoch in the timeframe of the modern barefoot movement - and over the course of several years has certainly became the most prominent. He has taught workshops to barefoot runners all over the world, been featured in hundreds of magazine profiles, and has been an easily recognizable fixture at countless road races for the past two decades.

Barefoot Ken Bob; photo from BarefootKenBob.com

By all accounts, Barefoot Ken Bob is a force of personality, and that spirit is apparent throughout his book, which is filled with humor and strange observations and insightful “Barefoot Ken Bob-isms” developed over many years of experimenting and refining his technique. Several chapters are chock full of helpful advice on proper barefoot form, and the book has extensive color photographs to better visualize the concepts involved. If you’re starting your barefoot endeavors from scratch, this book is an ideal tool to walk you through the process.

Among the material in the final chapters are multiple profiles of barefoot runners, from the famous (Abebe Bikila, Zola Budd) to back of the pack amateurs, all of whom have compelling stories to tell about the benefits of going shoeless. I was impressed to see that one story actually included a runner who had a miserable experience on a gravel path during a race; it echoed my own frustrations with running on gravel fire roads, which in turn influenced my preference for minimalist footwear.

That leads to the main criticism I have of Ken Bob’s book: he’s very dismissive of minimalist footwear, Vibrams in particular. The rationale is that your sensory feedback isn’t as good as when you’re barefoot – but the authors also make the claim that because of this, you’re more likely to get injured wearing Vibrams than you are by running purely barefoot. I happen to disagree with this point; it’s well-established that plenty of new barefoot runners develop injuries, and I believe the benefits you gain from a bit of protection outweigh the sensory advantage of having naked feet. In my opinion, successful progression hinges more on patience and proper form than on sensation or protection.

Aside from that point of contention, Barefoot Running Step By Step is a very thorough overview of the why and the how of barefoot running. It would be a valuable tool for novices, and I’m confident that even experienced barefoot runners would find some useful pointers. It’s unlikely that many of us have been at this longer than Barefoot Ken Bob, and it’s never a bad idea to seek the advice of our forerunners when trying to improve our own experience.

Barefoot Running Step By Step retails for $15 from Amazon.com and is also available for $10 on Amazon's Kindle. Also, in conjunction with this review, the book’s publisher has generously agreed to ship one copy directly to a winner selected from this post. Leave a comment below to enter, and I’ll announce the winner on September 17th. Good luck to everyone!


*Product provided by Fair Winds Press
**See other book and product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.




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CLIF Coconut Winners; Random Shots of Beauty

Here’s something you can file under “things I never would have believed until they actually happened”: that a simple post describing my feelings about the tragedy of September 11th would trigger an angry rant from some maniac commenter (anonymously, of course) who eventually concludes that I’m helping to ruin America.

The exact content of the remarks isn’t worth sharing or dwelling upon, so you can’t go back and see them, and I don’t need to go into any further detail here. However, for the immediate future I’m going to ratchet up the threat level on comment security, so the one tangible change you’ll notice here is 100% comment moderation for a while. Sorry for the inconvenience.

At least there’s one piece of good news to report today: the winners of the CLIF Bar Coconut Love giveaway. Running Farmer, Lisa (in Alta Loma), and Slim Katie: e-mail me your contact info – you’ve won the contest! Thanks very much to everyone else for the great response, and big thanks again to CLIF for sponsoring it.

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This weekend’s first Random Shot of Beauty isn't actually random at all - rather, it's one of the most memorable images from the aftermath at Ground Zero:

Photo from AP

As well as one of the most symbolic pictures of sorrow, resilience, and heroism that I’ve ever seen. It's not surprising that monuments have already been based upon it.

And in the spirit of moving forward, here’s a snapshot from the side of a small local business in Salinas, reflecting a mentality we can all use a little more of:

The text reads: Only by disregarding color, race, age, and economic status can we unite and recover from our wounds and threats. United we stand, divided we fall.

To which I can only add: Amen.



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Honoring September 11th

Admin note: I’m switching the order of scheduled posts for the next few days; I had hoped to have a report of my family’s Big Sur hike in this spot today, but another topic was just weighing on my mind more and more, and eventually pushed everything else to the side. This is a somewhat somber post before what promises to be a very somber weekend nationwide – so bear with me for a few days and we’ll hit the ground running (barefoot running, in fact) again next week.

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At the moment the world changed, I was outside running.

It was a Tuesday morning like countless Tuesday mornings before it, as our training group met at 5:25AM to do our routine 13-mile loop. The run itself wasn’t that remarkable; I honestly don’t remember how long it took me or how I felt. I could probably look it up in my training log, but I don’t really care to know.

The memorable part was afterward, while walking towards the cars, where we were met by the fastest runner in our group, who had finished a few minutes ahead of us and had already flipped on his car radio.

Two airplanes just crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, he told us. I remember thinking that it was the setup line to some twisted joke – but the more he described the news report, the more the stark reality sank in. We began our run in one world, and finished in one that was irrevocably different.

As far as the aftermath of September 11th goes, I’m one of the fortunate ones. I didn’t lose any loved ones in the attacks, my hometown didn’t become an environmental wasteland, and I wasn’t required to put my life on the line in the call to protect and defend our nation. Rather, like millions of others, I just began to consider the world in an entirely different manner.

Whenever I see an airplane now, I wonder if it’s flying lower than it should be. When I’m in the stadium at a Giants game in San Francisco, or crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, I recognize that they’re not only attractions and landmarks, but potential terrorist targets as well. Irrational fears are never completely settled anymore; sometimes I wonder if the iconic bridge will still be standing when my grandkids are around.

In the eternal contest between the forces of good and the interests of evil, there’s no question that evil scored a lot of points that day. I still have faith that goodness is in the lead, and certainty that it will ultimately prevail. (To borrow a popular Christian expression, I know how the story ends, because I’ve read the back of the Book.) But just like in any sport, once those points are on the scoreboard, they can’t be taken down – and I guess I’d feel a whole lot better about things if we could be throwing a shutout, or even if we had a slightly more comfortable lead.

Ten years later, I still live a charmed life; I have more blessings than I can possibly count, and probably more than I could even imagine. Above all else, I’m fully aware that life is as fragile as it is beautiful – which is all the more reason to appreciate those things we have and the people we have to share them with. And that’s probably why I’ll start this September 11th the same way I did a decade ago, running outside through my tranquil neighborhood trails – a place and an activity for which I’ve become more and more grateful with each passing year.

It’s not the same world it used to be, but it’s still a pretty darn good one – and hopefully I can always do my part to keep it that way.

**

My friend Mike was with me on that run on September 11th, 2011 – a day that was already an occasion of mourning for him even before it was synonymous with national tragedy. He explains why in the Monterey Herald column that follows below.

There was one notable departure from our writing routine for this article: when he sent the first draft to me for editing, I sent it back without revising a single thing. This is your story, I wrote back, and it’s very meaningful. I’m not going to change a word of it. Without question, that was the right call.


The Running Life 09/08/11                    “Honoring September 11th”

“I ran. I’ll never forget the sound of the building crumbling behind me. I didn’t turn around. I just ran and ran and ran.”
- One survivor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Mike gets personal about September 11th.

Screaming and running have always been our primal human fear defense mechanisms. Running away is the natural thing to do.

At some point in every race and often in daily runs every runner is faced with a moment of decision; do I keep on running hard and be physically uncomfortable or do I back off and take it easy? It is at these moments that each runner looks within and often discovers who they are or who they can be.

It’s at that moment and by that decision that the runner feels most alive.

In three days I honor the 17th anniversary of September 11th. No, that’s NOT a typo. Actually the story starts on Friday October 15th, 1993. My first wife Sue was running at the Hartnell College track in Salinas and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage due to an aneurysm. No warning signs, no behavioral changes, no headaches in the previous months. She required immediate surgery and an MRI indicated she had Glioblastoma Multiforme 4, a diagnosis you never want to hear, advanced brain cancer.

She was 46 and outwardly extremely healthy; maintained a healthy weight, a runner, a swimmer, never smoked, only drank alcohol occasionally and it was red wine. She ate all the recommended foods, with a lot of fruits and vegetables; never used extra salt, didn’t have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, always ordered dressing “on the side”. She maintained a fairly easy-going personality and we had three relatively stressless and wonderful children.

All of us runners and health addicts who think we are “bulletproof” should think again. Lifestyle choices are only one part of the puzzle. After the surgery, the doctor said the prognosis was less than a year and she passed away 11 months later on September 11th, 1994; a precious and vibrant life gone at a far too early age.

She and our family struggled during that 11 months, but my running thrived (as meaningless as it seemed), as I used it and my running partners for stress relief, strength, and comfort. I ran and ran and ran.

September 11th was our unique family day for memories for seven years until 2001. It still is, but we now share it with the entire country. Somehow it only feels right that September 11th should be a national day of honor and reflection.

We had 11 months to confront and face death and talk about it and the consequences. I can only imagine and pretend to feel the pain of those whose loved ones left for work on a “normal” day, or to take a plane on a “routine” business trip, and they never saw them again. No time to even think of goodbyes. Nearly 3,000 people died; 411 were firefighters, police, and paramedics who ran into the World Trade Center buildings and overcame their fear.

On September 11th, instead of re-creating pictures in our mind of the horrors of tumbling and broken buildings, and airplanes falling from the sky, we should think compassionately of those precious and vibrant victims that died and their grieving family members. Make it personal.

Before you go for a run on September 11th, and every day after, make sure you are running toward something and not away from it. And hug your family before you go.




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Merrell Barefoot Kids Trail Glove Review

Reminder: if you haven't done so already, go sign up for the Coconut CLIF love giveaway contest. The review will still be here when you get back.

**
"Put on your kid gloves, put on your kid gloves -
Then you learn the lesson that it's cool to be so tough ... "
- Rush, "Kid Gloves" (video after post)

Earlier this year I reviewed a handful of minimalist shoe options for kids that included a sampling of traditional shoe manufacturers as well as some dedicated minimalist brands. Noticeably absent from that collection however, were options from a company who excels in both categories: their traditional footwear is well established, and their minimalist credentials are also outstanding.

I’m talking about Merrell, who thus far has done everything right in embracing the minimalist movement. In the spring they introduced an entire Barefoot line of running and casual footwear – including the men’s Trail Glove and women’s Pace Glove which have proven to be among the most durable styles of minimalist shoes I’ve reviewed.

Merrell Barefoot Big Kids Trail Glove

All that was missing from the lineup were kids shoes – and this summer, Merrell took care of business there as well, debuting junior versions of both the Trail Glove and Pure Glove, each of which is available in “little kids” (sizes 10-3) and “big kids” (sizes 3.5-7) models.

Unlike the adult versions, the Kids Trail Glove isn't gender specific; it can be worn by both boys and girls, with a collection of colors that will complement the most masculine or feminine wardrobes. (Of course, my little girl got the black and blue pair, but testers can’t always be choosers. Better she learns that hard lesson at an early age.) The Pure Glove is a slightly more girlish style, but has a light blue option that might be OK with boys - it's kind of a judgement call. My daughter has been testing the Trail Glove, and has used it for everything you can think of, from hiking to tennis to an everyday school shoe.

Flat, flexible, yada yada yada ...

Besides being gender-neutral, the Kids Barefoot shoes are the equivalent of the grownup versions in virtually every other way, with just a few stylistic exceptions. Of course, the most important features of the adult Trail Glove are here: a zero-drop platform, a wide toe box, and a completely flexible midsole and outsole for natural foot movement. It’s even got the same 1mm shock plate that the adult version uses to diminish impact forces in the forefoot.

Vibram TC-1 rubber outsole

The outsole looks a little bit different – a more kid-friendly appearance, for sure – but it’s made of the same Vibram TC-1 rubber that all Merrell Barefoot shoes utilize. This rubber compound is extremely durable, as my Trail Gloves have yet to show significant signs of wear after more than 200 miles of running. In other words, there’s no way your kid will wear these down before he or she outgrows them.

Wide base of support in heel

Proportionally, Merrell’s kids’ shoes have a wider base than the adult Barefoot line, which supposedly improves ground contact and stability for little feet. I understand the concept here, but I don’t know that it’s completely necessary; when my girl runs around barefoot, she doesn’t have any apparent problems with stability. But perhaps that’s just me being finicky.

No socks required

Inside the shoe, the kids’ Gloves are made of the same microfiber footbed that keeps the grownup foot secure on the midsole without slipping. Like the adult versions, the kids models are designed to be worn with or without socks, using a soft sockliner and a completely seamless interior to prevent irritation against bare skin.

Kid-friendly on/off functionaliity

From a construction standpoint, the only significant difference between the Kids Trail Gloves and the adult version is the upper; instead of an Omni-lacing system, the junior models use elastic laces with a Velcro strap across the top. This results in a much easier open/close mechanism for little fingers …

… and in a related story, the Merrell “M” on the strap reminds my daughter of the Monsters Inc logo. That’s definitely an upside.

Basically, Merrell’s Barefoot Kids shoes are everything you’d want children's shoes to be: flat, flexible, durable, lightweight (roughly 4-5 oz, depending on the size) and low profile – but best of all, they allow your child’s feet to function naturally for virtually every crazy activity they might encounter. They retail for $60 from Amazon.com (the link on the page says men's, but the sizes are toddlers' and kids') in multiple sizes and colors.

*Product provided by Merrell
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

**
Reaching way back into the mental archives for this one: no, it has nothing to do with the shoe review - but everything to do with me being a complete music geek in junior high school. OK ... make that ever since junior high school.

Rush, "Kid Gloves" (click to play):





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New CLIF Bar Giveaway Contest: CLIF Bars, CLIF CRUNCH, CLIF MOJO

Right from the start, I knew this product review would be one of those good news / bad news situations.

It’s good news because the company involved is CLIF Bar, whose products I love and actions I greatly admire. They’ve been generous supporters of my website for a long time now, so I’m always willing to get involved with publicizing any new items or initiatives they need help promoting.

The bad news – for me, at least – is that the first shipment that arrived didn’t have anything I was especially eager to taste. The box contained three varieties of CLIF Bars: a brand new Coconut Chocolate Chip flavor that was introduced this summer, as well as reformulations of two previously existing flavors, Peanut Toffee Buzz and Apricot.

Another dose of CLIF love

See, here’s my problem: I pretty much hate the taste of coconut. Always have. As luck would have it, I’m not a big toffee fan, either. And when it comes to my favorite fruits, I can tell you that apricots fall quite far down the list. It’s fair to say that I have some idiosyncrasies when it comes to food, and this batch of goodies from CLIF Bar just happened to strike all the wrong notes.

My quirky hang-ups turned out to be great news for my family, all of whom were more than happy to step in and assist with this particular round of testing. And this review will prove to be great news for a few of my readers, who will receive a sampler prize pack of all the new products described here – so let’s run down the specs and get to it.

Product photos courtesy CLIF Bar and Company

First up is the new CLIF Bar Coconut Chocolate Chip flavor, which features toasted coconut along with plenty of chocolate chips. This one received unanimous approval from my wife and three kids, and stands out as a somewhat unique flavor in the energy bar category.

Two other CLIF Bars were improvements rather than introductions. As you’d expect from a company of foodies and athletes, the folks at CLIF are driven to continually improve, whether it’s their marathon PRs or the taste and texture of their products. Apparently the Apricot and Peanut Toffee Buzz flavors weren’t quite to their liking, so they enhanced the ingredient list for improved flavor.

The Apricot flavor now features 50 percent more apricots, and has a noticeably more tangy flavor than the old version (yes, I actually tested this one). Peanut Toffee Buzz has more peanut butter and real toffee pieces to enrich the taste; my wife really likes this flavor, although she didn’t have a point of comparison since she had never tried the old version.

**
Obviously the folks in the CLIF labs have had a busy summer – because in addition to the new CLIF Bar flavors, they introduced five new flavors of their other popular products.

CLIF CRUNCH is a crunchy granola bar made with organic ingredients, sold in 10-bar boxes on the shelves of many grocery stores. Their new varieties for the summer are Blueberry Crisp and Chocolate Peanut Butter, two flavors borrowed from the regular CLIF Bar lineup that have a unique taste when formulated in granola bar form.

Blueberry Crisp has always been one of my favorite CLIF Bar flavors, but I think I actually like the CRUNCH variety a little bit better. Since the CRUNCH is firmer and more brittle than a regular CLIF bar, it adds a bit more crispness to the Crisp, if that makes sense.

As for the Chocolate Peanut Butter – an offshoot of the Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch CLIF Bar - its taste kind of reminds me of the Butterfinger candy bars I used to like as a kid, except this grownup version is a lot healthier for you. My kids ate these up pretty quickly as well, so they apparently have a fair amount of candy bar appeal as well. (On a related note, my kids have a ton of healthy options that I never enjoyed while growing up; if they don’t grow up eating better than me, it’s my own dang fault as a parent.)

**
CLIF MOJO is a trail mix bar that is really unlike any other product on the market. It’s made with 70 percent organic ingredients, has a texture that’s pleasantly crispy yet chewy, and a flavor that’s a delicious combination of sweet and salty. This summer, there are three new flavors of MOJO bars to choose from, one of which is absolutely perfect for camping or late night beach fires.

First up, however, is the new Chocolate Almond Coconut flavor, which I had to pass off to my associate testers. They have toasted coconut, chocolate chunks, and whole roasted almonds, and the kids raved about them after finding them in their lunch boxes one day. The White Chocolate Macadamia flavor is another offshoot off an existing CLIF Bar flavor, with roasted macadamia nuts and soy white chocolate chips. This is another of my favorite CLIF flavors, so I really enjoyed the same taste in MOJO version.

However, far and away the favorite flavor of the whole family from this product sampling group was the MOJO Dipped S’Mores. The “Dipped” part means the bottom layer of the already-awesome MOJO bar is dipped in chocolate, making it even awesomer (yes, that’s the right word). The S’Mores part is almost exactly what the name implies, with chocolate chunks and crunchy graham cookies; the only deviation is soy white chocolate bits in place of marshmallows. If there’s a more perfect flavor for lazy summer nights after active summer days, I can’t think of it.

**
So now for the really good news: CLIF has agreed to do a giveaway in conjunction with this review, giving three lucky winners the chance to sample all of the bars mentioned above. If you’re like me and aren’t partial to coconut, trust me, you won’t have any problem finding friends to help you test them. If you happen to love coconut, this prize pack promises to be something fantastic.

Standard entry rules apply for this one: leave a comment below this post to enter by midnight on Friday, and I’ll select three winners at random and announce them before next weekend’s Random Shots of Beauty post. Very big thanks to CLIF Bar and Company for sponsoring this contest, and good luck to everyone!

*Products provided by CLIF Bar and Company
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling. Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.

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