Merrell Barefoot Run Vapor Glove

Extremely comfortable, great fit, great price, and durable. You can run in downpours and they perform well and dry quickly. You don't need to wear socks with them.

These are my first pair of minimalist shoes. I needed something for work and I really didn't like the looks of the FiveFingers. I read that if one wants to truly learn barefoot running they should start out running barefoot- the minimalists can confuse you because you are not truly running on your bare skin which tells you what you are doing wrong. For example, you would not scuff your barefeet, but minimalists will allow it.

So they did take some time to get used to. I liked them from the start, but I was not used to doing a lot of walking barefoot. I do go barefoot and I have done some barefoot running on trails, on gravel, but to wear them for 12 hours a day in a retail environment takes getting used to and the foot muscles that are normally supported have to get stronger to support a new way of walking which is more natural and walking barefoot or in minimalists really let you know if you are pounding on your heel, or putting too much pressure on your ankles. Your posture will improve, too. The key is to relax your feet, don't tense. Buy Ken Bob Saxton's book and he will explain it all. Back to the shoes. 

The shoes also have a built in bacteria inhibitor to keep the odor away. The lacing system is great and they are very comfortable and easy to wear. The soles are from Vibram and look like snake skin. They are very flexible and thin. I liked them immediately after trying Vivobarefoots, and other shoes. Vibram Five Fingers were not an option because I never liked the way they looked and I wanted more freedom of my toes. I don't really care for toe socks either, but I bought a pair and I am used to them but would prefer something they doesn't feel constraining. 

The Merrell Vapor Gloves in Blue, or they seem more electric blue, with yellow stripes have a very durable upper fabric that is lightweight, and very comfortable. Do I have to say that they are extremely breathable? They are called Vapors. 

I got them wet a few times, really wet in a downpour. I was at work and the wetness wasn't really noticeable and they dried out in 3 hours with socks. They didn't even look wet, so that was good for me when customers would come in, not that they would notice.  But standard work shoes when they get wet don't usually look dry when wet and they usually look aged after they dry. But the Vapor Gloves look like they never got wet. The material is awesome. And what is really awesome is the price.