Merrell Barefoot Sonic Glove

Merrell Barefoot’s Sonic Glove is a very close cousin to the company’s flagship Trail Glove model introduced this spring. In fact, the only tangible difference between the two is material construction of the upper; whereas the Trail Glove uses a traditional microfiber mesh fabric, the Sonic Glove employs a closed softshell material.

The Sonic Glove offers legitimate minimalist specs: zero drop from heel to toe, complete midsole and outsole flexibility in all directions, and super light weight at 6.5 oz.  (By comparison, the Trail Glove weighs 6.2 oz.). It also has some protective features of traditional shoes that will appeal to new minimalist runners, without sacrificing too much of the natural mechanics of barefoot running.

Material construction of the Sonic Glove upper is a thin softshell material that repels water on rainy days or when splashing through shallow puddles. However, the closed mesh doesn’t ventilate as well as the open Mesh Trail Glove, and gets somewhat warm when temperatures heat up. The toe box has plenty of room to let your toes splay naturally, and there’s a rubberized bumper at the front for abrasion and impact resistance.

Synthetic leather overlays on the upper are pulled into the lacing system, helping to maintain even tension across the top of the foot. The midfoot area is quite snug, and may actually be a difficult fit for those with wider than average feet. Once you’re in the shoe, the resulting fit is very secure, with no slipping on slanted or irregular terrain; the built-in rubbery microfiber footbed also helps keep the foot stable on top of the midsole. Like other Merrell Barefoot models, the Sonic Glove is designed to be worn without socks, with a thin ankle collar and comfortable interior sockliner that feels soft against bare skin.

In the midsole, Merrell combines 4mm of firm EVA under the entire foot, as well as a 1mm rock plate to distribute impact forces in the forefoot, which is precisely where it’s needed for natural running biomechanics.  Even with the EVA and rock plate, the entire shoe is completely flexible, bending with with your foot in any way necessary.  There’s a slight settling of the EVA after about 50 miles or so, which leads to improved ground feel with repeated use.

Merrell’s outsole is made of a TC-1 rubber made by Vibram.  It is cut with fairly prominent ridges, angled in such a way as to improve grip in the forefoot and braking in the rearfoot – this is especially useful when running down steep hills.  Durability of this outsole has been excellent after more then 400 miles on my Trail Gloves, and shows no signs of wear after more than 150 miles on the Sonic Gloves.  Traction is quite strong on multiple surfaces, including mud or irregular roots and rocks.

Overall, Merrell’s Barefoot line is a solid option for traditional runners who want barefoot biomechanics while maintaining a moderate amount of cushioning and protection, and the Sonic Glove is an appropriate choice for foul-weather natural running.