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Merrell

Vapor Glove 3

Vapor Glove 3
Trail · Stability
Excellent (92/100)

Shoe details

Weight
5.9 oz
Release
2017 Q3
MSRP
$80

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent (92/100)

Better than about 89% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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This score rates better than 89% of shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Excellent (92/100)

Overall ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Excellent (92/100)

Rank

Ranks above 89% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Exceptional (98/100)

Comfort ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Exceptional (98/100)

Rank

Ranks above 97% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Above average (88/100)

Appearance ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (88/100)

Rank

Ranks above 77% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Value

Good (68/100)

Value ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (68/100)

Rank

Ranks above 22% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Durability

Below average (59/100)

Durability ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Below average (59/100)

Rank

Ranks above 7% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Below average (53/100)

Cushioning ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Below average (53/100)

Rank

Ranks above 2% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

67%

2/3

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Better than 89% of 2,538 running shoes ranked.

Excellent (92/100)

Trail Shoes

Better than 96% of 392 trail shoes ranked.

96%

Merrell

Better than 92% of 23 Merrell shoes ranked.

92%

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Merrell Vapor Glove 3
Merrell Vapor Glove 4
HOKA Speedgoat 6
Vapor Glove 3
Vapor Glove 4
Speedgoat 6
Current shoe
Reference shoe
Lightest / Best comfort / Best appearance
Newest / Best overall / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Trail
Daily trainer
Trail
Pronation
Stability
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
5.9 oz M
5.6 oz M Lightest
8.6 oz M
Stack
—
7/7mm
37/32mm
Drop
—
—
5mm
Release
2017 Q3
2019 Q1
2024 Q2 Newest
MSRP
$80
$80
$155
Best price
—
—
$108.97
Ratings
Overall
Very good (89%)
Excellent (91%)
Excellent (97%) Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (97%)
Exceptional (98%) Best comfort
Excellent (92%)
Cushioning
Bottom tier (2%)
Bottom tier (<1%)
Exceptional (98%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (7%)
Good (71%)
Very good (89%) Best durability
Appearance
Good (77%)
Very good (84%) Best appearance
Good (71%)
Value
Below average (22%)
Good (72%)
Very good (85%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

HOKA Speedgoat 6

Speedgoat 6

Trail

$108.97

97th percentile

+8 percentile points vs this shoe

Reader Ratings

4 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–4 of 4 written reviews

Simply the best barefoot shoe ever made

Anonymous runner · Aug 14, 2019

5/5

Overall

There is no doubt about it - there is no better shoe on the market for barefoot runners looking to provide minimal protection for their skin than the Vapor Glove 3. It gives you the full barefoot feel. It supports excellent form and posture. It's how your foot is designed to land. The only downsides? I don't wear the VaporGlove to race.I need something marginally thicker to race in. I've found I exist in a very niche (nonexistent?) market of serious, subelite runners training for mile-10k on the track who care about barefoot running. As such, it's difficult to find something that is close to barefoot but allows me to race without having to watch my step. The two I've found are the Saucony Havoc XC2 flat (good for trail racing for barefoot runners) and the Saucony Men's Endorphin Racer 2 Track Shoe. The other consideration with the Merrell Vapor Glove 3 is that for a serious runner who puts in 70-100 miles per week, they will not last very long. 2 months if you're lucky. The upper will split apart in that time, however, i typically just sow them back together and extend their life another month or so. If you shop around, this doesn't need to be a particularly pricey shoe. I've found it for $40-50 online. Can sometimes run up to $70-80. The new Vapor Glove 4 is exactly the same thing and is being sold for much more.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

FiveFingers, minus the toes

Anonymous runner · Jul 23, 2019

5/5

Overall

I've been running in minimalist shoes for ten years now, starting with VFF's. Then Merrell released the Vapor Glove and delivered me from toe-shoe shame. If you're looking for shoes that are basically a pair of nylon socks with a thin Vibram sole, these are the shoes for yous. If I had the patience to toughen up my feet and run barefoot, I would. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of patience, nor do I have the pain tolerance for broiling hot pavement in the summer or snow and ice in the winter (New England, baby). Starting with the original Barefoot Vapor Glove and following through the subsequent iterations, I've gone through 15 pairs of these things since 2014. They are not what I'd call "durable" but, then again, they're not what most people would call "shoes." My ideal running shoes would be the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs guy's polymer spray-on kicks, but until then I'll keep buying these babies.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
1/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
3/5

Great minimalist shoe

Anonymous runner · Nov 12, 2018

4/5

Overall

This shoe is great if you are looking for a minimalist shoe. That's obviously why I gave it a cushioning of 1 star. It's just 3 mm of rubber between you and the ground. The upper has a bit of durability problems after running around 250 miles in them. It starts to break apart where the forefoot flexes. The sole has almost no wear. I ran it mostly on roads and raced mostly on dirt and grass. The shoe fits a skinnier foot better than a wide one. So be warned if you have a large foot.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
1/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

The only barefoot shoe that's actually close to barefoot

Anonymous runner · Oct 15, 2018

5/5

Overall

As someone trying to become accustom to "barefoot" (extremely minimal) running beginning a few years ago, the Vapor Gloves came as a huge relief. They are truly zero drop, and they have only a very, very thin sole that really allows your feet to mimic barefoot running while protecting them from glass/sharp rocks/etc. If you genuinely care about barefoot running, but live in a city or someplace where you can't go completely barefoot everyday, and you don't want to deal with freakish toe shoes, this is your shoe. You have to step carefully on very rocky trails, but if you're interested in barefoot shoes, this slight discomfort should be welcome and expected. The only downside is that for a serious runner like me who runs between 60-80 miles most weeks of the year, these shoes wear down quick. I can go 2, 3 months max before they fall apart completely. That is frustrating. But there is no barefoot shoe on the market that is even close to the Vapors.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
3/5