RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION
RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION

Merrell Pace Glove 2 Review

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Last Updated on January 31, 2022 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS

Just over a year ago, I posted about my very first pair of true minimal shoes.  The Merrell Pace Glove.  Those lightweight, amazing pair of purple shoes made a huge impact in my life, in more ways than one.  At the gym, on the trails, even in numerous mud runs and obstacle course races.  And despite the abuse they have taken (as well as the multiple trips through the washing machine) they still remain one of the top go-to shoes in my collection.  Plus, they were my first introduction to Merrell, a company that I’ve grown to really love, not just for their fantastic products but for their love of the outdoors and getting people MOVING. 

So imagine my surprise and thrill when the Merrell Pace Glove 2 unexpectidly showed up on my front step.The Pace Glove 2 looks and feels incredibly similar to the original Pace Glove, with a few changes.

For my fellow sneaker junkies, here are the Pace Glove 2 specs:

UPPER / LINING
• Synthetic leather and breathable air mesh upper
• DWR-treated upper repels water and resists staining
• M-Select FRESH naturally prevents odor before it starts for fresh smelling feet
• Wash as needed in cold water (gentle cycle). Air dry.

MIDSOLE / OUTSOLE
• 0mm Drop / 4mm Cush / 9.5mm Stack Height
• TrailProtect pad in the forefoot offers support off road
• Vibram® outsole
• Vegan friendly footwear

Women’s Weight: 5ozs (1/2 pair)

 

First, let’s hear what Merrell says about the changes from the original Pace Glove to the Pace Glove 2:

A more flexible ride – The trail protect plate (made with ESS) has grooves cut into the
plate. You will find it to be less “slappy” and more flexible, but still offers the minimal
protection needed on trail. This design provides a more natural feeling and rolls better with
your foot on varying terrain.
 

Greater freedom of movement – As with all barefoot we continue to utilize a reductive
design philosophy. We focused on a reductive design philosophy. With this approach, we
designed a shoe with less structure (on the upper) that moves more freely with the foot for
an even greater “barefoot” experience. We used all seamless materials for a soft natural feel
on the foot. 

OMNIFIT lacing – Where the men’s Trail Glove had 4 OMNIFIT lace closures, we
mimicked the women’s for the 2.0 and went to 2. This helps open it up for an easier on-and-
off, and also allows the foot to splay more. We heard that the bottom 2 closures were putting
pressure on the top of the foot and we corrected this for a more natural fit and feel, while still
maintaining excellent foot hold on the instep.
 
What we didn’t do and rationale:
The Arch: We know you will ask about the arch because it was a heavy topic of
conversation. Working with our advocates and athletes we learned that our arch is providing
a great foot hold, and hugs up under the arch, without hindering the natural movement of the
foot, so we kept the best selling trail glove fit and feel in the arch area. We feel this platform
is right for the activity, as it moves well with the foot, hugs tightly, and allows the wearer to
have excellent connection to the trail, and the right amount of grip and protection.
 
 

Original Pace Glove (left, purple) vs. Pace Glove 2 (right, green).  Click photo to enlarge.

What I Say:

There was only one glaringly obvious difference to me between the Pace Glove and the Pace Glove 2, and that was a much looser fit.  As you can see in the picture to the far right (above) the original Pace Glove had a cinched fabric on the heel that helped keep the shoe in place. They have removed that from the 2, and I definitely noticed.  While both shoes are the same size (women’s 10, yeah I have big feet), I immediately noticed the Pace Glove2 to feel much looser, even when tied very tight.  If I were to order again, i would order half a size down.

Other than that, the Pace Glove 2 provided the exact same attributes that I love about the original Pace Glove.  A very minimal shoe that is not quite as barefoot as the Merrell vapor glove, or a Vibram five finger, but provides an incredibly flexible sole and a glove like feel, with still enough “shoe” to feel protected from the elements.  I love my vapor gloves, but landing on a rock while running on a trail is brutal.  The Pace Glove sole is thick enough to provide protection without the cushion and lack of flexibility of traditional sneakers. 

The Pace Glove 2’s aren’t limited to running.  The minimal feel makes them an ideal gym or cross training shoe, as they help you feel connected to the ground.  Box jumps? No problem. Deadlifts? They’ve got it.   In my opinion, they also make a great recovery shoe. Comfortable and stylish enough to be worn around town with a pair of jeans post long run, to let your feet stretch and breathe after double digit training miles.  And after tomorrow’s Spartan Race at Citi Field, I’ll let you know how they perform in the obstacle course racing world!

If you are a fan of the original Pace Glove, I would absolutely recommend giving the Pace Glove 2 a try.  Or, if you are looking to enter the world of minimal running, these are a great shoe to start with, as they still provide a nominal sole and support. (Be sure to follow proper instruction on easing into barefoot running).  The Pace Glove 2 is currently only available online or at REI, so if possible, get to an REI location near you to try a pair on.  Otherwise, carefully examine the sizing guide on Merrell’s website to determine the correct size for you. 

READER QUESTION:  Do you train in barefoot or minimal shoes?  Full time, part time, cross training?  If so, what do you look for in a barefoot shoe?  If not, are you interested in trying?  Is anything holding you back?  Sound off!

And then, GET OUTSIDE!

**Merrell provided me with a pair of Pace Glove shoes for review at no cost, however, all opinions expressed in this review are my own, and non compensated.

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Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion.   She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade.  Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I’m starting to dabble in the minimalist field. This was actually thanks to a barefoot runner that goes under the handle Barefoot Inclined. He had a giveaway for lots of different running gear including shoes and sandals. I was lucky enough to win some Bedrock Sandals. I have ran in these several times and only had a few issues with blistering. It’s getting better as I run in them more as I’m trying to ease into them to get ready to run in them outside. It’s too cold right now to run in them. It’s still in the 20’s and 30’s here in Nebraska. I currently run in Mizuno Wave Creations most of the time. I love my Mizunos, but I’m also looking at cycling them with other shoes. I guess we’ll see if some minimalist shoes are in my future.

    Thanks for the review.

    Cecil @ Dreadmill Drummer

    Reply

  2. I picked up a pair of Merrell Barefoot shoes at TJ Maxx and am in love. I don’t know all the details about them. I wanted a minimalist style shoe to wear around to try to strengthen my feet as I am suffering from terrible plantar fasciitis. They have become my new fave shoes! I haven’t attempted running in them though.

    Reply

  3. Those look great. I have a pair of Merrell Lithe Gloves that I love and wear for most of my runs under 5 miles. I’ve been running everything else in Brooks Green Silence, but since they aren’t making those any more, I need to find something else. So far I’ve been really happy with Merrell.

    Reply

  6. Thanks for your review!

    I just switched to running in minimal shoes and am in love with my Merrell Barefoot Run Vapor Gloves. They are very different from what I’m used to, but I just went through a gait retraining clinic and am psyched to be training for a 10K wearing minimalist shoes. I’m writing about my transition to running in minimal shoes at BabyCheetahPaws.com

    Reply

  7. Thanks for this review!

    I just switched to running in minimal shoes and am loving the Merrell Barefoot Run Vapor Gloves. They have no foam insoles at all, so the change is quite drastic. I recently completed a gait retraining program at a local running clinic and am training for running a 10K in minimal shoes in the fall. I’m writing about my experience at http://www.babycheetahpaws.com

    Reply

  8. Thanks for the great review. I actually just started running in Trail Gloves (original) and am slowly transitioning with slightly sore calves. Anyway, thinking about getting my wife into a pair of these shoes or something similar. She has a lot of back and feet problems, so wondering if minimalist shoes would help. Any thoughts?

    Reply

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