Details
Brand
Merrell
Heel To Toe Drop
0mm
Breathability
7.9/10
Latest Version
Pace Glove 3
Terrain
Trail
Type
Minimalist
Key Features
• No drop• EVA Midsole• Vibram Outsole• Omni-Fit Lacing System• Lightweight
Upper
The upper of the shoe is where many runners find problems with this shoe, especially those who were used to running in the previous model. The Merrell Pace Glove 2 has an upper that is slightly wider than the original model of the shoe, something many runners are unhappy with. It is a bit stiff at first too, so expect a little bit of break-in time before your foot is comfortable with the upper of the shoe.;The shoes do feature a mesh upper still, helping the shoe to breathe relatively well. Additionally, the shoes have Merrell’s Omni-Fit lacing system, which is intended to provide a snugger fit to the foot. While runners have found the fit of the upper to get better after a little bit of break-in time, they still don’t feel it is nearly as good as the first model of the shoe.
Midsole
The midsole of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 features the typical EVA midsole cushioning seen in both the Trail Glove and Pace Glove lineup in Merrell’s collection. The EVA midsole provides a little bit of shock absorption for the runner every time their foot strikes the ground.;With this cushioning in the midsole, the runner is going to experience a lot less pain, while still getting a barefoot feel to their run. In addition to the EVA midsole cushioning, there are shock absorption plates in the forefoot of the shoe to further provide shock absorption for the front of the foot. This all together adds for 5mm of “cushioning” in the shoe, which many runners are very happy with.
Outsole
The outsole of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is made of a Vibram rubber sole. The point of this sole is to provide the shoe with a long-lasting sole that is going to last the runner countless runs without breaking down. It provides a little bit of cushioning for the runner, though that’s not the main point of the outsole. Many users of the shoe can confirm the sole does last them a long time, which is very important in any trail running shoe, as the terrain being run on is typically a little more rigorous than the what the average road runner encounters.
Breathability
The upper of the shoe features a breathable mesh material. That being said, the Pace Glove 2 doesn’t have anything extremely special to offer in terms of breathability. Runner’s haven’t complained much about it, though no one has gone out of their way to brag about it either. The shoe does a relatively good job at keeping moisture out of the shoe and the foot dry. It isn’t something that should be looked at too much though, as the shoe at least does its job at keeping the runner’s foot dry during their run.
Comfort
The comfort of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is somewhat of a double edge sword, as some parts of the shoe are great for comfort, whereas other parts of the shoe really lack comfort for most runners. One point that should be noted is that initial comfort is going to be really poor, as the shoe requires a little bit of break-in time before it achieves its full potential. Once broken in though, the shoe scores high in comfort as far as the soles of the shoe go.;Starting with the EVA midsole and the TrailProtect Forefoot pad, together they comfort each step by absorbing most of the shock for the runner. Where the comfort falls apart though for many runners is the upper of the shoe. This model of the shoe is wider than the one before, which is something not many are happy with. Most runners who used the previous shoe really liked the glove-like feel of the shoe, whereas this model is very loose throughout most of the upper.
Style
The style of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 isn’t anything too special. The shoe comes in a variety of colors, so finding one you like shouldn’t be that big of an issue. The shoe also has a relatively modern look to it, which is appealing to a lot of buyers. The shoe doesn’t stick out too much during runs, so you’re not likely to draw too much attention. Since it’s such a minimalistic shoe though, people may notice it easier because of that aspect. There’s nothing too much else to talk about though in terms of style of the shoe.
Durability
The durability of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is pretty good, which is something a lot of runners who use the shoe are very happy with. Starting with the Vibram outsole of the shoe, this shoe is designed to last the runner a long time over the course of a lot of runs. Same goes for the EVA midsole cushioning, as the primary purpose for it is shock absorption.;Eventually, with a lot of use, the midsole won’t absorb as much shock as it did, to begin with. The upper of the shoe lasts for a decent amount of time as well, according to runners, before it starts to fall apart. Overall, the durability of the shoe is above average.
Protection
Since the shoe is so minimalistic in terms of aesthetics and features, there isn’t going to be a ton of added protection. Where the shoe does see a lot of protection, though, is the midsole. The shock absorbing EVA midsole protects the runner’s foot from injury, by taking a lot of the shock out of every step. Additionally, the TrailProtect Forefoot pad also helps the runner to have a more protected run, with protection delivered specifically to the front of the foot. Besides that though, there’s no other special protection to be found in the shoe.
Responsiveness
The responsiveness of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 scores very high, as do the other shoes in both the men’s and women’s lineup of this trail shoe. Since the shoe is so minimalistic and delivers that barefoot feel with no drop, the responsiveness is great. This shoe actually shows a little bit worse responsiveness compared to its other models though, because the midsole is a little thicker than the model before it and the model after. Despite this small difference, the Pace Glove 2 offers great responsiveness for a trail running shoe.
Support
There isn’t much support to be found in the Merrell Pace Glove 2 since there’s not a whole lot to the shoe. Where the model before and after the Pace Glove 2 found their support was in the upper of the shoe, as those models did a good job at keeping the foot locked in place. This shoe though does not offer that same support since the upper is much looser than the rest of the shoe. Additionally, many claim the shoe to be very stiff underneath where their feet rest, also taking away from some of the support. Because of this, the shoe really doesn’t have much to offer in terms of support.
Terrain
The terrain meant to be run on in the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is typically meant to be run on trails, though some runners prefer using this shoe on asphalt. Usually, you will be better off sticking to the recommended terrain, as this will help the shoe last longer, and get the job done more efficiently. The traction on the bottom of the shoe is going to perform a lot better on dirt and sand, things you will typically run on during trail running, as opposed to asphalt. Whether or not you intend to run on asphalt or trails though, the shoe is going to do you well.
Price
The suggested retail price of the Merrell Pace Glove isn’t too bad actually, coming in at around $85. This price is really great for the shoe that you’re getting, despite being a little loose in the upper. The shoe does have some nice traits and for the price of the shoe, it’s something many feels is absolutely worth buying.
Drop
The drop of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is 0mm, giving the runner a very natural feel to their run. This shoe is designed for runners who like to feel like they’re running barefoot, and the 0mm drop does a very good job at simulating this feeling for runners. If no drop is something you’re looking for in your trail running shoe, this may be a shoe for you.
Stability
Though there are no real features that make the Merrell Pace Glove 2 a stable shoe, many runners feel the shoe does a good job at maintaining stability throughout their run. Part of this is because of the soles, as they are designed to add a little bit of stability to the shoe, but again, there are no real features implemented specifically for that purpose. Regardless, this shoe has very good stability for being such a lightweight, minimalistic trail running shoe.
Flexibility
Like the other models of the shoe, ranging from both the men’s Trail Glove lineup and the women’s Pace Glove lineup, the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is a very flexible shoe. This is a feature of the shoe that many runners find very appealing because it gives them a full range of motion while they’re running. This also giving them the feel of them being barefoot during their run. If a flexible shoe is something that you’re looking to run the trails with, this very well may be the shoe for you.
Traction
The traction of the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is very good, especially when used on trails for trail running. The other great thing about the traction of the shoe is that it is going to last the runner for a long time since the material the outsole and bottom of the shoes are made of is Merrell’s Vibram rubber. Runner’s typically are very satisfied with not only how well the traction of the shoe performs on all surfaces, but how long it will last them.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the Merrell Pace Glove 2 is a great women’s trail running shoe that is going to give users a great barefoot feeling. Though there are some problems with the design of the upper and how loose it is to some runner’s feet, the rest of the shoe is very stellar and up to par with the original model of the shoe.;One thing to be aware of is that the shoe does require a little bit of break-in time, so don’t be discouraged with the shoe if it doesn’t feel extremely comfortable right away. If you’re looking for a great lightweight running shoe that is going to give you a barefoot feel to your run, this very well may be the shoe for you.
