Merrell Trail Glove 8 vs Vapor Glove 7
Trail Glove 8 or Vapor Glove 7? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.
The short answer
Want a minimal, zero-drop trail shoe? Get the Trail Glove 8.
Want a barefoot, zero-drop feel? Get the Vapor Glove 7.
Get the Trail Glove 8 if
- You’re heading off-road
Get the Vapor Glove 7 if
- It’s mostly for easy days
- You want the lighter shoe, by about 1.1 oz
- You’d rather spend $20 less
On the run
Trail Glove 8: The barefoot trail shoe. Minimal and flexible with true zero drop and very little cushion or protection. Better grip from the new Vibram outsole.
Vapor Glove 7: The barefoot road shoe. Barefoot: zero drop, a very thin sole and almost no cushion, for feeling the ground on roads and in the gym.
The Vapor Glove 7 hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from the Vapor Glove 6 lab test (RunRepeat).
Specs side by side
| Trail Glove 8 | Vapor Glove 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $110 |
| Stack height (heel / forefoot) | 14 / 14mm* | Not listed by Merrell |
| Drop | 0mm | 0mm |
| Weight, men’s | 7.76 oz | 6.7 oz |
| Weight, women’s | 6.1 oz | 5.22 oz |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Plate | None | None |
| Widths | Standard | Standard |
| Built for | Trails, Walking & all-day wear | Walking & all-day wear, Easy days |
| Expected life | 400–500 miles | 300–400 miles |
Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.
Fit
Trail Glove 8. True to size with a roomy toebox. The insole isn’t removable.
Vapor Glove 7. True to size with a roomy toebox.
Try them on
Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.
Shop the Trail Glove 8 · Shop the Vapor Glove 7 · Compare other running shoes