Product test

Vapor Glove 5 vs. 4: two barefoot brothers compared

21.9.2022

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

The developers at Merrel have worked hard on the current version of their minimal shoes. The latest addition to the product family stands out from its predecessor, looks good and feels it, too. There’s only one aspect purists might consider a pain point.

Is there really that much you change in such little shoe? That’s the prize question I ask myself as I slip into the Vapor Glove 5. It’s a barefoot running shoe. Thin as a glove, designed to provide some protection, support and grip. But above all: freedom. Just like the Vapor Glove 4, 3, 2 and 1. Freedom for your toes, arches, muscles, tendons and pain receptors that immediately report sharp pebbles to the brain. The good news is that you can learn to walk comfortably in it. The bad news is that you’re forced to if you want to cover longer distances in them. If your feet aren’t fit, barefoot shoes can be pretty painful.

Guide
On the trail of running: day one at the foot school
by Michael Restin

Feeling the ground under my feet has become an essential need of mine. Thick soles usually bother me, now that I’ve been walking on a few millimetres of rubber 90 per cent of the time for the last few years. It feels good. However, sporting flounders on your feet doesn’t always hit the fashion mark. If there’s one thing I had an issue with, it’s the Vapor Glove 4’s appearance. This is mainly due to its bulging toe cap, which looks as stylish as freshly botoxed duck lips. Sure, the cap is functional and protects your toes from bumps. I was grateful for them a few times. But I’m also grateful the toe caps on the Vapor Glove 5 aren’t as in-your-face. It seems that the design is drawing inspiration from earlier models of the shoe. Overall, I think the overhauled look is an upgrade. The new design won me over right away.

The Vapor Glove 5 (left) does without the clown shoe effect with the high toe cap.

Both models have a total sole height of 6.5 millimetres, which is the same at the front and back. This so-called zero drop is mandatory for barefoot shoes. You’ll also be looking in vain for a foot bed. Of the said 6.5 millimetres, two are used for the outsole, 1.5 for the fabric and a comfortable three for the insole. The latter bothers me a bit in the Vapor Glove 4 – at least in my model. Why? Beacuse it’s unevenly sewn in the right and left shoe. I can always slightly feel this, even when I’m wearing socks. Therefore, I’m relieved to find that its successor is a better fit and there’s nothing pinching my feet.

Slipping in: socks and tongues

When it comes to the wearing concept, the models have chosen different paths. While No. 4 relies on the classic combo of a tongue and lacing, No. 5 aims to be more of a glove and wants to shine with the slip-in sock. Of course, it still relies on lacing, too. Here, too, I prefer the look. Both models are easy to put on. This is the advantage of barefoot shoes. Their soft sole can just be folded downwards at the heel and you can slip them over your foot. Unlike version 4, I no longer run the risk of accidentally stuffing the tongue into the shoe with the current model.

The new one doesn’t lose its shape as easily as its worn-out older brother.

However, the inner shoe may wrinkle if your foot isn’t very wide and you tighten the lacing. As for the lacing, I’m testing the spaghetti model (round, Vapor Glove 5) and the Tagliatelle model (flat, Vapor Glove 4) against each other. In terms of function, I don’t have a favourite. I tie the laces once, squeeze my feet into the shoes and hope to have no further dealings with them. In return, they’re a great example of the increased share of recycled materials used in the shoes. In the current model, the materials for the laces are completely recycled. And the mesh upper (40%) and sole (30%) are on the right track.

Soles: fundamentally different yet the same

Things have really changed at the base. Although the sole thickness and tread depth have remained the same and the rubber compounds are Vibram, there are really no other similarities. Version 4 went for a coarser triangular tread that slowly transitions into large diamonds in the midfoot area. Version 5 is equipped with a homogeneous pattern that’s reminiscent of the grooved outsole of an indoor shoe.

The coarse tread vanished pretty soon on the Vapor Glove 4.

My initial feeling is that the sole and shoe seem a bit harder than the predecessor. This could also be due to the fact that my current ones are quite worn out. Unsurprising, as I used them on concrete and trails for a good year. As a result, the entire tread on the outsole has disappeared around the ball of the foot. I’m hopeful that the outsole pattern of the successor is more resistant. At the moment, it’s still quite new and squeaky. Even on the pavement, it even makes loud noises when it’s met with a bit of resistance.

Overall, both the sole and the entire shoe give off a slightly more robust impression. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of taste. There is one place, however, where the new model has sacrificed maximum sturdiness. The raised heel cap of its predecessor is gone and I don’t miss it. If you’re used to running virtually barefoot, you’ll rarely roll over your heel anyway.

Cutting corners where it doesn’t hurt: the heel protection on the Vapor Glove 5 (left) is sufficient.

Protection: less is more

Away with the duck lips, is what the developers seem to have thought. And I second that! The idea of integrating the toe protection into the outer material without elevating it is clearly a win at first glance. What’s more, it’s equally good at softening accidental stubs on roots or steps and reaches a little further back all the way over your big toe.

Toe protection is much more subtle with the current model.

Looking at the shoe, less is definitely more in this case. The Vapor Glove 5 has a defined shape and doesn’t stick out as much. On the inside, however, less is less. The toe box doesn’t feel quite as roomy. There’s less room for my toes to wiggle upwards and sideways in the new model. And that’s where barefoot fanatics draw the line, of course.

Free to move: model 4 in the lead

I wear both models in size 44.5. As for model 5, I occasionally wonder if a half-size larger would be even more comfortable. Whenever that thought comes up, I discard it. After all, I already need to pull the laces so tight that they make the fabric covering my foot wrinkle. But these are all minor details that will have a varying effect depending on the anatomy of your feet. In terms of space to move, I think the Vapor Glove 4 leads by a toe nail width. To give you an example. I don’t feel any resistance when I stand on my toes; the shoe practically slips itself onto my feet if it’s placed neatly on the floor.

The Vapor Glove 5 (still?) puts up more resistance when I walk on tippy toes.

This is certainly partly due to the fact that they’re worn in really well, if not worn out. But the fabric and reinforcements on the side also play an important role. They also reach further back on the Vapor Glove 5, especially on the big toe. The part of the shoe that gives with every step isn’t showing any signs of wear yet in either model. Let me get this straight: both models are extremely thin, provide plenty of freedom and are hardly noticeable when you’re wearing them. They’re not on par with the Trail Glove 6, which offer significantly more support and less room for movement. This is why I’ve come to appreciate them over time for runs on rougher terrain.

The differences between Vapor Glove 4 and 5 are huge in terms of look and tiny in terms of feel. The new model weighs in at 180 grams in my size. That’s a good ten grammes more than its worn out predecessor. So maybe that’s what makes the difference. The fact that wear even comes into play proves how light the two models are and how similar.

Verdict

Model 4 has come to feel like a second skin to me. Model 5 feels like a super-lightweight shoe that’s becoming less and less noticeable with each day. I can recommend both models from the Vapor Glove family almost without reservation if your foot is ready to take the load. For a relatively low price, you get as little shoe as possible, which in this case should be considered praise. Visually, I prefer the new one, and I also find the finer outsole tread, which is more like the Vapor Glove 3, a good thing. It offers enough grip even in light terrain. Now I’m hoping that it won’t disappear quite as quickly as it did on the Vapor Glove 4.

When I need a tougher tread and a little more protection, I reach for the Trail Glove 6. It goes without saying that this family of shoes will continue to grow and develop. Vapor Glove 5 and 4 appear to be unequal barefoot brothers at first glance. They both have their quirks and feature slim differences in shape and feel. The new one seems a bit sturdier and tighter around the toes. In spite of this, there’s no denying they share the same DNA.

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Michael Restin

Senior Editor

Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.ch

Simple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.

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Vapor Glove 5 vs. 4: two barefoot brothers compared

On the trail of running: day one at the foot school

Slipping in: socks and tongues

Soles: fundamentally different yet the same

Protection: less is more

Free to move: model 4 in the lead

Verdict

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On the trail of running: day one at the foot school

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