Merrell Barefoot Train Embark Glove Gore-Tex Review

The Merrell Barefoot Train Embark Glove Gore-Tex  (phew) were my first foray in to the world of bareform shoes. As I've explained before it came from a need for a particular type of shoe rather than a desire to go bareform. I've now been using them for nearly a year so here are my thoughts.

I wanted a shoe that was tough enough to use for long walks across the moors, comfy enough to use all day, looked good enough to wear to go for coffee in and most importantly were light weight. I didn’t want a traditional multi-sport shoe such as Merrell’s Chameleon. They're just too much like moon boots for me.

After seeing the Merrell Trail Glove in a local outdoor shop I went home and scoured the Merrell website (www.merrell.com) for something similar that fitted my needs.

While I liked the Trail Glove the focus of a running show concerned me, I’ve suffered from running related injuries for several years and tarnished by my physio's horror stories of the dangers of walking in traditional padded running shoes I wanted something designed to walk in.

The Train Embark were the obvious choice. While the Train Embark and Trail share the same Vibram sole the Train has a more substantial upper body with tough synthetic leather and mesh upper body with the all-important Gore-Tex layer.

I chose the awesomely tangerine Castle Rock / Dark Cheddar (orange and grey) colour way in my usual size 46 and they were a great fit from the start. Although they should be for the price, £125 isn't cheap.

Castle Rock / Dark Cheddar Train Embarks

Everything you read about starting out on the barefoot journey suggests short distances at first so I restricted the Train Embarks to a few trips to the shops and walking the dog for the first ten days.

However I've never been one for rules or advice so after less than two weeks of ownership I took them on a road trip from Arizona to California and the Train Embark took everything in their stride. Three hour hike around the edge of the Grand Canyon – Check, walking in Yosemite – Check, sight-seeing on the Vegas strip or chilling out in San Francisco – Check. I was over the moon that I’d found a shoe that did it all.

One of my fears when I ordered the Train Embarks was the sole would be too thin and I’d feel every stone and imperfection. I was soon relieved that the tough 4mm sole manages a careful balance of letting you feel the trail beneath you while protecting the foot perfectly. It is worth noting the Merrells are at the thicker end of 'barefoot' soles.

It wasn't all rosy in the first few weeks though. Despite the claim that the footbed is treated with an Aegis antimicrobial solution after two weeks of use I was getting complaints from Mrs T about the pong eminating from the tangerine terrors. A switch to trainer socks soon solved this and while it goes against many people's concept of wearing barefoot shoes for me it makes them a much more usable everyday shoe. Also by being selective and choosing very thin socks I don't feel I'm losing any of the feedback.

My other slight negativity is the difficulty in getting them on. Once on your feet they're like a good set of slippers but getting them on can be... frustrating. This is due in main to the stiff upper body and the lacing system which can restrict access slightly.

As you'll gather the first six months of ownership were generally very positive until me and the Merrells had a major falling out. On a trip to the coast I noticed the rubber toe bumper on the front was coming away from the main body of the shoe. As it was only a small split I wore them the next day for a gentle walk on the beach and it all went wrong. The front of the shoe effectively disintegrated. with all the rubber covering on the upper shoe peeling off and the sole and bumper becoming detached. This happened on both shoes as well which makes me think it maybe a manufacturing defect. 

Needless to say I wasn't impressed but to give Merrell their dues they eventually replaced the shoes. Only problem being the orange version were no longer available so i had to settle for the Black and Blue option. In my opinion they look far better in the orange but it appears this colour has been discontinued. 

Not as eye-catching in the Black / Olympia Blue

The new Black versions have now had six months of use including several walks on the very same beach and so far are still in great condition. So I'm happy to put it down to experience.

Interesting though the uppers on the black version seem to be constructed from a different material and I have to say don't feel like they fit as well as the orange ones did. They feel roomier and a looser fit. I certainly haven't been won over as easily as I was with the originals.



Conclusion
The Train Embarks have been fantastic as a do anything, go anywhere shoe. Wearing them everyday they look great and have become my shoe of choice for any out door adventures. The Gore-Tex lining does what you'd expect and means the only way water is coming in is if you stand in water that's deeper than the height of the shoe.

The orange version were amazingly comfy but as mentioned the black ones don't feel as snug as their brighter counter parts. 

Of course I can't ignore the fact the original pair fell apart but I've currently no fears with the newer replacements. They've been worn every day for six months for a large number of different tasks including in deep snow and mud and they're still fully water tight, solidly built and looking good as you can see in the photos below.

Currently Merrell's website is only showing one size of Train Embarks as being available (8.5 UK). If they are discontinuing the range totally it will be a real shame. These shoes are a little bit of development and a couple of colour choices away from being a fantastic trail shoe.

The score has to be a 7 / 10