Merrell Lithe Glove vs. Tempo Glove

Jennn

Jennn

Barefooters
Feb 24, 2011
53
7
8
#1
My computer ate my nice long rambling post about trying to decide between these two shoes. So, here's the short version instead:

I have Pace Gloves and love love love them, but they were not good Winter shoes last year for general out and aboutness like slushy, puddly parking lots, sidewalks, etc.. They were also awful on snowy/slushy hikes - my feet froze and it sucked. So, I want a pair of water resistant Merrels for wearing around casually, hiking in wet conditions and snowshoeing! The Lithe and Tempo gloves advertise they are water resistant - resistant is good enough, waterproof would be too much for me I think.

I haven't gone snowshoeing before, so I don't know if they're even compatible - are they?

I love the trail sole on my Pace Gloves, so I tried on the Lithe Glove and was disappointed at how much stiffer and inflexible they are. Plus they rubbed on my heels and that wasn't fun. I didn't buy them. Do they break in and become more flexible over time or will they always be stiff and awful compared to the Pace Glove?

I could not try on the Tempo Glove so I tried on the Dash Glove instead to check out the road sole. It was as stiff and ugh as the Lithe Glove, only the heel wasn't so bad. Plus, I now understand the "arch support" rant I've been reading about on these shoes. That pressure in my arch when wearing the Dash Glove is something else, and sure to be irritating as heck. How does the road sole do over time? Does it become more flexible over time and ease the pressure a bit off the arch, or will it also remain stiff and awful?

Thanks!!!!!
 
#3
Thanks! I've been told that before as well. I just want to be able to keep my feet somewhat warm and dry in the cold, I can't imagine using my Pace Gloves through the winter doing things like snowshoeing and snow/slushy hiking in them again. :)

After sleeping on it, I decided that since I don't like the soles out of the box on the Merrells, that I should try on something else, so I ordered a pair of the Vivobarefoot Neo Trail shoes to try instead. :)
 
#4
I see you've made your choice but thought I'd add my $.02 anyway.

I run quite a bit in the Merrell Road Gloves (even though I'm female, I like the roomier fit of the mens' version). The soles do loosen up and get more flexible after some wear/runs. I use them quite a bit.

For winter, I use Merrell Sonic Gloves when its wet and cold. Yes, the sole isn't the most flexible (just like the trail glove/pace glove), but they keep my feet dry. I also got a pair of VB Neo Trails for the snow. Haven't worn them yet and probably won't get a chance to really try them for a couple of months.
 
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#5
PB Junkie said:
For winter, I use Merrell Sonic Gloves when its wet and cold. Yes, the sole isn't the most flexible (just like the trail glove/pace glove), but they keep my feet dry. I also got a pair of VB Neo Trails for the snow. Haven't worn them yet and probably won't get a chance to really try them for a couple of months.
Click to expand...

I just got a pair of the Sonic Gloves too, plan on using them for cold temps on the trail. I've heard there is a bit of a break in for them. For more adventurous activities in the snow VB does make waterproof hikers, atleast in mens. Not sure about womens. I plan on getting a pair of the mids or highs for actual backpacking, but I havent been out much this year, maybe next.

I'm kind of jealous though! Never done much hiking in the snow. If I ever move back to NY I'd love to try the high peaks in the winter. My folks have technical snowshoes and cramp ons and things but I've never done any hiking in deep snow.
 
#6
Thanks PB-Junkie and Tristan! If the VB Neo Trails don't work out, I'll either give the Lithe glove another chance or I'll try the Sonic glove to see how it breaks in over time. Not sure about waterproof VB but I'll take a look - I'm not sure I want full waterproof though. My traditional hiking boots are waterproof and the number of times I've encountered conditions that actually needed waterproofing were pretty rare. I'd rather have a more breathable shoe I think. :)

I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the snow this winter!!
 
#7
Have fun Jennn! Must be drier out west there. Around here I preffer fully waterproof nearly every trip to the mountains (though I really want to try my huraches next time). Usually trails have plenty of mud on them, maybe even a few miles worth of mud and muck all totaled up! I often go out with mid or high waterproof hikers and gaiters up to the top of the calves. And lots of shallow stream crossings and such. 1" of water will wick up my VFFs and soak my feet in no time. About the only time I dont want waterproof is when it so wet/deep I know there is no way I can keep em dry!
 
#8
I've encountered lots of muddy trails too, but mostly in the late spring. I've worn my VFF's through the mud and once I'm past the worst of it I usually just rinse them in a stream and keep going. If it's cold, I might bring a backup pair of shoes or socks to keep warm but I usually save the backups for the end of the hike when we set up camp. I bet huaraches would work better for the muddy conditions, but I didn't get mine until late this summer so I didn't have a chance to test them on the trails.

In early spring when it's melted and slushy snow I've pretty much just suffered through it in my Merrells and let my feet get cold/wet until I'm done hiking, and that pretty much sucks. I really hope water resistance is good enough for these conditions, but if not, it's still okay because I try to avoid this type of hike in the first place. Another pair of waterproof shoes wouldn't be very cost effective for me. ;)

There's not a lot of wet snow or standing water in the winter otherwise (except in parking lots, ugh), so something that's just water resistant and a little warmer is probably all I'll need. I'm not planning on any major mountaineering treks, just a couple of lower altitude snowshoe trips. :)

(edit to fix run-on sentences, yikes!)
 
#9
Just a quick update - I received my VB Neo Trails this week and wore them to work and school a couple times now. They are much roomier than the Merrells and fit less glove-like (I guess that's why Merrell calls them "gloves"). Still, they're super comfy and even with the trail sole they're super flexible - moreso than the Lithe Glove was out of the box.

It seems like the VB were good decision. I'm looking forward to seeing how they perform in snowy weather!
 
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#10
Huarches don't work well in the mud at all because once you get the inside of them coated with mud, then you will be slipping all over the top of them and that is not pleasant.
 
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