IвЂ™m no style stud, but I like the look of these shoes because theyвЂ™re sleek and masculine. I can say this without reservation because I got high-performing footwear from a company I respect. My Merrell Bare Access Flex shoes are too new to report surface scuffing and Vibram forefoot peeling issues, but IвЂ™m keeping Loctite vinyl/fabric glue on hand after reading about others who have run into both problems.Д¬all me a creature of habit, but my final criteria - when I weigh the merits of new gear, clothing and especially running shoes - is having no regrets after getting it.Had issues with zero-drop shoes in the past? This shoe might not be suitable for you.Not every runner finds Merrell technology to suit their running proclivities.ItвЂ™s nice but no candidate for a running shoe fashion show. ThereвЂ™s nothing out-of-the-ordinary about the design.You could have a little issue to get a perfect fit if you need ВЅ-size as there is no availability of ВЅ-sizes.This footwear is designed for all sorts of terrain yet theyвЂ™re amazingly lightweight.The wide toe box suits my toes theyвЂ™re neither squashed together nor subject to injury from too much room.Air flow is refreshing and those antibacterial-fighting properties may have saved some of my friendships!.The break-in period was so smooth, I didnвЂ™t have to open my first-aid kit to dig out Band-Aids once.I found the shoes to have just the right amount of arch support and cushioning.

Those antimicrobial properties keep working: they deal with bacteria reproduction as long as I have them on my feet. Merrell Bare Access Flex features that keep odour to a minimum include breathable mesh that allows the flow of fresh air as the lining breaks down microbes that trigger odour. My feet require constant care to make sure running mates donвЂ™t abandon me when we get together socially. But for me, the biggest revelation was yet to come. The Hyperlock TPU heel counter grips your foot so sharp turns and quick descents donвЂ™t put your feet at risk of sprains and other injuries. While the Bare Access Flex features traditional lace closures, thereвЂ™s nothing traditional about the way these shoes are engineered. ThatвЂ™s a fancy way of saying grooves built into the soles grip surfaces like an angry Pit Bull. ItвЂ™s the dual directional EVA midsole that controls the action aided by M Select GRIP+. The FLEXconnect system never met a terrain it couldnвЂ™t conquer: wet trails, dry trails, endless pavement, uneven terrain. I thought we had learned better! Sigh.I got a pair in blue and no matter where I took them, they performed like championsвЂ¦but the biggest surprise of all was getting help with my foot odour problem! Who knew a shoe could be this versatile?ДЇeatures I find innovative and compelling I took my 10 year old to the running store before she started running club a few weeks ago, and after imaging her foot and observing her gait, the 20 year old said, 'She needs lots of cushioning because her arches are weak blah blah blah' and I was like, ugh, not this again. During the minimalist hey-day I found the New Balance version really painful, but I'm sure some people loved them.

I've worn other zero drop shoes and they're fine, but nothing hugs my feet just right like Merrells.

Off to stock up and keep them in the attic. I see now that what I feared is correct it's also been discontinued. And then they discontinued those, and I bought up some extras, but I'm down to my last pairs.Д«ut at least they still had the Bare Access line. I loved their strappy sandals and slip ons. Those shoes eliminated all of my foot pain.

Merrell bar access