Merrell Barefoot Life Frost Glove Winter Boots - Waterproof, Insulated (For Women)

I bought these boots in anticipation of a hitch-hiking/back packing trip through New England into Nova Scotia in November. I had been using minimalist footwear all summer (when I had to wear shoes at all) and wanted to maintain the experience. Most boots I tried had an aggressive arch and even when they were light weight they were still very bulky. I settled on these because of the minimal vibram sole and the slip on construction. I initially felt like the shoe was a bit narrow but after regular wear the soul molded to my foot. I wore them for several weeks at home as house slippers to break them in.

I ended up make the trip to Nova Scotia by car, but I still spent long hours and miles outside and on my feet. These shoes help up against sea water, slush, rain, snow and lots of mud. The 80 grams of insulation was enough to keep my feet comfortable without so hot that they sweat and got cold later. They were so light weight and comfortable that I wore them every day, even when I could have worn my other casual shoes.

The only downside of these shoes is that the tread is just not as hefty as a hiking boot. I think the flexibility and good ground feel makes up for that in part, but in terms of traction you need to be a little more careful than you would be wearing, say, a pair of Solomon hikers. I was also concerned about the possibility of having the outer punctured by a branch or a rock, but I got into quite a lot of tough terrain without incident.

These shoes have helped maintain my 'barefoot' foot strength and were so light weight they were a delight to wear walking long distances. They pack down small, look great, are the perfect warmth and I would recommend them to anyone!