Working on it, hopefully it’ll come out this week!

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Pete Larson’s Web Links:
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Umm, heel toe drop in most of them is zero. And lack of toe spring can cause problems with forefoot material bending – look at the Vivobarefoot Evo.
Pete

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Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – Form Footwear and the Quest For Injury Free Running<http: 1616083743=”” gp=”” product=”” ref=”as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thviofli-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1616083743″ http://www.amazon.com=“”> Work: http://www.anselm.edu/internet…
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin</http:>

Get what? They have their zero drop minimalist shoes and now they want to introduce more traditional line of shoes. What’s wrong with that?

Here’s Jason Robillard’s take on toe spring – he helped with the design of the Merrell line and is about as experienced a barefoot runner as you will find: http://barefootrunninguniversi…
Pete

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Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – Form Footwear and the Quest For Injury Free Running<http: 1616083743=”” gp=”” product=”” ref=”as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thviofli-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1616083743″ http://www.amazon.com=“”> Work: http://www.anselm.edu/internet…
Blog: https://runblogger.com
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin</http:>

How many shoes actually retain their toe spring when you are standing in them? In my experience, they flatten out the moment your foot is inside. I can honestly say that I have never noticed toe spring when standing in a shoe. Furthermore, if you make a shoe with a completely flat sole and no spring it will make it harder to extend the toes upward prior to contact, which is also a typical feature of barefoot running mechanics.

Pete

—-
Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – Form Footwear and the Quest For Injury Free Running<http: 1616083743=”” gp=”” product=”” ref=”as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thviofli-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1616083743″ http://www.amazon.com=“”> Work: http://www.anselm.edu/internet…
Blog: https://runblogger.com
Dailymile Profile: http://www.dailymile.com/peopl…
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin</http:>

For starters, looks at your foot the next time you are standing barefoot. Anything a shoe does to interfere with the way your foot operates whether in motion or at rest is simply wrong.

What do you mean exactly by “barefoot biomechanics”?  While I like what Merrell is doing for the most part, I do agree that there are certain things are a bit bothersome like toe spring.  That said, they are much more minimalist friendly than their competition. 

As to why they don’t just zero drop all of their shoes, that’s just too easy.  It simply won’t sell.  Like it or not, it’s still a good idea to have traditional shoes, as that’s what most people have and buy.

I don’t know the answer, unfortunately all of the samples I saw were size 9 so I didn’t try them on.
Sent from my iPad

The biomechanics of walking and standing are not exactly analogous to the biomechanics of running. I run in the Road Glove and Bedrock Sandals exclusively, and I feel no difference between the two running, walking, and… standing. As I also do a lot of mountain running, I’m looking forward to trying the Mix Master. A bit of cushioning is nice when you are trying to run quickly on a rocky, technical trail. To each his or her own.