As I spent the last month walking, hiking, cycling, and occasionally running in the latest “barefoot” kicks from Merrell, I kept hearing the chorus of Jamie Cullum’s Back to the Ground.

A B-side from the British musician’s 2005 album Catching Tales, the song admittedly has nothing to do with modern shoe design. But its metaphorical title nonetheless captures why this shoe made for everyday use is such a joy to wear.

The Merrell Wrapt may carry the “barefoot” moniker, but in practice, it feels more like a happy compromise. It lands between the extremes of super-spongy runners and the paper-thin outsoles of “true” barefoot kicks. With zero heel-to-toe drop and a comfy outsole, this shoe’s commitment to moderation feels like a throwback rather than an innovation, and it’s deeply enjoyable on nearly any kind of terrain.

In short: No single shoe is going to work for everyone, but the Merrell Wrapt could convert even hardened skeptics of the minimalist shoe trend. The suede upper looks great, the outsole tread is extremely grippy, they’re light, and they allow you to feel the terrain beneath you. If you prefer minimalist shoes and want something good-looking that will feel great on both city streets and easy trails, the Wrapt is an option you should look into.

Merrell Wrapt Review

To be clear, I’m hardly an evangelist for the barefoot movement. I’ve never been interested in the “purity” of running with minimal protection, nor a believer that the human body is somehow a perfect design. (Our curved spines, to name one example, could clearly use an update.)

But I’ve begun to realize that an outsole thicker than my wrist can be equally uncomfortable.

The Merrell Wrapt includes the flexibility, wide toebox, and zero heel-to-toe drop that often define the barefoot category. However, its 13mm outsole sits between two trail runners in the brand’s barefoot shoe options. The Merrell Wrapt has slightly less cushion than the Trail Glove, a moderate trail runner, and twice as much as the Vapor Glove, which is made for light trail use.

Unlike a dozen other pairs of shoes I’ve tested over the last few months, the Wrapt fit perfectly for me with no issues. They feel comfy right out of the box, and that held true after dozens of miles on a variety of terrain.

There’s a polarizing battle being waged in the United States about the very foundations of our daily lives and how we move through the world around us. I am, of course, talking about the ongoing debate about barefoot shoes.

Since GearJunkie co-founder Stephen Regenold wrote about the “barefoot craze” back in 2010, the category has expanded massively. We now have barefoot hiking sandals, boots, and even cycling shoes.

And we’re not just talking about shoes with zero drop and minimal outsole. The moniker has become a common descriptor for any shoes that reject the cushion creep that has defined running shoe design for decades.

The trend got a major boost in 2009. Christopher McDougall published Born to Run and popularized the idea of shoes with outsoles as thin as 0-4mm. Thankfully, we’ve seen a range of options since then, leading to a loose separation of “barefoot” and “minimalist,” the latter of which takes the zero-drop idea but adds a bit more cushion.

In its functionality, I’d say Merrell’s Wrapt leans toward the “minimalist” category. This shoe balances technical strengths with a sleek aesthetic.

Testing: Trail, Road, and Bike

For about a month, the Wrapt slipped seamlessly into my life. Whether I was spending time outdoors or simply jaunting to the grocery store for a gallon of milk, the Wrapt rarely left my feet.

I wore them on Atlanta trails along the Chattahoochee, hiking up to 8 miles at a time. On my favorite trails, like Island Ford, Jones Bridge, or the Palisades, I realized I was actually feeling the texture of the roots, rocks, and crunchy leaves. Like many barefoot shoes, the sole is extremely flexible, to the point that you can almost roll the shoe into a ball. Even so, they maintain their shape well and offer decent support.

Instead of bouncing along with the pogo-stick energy return of running shoes from Saucony, Deckers X, or On, I found myself connecting to the terrain in a different way. They even kept my socks dry despite several accidental steps into river water. They aren’t waterproof, but they don’t soak up water quickly, either. If you wanted to, you could use DWR for added water resistance.

Now, I can’t see myself setting new personal records in these. But that’s not what they’re for. They’re a comfortable, daily life shoe that worked great for me when I wanted something that felt great all day long.

A few weeks ago, I took them on a 20-mile bike ride and hiked up Stone Mountain. The slick, steep rock proved no obstacle for the Quantum Grip outsole. After that, I biked home and went on a pub crawl with some friends. During all this, I rarely thought about what was on my feet, which I consider the highest of compliments.

So far, these shoes still show no signs of wear, with the exception of a torn lace caused by a Onewheel accident. (And the shoe was definitely not responsible for that one.)

Aesthetics & Downsides

The Merrell Wrapt also earns points for being a good-looking shoe — but not in that weird, futuristic way that so many brands seem to push on the barefoot category.

A pig suede leather upper is both comfortable and elegant, making this a far more “restaurant-ready” shoe than Merrell’s more technical barefoot models. However, it’s also not super easy to keep clean. It seems to collect dirt pretty quickly. I was able to clean them easily with a wet towel, though, to maintain their slick aesthetic.

Unlike some of Merrell’s other minimalist shoes, the Wrapt also lacks sustainable materials. Where some of the brand’s shoe models offer a recycled mesh upper, insole, or outsole, the Wrapt does not.

I appreciate the highly grippy tread of the Wrapt. But I can’t help but laugh at the growing trend of adding lugs to the sides instead of just where the shoe actually contacts the ground. It makes me think of the Mad Max-style swangas, the spike-like tire rims that became part of Texas car culture. I’m not sure how much functional value it adds, but it’s certainly a stylistic choice.

Also, I wish it were possible to slip these on and off without retying the laces. Other Merrell hiking shoes will allow this, but not the Wrapt. That’s maybe getting a little nit-picky, though.

Merrell Wrapt: Conclusion

The Merrell Wrapt isn’t purpose-built for any single activity. It’s not meant to “crush” trails or propel you to new heights of athleticism. Merrell calls this an “everyday” shoe, and I’ll admit that I found excuses to wear them whenever I didn’t need something specific. I’ve received jealous compliments on these shoes from all my family and friends at this point, which style-conscious hikers will likely appreciate.

To be clear, these are not for running. I did put in about 10 miles of trail running with these, just for kicks. But I soon felt the strain on my calves and feet. If your arch comes down hard on a tree root in these puppies, you’re going to feel it — and not in a fun way.

If you’re looking for a true barefoot running shoe, you’re better served by the Merrell Trail Glove. That shoe has about the same stack height but more arch support and less weight.

Personally, I can safely call the Merrell Wrapt the comfiest barefoot shoes I’ve tried. They’re by far the best-looking. More importantly, they’ve reminded me of the satisfaction of connection to the Earth and the power of going “back to the ground.”