you might know from hiking boots and barefoot shoes. I tried a pair of Merrell ten years ago: trail shoes with a fantastic knitted upper and almost nothing but an outsole underfoot. There are many barefoot runners out there – probably never me – but Merrell is much more. Among other things, they are one of the largest brands in hiking shoes, and in 2019 they launched a new initiative to become a big name in trail running.
Merrell Test Lab
In 2019, MTL – Merrell Test Lab – opened a development lab with one goal: to create a series of truly great trail shoes for all conditions. The shoes are developed in the lab but are rigorously tested by trail runners in nature before hitting the stores.
Common to the MTL models is the focus on the best materials. Merrell develops many of their own solutions, like rubber for the outsole and materials for the upper, and they are quite good. But when aiming for the best, you also use the best technologies. Therefore, all MTL shoes in this article feature a Matryx upper and a Vibram outsole. Matryx is a material reinforced with Kevlar, which is very breathable and durable. Vibram is known to most involved in running because their soles perhaps offer the best grip on the market.
In this article, we've gathered the best trail shoes from Merrell, making it easier for you to find the right shoe for you.
Merrell MTL SpeedARC Peak – The competition shoe
is Merrell's first carbon shoe for trail running and the pinnacle of the MTL series. Development started in MTL back in 2021 and went through several prototypes before the shoe is now ready. The midsole is made by Merrell in fast and springy PEBA foam. Together with a flexible carbon plate and a more robust foam at the bottom, you get a shoe that is fast, stable, and durable.
Compared to other fast shoes from Merrell Test Lab, you get much more comfort and bounce in the MTL SpeedARC Peak.
The outsole is made of Vibram's Megagrip Elite, an extra durable and extremely good rubber, making the shoe a sure winner when you need to run fast in more demanding terrain. Choose it if you're running longer trail competitions or mountain runs and want a fast shoe you can rely on.
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Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx – The lightweight racer
If speed is your goal and you want to feel the trail underfoot, is a great choice. It's one of Merrell's lightest trail shoes, weighing only about 204 grams (size US 9). The midsole is lower than in the MTL SpeedARC Peak and consists of two layers of FloatPro foam and a flex plate, providing both propulsion and protection against rocks and roots. Vibram Megagrip with 5 mm lugs offers excellent grip, and the Matryx upper fits snugly and securely around the foot.
Skyfire 2 isn't designed to give you maximum cushioning but to provide control, quick feet, and protection against sharp stones. Choose it for short and medium competitions, short intervals in the forest, and technical trails where you want to be close to the ground.
Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx – The mountain goat
might look a bit like the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx on paper, but there are some differences that provide a significantly different experience in the forest or on the mountain. The foam height is almost the same, and the heel drop is slightly different, but it's a new insole and the lack of a plate in the midsole that makes the biggest difference. MTL Long Sky 2 is softer to run with but is also less protective against sharp stones that can be felt through the sole.
The outsole has 5 mm lugs like the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx, making both shoes good for soft surfaces and wet days. Choose MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx if you want a fast shoe but desire more comfort on descents than the slightly faster and lighter MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx.
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx – Ultra comfort
While Skyfire 2 and Long Sky 2 keep you close to the ground, Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx is the most cushioned model in the MTL series. Here you get a lot of foam underfoot and a comfortable shoe for long trips where comfort is paramount. Like the other MTL shoes, you still have the thin Matryx upper and Vibram Megagrip with 4 mm lugs.
Even though there's more foam than in any other Merrell MTL shoe, the midsole is wide and provides a solid platform that keeps you stable, even when you start to tire. But don't think it can match the three shoes above when the terrain gets technical. Here you get a solid and comfortable shoe for long and easy runs.
Merrell Agility Peak 6 – The workhorse
If you need one trail shoe that can do it all, is a safe choice. It's Merrell's most versatile trail shoe and is just as good for the daily forest run as for long days in the mountains. The FloatPro midsole provides firm and stable cushioning, and a rock plate protects against stones and roots. The outsole is Vibram Megagrip with 5 mm lugs, offering good grip and shedding mud and gravel as you run.
The upper is reinforced with 3D print and TPU where the shoe wears the most, and the sewn-in tongue keeps dirt and small stones out. Agility Peak 6 is a robust and durable shoe for those who run in all kinds of weather and terrain. It also comes in a GORE-TEX version, which is an obvious choice for autumn and winter.
Merrell Trail Glove 8 – The barefoot runner in the woods
Merrell is one of the brands that has truly put barefoot running on the map, and is their barefoot shoe for the trails. It has 0 mm heel drop and Merrell's Barefoot 2 construction, keeping the foot in a natural position. A thin layer of FloatPro foam takes the edge off the hardest impacts without removing the feel of the ground, and the Vibram TC5+ outsole provides good grip on trails and forest floors.
A sewn-in “burrito” tongue and an external heel strap keep the foot secure, giving you control when the terrain gets uneven. Choose Trail Glove 8 if you want to strengthen your feet and run more naturally in the woods. If you're new to barefoot shoes, start with short runs and gradually increase the distance. If you want to go minimal, check out , which is even lighter and more flexible.
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Merrell has many more trail shoes. You can see all and , or take a trip to , where you can see all products we have from Merrell.
