Hiking heritage applied to the trail
Merrell brings outdoor-durability thinking to trail running. Uppers and outsoles are built to survive rock and scree, with a firmer, more protective ride than the road-brand trail shoes.
Medians across the 10 current Merrell models we track, measured against every currently-available shoe in the catalog.
Median drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median
Median stack
29.5 mm
6.5 mm below the catalog median
Median weight
263.5 g / 9.3 oz
11.5 g below the catalog median
Median price
$172.5
12.5 above the catalog median
Plated models
6 of 10
Carbon, nylon or rock plate
Wide toe-box
10 of 10
Wide or very-wide forefoot
Trail models
10
Off-road platforms
Price range
$110–$290
Current line
Fit & sizing
Generous forefoot, true to size, with a more hiking-like volume than racing trail shoes.
Who it suits
Long days on rough ground, hike-run efforts, and runners who destroy uppers.
Worth knowing
Heavier and less lively than dedicated trail-racing brands.
Picked from the current line by the same spec-based scoring the matcher uses — no sponsorships, no commissions.
Race day
MTL SpeedARC Peak
Maximum return, minimum weight — for the day it counts.
Merrell's elite trail racer: forked carbon FlexPlate over a PEBA top layer.
Long run
Agility Peak 6
Protection that holds up when the legs stop cooperating.
Cushioned technical trail workhorse on Vibram Megagrip with a rock plate.
Daily
ProMorph
The workhorse: comfortable, durable, unremarkable in the best way.
Road-to-trail daily on FloatPro+ with Vibram XS Trek Evo grip.
Trail
Agility Peak 6
Grip and protection once the road runs out.
Cushioned technical trail workhorse on Vibram Megagrip with a rock plate.