Discontinued · trail · Trail / Long run · $140
Roomy, cushioned trail workhorse with a Vibram outsole.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 9:00–12:00 /mi on trail.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Merrell Agility Peak 6.
The midsole is FloatPro, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 39 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.35 per mile at $140.
For the foams and plates Merrell uses across its line, read the Merrell brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
300 g / 10.6 oz
25 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
39 mm
3 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$140
20 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Merrell line it is heavier than the brand's median (263.5 g / 9.3 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (29.5 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe
300 g / 10.6 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $130
Comfortable mid-price trail trainer with a roomy fit.
Saucony Guide TR
315 g / 11.1 oz · 41 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Max-cushion Guide platform ruggedized with PWRTRAC lugs for light trail.
Saucony Guide TR GTX
325 g / 11.5 oz · 41 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $180
Waterproof Guide TR for wet, cold road-to-trail miles.
Brooks Caldera 8
309 g / 10.9 oz · 39 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Max-cushion ultra trail shoe with a roomy fit for swollen late-race feet.