In production · trail · Trail / Long run · $200
Resilient ultradistance trail shoe built for enduring comfort.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 8:00–11:00 /mi on trail.
Merrell tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 32 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.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. 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 $0.50 per mile at $200.
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
270 g / 9.5 oz
5 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
32 mm
4 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$200
40 pricier 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.
Hoka Challenger 7 GTX
255 g / 9.0 oz · 31 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $170
Hoka Challenger 7 GTX: 39 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 281 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Puma Voyage Nitro 4
285 g / 10.1 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Plush, protective long-haul trail shoe with aggressive PUMAGRIP ATR.
On Cloudultra 3
295 g / 10.4 oz · 32 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $190
Long-haul trail shoe with adjustable Flip-Release lacing.
Salomon Sense Ride 6
285 g / 10.1 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $140
The all-terrain trail do-everything shoe.