Merrell is best known for grippy, protective trail shoes with Vibram outsoles. The range covers technical all-rounders like the Agility Peak, the MTL mountain racers, the cushioned MTL Adapt and road-to-trail shoes like the ProMorph and Morphlite.
9 current models, ranked by their average score from published reviews (how we rank). Updated November 2026. Want a personal pick? Try the shoe finder.
A light, agile racer for short, steep and technical mountain runs, with a glove-like Kevlar Matryx upper, a flexible plate and 5 mm Vibram Megagrip lugs.
Merrell's cushioned ultra shoe: stable and surprisingly agile for its size, with a tough Matryx upper, a dual midfoot gusset and 4 mm Megagrip lugs. It's built for long, durable days rather than speed.
Merrell's first carbon-plated mountain racer pairs a PEBA-based foam with Vibram Megagrip Elite rubber and a tough Kevlar Matryx upper. It feels genuinely fast on runnable and moderately technical trails.
A protective, very grippy trail shoe with a Vibram Megagrip outsole, deep lugs and a rock plate. It's dependable on steep, rocky and muddy ground, though the firm foam has little bounce.
Merrell's zero-drop minimalist trail shoe now has a Vibram TC5+ outsole with 3 mm lugs and a roomy toe box. RunRepeat found it flexible and natural on trails and pavement, with little shock absorption or underfoot protection, as you'd expect.
A comfortable, supportive trail shoe for newcomers and heel strikers, with versatile 4 mm lugs and a breathable, gusseted upper. It's lighter than before, but the ride is firm with little energy return.
A light, keenly priced road-to-trail shoe with a stable platform and a well-designed tongue. Lab testing found sparse rubber and weak durability, so it suits runners who value low weight over longevity.
A low, flexible mountain shoe with a tough Matryx upper and grippy 5 mm Vibram Megagrip lugs. It excels on very technical ground, but the thin cushioning limits it on longer or smoother runs.
A cushioned road-to-trail shoe with a smooth transition, an airy upper and a Vibram outsole of many shallow lugs that grips on pavement, gravel and hardpack.
Merrell
