MerrellMTL Skyfire 2 MatryxTrail95/100 · 1 review
The North FaceSummit Vectiv Sky 2Trail92/100 · 1 reviewWhich should you buy?
Choose the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx if you want the lightest, most agile shoe for short, steep and technical mountain runs.
Choose the Summit Vectiv Sky 2 if you want more propulsion and protection for mountain races up to around 50 km.
The MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx is 20 g lighter than the Summit Vectiv Sky 2. It has 3.5 mm more foam under the heel. It costs £10 less at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | MTL Skyfire 2 MatryxMerrell | Summit Vectiv Sky 2The North Face |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 95/100 (1 review) | 92/100 (1 review) |
| Type | Trail | Trail |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 215 g | 235 g |
| Heel stack | 31.5 mm | 28 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm |
| Cushioning | Firm-ish | Firm-ish |
| Bounce | Lively | Lively |
| Plate | Nylon plate | Carbon plate |
| Support | Inherently stable | Inherently stable |
| Fit | True to size | True to size |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £170 | £180 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedRoad Trail Run's testers rate both as light, fast racers with secure fits, though both drew ankle collar complaints. They praised the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx's glove-like upper and Vibram grip for short, technical efforts, but Jeff Valliere wanted more cushioning on longer outings. The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 impressed with its protective midsole, but most found it too firm for ultras.
MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
- Light, fast and agile
- Secure, glove-like upper
- Excellent traction on varied terrain
- Ankle collar lets in grit and debris
- Rigid heel counter needs breaking in
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Summit Vectiv Sky 2
- Very light, yet protective for such a low shoe
- Flexible forefoot and a propulsive, stable plate
- Secure, locked-in midfoot
- Stiff, high ankle collar bothered some testers
- Firm ride gets uncomfortable on long runs
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2: Lugs grow from 3.5 to 5 mm, it's about 28 g lighter with an all-Dream-foam midsole, the carbon plate flexes more up front, and the drop rises from 4 to 6 mm.
About each shoe
About the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
Merrell set out to make the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx "the running shoe with the most FKTs on earth", and it is the lightest racer in the brand's MTL family, designed for short, technical trail races and steep efforts such as vertical-kilometre events.
Underfoot is a two-part, dual-density FloatPro foam midsole with a full-length FlexPlate, a flexible BZM8 plate sandwiched between the foam layers (the carbon plate explainer covers plates generally). Vibram MegaGrip rubber with 5 mm lugs in a honeycomb pattern provides grip, and the Matryx upper is a single-layer, Kevlar-reinforced woven material.
Its sibling the MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx, which SportsShoes calls the Skyfire's "big brother", drops the plate and targets longer technical races, and the MTL Adapt Matryx adds maximum cushioning for ultras. The Skyfire 2 has a 6 mm drop and is aimed at runners looking for trail racing shoes for short events.
Specs and features from irunfar.com, sportsshoes.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Summit Vectiv Sky 2
Light and fast is how The North Face sums up the Summit VECTIV Sky 2, which it calls the lightest trail racing shoe in the VECTIV line. The brand pitches it at short-distance racing on moderately technical terrain, a different job from the Summit Vectiv Pro 3, its ultra-distance racer with a dual-stacked plate system and two layers of DREAM foam.
Underfoot, an all-DREAM foam midsole sits on a forked carbon plate that flexes more in the forefoot than on the first Summit VECTIV Sky, over a 28 mm heel. Lugs grow to 5 mm from 3.5 mm on the original, and the drop rises from 4 mm to 6 mm. For more cushioning on rough mountain ground, the Vectiv Infinite 3 is the brand's highly cushioned option, which The North Face describes as built for extremely technical terrain.
Specs and features from thenorthface.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx vs Summit Vectiv Sky 2
In short
Two light mountain racers with 5 mm lugs. The Skyfire 2 is 20 g lighter and £10 cheaper, with a flexible plate and a glove-like Matryx upper that suit short, steep runs. The Vectiv Sky 2 adds a forked carbon plate for more propulsion and a little more protection for races up to about 50 km.
- Better reviewedMTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
- LighterMTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
- CheaperMTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
- More foamMTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
Get the full story
MerrellEverything on the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx1 video review, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
The North FaceEverything on the Summit Vectiv Sky 23 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Summit Vectiv Sky 2Still torn?
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