Merrell
MTL Adapt Matryx
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.
About the MTL Adapt Matryx
Of the three Matryx race shoes in Merrell's MTL range, the MTL Adapt Matryx is the most cushioned: a max-cushioned endurance shoe for ultra distances on rugged and smooth trails alike. SportsShoes groups it with the short-race MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx and the long-distance MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx, with the Adapt covering the longest days.
It has a 36 mm heel and a 6 mm drop, considerably more stack than the 23.5 mm Long Sky 2. Like its siblings, it uses a tough Matryx upper, here with a dual midfoot gusset, and grip comes from 4 mm Megagrip lugs.
Merrell's newer MTL SpeedARC Peak adds a carbon plate and PEBA foam for racing, leaving the Adapt as the unplated, durability-focused choice in the family. That brief places it squarely among ultra running shoes for runners who prioritise long days over outright speed.
Specs and features from sportsshoes.com, roadtrailrun.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Video reviews
What the critics say
89/100 review score
- Road Trail Run 9.2/10
The reviews in briefRoad Trail Run's Mike Postaski and Renee Krusemark both liked the Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx, praising its stable, protective cushioning, smooth-flexing forefoot, tough upper and roomy toe box. Postaski saw it as a long-distance trainer and possible race shoe, while Krusemark found it heavy and too much shoe for her, with heel slippage on hills.
- Positive: Cushioned, stable and agile for its size
- Positive: Smooth toe-off from the flex grooves
- Positive: Tough, secure upper with a roomy toe box
- Negative: Heavy, with limited midfoot flex
- Negative: Loose heel hold for narrow heels
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Trail
- Type
- 300 g
- Weight
- 36 mm
- Heel stack
- 6 mm
- Drop
- No plate
- Plate
- Inherently stable
- Support
Weight for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5.
What it feels like
Fit
True to size
True to size with a roomy forefoot; narrow heels may slip, so lace it tightly.
What Reddit runners say
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On TikTok
MTL Adapt Matryx on TikTokShort reviews and wear tests from runnersWhere to buy the MTL Adapt Matryx
RRP around £170. Tap through for today's price.
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx
In short
A solid choice if you run long trail days and ultras on runnable ground, including mud and roots, and want cushioning that lasts. It's heavy, so look elsewhere for racing.
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