Merrell
MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
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.
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.
Video reviews
What the critics say
95/100 review score
- Road Trail Run 9.8/10
The reviews in briefRoad Trail Run's Jeff Valliere, Renee Krusemark and Mike Postaski all rated the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx a light, agile racer for short, technical mountain efforts, praising its glove-like upper and Vibram grip. They found the heel counter firm and the collar lets in grit, and Valliere wanted more cushioning on longer outings.
- Positive: Light, fast and agile
- Positive: Secure, glove-like upper
- Positive: Excellent traction on varied terrain
- Mixed: Ankle collar lets in grit and debris
- Negative: Rigid heel counter needs breaking in
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Trail
- Type
- 215 g
- Weight
- 31.5 mm
- Heel stack
- 6 mm
- Drop
- Nylon 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 secure heel and midfoot and a roomy forefoot; not recommended for wide feet.
What Reddit runners say
Runners on Reddit don't hold back. Jump straight into the conversations about the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx.
On TikTok
MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx on TikTokShort reviews and wear tests from runnersWhere to buy the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
RRP around £170. Tap through for today's price.
Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
In short
Ideal if you race or train fast on steep, technical trails for up to a few hours and want something light and grippy. It's too firm for long days and isn't made for flat, hard surfaces.
Is the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx right for you?
Answer a few quick questions and the shoe finder will show your two best matches.
Compare the MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx
Featured in
Best-reviewed trail shoes
The highest-scoring current trail shoes, averaged across published reviews.
PUMA
Saucony
On