The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
With the introduction of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx ($160), it appears as if the model’s growth of its path shoe assortment has gone from zero to 60 miles per hour very quickly. I’ve all the time identified Merrell for its experience in mountain climbing footwear, prioritizing path stability and ankle assist over issues like shoe weight and responsiveness. Their path trainers have been geared extra towards on a regular basis, informal operating and minimalist choices just like the Merrell Path Glove. Nevertheless, Merrell has expanded their strategy to path footwear with this and quite a lot of different high-performance choices in its MTL line.
The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx isn’t your on a regular basis driver sort of shoe. With medium cushioning and stack heights of 23.5 millimeters and 19.5 millimeters within the heel and toe, it strikes a steadiness between offering cushion and sustaining floor really feel. With a 4-millimeter drop and 5-millimeter deep lugs, it presents stability and traction on different surfaces. A U.S. males’s 9 has an precise weight of 8.5 ounces (241 grams), making it a light-weight and agile shoe. Merrell notes that it’s perfect for distances as much as 50 kilometers.
With its considerate building and performance-driven options, this shoe presents light-weight sturdiness, responsive cushioning, and distinctive traction on different terrain.
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Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx Higher
A lateral view of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx.
The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx’s higher is fabricated from multi-filament Kevlar threads and high-tenacity polyamide blended right into a single layer of fabric generally known as Matryx. Plenty of manufacturers use this revolutionary higher materials, which supplies a light-weight really feel that’s breathable and sturdy.
This shoe’s Matryx higher supplies a comfortable match, providing confidence and assist with each stride. The higher building is sort of minimal, and the fabric is so skinny you’ll be able to see by way of it, however it’s robust. The plastic on the toe provides extra safety for by accident stubbed toes and has saved my toenails greater than as soon as.
The collar and tongue of the shoe are lined with a a lot softer, gentler materials. I had no points with rubbing or abrasiveness in any respect, which is shocking as a result of the shoe is constructed to deal with robust situations.
The general match of the higher impressed me. The snugness of the heel supplied safety with out feeling constricting, and I didn’t expertise any slipping. The toebox supplied extra room than anticipated, sustaining a cushty match with out having extra house. The laces, crafted from textured materials, remained safe all through my runs. I appreciated the inclusion of the small band for the lace storage, including a sensible contact to the design.
Whereas the shoe had just a little little bit of a break-in interval, I didn’t have blisters or soreness.
Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx Midsole
A medial view of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx.
Geared up with FloatPro Foam, the midsole of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx delivers light-weight consolation that endures over fairly lengthy distances. Merrell suggests 50k as an higher mileage restrict per run, and I’d agree with them on that evaluation. Though the FloatPro Foam supplies the correct stage of cushioning to each soak up influence and preserve responsiveness, it feels surprisingly skinny. I used to be in a position to really feel a lot of what I used to be operating over. Because of the semi-minimal cushioning, I discovered this shoe doesn’t have a lot oomph or spring on non-technical trails. Which is to say, it’s a shoe that excels in fairly particular conditions: technical trails of medium distances.
Whereas I felt this shoe did have a slight break-in interval, I admit it has rather less cushioning and greater lugs than the footwear I sometimes run in, so maybe it was simply my outdated ft that wanted some breaking-in.
With its extra minimal midsole, the shoe leans towards a impartial really feel quite than corrective or supportive. This proved useful throughout technical descents the place you will need to depend on gravity and maneuver round obstacles, and it instilled confidence on difficult trails. Furthermore, the midsole isn’t overly stiff, aiding in navigating steep terrain uphill and downhill. The flexibleness enhanced its grip, offering a supportive platform for runners looking for consolation and efficiency on rugged terrain.
Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx Outsole
The outsole of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx.
The outsole of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx is what makes this shoe good for technical terrain. It’s fabricated from Vibram MegaGrip high-performance rubber, famend for its unparalleled grip that works nicely on each dry and moist surfaces. With lugs which are 5 millimeters deep, this outsole supplies assured traction throughout varied landscapes starting from rocky to muddy. I ran on moist, dry, and snowy trails throughout testing, and the shoe carried out exceptionally nicely on all of the surfaces.
Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx Total Impressions
A prime view of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx.
The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx impresses with its revolutionary higher crafted from Matryx cloth, providing a light-weight and breathable really feel with out compromising sturdiness. The comfortable but snug match, strengthened by toe safety, and grippy laces enhances confidence on trails. Whereas the shoe required a quick break-in interval, it excelled at its meant use — operating on very technical trails. On condition that Merrell simply sponsored the Skyrunner World Collection, it’s unsurprising that they’ve created a shoe to carry out on that kind of terrain.
The FloatPro Foam within the midsole supplies light-weight consolation appropriate for distances as much as 50k, although it could really feel skinny on nontechnical trails. Regardless of its minimal cushioning, I discovered the impartial really feel and suppleness of the midsole give confidence on difficult terrain and descents. My ft are extra accustomed to a shoe with a barely extra cushioned midsole, so I’d restrict my run to 3 hours or underneath with this shoe.
I used to be tremendous impressed with the Vibram Megagrip outsole and grippy lugs that permit the shoe to shine on technical terrain.
Total, the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx presents dependable efficiency on rugged trails and is especially suited to shorter distances and technical terrain. As somebody who spends lots of time operating within the mountains, I’d like to see one other iteration of this shoe with extra cushion.
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Name for Feedback
- Have you ever run within the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx? What did you consider it?
- Do you suppose Merrell has efficiently jumped into the high-performance path footwear with this and its different MTL choices?
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