The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx. All photographs: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
With the introduction of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx ($160), it appears as if the model’s enlargement of its path shoe assortment has gone from zero to 60 miles per hour very quickly. I’ve at all times recognized Merrell for its experience in mountaineering footwear, prioritizing path stability and ankle help over issues like shoe weight and responsiveness. Their path trainers had been geared extra towards on a regular basis, informal operating and minimalist choices just like the Merrell Path Glove. Nonetheless, Merrell has expanded their strategy to path footwear with this and various different high-performance choices in its MTL line.
The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx isn’t your on a regular basis driver type 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 gives stability and traction on diversified 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 excellent for distances as much as 50 kilometers.
With its considerate development and performance-driven options, this shoe gives light-weight sturdiness, responsive cushioning, and distinctive traction on diversified 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 product of multi-filament Kevlar threads and high-tenacity polyamide blended right into a single layer of fabric referred to as Matryx. Quite a few manufacturers use this modern higher materials, which offers a light-weight really feel that’s breathable and sturdy.
This shoe’s Matryx higher offers a comfortable match, providing confidence and help with each stride. The higher development is kind of minimal, and the fabric is so skinny you possibly can see by 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 stunning 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 somewhat 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.
Outfitted with FloatPro Foam, the midsole of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx delivers light-weight consolation that endures over moderately 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 offers the proper stage of cushioning to each take in affect and keep 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 previous toes that wanted some breaking-in.
With its extra minimal midsole, the shoe leans towards a impartial really feel reasonably than corrective or supportive. This proved helpful throughout technical descents the place you could 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 in search of 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 product of Vibram MegaGrip high-performance rubber, famend for its unparalleled grip that works nicely on each dry and moist surfaces. With lugs which might be 5 millimeters deep, this outsole offers assured traction throughout numerous 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 General Impressions
A prime view of the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx.
The Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx impresses with its modern higher crafted from Matryx material, providing a light-weight and breathable really feel with out compromising sturdiness. The comfortable but snug match, bolstered 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. Provided that Merrell simply sponsored the Skyrunner World Collection, it’s unsurprising that they’ve created a shoe to carry out on that sort of terrain.
The FloatPro Foam within the midsole offers 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 adaptability of the midsole give confidence on difficult terrain and descents. My toes are extra accustomed to a shoe with a barely extra cushioned midsole, so I’d restrict my run to 3 hours or below 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.
General, the Merrell MTL Lengthy Sky 2 Matryx gives dependable efficiency on rugged trails and is especially fitted to shorter distances and technical terrain. As somebody who spends a number 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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