Merrell MTL Adapt Review

Disclaimer: this review will be a little like my Altra Timp 5 one, in that the shoe didn't quite fit my foot shape so I couldn't give it the mileage I wanted to (clocking up 120k in the end). I'll be as objective as I can and discuss sizing in the Fit & Feel section.

Lately it feels like we've had a slew of higher stack trail runners designed for the crazy long distances: Hoka Mafate X, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, Nike Zegama 2, Altra Olympus 275, and now Merrell's Test Lab (MTL) have brought their own into the mix with the MTL Adapt.

It comes from the same line as the excellent Long Sky 2 Matryx that I loved so much, whilst expanding on the all distance focused comfort of the Agility Peak 5s.

This crazy looking beast is packed full of features, whilst doing things a little differently, so let's dive in.

What Are The MTL Adapt?

Merrell's current trail running line up looks like this:

• MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx: a minimalist technical racing shoe designed for short sharp mountain races
• MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx: a minimalist technical racing shoe like the Skyfire but with a little more cushioning, designed for longer mountain races whilst still being fairly low stack and stable
• Agility Peak 5: their jack of all trades do anything trail runner, Merrell's answer to the Speedgoat and a good pick for anything from a 5k to a 50 miler

If you were looking for an ultra shoe from Merrell it would most likely be the Agility Peak 5s, they served me well during my first 100 miler and really do work nicely for the vast majority of races. In fact in general I recommend this as a good trail running shoe for most folks.

Last year there were rumours of a new shoe from Merrell's MTL range, one focused on the crazy long stuff, that would take what worked in the Agility Peak 5 and add in that lovely Matryx upper and more cushion, whilst giving a wider toe box like the Long Sky 2 has.

This turned out to be the MTL Adapt.

Merrell themselves marketed this as a shoe aimed at 50 mile + distances. This has been designed from the off as an ultra distance shoe.

Features

• Starting at the base we have 4mm Vibram Megagrip traction lugs (1mm shorter than the Agility Peaks, Long Skys and Skyfires). They are separated with a series of grooves to keep the sole flexible
• The midsole is a whole chunk of the FloatPro foam which worked so nicely on the Agility Peak, cut into the midsole is what they call their "FlexConnect" (urgh marketing) system which is meant to keep them flexible even with such a high stack height.
• They come in a 36mm in the heel, 30mm in the forefoot, for a 6mm drop
• The upper is a Matryx outer with some padding inside it, if you're not familiar with Matryx it's a type of material we are seeing on a lot of higher end shoes now (Hoka Tecton X, Altra Olympus 275, Salomon Genesis), it consists of kevlar threads which makes for a super light, durable and breathable material. Having used it on the Long Sky 2 I can attest to how nice it is
• The tongue is gusseted, and there is an elastic wrap to tuck the laces away on it
• There is a well padded heel counter
• The laces SUCK, not enough length to them, and slippy with poor grip when tied, it would be prudent to replace them

Fit & Feel

Oh how excited I was to try these on, I adore the Agility Peaks, but find them a tad too narrow at my big toe, whilst the Long Skys with their Matryx upper are lovely and spacious, but too minimal for the distances I tend to focus on. A mix of the two sounded like a match made in heaven.

Fit wise they are a bit interesting: for reference I ordered the same size I wear in both the Long Sky 2 and the Agility Peak 5.

I'd say they come in true to size, with some caveats:

Length wise they are the same as the Agility Peak 5, as is the width around your mid foot.

Where things differ is in the toe box. Side by side the Adapt toe box appears wider:

However it doesn't feel wider, it actually feels more constrictive than both the Agility Peak and the Long Sky. I believe the reason for this is the toe box depth, it's very shallow on the Adapts so they feel more constrictive around your foot. This also lead to me getting a little more big toe rubbing due to my hobbit feet.

The toe bumper is a little tougher too, so if your toes press against it you'll know about it sharpish.

The tongue and upper are thankfully comfortable and you can really draw the shoe tight. What I missed quickly however was the locked-in feel of the Long Sky 2, despite them also having a Matryx upper. I believe it's because there's more padding under the Matryx layer in the Adapt, weakening that hold.

Heel wise the counter does a good job, about the same as the Agility Peaks, I found a heel lock got the fit just right around my ankles.

But that toe box depth I really struggled with when I first put them on. The Agility Peaks felt more forgiving and comfortable out of the box, the Adapts felt more like a Nike. If you have a wide / high volume forefoot I think you'll struggle with them.

On The Run

It was a different story taking them out into the wild however. One thing I've been finding with especially high stacked shoes is they do come with a bit more of a breaking in period (for example: the Nike Zegama 2). After clocking a few miles in them that cushioning started to soften a little, the upper felt more supple, and the comfort increased.

Taking them on a half marathon mixed trail route they felt a lot more comfortable in the second half then the first.

This constrictive -> few miles -> comfy cycle happened pretty much every time I wore them.

Now for how they run and perform. So on my scales they way just a tad more than the Agility Peaks which, for that level of cushioning, is pretty light. They do feel ploddier than the Agility Peaks due to that, a little slower.

The ride however is very nice; they feel like road shoes, one review said "these are the Brooks Ghost Max of the trails" and I totally get that feeling, they steamroll over terrain like it's nothing and keep your feet comfy.

Taking them onto tarmac stretches they felt excellent, I'd say they'd work best as a hybrid shoe for mixed terrain races where there's a good bit of road running to content with.

As for technical ground it's an interesting one: due to their stack height I wouldn't expect them to perform well over tricky rooty ground, yet those grooves cut into them do make them feel more nimble and stable then you'd expect. It's nothing like running in a low stack shoe, sure, but I also didn't feel like I was one wrong move away from a twisted ankle like I did in the Nike Zegama 2s.

Throughout it all the upper felt breathable yet comfy, I didn't get any lace biting or heel issues (with a heel lock), though those laces, damn do they suck. I had to stop and re-lace a few times on longer runs due to them slipping undone, and the only way I could get a heel lock was by tying a tiny reef knot.

What I Liked

• Surprisingly stable and nimble for such a high stack shoe
• Comfortable breathable upper with no lace biting
• Great grip on the outsole
• Work nicely as a hybrid shoe for long distance over mixed ground
• Durability: they are build well, that Matryx upper and thick midsole will last a long while. My bet would be the outsole will be the first thing to go

What I Disliked

• Shallow, constrictive feel of the toe box combined with the hard toe bumper leading them to feel suffocating and less comfortable than the Agility Peaks
• A little heavier despite being a Matryx upper
• The lockdown across your mid foot is poor
• The feeling of needing to break them in each run, even after 100k usage
• Those bloody laces

Are They Better Than The Agility Peaks?

This is the million dollar question for me: do you pay £140.00 for the Agility Peak 5, or is it worth splashing out £170.00 for the MTL Adapt?

For me, you'd chose the Agility Peaks if you want:

• An all rounder jack of all trades trail runner that is just as capable at faster short races as it is for all day mountain ultras
• Something that is better suited to technical terrain, a little more nimble and stable
• A comfier deeper toe box that works better for a higher volume forefoot

And you'd chose the MTL Adapts if you want:

• A focus on durability with that Matryx upper and thick midsole, the Agility Peak upper is fairly delicate and I can imagine the Adapts outlasting them by many miles
• A hybrid shoe aimed at long distances over mixed terrain