February 8, 2023 – Rachel Tomajczyk – Professional Merrell Trail Athlete.
There are so many great options for running shoes out there but which ones are right for you? There are a few things to consider — What weather conditions will you be running in; what the terrain is like; how technical the trail is; and how fast you are running.
It’s no fun to run when your feet are cold and wet, so water proof shoes can be very helpful to keep your feet warm and dry when running on a wet trail. A solution is to pick a shoe with GORE-TEX like the Antora 2, which is great for non technical trails. Or the MQM 3 GORE-TEX, which was created for technical trails and light scrambling. The Long Sky 2 Shield has also been tested and loved by Merrell Trail Athletes, making it a good option for a trail racing shoe when race trails are muddy.
Sometimes you get that trail that’s perfectly “flowy” and smooth. For those trails the Moab Flight will give you enough traction to feel protected on the trail without the big lugs that shoes made for more technical terrain have.
If you are running in technical trails you’ll need more traction and grip on your shoes- that’s where the Agility Peak 4 comes in. This shoe was designed for excellent grip on rocks and even has a rock plate to protect your feet.
For fast racing on trails, the Long Sky 2 and Skyfire 2 (coming out later this year) are your best options. Both shoes have been tested and used by Merrell Trail Athletes in some of the most competitive trail races in the world so you can trust them for a speedy run.
Athlete Tip: Consider choosing a ½ size bigger than what you normally wear because feet swell slightly as you run. You can also make sure there’s a thumb’s width between your toe and the end of your shoe. The Moab Flight and Antora 3 also have wide versions if the toe box squeezes your feet too much.