This post is sponsored by Merrell. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’ve been trail running for a while now and running in Merrell trail shoes for the last year or so. I love being out on the trails and I love trying new shoes that can adapt to all sorts of trail conditions.
Same is boring. It is the inherent celebration that says that the experience of the new is what makes us grow. It’s also an invitation to try something new, both on the trail and with Merrell.
The Merrell MTL (Merrell Test Lab) Collection has 3 different shoes in the collection. I received a pair of the MTL Long Sky 2 shoes to test and share with you all.
The MTL Long Sky 2 features include:
– Mesh & TPU Upper
– 100% recycled laces
– Gaiter D-Ring
– 100% recycled tongue webbing
– 100% recycled TPU reinforcements
– Breathable mesh lining
– EVA foam insole with 100% recycled top sheet
– Rock plate for Protection
– Float Pro Foam™ midsole for a lightweight ride that lasts
– Vibram MegaGrip for best combination of traction and durability on wet or dry surfaces.
– They weigh 9.45oz per shoe
– Vegan Friendly
– 23.5-19.5mm stack-height for a 4mm drop
– 5mm lugs
The Long Sky 2 that I received retail for $140 and come in two colors. Tangerine like mine and Black & White
These shoes are built from the Merrell Test Lab, Merrell’s product advancement incubator. All MTL shoes are rigorously tested and validated by Merrell athletes and meet our highest bar for elite performance capabilities. (From the Merrell website).
I’ve been running in the MTL Long Sky 2 for a few weeks now and I love that they are super versatile on different trail conditions. My local San Diego trails don’t get much water this time of year but we do have a lot of different types of trails, from trails that are full of big moving rocks to others that are lots of tiny slippery rocks.
With the Vibram MegaGrip, I felt super secure on all the trails and wasn’t slipping and sliding like I have with other shoes.
I got my normal running shoe size and felt that they fit well, not overly big or small and my toes felt like they had enough space to splay nicely. The overall fit was great – no issues around the heel/achilles.
I did feel like they were a bit firmer than the Moab Flight that I was previously running in but not in a bad way, it’s most likely somewhat due to the rock plate in the Long Sky 2 that is not in the Moab Flight.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a gaiter option on the shoes too. I’ve noticed that some other brands don’t have them and when you are going long on trails, gaiters are definitely a must have.
Overall, I was really impressed with the Long Sky 2 and I’ll be using them for my upcoming trail adventures.
Want to try Merrell Long Sky 2? Head over to Merrell’s website and check them out.
