Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Trail Running Shoes

The MTL Skyfire 2 is the lightest and fastest elite trail running shoe Merrell has ever made, coming in at 198g. Featuring Merrell's FlexPlate to support agility, speed, and provide underfoot protection, this is a first-of-its-kind shoe in the trail running market. The plate sits between two layers of FloatPro Foam, the brand's most responsive midsole foam for underfoot comfort while the engineered mesh and TPU upper breathes to keep your feet cool. Underfoot, we crafted a custom Vibram MegaGrip outsole that minimizes weight while maximizing traction. The MTL Skyfire 2 was built for Merrell's elite athletes to blaze up mountain trails. Now it's your turn. These shoes are built from the Merrell Test Lab, their elite product advancement incubator. All MTL shoes are rigorously tested and validated by Merrell athletes and meet their highest bar for elite performance capabilities.

Breathable Engineered Mesh and TPU Upper

Surrounding the upper of the shoe is a breathable mesh, which will allow a steady flow of air in and out of it for exceptional breathability. This will also allow moisture from sweat to escape easily, keeping you in a dry and comfortable environment. The upper is made from a mixture of mesh and TPU, which will provide breathability and protection. This makes the material tear-resistant, resisting damage from strong forces placed against it. As well as this, the inner mesh lining is extremely breathable and ventilated. Surrounding vulnerable areas of the feet like the toes and the heel, the material thickens which will absorb shocks to prevent them from reaching you and causing damage. A moulded TPU heel counter will add stability, giving you confidence in your stride. A traditional lacing system will allow you to find a personalised and secure fit while an elastic lace keeper keeps the ends out of the way. The soft and padded tongue will reduce the risk of irritation being caused by rubbing and chafing. A microfibre lining will provide next-to-skin comfort.

Dual Density FloatPro Foam Midsole

Within the midsole Merrell's signature FloatPro Foam has been used to ensure a light, durable ride. The midsole ensures ample underfoot cushioning to reduce the impact placed upon the feet on tough trails whilst remaining as lightweight as possible so you'll never feel weighed down. The lightweight midsole offers supreme cushioning and support to key areas like the arch and heel, holding the foot securely in place for a smoother transition and wear. By supporting these key areas of the foot, the midsole material can also help to offer enough support to help prevent discomfort and possible injury. As well as this, Merrell's lightweight FlexPlate technology provides torsional rigidity and Cleansport NXT treatment offers natural odour control. Completing the midsole is a non-removable EVA foam footbed that offers better cushioning, durability and increased breathability underfoot. The soft insole cushions your feet over long distances and increases ventilation to keep you cool when temperatures rise.

Vibram Megagrip

Developed using a Vibram Megagrip outsole, the MTL Skyfire 2 provides extreme grip and traction for all surface wear. Developed for extremely slippery terrain, the extremely durable rubber can form a solid bond with the ground to anchor you in place. Despite facing abuse from rough ground, the rubber stands up against this, deflecting the blows and retaining a strong shape and structure. Ensuring multi-directional grip, the outsole provides traction on uneven terrain to give you confident footing on a wide variety of surfaces. The durable rubber provides a strong grip on the most challenging terrain; it works to protect itself from damage and protect users from losing control and slipping. For added protection from the trail underfoot, a BZM-8 engineered rock plate offers increased performance and protection. Completing the outsole are the 5mm lugs that dig deep into the ground when braking or changing direction. The deep lugs are able to anchor the foot into the wet and muddy ground, securing you into place whilst also forming a solid base to push off from.

Review

Read our review of the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 HERE

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