Merrell Trail Running Shoes 2024: Five Models Worth Knowing About

Introduction

Merrell continues to fly a little under the radar in the trail running community, despite a track record of shoes that regularly land on best-of lists at price points that undercut much of the competition. The 2024 lineup shown ahead of the season doubles down on that identity: a mix of lightweight racing shoes, a genuinely accessible road-to-trail option, and a waterproof model with Boa dial closure.

Here are the five models worth knowing about, along with what each one is built to do.

Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matrix

The Long Sky 2 Matrix is a 0.5 update of one of the least well-known trail shoes in the lineup, the MTL Long Sky 2, which was already a strong performer. The retrofit adds a Matrix material upper and a TPE sock liner that changes the ride in a meaningful way. Because the Matrix upper removes a number of pattern pieces, the shoe is lighter, faster drying, and more dynamic overall than the already capable original.

Runners who loved the original will find the ride only slightly changed but the overall feel noticeably lighter. If you want proven TrailTack-style grip and a stripped-down upper at a price well below the typical cost of shoes with this kind of material package, this one stands out.

At $160, it undercuts much of the competition, since shoes with similar Matrix-style uppers often start around $220 to $240.

Merrell Skyfire 2

The Skyfire 2 is the speedier sibling in the same pack of shoes. It runs a 25 mm heel to 19 mm forefoot stack, which keeps the profile low and quick for faster trail days. The outsole is Vibram Mega Grip with 5 mm lugs, a combination best described as grip it and rip it: point it down a trail and trust the traction.

That pairing of a Matrix-style upper with a full Mega Grip compound at $160 is a genuine value in a market where comparable feature sets routinely cost more.

For runners who want one shoe for faster running on mixed trails without paying a premium, the Skyfire 2 is the straightforward pick.

Merrell MTL Long Sky 2

The MTL Long Sky 2 itself also gains the Matrix upper in this update, plus 37.5 thermoregulating material in the collar and tongue lining. It does not get the TPE sock liner, but it dries impressively fast: when fully submerged in water, the previous version took around 26 hours to dry, and this one finishes in under 24 hours from soaked to completely dry.

This is Merrell’s mountain racing shoe, described as something like a track spike for the mountain. Built around input from vertical kilometer and skyrunning athletes, the philosophy is stripping weight away. It is reportedly among the lightest trail shoes in its class, and unlike true racing flats it still handles rugged up and downhill terrain.

At $210 it is one of the pricier models here, but the two-part midsole and full-length plate with dynamic rocker justify it for race-day use. Think of it as a specialist: a shoe you might use a handful of times but keep reaching for over the next five years.

Merrell More Flight

Not every runner in this lineup is chasing podiums. The More Flight targets the beginning trail space: the road runner who wants to try trail for the first time, or who runs trails only occasionally. At $100, it gives up some traction and underfoot technology compared with the performance models but keeps the FloatPro midsole ride found in Merrell’s best shoes, and it uses the same last as the Agility Peak and Skyfire, so the fit should feel familiar.

The geometry and lighter lug depth make it feel lighter underfoot than the performance models, and the lug spacing lets the midsole act more on its own. It is styled more like a road shoe, which suits its role.

There is a nice symmetry here: road brands keep making trail shoes and calling them road to trail, so Merrell, as a trail brand, made a road-leaning shoe and called it road to trail from the other direction. For anyone wanting one shoe that can do a bit of everything, this is the accessible entry point.

Merrell Agility Peak Boa GTX

The most demand-driven model in the group is the Agility Peak Boa GTX, arriving for spring 2024. Merrell has worked with Boa for years on the hiking and performance side, and this shoe builds that dial closure system around the brand’s best-selling trail model. It is available in a Gore-Tex version, with a standard Boa dial providing solid lockdown.

The specs put it firmly in the mainline trail space, competing alongside shoes like the Speedgoat and Cascadia. It has a full-length Vibram Mega Grip outsole with 5 mm lugs and a traction lugged design, plus a FloatPro midsole at a 31 mm heel to 25 mm forefoot full stack, not counting the sock liner. A fully engineered upper with a mud guard wraps all the way around the shoe.

The practical payoff shows up in wet conditions: during testing, the shoe picked up surprisingly little water when submerged while running, and combined with the Gore-Tex build it is described as very bombproof from a waterproofing perspective.

Pricing runs across three variants: the Vent at $140, the traditional Gore-Tex at $170, and the Boa Gore-Tex at $190.

Buying Advice

Choosing between these five comes down to how and where you run. If you want a do-everything fast trail shoe at a strong price, the Skyfire 2 and Long Sky 2 Matrix both deliver premium materials without the premium price tag. If mountain racing is your goal and weight is everything, the MTL Long Sky 2 is the specialist tool. New to trail running, or after one versatile shoe that splits the difference between road and trail? The $100 More Flight is the easiest entry point in the group. And if you run in wet weather and value quick, secure fit adjustments, the Agility Peak Boa GTX is built precisely for that.

Conclusion

Merrell’s 2024 trail lineup covers an unusually wide spread of runner needs, from a $100 road-to-trail hybrid to a stripped-down mountain racer, all with grip and midsole technology that consistently punches above the price. Whether you are lining up for a vertical kilometer or just trying your first trail loop, there is a model here aimed squarely at you.