MTL Adapt Matryx Trail Running Shoe - Men's
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MTL Adapt Matryx Trail Running Shoe powers through gravel and pavement with responsive cushion and Kevlar®-reinforced durability
What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:
"This shoe is a rocket on gravel. The Matryx® upper is crazy light but super tough—I don’t worry about wear and tear, and the FloatPro™ midsole has that perfect combo of cushion and energy return. Great lockdown, great grip, and it holds up over the long haul."
We run longer and push harder in the MTL Adapt Matryx® Trail Running Shoe, a purpose-built gravel and road shoe that blends ultralight construction with unmatched durability. The Kevlar®-reinforced Matryx® upper offers incredible abrasion resistance and breathability, keeping us cool and protected on mixed surfaces and high-mileage days.
Underfoot, a FloatPro™ foam midsole delivers soft landings with responsive rebounds, helping us stay light on our feet even when the miles start stacking. From early morning runs to endurance pushes, the Vibram® MegaGrip outsole ensures traction when we hit gravel, wet pavement, or hard-packed dirt. Elastic lace keepers, reflective accents, and abrasion-ready overlays seal the deal on this precision-engineered trainer.
Details
- Gravel and road running shoe built for speed, endurance, and durability
- Matryx® upper combines Kevlar® and polyamide for ultralight abrasion resistance
- FloatPro™ midsole offers cushioned rebound and long-distance comfort
- Vibram® MegaGrip outsole ensures traction on pavement and gravel
- 100% recycled laces, breathable mesh lining, and PU footbed
- 3D print and TPU overlays reinforce high-wear zones
- Elastic lace keeper and reflective hits for visibility and secure fit
- Ideal for mixed-terrain runs, long training days, and race conditions
- Item #MERZ2ZP
- Responsible Collection
- Recycled/Rpeurposed
- Upper Material
- Matryx (high-tenacity nylon, Kevlar)
- Lining
- synthetic mesh
- Closure
- lace (100% recycled)
- Footbed
- PU (5% recycled)
- Midsole
- FLOATPRO (EVA)
- Sole
- Vibram MegaGrip (rubber)
- Cushion
- maximum
- Heel / Forefoot Height
- 36mm / 30mm
- Drop
- 6mm
- Claimed Weight
- 1lb 4.3oz
- Manufacturer Warranty
- limited 1 year
- Activity
- trail running, road running
Reviews
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Overall Rating
4.5 based on 10 ratings
Review Summary
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageAugust 31, 2025
Second, long term review. Shoe rocks!
I need to eat a bit of humble pie. In my first review I complained about the upper being the weak link of this shoe. While I still feel there could be a bit of improvement with the shoes lockdown, and the laces included are atrocious, I’ll say that after about 200 miles in the shoe, with new and better laces, the shoe is amazing. The midsole and grip are practically the same as when the shoe was new, and the upper shoes very little signs of wear. Honestly, Merrell has done really good things with this shoe and it has remained a workhorse in my rotation. A bit of frustration in the beginning has blossomed into one of my favorite shoes currently.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
August 29, 2025
Fantastic Ultra Shoe
All the comments on the laces crack me up, as I think they are fine. Distilling this to key points. Grip 4/5, Technical Terrain Ability 3/5 (Stack height does provide some instability, not a scrambling shoe), Comfort 5/5 Upper is gold in terms of comfort over long miles, Durability 4/5 thus far ~160 Miles only notable wear is on exposed outsole, performance 4/5 - not quite Sportiva Prodigio Max, but it rolls along very nicely and I feel is more comfortable for ultra distance and is my pick for over 100K distance. Looks, 3/5 not super keen on the Michelin man outsole but it's not as bad on foot as isolated photos.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
July 3, 2025
Superior comfort
Another amazing shoe from Merrell. Quality construction and design. Excellent grip on all terrains and very comfortable- highly recommended.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
June 11, 2025
Great midsole/outsole, majorly lacking upper.
Three stars from the midsole down, maybe 1-2 stars for the rest. I’ve got about 150 miles in this shoe and am extremely conflicted. The midsole and outsole are the best. Just as good if not better than any other shoe on the market. Durable, grippy, etc. The upper though, that’s where I’ve been let down. I was concerned about the ankle lock down after trying the Agility Peak 5 last year, but decided to take a chance with these. While the heel lockdown is improved, the rest of the upper just gets sloppy. The laces that come with the shoes are awful, and loosen up after just a few miles, and the general low profile of the upper makes the shoe super sketchy (and probably encourages the loosening) in technical terrain. I’m surprised that with this much stack, they’ve chosen to have such a low profile and generally unsupportive upper. I’m no shoe designer but I’d imagine that as the stack gets higher, the upper needs to be designed appropriately to combat the extra forces it will be subject to given the height of the shoe. High school physics right? For a shoe that feels so good underfoot, and one that is advertised as being capable on technical mountain trail, I find this aspect really disappointing. It’s great on moderate to easy trail, but as soon as things get steep and technical, all I can think while I’m running is how my feet are just sliding around inside the floppy uppers. I’ve tried everything from different socks, different laces, and over tightening the laces, but I’m still left with a less than ideal fit, that gets sloppier as my run goes on. It’s a really disappointing and frustrating feeling. The shoes look (yes that counts!), midsole, and outsole are top notch. Just please Merrell, redesign the upper to work with the higher stack-especially if you’re marketing this shoe as one that can tackle the trail when things get hairy. Initially I felt this shoe was a bargain given how durable it is, but if I don’t like the way it feels on my feet during my runs, I’m really not going to be tempted to get the full life cycle out of this shoe. If your runs generally take you on flat, non-technical trail, this shoe is a home run. But if, like me, you prefer to be in the mountains and tackle whatever terrain is in front of you, you might reconsider and wait for an update. Bummed that a shoe I looked so forward to, and one that seemed to be a quiver killer, just doesn’t live up to what I thought it would.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
June 8, 2025
Best trail shoe I've used
Was already a fan of the Agility Peak 5 -- I have two pairs -- and had eagerly awaited these since I began seeing early reviews. They're fantastic. The fit is true to size, similar to the Agility Peak 5, and are perfect for my feet. Some reviewers have complained of some looseness in the heel collar, as with the Agility Peak 5, but I haven't had any trouble. Fits like a glove (and perhaps a little roomier in the toe box than the Agility Peak, which is welcome). They're more cushioned than the Agility Peaks but they still feel really agile on technical terrain, despite all that foam. (The Brooks Caldera 7, in contrast, feels wildly unresponsive to me.) I did 27k on the Camí de Cavalls, which is an incredibly demanding, technical trail, just a week after receiving them, and they were a dream to run in. They're also great on gravel. Another reviewer mentioned the fluid transition from heel strike to toe off, and I agree, the energy return is great. Just a really fun, pleasurable shoe all around. My only two complaints: I wish the laces were a tiny bit longer, and the tongue occasionally shifts and scrunches a tiny bit, but not in any way that's ever caused me any discomfort. Incredible shoe, I really hope Merrell keeps this model going.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
May 27, 2025
Love the MTL Adapt
Wow! I just amazed by the fit! It fits like a glove on my feet! Cushy but stable! I love them
Originally reviewed on Merrell
May 17, 2025
❤️LOVE❤️ the new MTL Adapt Matryx!
Thank you Team Merrell for making the MTL Adapt Matryx. Great cushioning & a roomier toe box than the Agility Peak 5. Took me from Grand Canyon R2R with zero distractions.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
May 9, 2025
My feet are very pleased!
I have owned many trail running shoes but this is my favorite!The combination of fit,stability and grip for me is a winner.It easily accommodates my pair of orthotics.The foot strike for me is different from the others as it seems an easier transition from heel strike to toe off.Energy return is excellent.I took them out on my favorite local trial network here on Whippoorwill Road in a pouring rain over rocks,streams and mud.Never felt this stable and secure before.I’m looking forward to using them more!
Originally reviewed on Merrell
May 9, 2025
Lookin' Good
Not as cushy as they appear to be. Tha's OK with me 'cause I bought these purely for how they look.They look exactly like the picture (damned good). My only complaint is that the logo is barely visable due to its color. I'm someone who likes for people to see what I'm wearing.
Originally reviewed on Merrell
May 7, 2025
Extreme comfort!
I bought these shoes about a month ago, and the comfort is incredible. Obviously great for trail running, but also a solid pick for everyday walking! The thick cushion base is phenomenal. You will not regret purchasing these!
Originally reviewed on Merrell
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