Merrell Men's Agility Peak 4 Boat Shoe

Product Information

TAYLOR : I feel it appropriate to pop the bubbly in honor of Merrell. We’ve received four models of trail shoes from the brand recently and they’re batting 1.000. The Agility Peak 4 is well prepared for going long distances over rough terrain. You’ll find it to be a little heavier (11.6 ounces for a Men’s 10.5), moderately stable, and more fortified than their recent MTL Long Sky . The design options might be minimal, with three basic colours, but they all look decent, and the finish is great both for the trail and for roads too. The higher cushioning of the sole might be too much for some runners but for anyone that wants ultimate longer-term comfort, this is a shoe that delivers very well indeed. Merrell is perhaps better known for its hiking boots than its trail running shoes, although it has been making the latter for a while. We haven’t tested any of the previous Agility Peak models so don’t have a point of comparison but in its own right this performed well on the feet of our team of trail runners and came out with an average score of 3.8/5, with a few details stopping it from marking higher. In short, there’s much to like about it and with some care and attention paid to the next update, this could be an excellent shoe. The clue is not in the name

We’d say the Merrells have a bit more cushioning. They’re a tad lighter too, which is always advantageous.MATT : There were a few things I didn’t love about the shoe. The FloatPro midsole provides a stable and secure ride but sometimes feels too stiff. While I didn’t expect a lot of bounce, on some stretches the shoe just felt flat. This would concern me more knowing that it’s built for long distances, and I could feel my legs taking a pounding towards the tail end of my longer efforts.

Underneath needs a whole lot less explanation: Vibram MegaGrip + Deep multidirectional chevron lugs = Optimal grip for any surface. If you’re thinking that the Agility Peak 4 GTX traits suggest it’s not the speediest shoe ever, you’d be right. Something like Saucony’s Endorphin Edge is better in that department. We’d recommend the Merrell for slower runs, or when you’re exploring a new trail and unsure what lies ahead. You can even use them for fast hiking if you wanted to.

TAYLOR : By now it should be pretty well spelled out what this shoe is good for – the rough and tumble. If you’re looking for a really sturdy pair of trail shoes, I’d say yes. They have a great price tag too. They look good, so I wear them for walks as well as running. Plus, the Eco Dye version is impressively eco-friendly. Where can I buy them? MATT : Out of the box the Agility Peak 4 is a head-turner. With its bold contrasting colors and aggressive look, I fielded a number of comments about the shoe from interested runners before even logging a mile. In terms of value, we think the Agility Peak 4 GTX is decent. There are marginally cheaper alternatives such as our current favourite waterproof trail running shoes, the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX. But for the comfort and robustness on offer, the Agility Peak 4 GTX sits at a reasonable price point. Verdict