41 in Trail Running Shoes
Merrell - Agility Peak 5 BOA® GORE-TEX®
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 15, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
20
6
"Merrell agility peak 5 for the long ... After that the AP5 caresses my foot like a horse looking at an apple."
"no blisters or foot issues"
"excellent max cushioned trail shoe"
22
1
"AP5 works great for nearly all the course."
"aggressive Vibram Megagrip outsole"
"They are excellent in the mud, plenty of grip."
18
2
"AP5 works great for nearly all the course."
"wet rocks lots of technical terrain. ... every other bit of terrain, very grippy"
"Nakababa ako sa Litalit Trail ng KXC na mabilis at walang kaba ... 80° descent yun na combinations ng rocks, mud, at paved paths na malumot. Binagyo pa kami nun kaya doble ang dulas at putik"
6
0
"the price you can get the AP5 (always on sale) for is great value."
"If you want the best combo of affordability and durability, my vote goes to Merrell Agility Peak 5. ... A rugged shoe that can be snagged for much cheaper than Hokas."
"can get killer deals on them. ... I got house of dragon ones for under 60 I think lol"
13
2
"I did 75 miles across the Sierras in those last summer; still using them. Holding up well."
"About 100 miles of trails and they look like they are brand new besides mud stains."
"I’ve had no problems with mine on over 500+ Km."
Disliked most:
2
5
"the sole was extremely stiff ... I like flexibility in the forefoot"
"the soles are very stiff. No flexibility. ... I ordered a pair of the ap5 online and returned them because of the stiff sole, I prefer flexibility in the forefoot."
"I wouldn't want to do an ultra in the Agility Peak due to the firmness"
2
4
"the sole was extremely stiff ... I like flexibility in the forefoot"
"the soles are very stiff. No flexibility. ... I ordered a pair of the ap5 online and returned them because of the stiff sole, I prefer flexibility in the forefoot."
"I thought they were too firm for my liking."
2
3
"Absolutely shit on wet rock - like running on verglas"
"a little less grippy on bare stone than I’d expect"
"Outsole works great, but are better options for wet rock. ... I prefer Asics trabucos for this type of terrain, closer to the ground, more grip o wet rock and not soft."
0
3
"Really wish they would work on their uppers though. Hard to get a good heel lock if your foot is on the narrower side."
"a little bit of a loose heel."
"I have to really work the laces to get my heel locked in well"
batmanjerkins 1.0Agreed here. Coincidentally wearing my AP5 BOA in the office right now. I’ve been really happy with my agility peaks and depending on where you’re based, the Merrell website has been running discounts.
Happy_Tashy 0.5Merrel Agility Peak 5 GTX - is a great max-cushioned trail shoe, nice and light with Goretex for wet conditions
Try the Merrel Agility Peak 5 GTX - excellent max cushioned trail shoe with goretex
Try the Merrel Agility Peak 5 GTX - excellent max cushioned trail shoe with goretex
higzbosom 0.5I have the gore tex model and use them for shorter trail runs when it's wet / muddy. They are great for my conditions on moderately technical trails, the grip is excellent. They would be nice for more casual wear and hikes as well. What I don't like: - The mid foot is a bit narrow for me which squeezes a bit and causes some arch pain. They are very slowly breaking in a bit or maybe my feet are adapting. For that reason I likely won't buy them again. - The laces suck. They're like hiking boot laces and don't lock down very well. They're also just a bit too short for me.
Rahshaka 0.5I have 2 pairs of these, one Gore-tex and one not and I went TTS on both. I have pretty wide feet though.
Sci3nceMan 0.5I am very, very pleased with my AP5. Got mine on clearance at breatheoutdoors for dirt cheap ($100CAN). Their characteristics make them an ideal winter running shoe… the best feature is the design is more robust, and yes, the sole is a bit firmer than other shoes, but that makes them excellent for supporting my Kahtoola microspikes without collapsing, and keeps the Kahtoola front rubber strap from crushing my toes. That they are a bit heavier doesn’t make much difference when I have spikes strapped on anyway. The AP5 upper is more robust, which provides a bit more insulation from the cold. And I LOVE the metal gaiter clip in the front which seems to be disappearing from many other shoes. I’ll use a lighter shoe for summer running, but AP5 is my winter shoe going forward.
The AP5 is my winter shoe. I like that forefoot is a bit stiffer than my other shoes, so when I strap on Kahtoola spikes, the forefoot doesn’t collapse from the Kahtoola elastic and squish my toes. The upper is a bit more robust as well, providing a bit more insulation from the cold.
Yes, but expensive. If you want the best combo of affordability and durability, my vote goes to Merrell Agility Peak 5. A rugged shoe that can be snagged for much cheaper than Hokas.
I run in Northern Alberta, so many months of winter running. Besides runners, I’d highly recommend spikes - I strap my on after the first snowfall and they stay on for the duration of winter. If it’s a lot of deep snow and ice underneath you’re dealing with, you want something like [Kahtoola Microspikes](https://kahtoola.com/traction/microspikes-footwear-traction). As for shoes, I switch to a more robust shoe with stiffer soles in the winter. That’s so I get a bit more insulation, and the soles will support the spikes (soft sole shoes with thin uppers will just get squished by the elastic from the spikes, crushing your toes and cutting off circulation). My winter shoe is the [Merrell Agility Peak](https://www.merrell.com/CA/en_CA/agility-peak-5/58229M.html) - tough shoe with decent insulation.
Merrell Agility Peak 5 with Kahtoola Microspikes
My winter shoes are [Agility Peak 5](https://www.merrell.com/CA/en_CA/agility-peak-5-gore-tex/58253M.html?dwvar_58253M_color=J068701#cgid=agility-peak-5&start=1). The upper is more robust than other shoes, providing some insulation. They have aggressive lugs for digging into snow and ice. I also like that the sole is firm, so it doesn’t collapse when I attach my spikes. The GoreTex model I linked to is waterproof. Very durable, I’m starting my second season with mine and they still look great.
Verdantvive 0.5Merrell Agility Peak have a GoreTex version with built in gaiters.
Ah, sorry then. It’s a solid shoe!
Very comfortable and on sale! If you buy them from Merrell online use the promo code Extra40. I bought mine for $60.
Yeah_hmmmm 0.5Love my Merrell agility peak 5 gore-tex for snowy, muddy, nasty days, gore-tex keeps my feet pretty dry
pathlessplaces75 0.5I have both the Merrells and the Speedgoats (I live in the PNW so both are Goretex) and of the two I prefer the Speedgoat. The Merrells feel clunky, stiff, and heavy compared to the Hoka. The Speedgoats are light but sturdy, and so comfortable. They also have great traction.
deliriumcaffeinum 0.5Not similar necessarily, but as someone who loved the SG5s and was sorely disappointed by the 6s, I'm really enjoyed the Salomon Genesis. I also tried the Merrell AP5s and while they did feel very good they wound up giving me foot pain, probably from a slightly off fit
michelgoulche 0.5The AP5 is a really great shoes. The durability is ok but it's not like a Norda or a NNormal. I am on my 4th pair. I had problem with ripped eyelets. So I asked a cobler to put metals eyelets in my new pairs. Merrell send me a new free pair regarding this matter. I found that there is a breaking period. So I wear them casually for a week prior to run in them. Also I find that they killed it with the colors, they are absolutely beautiful. The brown and purple are the best looking shoes I ever had !
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