Merrell - MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx

For ridge terrain as pictured? Merrell long sky matryx. Apart from some La Sportiva shoes, nothing else is quite as confidence instilling on similar terrain, I think Merrell has the more accomodating toe box and dialed fit. Really under the radar in terms of a technical goat.

Another vote for the long sky

Peba is radical but I find anything over 25mm of stack to be uncomfortable as the foams are too soft and for whatever reason it strains my arch on long runs. So I’ll train in a night stack shoe but then when I’m on my feet 3+ hours I’ll use a fairly minimal trail shoe. The merrell long sky 2 Matryx is amazing, minimal upper and great foam under foot.

Yea it’s weird, I wear barefoot shoes for work and I’m on my feet all day so I think my feet are just used to feeling a firmer floor. I love the norda 001 feel but it’s a touch too wide for my skinny feet to feel very secure.

Where they bend the upper definitely gets less stiff but I wouldn’t say it stretches. You may want to try and manipulate that area just to be more compliant. I’m with you and wish more shoes didn’t taper like that against the big toe. I can’t get comfortable ina shoe that’s cramped like that on my toes. For long runs I prefer Merrell’s long sky 2 matryx, I’ve put nearly 12 hours of running on those and my feet were fine. The non matryx version is a better fit but the upper is shit and rips fairly easy.

Long sky shoe is my go to for everything. Amazing feel and grip, fit is great with a comfortable toe box. The matryx version is the way to go as the upper on the regular version, while extra super breathable and amazing at draining water, is pretty fragile around rocks. Matryx also breaths and drains well too.

I literally went up a ridge in the Rockies with them two weeks ago. It was wet and muddy and steep and they felt good and reliable. Only issue would be how thin they are for colder temps. Great for summer, should be suitable for fall.

Wondering what you would consider to be "short"? I've been happy with the LS2 Matryx on technical vert-filled races up to 18 miles and am debating whether to use it for 26 or try something else...

Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. I use them for everything from [the Catskills](https://escarpmenttrail.com/bs/?thiswillhurt=9168) to the Hudson Highlands to the boulder fields of central Pennsylvania. I had a pair of the non-Matryx ones, and the upper shredded quickly. But the Matryx version has held up remarkably.

I always champion the Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx, and since you're coming from Merrell's, maybe they're worth checking out. Not high stack, with moderate drop (4mm). I use them for technical trail running in the NE and have easily taken them up what have been called Class 3 scrambles. Vibram MegaGrip and easy to run in.

I like the Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx for being agile and fast over anything technical, from rocky singletrack accents and descents, to scrambling hand over foot on slabs. Also took me through snow and ice covered boulder fields. 5mm lugs on the Vibram outsole are grippy. The upper on the non-Matryx version was prone to ripping prematurely but the Kevlar Matryx version has held up remarkably.

What type of trails do you run on? La Sportiva Prodigios tend to be well-liked in my neck of the rocky woods, and I love my Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx, but neither may be appropriate if you're running over smooth trails with your Ultraflys.

As always it’s very personal depending on how well the shoe fits my feet and the terrain I’m running in (technical mountains, mud, rocky). I like sky running races around 20-30k and VK’s. Sometimes short road races from 5k to Half Marathon. Current rotation: - Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. Great allrounder. - VJ Ultra 3. Cushion. Great for easy and long runs. - NNormal Kjerag Brut (mud) - Salomon Aero Glide 3 (road and treadmill) Recently retired shoes: - Nnormal Kjerag 1. Fast but too small lugs to have good grip in mud/loose debris. Too little cushion for me. Kjerag 2 has more cushion but same outsole. - Nnormal Tomir 2. Great allrounder but didn’t fit my feet (too little big toe space). A bit heavy when wet because the insole keeps a lot of water. - Salomon S/lab Genesis. Great allrounder but worse grip on wet rocks than Vibram Megagrip and VJ. - VJ Maxx 2. Really good allrounder. But didn’t fit my feet (too little big toe space). Shoes I’m considering next: - La Sportiva Prodigio Pro - Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx - Merrell Skyfire 2 Matryx

I have it in UK 9 which is my usual size. If you’re familiar with Salomon sizing, I also wear UK 9 in their shoes. Same for the VJ Ultra 3. On me the Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx has a nice lockdown around the midfoot with extra toe space. Exactly how I like it for my narrow feet and big toe. A couple of things worth noting about the LS2 Matryx: - There can be a bit of space between the ankle collar and the foot which can let in small debris. I don’t use gaiters but I’ve seen some use it in areas with lots of loose dirt or stones. A knit collar here could really take the shoe to the next level. - I’ve seen people mention that the heel could use a bit more cushioning, but I haven’t had that issue personally. Overall I’m very happy with the LS2 Matryx for the terrain it’s designed for. Would give it a 4 to 4.5 out of 5. A knit collar would take it to 5/5.

It depends on the trail itself. If there is any wet surfaces I go with a Vibram MegaGrip option. For me, Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. If no wet surfaces I go for comfort which is the Saucony Endorphin Rift. Either way, it has a rock plate for any technical trails with jagged rocks.

The Vibram is nice for sure. I can tell a big difference between the Vibram and Saucony’s soles which are most of my other trail shoes. I’d get them not hesitate. I’d certainly buy another pair and I have about 130 miles on mine with a 50k race on them. Most of the miles are long runs of 10+ miles and zero issues. I agree with others comments on sizing as well.

I have the long sky 2 matryx and unless its an absolute bog the megagrip 5mm lugs are ridiculously good. Been using them over wet seaweed and they still somehow work

I have them and basically rock climbed in them. They should handle the scramble really well. Som people dont like the heel cup but ive had no issues at all. Taken them to 30km with no bother.

Im 6ft about 190lbs and can see a 50km maybe working in them but much longer would probably be a bit harsh. But theres people running ultras in leather sandles so maybe im just not getting hard enough.

Ive got the prodigios and for anything bar really soggy ground they are great. Noticeably more confidence inspiring than the tecton X3 that i also use. If they dont grip it’s probably so rough underfoot that nothing will bounce. Maybe the coast to coast t1 but im not sure of the lugs. If its a bog fest ive found the matryx in merrel longsky keeps my feet good and has a nice pop, but is low stack if there is sections of road. Im unfamiliar with the brecons 100.

Adidas Agravic 3's tend to go no sale quite often. That's a solid trail shoe. Brooks Divide is also a solid budget option - cheap to begin with and they also go on sale. Keep an eye out for Merrell sales too - Long Sky 2 Matryx is great, but the regular non-Matryx version is also good, and cheaper.

Adidas Agravic 3's tend to go no sale quite often. That's a solid trail shoe. Brooks Divide is also a solid budget option - cheap to begin with and they also go on sale. Keep an eye out for Merrell sales too - Long Sky 2 Matryx is great, but the regular non-Matryx version is also good, and cheaper.

Agravic 3 and Brooks Divide are. The Merrell models are narrower.

That's absolutely a great pick - low to the ground which sounds like what you like, and no plate interference. It's an extremely flexible shoe. At that price point, very much worth it. The ankle collar is a bit loose, so I find debris gets in - you might have to rig up a gaiter if that's an issue for you. Other potential options for that terrain: Norvan LD 4, Salomon S/LAB Genesis or S/LAB Pulsar 4. I also really like the Sky 2 from TNF - it does have a plate but it's very flexible. About as much cushion/protection underfoot as the LS 2 Matryx, but a noticeably wider forefoot.

The best ones I had for me were Long Sky 2 Matryx and Catamount 3. I don't do well with too much height or too much cushion.

Merrell agility peak 5 for the long and long sky 2 matryx for the short. These are the truncheon carrying moustachio'd men of trail running

Ran 18 hours at the Ouray 50 in em just the other day! 22k of steep, techy, muddy climbing and descending. Perfect tool for the job. My favorite shoe right now. Recommended.

I’ll second the Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx! I like being closer to the ground on more technical terrain and the 19.5/23.5mm stack with 5mm vibram megagrip is - chef’s kiss. Love running in them too but I do love a low stack/flexible shoe. TPU insole that it comes with is a sweet little understated addition. Only qualm is debris gets in the heel rather easily, good candidate for having a gaiter if the terrain calls for it. A lot of people say they fit true to size but they run a bit long and I feel like I could’ve gone down a half size - though for longer days… maybe they’re just right (which I’ve got a pair of Skyfire 2 Matryx I found for a song coming this week a half size down so it’ll be interesting to see which fit better).

Nice! Yeah I’m also in the Long Sky 2 Matryx, but I just didn’t want to type all that out 😂. Couldn’t agree more with all your points. I’m gonna have to look up that Gran Trail Courmayeur, those numbers sound right up my alley! You use a gaiter with them for mountain ultras?

Obviously having weak ankles is the biggest factor for risk of rolling the ankle. Suggest you see a physio to learn and practice the exercises to specifically strength your ankles and improve one-foot balance. Then, from a shoes perspective, the risk of rolling the ankle is usually increased by a combination of insufficient sole grip, too narrow spread of lug placement design, and too high stack height. For sole rubber I would suggest Vibram Megagrip or better. Lug and grip placement under the shoe should be as wide as possible for max shoe stability. Stack height should be kept to minimum. Suggested shoes: - La Sportiva Bushido III. La Sportiva grip is well regarded as equal or better than Vibram Megagrip. Low stack height, and broad lug placement (they even protrude beyond the perimeter of the sole!) makes this a very stable shoe. - Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. Vibram Megagrip sole. Low stack height. Again, lug placement is good as they go right out to the perimeter of the sole.

I’ll second the Long Sky 2 Matryx with one caveat- the mid foot is a little tight for me. I wish they would offer a wide version. Otherwise it’s an almost perfect shoe for technical terrain. It drains/vents/dries better than any shoe I’ve ever used so works for me in the rain as well running technical si gel track in Western NC.

I have 71 miles so far on my first pair-100% running technical single track. They are my favorite shoes I’ve used so far. Light, responsive, grippy, breathable, fast drying and comfortable. Kind of surprisingly comfortable actually. The single layer Mayryx is awesome. I previously used Norda 002s primarily but the Long Skys better all around for what I do. The only thing I would change would be to add a tiny bit of width in the forefoot. I also feel like they run just shy of 1/2 size long. Almost wish I sized down but the toe box is really nice on my current ones. I actually ordered a second pair on sale as well. I don’t do much scrambling but given the running performance I’d think they would work great for your purpose. The grip is great on rock, a few of the local trails have quit a bit of exposed rock. And people definitely run ultras in them. Diego Pazos wore them for a second place finish at Hardrock 100 in 2024.

Nnormal Kjerags and Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx.

Did I write this? It looks like exactly what I was going to write. I've taken mine up to 100k, and it was a technical slow 100k, I don't think I'd have any problem running 100M in them.

I don't know if the Dynafit Ultra 100 has changed in the last couple years. I had a pair 3 years ago, they had the Pomoca outsole. Most of my shoes are pretty minimal, I love Nnormal Kjerags and Merrell Long Sky. The Dynafit felt heavy and unstable to me. I sized up 1/2 size (US), it was still very low volume for the toes. It was a pretty comfortable shoe, but too heavy and slow for smooth trails, too thick and unstable for technical trails.

Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. I like the Nnormal Kjerags too but the LS2 is a great show for long days on rocky trails with some scrambling and some fast running.

You (and probably the OP also) should really take a look at the Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx. For me they've been more comfortable and lighter than the Bushido, and more durable and better grip than the Peregrine.

Standard disclaimer that this depends a lot on how a shoe fits your foot and how much cushioning you need. Right now I'd pick the Merrell mtl Long Sky Matryx. They fit me well, have enough protection for rocky technical terrain, great grip and durability, and they're light. I wore them for a very technical 100k in the summer (that took almost 24 hours) and my feet were still happy in them at the finish. No ankle rolls, no slipping despite a lot of steep descending on wet rock. And the shoes are still in great shape. I tried Nnormal Kjerags on a rocky 100 miler in 2023, I love that shoe but my feet were really sore by the last 15-20 miles. For a less rocky race I'd absolutely wear them again. Also last summer I ran Plain 100 in the Hoka Tecton X2. They were pretty good, the cushioning helped my feet and my running late in the race, but there were some points where I really wanted the nimbleness of the Long Sky.

The LS2 isn't very stiff, it's definitely less of a slab of foam than the Agility Peak.

Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx. Similar fit and aggressive outsole, similar ride in my opinion (no rocker, not very bouncy, mid amount of cushion, no high arch support). Should outlast 2 or 3 pairs of Peregrines. This is my experience, not just what I've read- the shoes are going strong after several hundred rocky miles in the alps and the Cascades.

Nnormal Kjerags, Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx, Salomon Genesis, VJ shoes, Norda 001. La Sportiva Bushido if your feet fit and can handle all day in them. I was never that impressed by the Akasha's grip, and they were heavier than anything mentioned above.

Yeah agree- I tried to cover most of the shoes I'd consider for long technical runs, but to me the Long Sky 2 is the best of the bunch, a great shoe from 5 to 100 miles, grippy, and durable. I just bought my 3rd pair, 2nd of the Matryx. The non Matryx version tore apart after a couple hundred rocky and brushy miles, but the Matryx version is still going strong after around 500 miles.

The Long Sky 2 Matryx are the ones I have. I ran Gran Trail Courmayeur in them (100k, 23,000' of climbing) last year, and a 42 mile with 15k a couple weeks ago, plus plenty of shorter days. I think there a great balance of stable, low to the ground, with enough protection for sharp rocks and still light and flexible enough to feel good running smooth trail.

I'm looking for my first pair for a 10k race coming up and this sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. Plus it's on sale right now for $112. Do you have any thoughts on the long sky 2 matryx vs the agility peak 5?

Thanks for that. I did a bit more research and already pulled the trigger on the LS2. With it being on sale for $112 plus a 20% military discount and free shipping, it made the decision even easier.

I don’t run super technical trial (not a lot of rocks) but I do run in a lot of mud and rooty South East Texas trails and the Long Skys have been great. I’m a big Altra LP fan for hiking/walking and these feel similar to me.

After trying a few different shoes, I've decided that Merrell Long Sky 2 and Skyfire 2 are perfect for me. Fairly firm, don't have a massive drop and grippy enough for all but the worst weather conditions. I also have some Inov-8 x-talon 212 which come in handy when it's wet and muddy. I don't think they make them anymore, very narrow shoe but I've run varying distances up to 32km in them with no problems.

I've got around 450km on mine, used them for runs up to 40km with no issues when I was training for an ultra earlier this year. The grip is still good on them and I've found them super comfortable but I noticed some tears on the upper last week. Planning to keep them until they fall apart and would buy another pair, no doubt. I have the skyfire 2 as well, also a fan.

The Speegoat 6 in wide didn't help me any, but going up a half size did. Might be worth trying a pair like that on. But it's still not perfect for me, and I plan to try the Merrell Agility Peak next, because their MTL Long Sky 2 fits me so well, with a generous footbox (but the Long Sky's a much different shoe).

I haven't tried any of those, but did try an earlier Peregrine (10 maybe), and didn't like it. Too "dead" and heavy for my liking. But the newer versions are better from what I've read. It could be worth a try, given how popular they are. I do have all three of the Salomons I mentioned, but also have and like the Merrell Long Sky 2 and their Agility Peak, which I'm wearing more these days because they have a wider toe box.

Compared to Speedgoat 5 and Merrell Agility Peak 5, similar but far far more durable. Also had the Merrell Long Sky 2, which were lighter and speedier than Tomir 2, but all 3 died and my Tomirs have done the same mileage and look brand new

I had these last year, I imagine they’ll be excellent on the described trail. I completed the mid section of UTS and they were great - grip is great. They are low stack compared to others but still comfortable - wore them for 6+ hours multiple times. Only problem I had was durability of the upper, if you can get the matryx upper I’d recommend them

Hi all, I've had a terrible experience in my first ultra (75 km 5000 d+) with Altra shoes. They simply collapsed on the inside and never recover. https://preview.redd.it/mflrnlm1rfbf1.jpg?width=1152&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e18a39ec839e5eb20c81bd5ba29f790a90feb3e I'd like to find an alternative, if possible with arch support, zero drop, wide toebox. I'm also using the Merrell Long Sky 2 which I'm quite satisfied, but they don't have wide toebox and have a light drop. Do you have any alternative suggestion?

Summertime, I like to wear my non-waterproof shoes so they are cooler and more breathable. Just got some Merrell MTL Long Sky 2’s and they’re decent for both traction and lightness. Got a pair of Adidas Terrex for the cold and wet courses. And Merrell Moab’s for dry cold places.

I have used Merrell long sky and Salomon Genesis for door to trail. Love both. Merrell agility peak 5 was great for that too. If the run is predominantly road with a little bit of buffed easy trail I’ve also used puma velocity nitro and forever run.

I use Merrell Long Sky for shorter excursions (the lack of padding really hurts). For longer excursions I use Salomon Genesis. Genesis is officially my favorite shoes right now and I have a back up pair (both purchased at 50% off).

Over the years I’ve worn trail runners from Merrill and Salomon, or standard running shoes from Nike and NB. A comfortable fit was the main criteria. Even on wet ground I’d rather have fast drying sneakers than boots.

I actually have those Merrels in blue. I love them.

I wouldn't know haha. I have some wide feet and have no problems. About 100 miles of trails and they look like they are brand new besides mud stains.

Merril trail runners, i love them