Details
Brand
Merrell
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• TrailProtect pad• Protective toe cap• M Select Grip outsole• Merrell Unifly midsole• M Select FRESH Proactive deodorizer• Vegan• Reflective material
Upper
The upper of the shoe was designed to be durable since there are many potentially harmful and dangerous obstacles you can face on a trail run. The upper is made of a lightweight, breathable woven mesh instead of the overlaid thermoplastic polyurethane material, or TPU, which was found on the original Merrell All Out Crush.;The other instantly noticeable differences between models is the water drainage holes are absent on the Merrell All Out Crush Light. The tongue of the shoe is well padded and very comfortable, avoiding any pinching or irritation that a user might experience with any other material other than mesh. The upper has genuinely found a zen-like balance between comfort and padding that manages to avoid feeling overwhelmingly bulky.
Midsole
The midsole is where the Merrell All Out Crush Light is where this model had the greatest reduction in weight and resulting in the addition of the word “light” to the name of this particular shoe. Merrell specifically created the Unifly foam midsole to be a midsole that is an comfortable, but remains sturdy and stable at the same time.;The majority of trail running shoes come equipped with heavy protective rock plates for protecting a runner’s underfoot, but Merrell has decided to take the innovative route, introducing a TrailProtect plate in the midsole. The TrailProtect plate is lighter and offers a moderate level of protection. The midsole also offers ethylene vinyl acetate, or EVA, material to conform to the foot shape, giving a custom feel and fit versus just a flat footbed for your foot to rest in the shoe.
Outsole
Merrell has donned these trail running shoes with their M Select Grip, and at first glance, you become aware of the aggressive appearance. The outsole is extremely resistant to slipping on both dry and wet surfaces, making this particular mold of outsole one of Merrell’s best yet. The entire outsole is saturated with scattered 5-millimeter triangular lugs that were meant for treading through the roughest of terrains while still maintaining a good sense of grip for enhanced traction. The outsole’s heel section, as well as the outline of the outsole, has rectangular grooving for additional impact absorption and stability on uneven rough surfaces.;The overall design of the outsole maximizes grip while minimizing the risk of getting rocks and other debris from the trail caught in the grooves of your outsole, which may cause unnecessary irritation. One serious concern about the outsole was the overall durability factor. The outsole is almost flawless in design, but running on varying tough terrain type surfaces does create a perfect storm that makes the 5-millimeter lugs experience a good amount of wear and tears from extended use. The outsole was meant for all terrains, and while the outsole’s performance is amazing, the lugs aren’t immune to experiencing the effects of damage on tough terrain.
Breathability
The breathability on the Merrell All Out Crush Light is great, with the majority of credit going directly to the mesh upper. This model does very well with ventilation for your feet. The mesh material allows cool air to move and circulate inside to avoid any mishaps of overheating during a trail run. The breathable mesh is found almost entirely throughout the upper and even on the tongue of the shoe.
Comfort
The Merrell All Out Crush Light is a very comfortable shoe. The inner lining is made from soft, padded materials that keep your foot snug, but never choked. The EVA padding in the midsole makes for a comfortable, cushy ride while running in this shoe. The Unifly midsole keeps your foot well cushioned while, at the same time, ensures your foot isn’t overly cushioned to the point where support is compromised. The majority of the upper is wrapped in a mesh that makes sure things don’t become irritable inside. Merrell made sure that at the minimum you’d be able to enjoy a comfortable shoe while on a trail run.
Style
The Merrell All Out Crush Light is a shoe that does wonders aesthetically with minimalist design cues. If you were to imagine all the functionality and protection that comes from trail boots and fused them with a low profile sleek racer, the image in your head would look like the Merrell All Out Crush Light. Merrell obviously made style somewhat of a priority when crafting this shoe. The aggressive outsole makes a statement that can be seen from the side profile of the shoe, and as your eyes move up to the upper, the mixture of mesh and other materials compliment each other to make a very attractively appealing trail running shoe.
Durability
The overall durability of this shoe is very good. The upper does an amazing job of holding up under the number of harsh conditions it will experience over its lifespan. The only area where durability may present a problem is in the outsole and that will be subjectively determined by individual usage. The outsole has 5-millimeter lugs that may wear off faster than expected if these shoes are constantly put to the test under harsh conditions. Aside from that, the durability is positively rated.
Protection
The toe cap located in the forefront region of the shoe provides a great amount of protection for your toes. The protection is enhanced by Merrell’s on TrailProtect pad located in the midsole of the shoe. Trails can be loaded with surprises, but the Merrell All Out Crush Light works very well with keeping you covered in protection.
Responsiveness
Thanks to the Unifly foam material located in the midsole, the responsiveness of this shoe is nothing less than outstanding, especially with the addition of a TrailProtect pad built into the midsole for protection. The soft foam material in the midsole allows for your foot to feel everything underneath while still being protected by the padded TrailProtect pad inside. The outsole also aids in the protection of your underfoot but isn’t so thick that things become unreasonably unresponsive overall. The good amount of responsiveness was definitely good to see on this model of shoe.
Support
The support for the Merrell All Out Crush Light is primarily credited to an awesome Unifly foam found on the midsole. The foam is stiff enough to support the weight and joints of the user properly in order to avoid any unnecessary irritating side effects from wear. There is a great amount of cushioning, but not to the point where poor support becomes an issue.
Terrain
The intended terrain meant for the Merrell All Out Crush Light is the trail, which covers terrain from rock to dirt and everything in-between. You will never have to worry about slipping or losing traction on almost any surface. The tough built outsole offers the grip and stick you really need and appreciate from a trail running shoe.
Price
These shoes provided a serious amount of value at their introductory price and it was only enhanced by the price cut that you’re able to find these shoes at now. If you’re searching for tough trail running shoes that will last on tough terrain, the price for these shoes makes them truly a bargain.
Drop
The heel to toe drop on the Merrell All Out Crush Light sits at a low to the ground 6 millimeters. The shoe was meant to feel as close to barefoot running as possible, which is the primary reason Merrell chose to go with such a low to the ground drop height. The average running shoe drop height sits at around just over 10 millimeters, so you should be advised that you will need to get adjusted to a shoe with such a low drop height if you don’t already own a similarly sized shoe.
Stability
A good amount of stability can be found on the Merrell All Out Crush Light thanks to so many factors at play optimizing the overall stability experienced on this shoe. The stiff foam in the midsole along with the great hold in the midsection make this shoe a very stable option, ensuring that your foot won’t slide around during any of your runs.
Flexibility
The mesh material on the upper of the Merrell All Out Crush Light makes your foot feel free and flexible. The entire shoe is very sturdy, but not to the point where it affects your ability to move naturally. The mesh upper molds to your foot and flexes along with every movement. The separation of space between the 5-millimeter lugs on the outsole make this model very flexible during every run.
Traction
The M Select Grip that characterizes the outsole on the Merrell All Out Crush Light makes traction on almost any surfaces absolutely amazing. The soft, sand-type trails are tread through with 5-millimeter triangular lugs that work well for traction on loose and compact surfaces. If traction is a high priority for your search in a trail running shoe, any Merrell shoe offering with the label M Select Grip will guarantee a good amount of traction.
Bottom Line
The Merrell All Out Crush Light is a competitive neutral running style trail shoe that doesn’t disappoint. The M Select outsole is aggressive and really gets the job done when it comes to grip. Combine that with a very breathable, flexible upper and you have the makings of a fantastic trail shoe. The All Out Crush Light is a great option for neutral running style runners who want an adequate amount of protection for their feet on the trail.;These shoes are recommended highly for beginners who may be unsure which trail shoe may suit them best. The Merrell brand backs customers with quality craftsmanship that beginning trail runners may not experience from another company. The Unifly midsole provides support and comfort to only enhance the user experience. This model of shoe covers every fundamental basic necessity necessary to make it a very viable option to be a top selection when it comes to purchasing a trail running shoe.
