Details
Brand
Merrell
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
All Out Crush Light
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• TrailProtect protection plate• Liquid drainage holes for aquatic encounters• Unifly midsole• TPU material overlays• Toe cap protection• M Select Grip
Upper
The upper on the Merrell All Out Crush is primarily composed of a lightweight, breathable, flexible mesh material complemented by synthetic TPU overlaying materials. The thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, overlay adds an extra layer of protection for your foot. The upper is responsible for the overall sleek appearance of the shoe, while still possessing the functionality and flexibility that Merrell has promised to deliver with this model. Located on the sides of the upper are drainage slots that allow trapped water to escape without issue.
Midsole
Merrell’s in-house Unifly midsole has found another home in the All Out Crush model. The Unifly midsole is a dual foam technology that is firm and supportive while remaining soft and cushioned, which is especially helpful for longer endurance runs. The Unifly midsole is composed of two foam pads placed in the heel and forefront area that is then surrounded by a softer foam that ensures a comfortable ride.;The Merrell’s TrailProtect pad technology located in the midsole offers a decent amount of underfoot protection for everyday elements that you will encounter on the trail.
Outsole
Merrell has built an aggressively competitive shoe from the ground up. The outsole sports 5 millimeter triangular pointed grooved lugs that were designed for all types of terrain, from muddy, rocky, sand, gravel, dirt, pavement, and more. The entire outsole is made from a thick rubber that provides a high level of traction. The intended purpose for the outsole may have been to use competitively, but the performance translates well to the trails for recreational users.
Breathability
The upper on the Merrell All Out Crush is saturated in perforations, leaving little to speculate over when predicting the breathability performance. The combination of mesh and TPU on the upper provides protection while offering superior breathability. This model of shoe was crafted to compete, so breathability was high on the list of priorities to make sure your feet don’t overheat at all. The plentiful perforations assist in bringing in cool air to your foot.
Comfort
Comfort on this shoe comes in from all angles and areas. The upper has a flexible mesh that fits your foot like a glove, allowing less confinement and more movement and flexibility, and thus, an overall comfortable feel. The Unifly midsole does a great job of providing a solid material to stand on for stability while at the same utilizing a softer foam for comfort.
Style
Trail running and trail training sneakers are typically meant to be more functional than stylish, so it is refreshing to see such a fashionable, clean-looking shoe whose sole intended purpose of creation was meant to get down and dirty. Sleek, eye appealing aesthetics wrap around the entire upper of the shoe, similar and reminiscent of a low profile track shoe. This shoe possesses the stylish versatility to take a stroll with you on a casual outing or a challenging trail run.
Durability
The durability on the Merrell All Out Crush is debatable. The sole purpose of the shoe was to push everything to the limit, but the question is, does everything last overtime after being utilized to full capacity?;The upper on the shoe holds up very well, especially since it was tested against harsh elements most other running shoes would not be able to handle. The only minor issue with durability on the shoe was the outsole, which depending on the type of terrain the user would most encounter, would decide on how long the outsole’s life would be. The outsole’s performance was superb for grip and traction, but just like with any item being used to the maximum of its abilities, the wear and tear will be most noticeable on the outsole because of the amount of different and difficult terrain that it will encounter throughout its life.
Protection
The Merrell All Out Crush has a TrailProtect protection padded plate located in the midsole for an extra layer of added protection against the terrain. Things don’t just stop there as Merrell has decided to add synthetic thermoplastic polyurethane overlays on the upper as well as a toe cap to prevents any unnecessary injury. The combination of all of these materials makes the Merrell All Out Crush a good choice when considering protection as a high priority.
Responsiveness
The Merrell All Out Crush has a good amount of responsiveness, even more than expected with TrailProtect installed into the Unifly midsole. With this shoe, you’re able to get a good ground feel. The energy return is solid and creates a responsiveness that allows you to properly propel yourself in the desired direction.
Support
The Unifly midsole has a reputation that proceeds itself and is known to provide a sufficient amount of support. The midsole is very sturdy and capable of enduring the bulk of the load when supporting your arch and other joints over an extended period of time.
Terrain
The Merrell All Out Crush was designed to handle an abundance of terrain options, but more specifically trails. It’s possible to use these shoes on packed dirt, loose dirt, mud, gravel of all kinds, and more. These shoes shine on multiple terrains thanks to an aggressive all-terrain outsole.
Price
The price point for the Merrell All Out Crush is very fair with initial manufacturer retail pricing floating at the $100 mark. The price for these shoes has dropped since their debut and can be found for even less, making the value and desire to pick these sneakers up even more appealing.
Drop
The idea behind the Merrell All Out Crush was to create a shoe that was low profile, light, agile, and fast, so the 6-millimeter drop that Unify has supports the overall ideology of mimicking a barefoot running feel.
Stability
Thanks to the Unifly foam material located on the midsole, stability isn’t an issue. The denser, stiffer foam found in the midsole will keep your foot secure and stabilized. The shoe has a sufficient amount of lockdown in the midsection making the possibility of your foot sliding around while running virtually non-existent.
Flexibility
The Merrell All Out Crush is very flexible whether it intended to be or not. The perforated mesh material is very flexible while the TPU overlays provide structure. The combination of the materials makes the Merrell All Out Crush very sturdy but also very flexible at the same time. The amount of separation of the 5-millimeter lugs found on the outsole allows for even more flexibility.
Traction
The 5-millimeter triangular lugs scattered on the outsole provide a reliable amount of traction that’s needed for the trails. From soft sand to gritty gravel, the lugs on the outsole provide solid traction. The outsole is inherently aggressive by nature, able to handle a lot more than most outsoles in its competitive trail category. Merrell displays how important possessing the capability of good traction is to them as a company by crafting an outsole that knows almost no limits and can run over virtually any surface.
Bottom Line
Are you in the market for a competitive trail running shoe that will carry you across a variety of terrain? The Merrell All Out Crush has heart, soul, and much more when it comes to delivering on promises implied with its design. There are many shoes that are meant for multiple purposes and even though battling muddy terrains seems to be a very specific specialty for a shoe, this shoe doesn’t fall short or fall apart when you need them to handle a heavy load.;The Merrell All Out Crush is a viable candidate to consider when in need of selecting a shoe that does well for trail training or obstacles competition courses. Most importantly, these shoes were designed for neutral runners, so if your run style doesn’t require any additional aid, definitely consider these shoes for your next trail run.
