Details
Brand
Merrell
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
6.5/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Minimalist
Key Features
• Vibram Outsole• 6mm thick lugs• UniFly midsole platform• Removable footbed• 3D printable mesh• M-FRESH technology to help minimize sweat & odor• Water resistant• Provides aggressive grip and traction
Upper
The upper is composed of 3D printable mesh as well as woven fabric. The printable mesh material reduces weight on the shoe. It also contains a sophisticated ventilation in place. It allows for plenty of air to circulate through the interior of the shoe, helping keep your feet cool and dry. However, the shoe’s interior qualities and the upper’s construction also make for a warm and cozy shoe during colder conditions, making this shoe not only versatile on different types of terrain but also suitable in different types of climates.;The lacing system on the All Out Terra Trail provides for a snug and secure fit. A key highlight of the shoe is the sock liner which works not only as a comfort feature but a protective one as well.
Midsole
The midsole unit utilizes Merrell’s UniFly technology. The midsole is engineered to address one main component in mind — and that is to have a shoe that can capture the shock from impact and distribute it equally, like a series of waves dispersing over water. This way, shock absorption is not subjected to a single part of the runner’s body.;The midsole also contains a removable footbed which in itself serves as additional cushion and protection. In fact, the footbed contains a hard bottom which enhances the protective plate located on the forefoot. Therefore, you have double the protection when it comes to warding off hard/sharp objects.
Outsole
The All Out Terra Trail has a Vibram outsole, the brand that brought you the renowned Vibram FiveFingers shoes. It contains aggressive diamond-shaped lugs. Their unique shape makes them more adept at handling an array of different trail conditions. It also helps to make them more effective with grip and traction. The shoe can remain durable through loose dirt and other hazards. At the bottom of the forefoot, you will also find a protective rock plate to guard against hard fragments.
Breathability
Merrell put effort into designing a shoe that’s highly breathable. The upper consists of synthetic materials which include a blanket of mesh lining that allows a steady flow of air. The material is light, flexible, and aids in keeping your feet and toes cool, dry, and free from moisture. In addition to helping your feet stay dry, it also prevents any bacterial issues. This is thanks to the shoe’s M-Fresh technology which helps to minimize sweat and odor.
Comfort
This shoe is lauded for its overall comfort. It’s light, flexible, and breathable. The sock liner wraps around the ankle comfortably and provides a glove-like fit. However, the sock liner is not meant as a replacement for actual socks. We would still recommend wearing socks with these shoes as the built-in sock liner is intended for comfort and protection.;This upper doesn’t have a tongue, something which can be seen as a drawback, as most of us are used the feel of a padded surface covering the top of our foot. The lack of a tongue means that when you lace up, the shoe can feel like it digging into your skin.
Style
The All Out Terra Trail has several color options available: orange, bright green, yellow/black, blue/dragonfly, and bright yellow. It’s a mid-profile shoe that goes up to your ankle, thanks to its iconic sock liner feature. Though it goes up a little higher than your standard low profile shoe, the Terra Trail still looks like a shoe and not a hiking boot, thus maintaining its running shoe status.
Durability
The shoe maintains a reputable status when it comes to its durability, though some users have expressed concern over the resilience of the outsole. On the other hand, the sharp lugs on its surface serve as a protective guard by elevating it a safe distance from the ground. On the upper, the printed 3D mesh makes it more durable than standard stitched patterns which can break down faster. This is an important factor when running on rough, technical trails.
Protection
With trail shoes, much of them will be competing against each other in terms of what they have to offer with protection. The All Out Terra Trail is no exception to the rule. It offers protective features from its outsole to the upper unit. Starting with the bottom, the aggressive lugs in combination with the outsole’s grip and traction ensure you don’t lose your footing on the trail. The rock plate located underneath the forefoot protects against hard and sharp objects that guarantee you won’t find yourself in an ER waiting room. Toward the front, you have a wide toe cap to protect your precious toes. And as we’ve mentioned before, the sock liner, on top of it as a comfort feature, works as protection against flying debris that could penetrate the interior. This addresses a common problem with lower profile trail shoes in that their shorter stack heights expose you to more of the elements.
Responsiveness
As with a lot of trail shoes, responsiveness is not one of the main features that come to mind. The UniFly midsole was designed to be more of a stability and protective platform. The same goes for the outsole. Responsiveness will be about as average as you can expect from a trail shoe. On the other hand, just because it may not offer plush bounce doesn’t mean that you can’t be fast in this shoe. What it lacks in responsiveness is more than made up by its astounding flexibility.
Support
The UniFly midsole functions as the shoe’s main support and stability component. And with the help of the sock liner feature and the shoe’s mid-profile character, it provides for a considerable amount of lateral support. This is accomplished through the elevated sock liner and walls of the shoe keeping the entire foot centralized. In this way, it protects the foot from veering off too far in one direction.
Terrain
Terrain! In one word, that’s what the All Out Terra Trail has a voracious appetite for — and it doesn’t discriminate against what type of terrain you throw in its face. We are talking everything: rocky beaches, snow, mud, dirt, grass, branches, unstable ground, wet grounds, and so on, even icy surfaces. However, though it works great over most types of terrain, this is not a shoe that can be on and off road. The aggressive lugs make it less effective over a flat pavement.
Price
The range in price is pretty spread out, from the low $70s to the mid $100s. Pricing will depend on several factors like availability, color, and size. Since there is such a wide price range for the shoe, it would be highly advisable to do your due diligence when shopping around. Also, the fact that Merrell has newer lines of trail shoes in its inventory means that pricing on this particular shoe will be further discounted.
Drop
As indicated in the previous section, heel-height for this shoe measures 24 mm. Forefoot height measures 18 mm. There is a 6 mm drop. The measurements are the same for both the men and women’s version. It may not have the lowest drop, but it does rank significantly low. This means that it helps runners achieve a neutral landing and prevent heel striking.
Stability
Like support, stability is provided by the shoe’s UniFly midsole. One look at it and it’s evident that the thick platform with the rear portion is thicker than the front. Overall stack height on the shoe measures 24 mm. It’s not a minimalist shoe by any sense and you still remain higher off ground. This is great in consideration of the type of terrain that this shoe was developed for.
Flexibility
If you happen to purchase these shoes, we highly suggest bending, twisting, and contorting them in every direction possible in order to get an accurate portrayal of its impressive contortionist-like abilities. One of the most attractive features of this shoe is the combination of its flexibility, the sturdy outsole, and its sharp lugs. This provides a runner with plenty of confidence while having the peace of mind that there are protection and stability underneath you.
Traction
The diamond-shaped lugs on the outsole along with the rubber components on its surface make up the central components of the shoe’s traction abilities. This makes them tough and aggressive against any type of terrain and any type of debris that it comes across. As we’ve mentioned, the All Out Terra Trail will function effectively over ice, snow, mud, dirt, and much more. One look at the size of the lugs and you can see why any trail enthusiast would be excited to strap these on and take them for a spin.
Bottom Line
There is a lot to be excited about with the All Out Terra Trail. The name speaks for itself. It’s designed to take on a variety of terrain, and its construction demonstrates it’s ready for the challenge. It may get beaten, bruised, and battered, but it can surely prove that it will dominate over the trail.;The 6mm lugs make it suitable for treacherous terrain while other features like the built-in sock liner and rock plate offer protective elements to keep runners safe and secure. As trail runners, we don’t want to worry about sharp objects and debris, or anything else that can cause injury. We want to be sure that we can feel invincible over mother nature — not that we are, but you get the idea. The All Out Terra Trail is the type of shoe that gives us that kind of confidence and excitement.
