Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx Review
Merrell sent me a pair of the MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx after the GET FKT promo earlier this year.
No strings attached, no “say something nice” deal, they didn’t even ask me to write about them. But I thought I would anyway, since that’s what all the cool runfluencers do, right?
Attempted to clean the mud off for the photos. Big fan of the colourway.
First Impressions
If Fast & Furious made a trail shoe, this would be it. They’re light, loud, and look like they just rolled out of a Le Mans pit lane. When I slipped these puppies on, my feet peed a little, looked up and whispered,
“Are you sure these are for us?”
I took them for one short 7k spin, then immediately tossed them into the Tararua Mountain Race: nearly eight hours of terrain designed by Satan’s landscaper. More than a couple of pairs of shoes have been left in the bin at Otaki Forks. They went from red and green to brown inside 60 seconds, but the shoes held up remarkably well to the variety of conditions.
Performance
I love the ground feel of these shoes. I had complete confidence in them on the technical rocky descents down from Mt. Hector and Field Hut.
The only real issue was some rubbing on one heel. The midsole held up fine for the whole day, but to be fair, the first half was more hiking than hammering. If you’re doing eight hours of pure running, you’ll probably want more cushion for the pushin’.
Durability
The Matryx upper is tougher than Goggins’ scrotum💪.
Zero stretch, no hotspots, and after 250k the only issue is a scuff near the toe rubber. If you’re familiar with the NNormal range of shoes, it’s the same type of upper.
This is the only spot with a slight issue. A touch of glue and it will be all sorted.
Grip
They cut through mud like a pig on crack, grip wet roots and rocks with ease, and on descents give me full confidence the weak link isn’t the shoe, it’s my strength training. They’re also stupid light, the kind of light that makes me feel faster than I am (which is equal parts exhilarating and embarrassing).
The grip is holding up well; I haven’t had any moments where it’s let me down.
Cons
It’s not all second base on the first date. The heel cup is one of these new, fancy, hollowed-out styles with a bit of cushion at the top, which caused some rubbing. Not a deal breaker, a bit of tape sorted it. I also had to bust out the skux heel-lock lacing setup for that 2020 lockdown feel.
The heel cup required some negotiation, but we eventually became friends.
Also, I’m still trying to figure out what this bit on the laces is for. It seems to be the appendix of the shoe.
Not sure what this is, it isn’t part of the laces. Must be something Elite runners use that I have no business knowing about
Verdict
If you want a shoe that lets everyone know you're there to throw elbows, this is it.
This is not your Sunday shuffle shoe, it screams:
“I’m here to f*ck shit up”
🎯 Who Will Love This Shoe
✅ Runners chasing a fast, lightweight, race-day feel.
✅ Technical terrain lovers who daydream about roots, rocks, and ankle-breaking descents.
✅ Runners who are sick of expensive shoes blowing out the sides the first time a rock stares at them the wrong way.
✅ People who like to feel faster than they are.
🎯 Who Won’t
❌ Sunday shuffle specialists, these shoes come programmed with bad intentions.
❌ Cushion lovers who want plush comfort all day long.
Final Score: 4/5
The Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx is a highly durable grip monster, a lightweight rocket, and a shoe that rewards aggression over Zone 2.
Not perfect, but damn fun to run in.
A++ would accept as free shoes again😂.