The Agility Peak 4 GTX is vegan and has 100% recycled laces and footbed cover. Merrell is part of a larger conglomerate called Wolverine Worldwide, and it would be fair to say there is room for improvement on the sustainability front. The heel might be lower than some, but Merrell has made that work for the shoe with a superb roll. It also combines well with the responsive midsole to give a sturdy build that can be taken anywhere, even on steeper slopes, without discomfort. Merrell is perhaps better known for its hiking boots than its trail running shoes, although it has been making the latter for a while. We haven’t tested any of the previous Agility Peak models so don’t have a point of comparison but in its own right this performed well on the feet of our team of trail runners and came out with an average score of 3.8/5, with a few details stopping it from marking higher. In short, there’s much to like about it and with some care and attention paid to the next update, this could be an excellent shoe. The clue is not in the name MATT : Out of the box the Agility Peak 4 is a head-turner. With its bold contrasting colors and aggressive look, I fielded a number of comments about the shoe from interested runners before even logging a mile.

Durability and ruggedness should be no issues either. You will get your money’s worth out of these. Shop Agility Peak 4 – Men Shop Agility Peak 4 – Women The Bad The biggest issue I had with the Agility Peak 4 was the heel cup. With the mid and forefoot being about as secure as comfortably possible, the heel had some issues keeping up. On steeper uphills – which happen to be included in my everyday runs – my heel would slip. Slip. Slip. Slip. Slip. Slip. And you know what they say about slipping, right? It’s about as annoying as a hormonal bullfrog during a full moon. Okay, nobody says that. But that’s about how I felt.MATT : There is a lot to like about the Merrell Agility Peak 4. While the shoe has its flaws, I think it’s a case of using a tool for what it was designed to do. For the Agility Peak 4, that’s shredding gnarly terrain and making you feel like the king/queen of the mountains. The Hoka One One Challenger ATR 5 GTX (retailer link) is a waterproof, comfortable and durable trail running shoe, the ideal choice for runners who appreciate functionality over looks. Not saying the Challenger ATR 5 GTX is an ugly shoe, but its main appeal is not aesthetics for sure, it will more likely win you over with just how great it feels to run in it. Guaranteed. MATT : There were a few things I didn’t love about the shoe. The FloatPro midsole provides a stable and secure ride but sometimes feels too stiff. While I didn’t expect a lot of bounce, on some stretches the shoe just felt flat. This would concern me more knowing that it’s built for long distances, and I could feel my legs taking a pounding towards the tail end of my longer efforts.

In terms of value, we think the Agility Peak 4 GTX is decent. There are marginally cheaper alternatives such as our current favourite waterproof trail running shoes, the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX. But for the comfort and robustness on offer, the Agility Peak 4 GTX sits at a reasonable price point. Verdict We’d say the Merrells have a bit more cushioning. They’re a tad lighter too, which is always advantageous.TAYLOR : By now it should be pretty well spelled out what this shoe is good for – the rough and tumble. Underneath needs a whole lot less explanation: Vibram MegaGrip + Deep multidirectional chevron lugs = Optimal grip for any surface. The design options might be minimal, with three basic colours, but they all look decent, and the finish is great both for the trail and for roads too. The higher cushioning of the sole might be too much for some runners but for anyone that wants ultimate longer-term comfort, this is a shoe that delivers very well indeed. If you’re looking for a really sturdy pair of trail shoes, I’d say yes. They have a great price tag too. They look good, so I wear them for walks as well as running. Plus, the Eco Dye version is impressively eco-friendly. Where can I buy them?