Merrell Agility Peak 5 Review
Jace Jackson
I’ll start this review with an admission: Merrell has never been on my radar as an option for running shoes; instead, the brand has always evoked a mental image of their popular Moab boot – a favorite earth-toned day hiker among my parents’ generation. That all changed when I met the Merrell Agility Peak 5. This shoe is creating quite a buzz in the trail running world – and for a good reason.
I have been on the quest for the perfect shoe for an ultramarathon I am running later this year, and while there are many trail runners I love for different reasons, they all come with their own tradeoffs. The Merrell Agility Peak 5 came completely out of left field and, frankly, has caught me by surprise. This shoe seems to have an answer for each of my nitpicks with other trail shoes, while still maintaining my favorite qualities of each shoe (perfect stack height, midsole with the right combination of comfort and energy return, rock plate, Vibram Megagrip outsole, and gaiter compatibility – to name a few). At the risk of sounding cliché, it really seems to be a combination of all my favorite trail running shoes to date.
Worth noting, I am not affiliated with Merrell in any way and did not receive compensation for this review. I purchased these out of my own pocket and was so impressed I couldn’t not review them.
Fit and Sizing
I found these to fit true to size, if not a touch on the large side. For reference, I wear a US 12.5 in Hoka, Saucony, and Altra, but these Agility Peak 5s seem to work just fine for me in a 12 (as of this review, Merrell does not offer this shoe in a 12.5).
The toe box provides plenty of room for my foot (which is just on the wide side of average) without feeling sloppy. Merrell has nailed the Goldilocks toe box! I ran 5+ miles in muddy, wet conditions right out of the box and didn’t get a hint of a blister or hot spot.
I did experience some slight heel lift right out of the box, but this was remedied by lacing with a heel lock and letting the midsoles break in for a few miles.
Upper
The upper is an engineered mesh that offers a secure yet comfortable hug for my foot. Many trail shoes these days use a stretchy mesh that sacrifices lockdown in the name of comfort (looking at you, Speedgoat 5); But the Agility Peak 5 seems to strike the perfect balance.
There are thoughtfully placed TPU overlays to add protection in particularly abrasion prone areas. I appreciate the full rand-style overlay (similar placement to what you would find on an approach shoe, only much lighter). This not only adds protection on technical trails, but should help prevent blowouts around the ball of the foot – a reason many trail shoes meet an early demise.
The heel collar has quite a bit of padding that felt a bit clunky at first, but it is actually quite comfortable and serves to lock the heel in place nicely.
Caption: Well-padded heel collar
This shoe also features a Velcro gaiter trap and D-Ring (similar to those found on most Altra models), which many will appreciate.
Caption: The Velcro gaiter trap will be a welcomed feature for many
My favorite feature of the upper is the sock-fit tongue and the lacing eyelets that are farther apart than most. This tongue and lacing system feels similar to the La Sportiva Bushido II (as opposed to the Speedgoat 5s where I have to pull the laces so tightly the eyelets are almost touching).
Midsole
I am picky about midsoles. While I have been a long-time fan of the Hoka Speedgoats, I find the midsoles break down too quickly and end up feeling marshmallow-y, resulting in a stride that feels like trying to bike with a flat tire. They are comfortable, no doubt, but the energy return leaves something to be desired.
This is where the Agility Peak 5 really shines. They offer a generous amount of FloatPro midsole (31 mm in the heel, 25 mm in the forefoot, 6 mm drop), which is noticeably more supportive and firm than many other maximalist trail shoes. Not only should this bode well for longevity, but I much prefer the energy return and “bounce” of this midsole.
The midsole feels sprightly and fun to run in, while providing just the right amount of underfoot protection for technical terrain – even for heavier-footed, less delicate runners like me. Despite the firmer midsole, I do not feel isolated from the trail.
Outsole
The Vibram MegaGrip outsole is nothing short of fantastic. The 5mm lugs are strategically placed in a way that grips well when needed without adding unnecessary resistance. In sloppy conditions, they grip nearly as well as the reigning king of mud running – the Salomon Speedcross 5 – only with less resistance on groomed trails and hardpack. The full rock plate adds a layer of protection without compromising flex and trail feel. I’m not sure what Merrell’s secret sauce is here, but they have nailed it.
Caption: A closer look at the 5mm Vibram Megagrip lugs and rock plate
Caption: The well-designed lug pattern sheds mud exceptionally well
Comparisons
What initially caught my eye about this shoe is that it is reminiscent of my all-time favorite trail shoe, the Hoka Speedgoat 3 (RIP). If it’s not already obvious, I have a bone to pick with how the Speedgoats have digressed since the third iteration – particularly with the upper material and lockdown.
It appears that Merrell has stepped in and answered the call. With a similar stack height, Vibram outsole, and nearly identical weight (10.58 oz for Merrell, 10.3 for Hoka) the Agility Peak 5 is giving the Speedgoat some serious competition. It offers many similar features, plus some (rock plate, gaiter compatibility) – all at a similar weight and a lower price? Sounds like a winner to me.
Caption: The Agility Peak 5 shines in sloppy conditions
Room for improvements?
I’m really having to nitpick in order to find any areas for improvement on this shoe. The full rand-style overlay does cause this shoe to drain water slightly slower than shoes without. This could potentially be an issue for those running in exceptionally wet conditions (but for those runners, Merrell does offer this shoe in a Gore-Tex version). For me and my style of running, I would rather trade some drainage for the extra protection.
I would also love to see Merrell offer this shoe in a US Men’s 12.5 so I could size up a half size for longer runs and races – but I recognize that this is a problem that is unique to me and my size.
Conclusion
With an MSRP of $140, the Merrell Agility Peak 5 is punching way above its weight. It offers features and technologies similar to other shoes in the $155-$180 range. And given that discount codes for Merrell are often easy to obtain, there is no reason this shoe shouldn’t be at the very top of the list for those considering a new trail shoe. This trail chameleon will be equally at home whether you are doing easy miles, faster efforts, or ultramarathons. I could also see this shoe gaining popularity with the thru hiking crowd due to its durability, light weight, bigger toe box, and gaiter compatibility. Color me surprised – these are far from your dad’s earth-toned day hikers.
Jace Jackson
Jace is a third-generation Coloradan, raised in the foothills of Evergreen. He fell in love with the outdoors at a young age, summiting his first 14er at 9 years old. Since then, he’s become a 14er Finisher, having stood atop all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers. He studied business at the University of Denver, where he was an All-American Rugby player.
He lives to play in the mountains with his wife, Taylor, and their super-mutt Samson. You can find them (usually together) playing on Colorado’s high peaks… Backpacking, mountaineering, snowboarding (split and solid), trail running, and mountain biking — these are a few of their favorite things.
He has an affinity for high-quality gear, but he’s not afraid to use it and is notorious for testing his equipment to its fullest potential.
Leave a Reply