We've been tearing down the trails in the Long Sky 2 Matryx shoes lately and found ourselves highly impressed with their grip, weight and stability and we're not the only ones – these won the . An evolution of the , which we tested back in 2022, these are lighter and stronger, and boast even more impressive traction, placing Merrell firmly in the conversation when it comes to trail shoes for elite runners. In terms of weight, the Long Sky 2 Matryx shave nearly a third off their predecessors, which is nothing to scoff at when your days are long.
The word "Matryx" refers to the upper, which is built using thin synthetic threads to create a single layer that the company says "is lightweight, with better breathability and abrasion resistance." As advertised, we could feel a cool breeze on our feet during hot runs and so far the uppers are holding up to rocky, technical trails and protecting our toes while they're at it. The real magic of these shoes lies in what's happening underfoot, however.
These shoes look quite a bit like the , which we tested last summer and found left a lot of midsole exposed to save weight and had us concerned about durability, but we were relieved to turn them over and see a good covering of Megagrip rubber. When we got them out on steep, rocky trails covered in dust and crumbly stuff, we were amazed at the grip we got. Meanwhile, the FloatPro Foam midsole has great flex for an easy roll-through and gives excellent trail feel when you're moving fast on.
