Name: Merrell Agility Peak 4
Brand: Merrell
Price: 130 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 76 (51 reviews)

Verdict from 11 experts and 40 user reviews

7 reasons to buy

Protection: The Agility Peak 4's rock plate, reinforced toe section, and thick upper do their jobs "excellently." Trail runners claim that they never felt any poking, brushing, nor banging on their feet.
Ride: It's protective without losing ground feel.
Traction: Experts took the shoe to wet, dry, and technical trails, and bit all of it well.
Fit: The upper fits "like a glove" and molds into the contours of the foot, reported several testers. It's "precise" without being constrictive.
Comfort: The shoe has a Hoka-like cushion, plus a plush upper. According to wearers, the shoe is very pleasing to the foot, it feels like wearing slippers.
Lightness: Despite its bulky appearance, the shoe runs light.
Gusseted tongue: It helps with the shoe's overall lockdown and keeps small rocks from entering.

5 reasons not to buy

Not responsive: It's anything but agile. It's not fast and is not suitable for runners looking for a nimble shoe.
Lace bite: Because there's minimal padding on the tongue, high-arched runners have reported that when cinching down the laces, they "cause pressure" on the tops of the feet.
Heel slippage: The low-cut rear doesn't clutch the heel too well.
Hot: The tradeoff for the upper's protective quality is its lack of ventilation. It seems to be a common issue among Merrell shoes.
Difficult entry: Even though the shoe has a heel strap, the narrow opening and the gusseted tongue just make it hard to squeeze your foot in.

Bottom line

The Merrell Agility Peak 4 is a trail shoe that's a solid good at everything but excels at nothing. If you're a runner and you're unsure what lies ahead in the trails, this is where the shoe hits home. A letdown of this shoe, however, is that it's not fast. So, for the nimble fell runners, you might want to pick something else. But if you want the same versatility with a softer ride, you might want to consider the Merrell Rubato.

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Table of contents Best Prices CoreScore Verdict Comparison Merrell Agility Peak 4: Run all terrain with protection Who and what is it for?Merrell Agility Peak 4 vs. 3 Facts / Specs Popularity Video reviews

Overview

Merrell Agility Peak 4: Run all terrain with protection

There are three elements of the Agility Peak 4 that make it such a versatile and protective shoe: (1) copious amount of cushion, (2) rock plate, and (3) grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole. Combined altogether, they help mute out impact shock and keep the foot well-shielded from harsh ground elements.

And to make the Agility Peak a true multi-terrain trail shoe, it's made with a very clingy outsole. Throw just about anything at it, and it can handle it with ease.

Who and what is it for?

Since the Agility Peak 4 has a lot of cushion, it's suited for beginner to intermediate trail runners, heavy runners, and can even accommodate ultrarunners. It may tackle a lot of surfaces, but it also has its limitations. To find out, read on.

Activities:

Mountain running
Trail running
Trail walking/hiking

Distances: Middle to long distance

Surfaces:

Rough and rocky terrain
Mountains
Woodland trails
Steep, technical terrain

Conditions: Wet and dry

NOT for:

Steep, muddy terrain
Long, flat trails
Wet rock

Merrell Agility Peak 4 vs. 3

Lighter, more protective ride: This is owed to the more featherweight but more abundant FloatPro foam of the shoe. It cradles the foot and absorbs impact effectively without adding any bulk.

Better grip: With an updated Vibram Megagrip outsole, the shoe has better traction than its precursor, and can handle more terrain.

More protection: Designed with a rock plate, the shoe keeps the foot safe from any abrasive and sharp ground elements.

Enhanced lockdown: With a new tongue design (gusseted/attached to the sides), the heel and midfoot are made more secure.

Facts / Specs

Terrain:	Trail
Weight:	Men 10.8oz / Women 10.2oz
Drop:	6mm
Arch support:	Neutral
Pronation:	Neutral Pronation / Supination / Underpronation
Arch type:	High arch

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Author

Jens Jakob Andersen

Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running.

Merrell Agility Peak 4