ATRA team member Sarah Barber reviews the Merrell ProMorph running shoe. Product was provided at no charge for the test and review.
Recently, I found myself frantically cramming items into a roller bag in order to avoid giving the airlines my hard-earned cash just to haul—and potentially lose—my actual luggage. Because it was summertime travel, I didn’t have to worry about packing bulky layers for warmth, but ask me how many pairs of shoes I took. Five.
You’d think I was traveling to a trail race or a training camp, right? But no, this was work-related travel for less than a full week, and of those five pairs of shoes I brought, three were for running. One pair for a hoped-for track workout. One pair in case I could find some trails. One pair for the concrete jungle surrounding my hotel. The dressy flip-flops were for the office and the pool, and the practical slip-ons were for walking through airports.
Most women who are fond of shoes couple that affection with a knack for fashion and professional style. I, however, am not most women. As such, my packing experience was a colossal challenge compared to what other shoe fetishists must face; unlike loafers and heels, running shoes take up a lot of room in a carry-on. Had it been winter, I’d have had to forgo sweaters and fleece in favor of an arsenal of shoes—running shoes, that is—for every occasion.
Versatility in footwear
Although I’ve historically been skeptical of a shoe that claims to be as proficient on pavement as it is on dirt, I believe in evolving technology, and I’ve been ready to find that Jack-of-all-trades…even if it is a master of none.
Merrell is a company that’s perhaps best known for its flagship hiking boots and trail running shoes. In fact, a quick perusal of their website confirms that while you might find sandals with rugged capability, road running shoes are not part of their output. But their newly released ProMorph is a hint at Merrell’s capacity to diversify.
All terrain from Merrell
Normally when we hear “all terrain,” we think of sand and rocks and roots and turf, but the ProMorph advertises its all-terrain competency with an eye toward seamless road-to-trail-and-back-again aptitude. To me, the concept is even more straightforward than that: it’s a matter of no checked baggage!
Admittedly, my expectations for the Merrell ProMorph were far from stratospheric. I wouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight, so I certainly wouldn’t wear a Nike Streakfly for anything other than a track or smooth pavement. But, could the ProMorph handle a variety of surfaces well enough to make room for more clothing in my roller bag? Time to find out.
Lightweight and responsive
For starters, the ProMorph is lightweight compared to its trail-focused cousins, likely because its cousins have built-up outsoles for grip and stability. However, the ubiquitous Vibram outsole on these kicks provide more than enough grip for all but the most rugged off-road environments. The FloatPro Foam midsole is stiff and responsive, offering support rather than squoosh, which is just what I like. More than anything else, though, I noticed the pronounced rocker shape of the sole offering the kind of propulsion that made me feel awkward until I was warmed up and rolling. And once I was rolling, it was game-on!
Terrain changes put to the test
In one run, I transitioned from sidewalk, to asphalt, to pea gravel, to dirt, to grass, and then all of that in reverse without ever wishing I had a different tool in my toolbox. The abrupt terrain changes were no match for this spring-loaded, stride-forward, energetic beast. With a true-to-size fit and plenty of room in the toe box, an easy ten-miler produced no hot spots or blisters, and it left me fresh enough for a late-afternoon double. Would I invite the ProMorph to join me for a track workout? Probably not—but I wouldn’t take any other trail shoe with me to the track either.
In a nutshell, the ProMorph’s chameleon-like nature means freedom: freedom from overpacking, from indecision, from the mental gymnastics of what-if scenarios. Instead of hedging my bets with a collection of highly specialized shoes, I could—at last—picture tossing a single pair into my bag and trusting that it would rise to the occasion, whatever the destination might demand.
Of course, no shoe is a panacea. The ProMorph may not dazzle the die-hard road racer or appease the most technical of trail aficionados, but it brings the best of both worlds within reach for the everyday runner. In a way, that’s its greatest strength: versatility, liberating you to chase adventure—and maybe even pack that extra sweater after all.
Specifics
Heel-toe drop: 6 mm
Weight: 7.05 oz/200 grams
MSRP: $160
Website: https://www.merrell.com/US/en/promorph/
Editor’s note: To read more articles and reviews from ATRA’s gear wrangler Sarah Barber, visit this link.
