Let’s talk Sustainability and shoes! Is this a thing? Does it matter?
We’ve been testing the Merrell MTL Skyfire Undyed trail shoe. This shoe is part of their sustainability line, which means they use a 40% recycled foam insole, no dyes, recycled TPU reinforcements, and 100% recycled upper material and laces. So if you are into companies that use sustainable materials and have a long term vision to support the planet, you might like these.
But what does it really mean? First off, if they are using no dyes and mostly recycled materials, they should be cheaper than the “non-sustainable” version of the same shoe. And yes they are, by $10 ($110 vs $120). So that’s cool. Second, would using recycled materials make the shoe less durable? Nope. I’ve put over 200 miles on these shoes, mostly on rugged trails and big mountains, and I have no significant wear spots. Finally, if they are undyed, then they must be pretty ugly. Well, yeah, they are ugly as hell! I mean, you even get them slightly dirty and they look like a 5 year old’s white t-shirt that has been worn in the mud too many times and no matter how much you wash it, it just never looks clean. These shoes are hideous. But you know what else? It doesn’t matter because they are SO DAMN GOOD!
I’ve never been a Merrell fan, they just didn’t have something in their line that really fit my foot and performed the way I needed it to. Well, they do now. I LOVE the MTL Skyfire! Whether on buffed out trails or rough mountain terrain, they held my foot well, the rock plate provided plenty of protection, and there was just enough cushion for long runs while still allowing for ground feel and solid performance. I’ve worn these shoes up to a marathon distance (which also included summiting Utah’s tallest mountain) and my feet were plenty comfortable when I was done. I’ve also run several road miles in them and they were surprisingly comfortable, as well. So if you don’t care about the way your shoes look and you want a great shoe in a good price-point, give it a try.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
