I am very critical when it comes to shoes. I actually think I have a running shoe addiction; some (like my wife) would call it a problem. In the past 12 months I have tried a few shoes and the collection in my closet includes: Saucony Peregrine, Saucony Kinvara, Brooks Cascadia 7, Salomon xt wings 2, New Balance Trail 110 and Merrell Trail Gloves. Out of this bunch the Trail Gloves worked best, however I was struggling to find a shoe to take to the trails for my 20+ mile runs as the TG's were just a little too light for me. Enter the Mix Master 2's, referred to me by my chiropractor who is also an ultra runner.
As with the TG's, these shoes feel like they were made for me and my feet. They are snug where I want them to be (around the heel) while giving me the space I need around the toes. They feel just right and they are light...something that turns out to be very important to me. For example, a 50 mi run would take about 80,000 total strides, meaning each shoe is lifted 40,000 times. There are 32,000 ounces in a ton, etc. Makes sense that every ounce saved counts, a LOT.
These shoes also have good ventilation I've gotten them wet while running and they dry out quicker than anything I've owned to date and they appear to be durable (no issues so far and I know the first generation Mix Master was redesigned to eliminate some of the durability concerns).
They also look good and they make me feel fast.
Bottom-line, I have decided that I am now a Merrell running shoe fan for life. If you are looking for a lightweight shoe that will provide enough cushioning to cover the long distances or provide a little more protection while still giving you a neutral and close to the ground feel, these are the shoes for you.
One thing to point out, I had to go one full size down on these, so beware if you're buying online. And don't get suckered into buying your running shoes too large too large can injure you just as much as too small and, no, your feet will not swell 1/2 an inch in length, no matter how far you run...
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I keep 2 pairs of trail running shoes. The first, my daily runner, is to be flat, highly flexible and with a very thin sole. The second pair is used for long (>20miles), rocky trails where I have found I require a bit more rock protection. I wore out a pair of NB MT101s in this second role, and needed a new pair of shoes for an upcoming race. The Mix Master II appeared to be a good fit, and I have logged ~200 miles in them now.
What I found:
My first run was sockless, with the inserts. ~5 miles with good rocky climbs/descents. The majority of my running prior to this was in Merrell Trailgloves, and I was shocked at how high off the ground I felt and how `cushy' the sole was. The 4mm drop was also strange to me, and I struggled a bit with some heel striking on the downhills. I quickly got over this, and now the shoe feels good underfoot, though I still have some issues with the stack height, I'm less steady on my feet with the extra height. Still, I was able to FLY downhill without fear of trashing my feet. And the soles gripped well going back up.
Now I have found that socks are necessary, but I removed the insert. I can feel the rocks underneath, but only that they are present. The whole shoe is a bit more flexible that the MT101, and rides nicely.
My only problems have been that the slight point to the toe of the shoe puts some pressure on my BIG TOES, which really only becomes an issue after 10 miles. At that point it starts becoming distracting, and heading toward mild pain. I don't think these will work well for me as very long distance shoes, but I have done 20 miles without issue. The more downhill in the run, the more an issue (and the 20 miles was the Shut In trail race, or all uphill.)
Also, I should point out that the cleats will grab mud and hold onto it. My second run in the shoes was through some of the sticky stuff, and the shoes were much heavier after the run.
The soles look good with only a little wear showing in my typical wear pattern. The upper is typical of Merrell, and I expect the shoes to last a long while.
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I purchased these shoes the third week of March in 2013, and have never wore them for running, I have another pair of favorite shoes for that. These shoes are worn at the office (I know, casual....but hey the job pays well and I'm LUCKY!!!!) Given the shoes are less than month old and have been worn less than 2 dozen times I'd expect more.
At this time the left shoe has a frayed spot above the big toe joint. This happens because: the interior of the shoe contains a plastic mesh with holes all over. I suspect the holes over the joint allow the plastic mesh to crease and rub on itself when the foot flexes; causing the mesh to fray.
Not sure how to fix this, but way disappointed, guessing these shoes will be destined for the work bin sooner rather than later. I would NOT recommend these shoes as I question their durability, and I have purchased Merrell shoes in the past, so I trusted the brand.
Honest reviews on Merrell Men's Mix Master 2 Minimalist Running Shoe
I'm not a barefoot runner but have evolved into more of a minimalist. I was looking for a trail shoe to rotate with my New Balance MT101s and my Minimus MT10s. I wanted a shoe that would be comfortable for longer runs and for days my feet just needed a break. What I got in the Merrell Mix Master 2 was a shoe that could do it all. It's light enough for shorter, faster runs but protective and comfortable enough for the long haul. The ride is soft and forgiving for a shoe of this low profile but definitely not mushy. I can't say enough about the rounded toe box. It's roomy but not sloppy, especially for my pinkie toe that rubs in many other shoes. The lugs are aggressive enough for technical terrain, loose gravel or muddy conditions yet are still comfortable for hard packed dirt. The overall fit is snug enough to lock in your foot on uneven surfaces yet not restrictive. I would be comfortable using this shoe for any distance on the gnarliest of trails. I've already been using them on my favorite local trails but can't wait to get them on the single track Ice Age Trails nearby. Simply put, this is the best trail running shoe I've ever worn and I've tried many since I first discovered the Mudroc 290. The only modification I would like to see in future models is that the last be a tad wider at the arch for added support on longer runs. As far as the negative reviews below, they are referring to the original Mix Master which had problems with the upper but was quickly corrected and reissued as the Mix Master 2. Just compare the colors with the colors on the Merrell website to be sure you're getting the new version as some retailers are still selling the old model but that's no fault of Merrell. Great job Merrell. I hope this shoe is around for a long time.
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These are excellent shoes. When I first thought of reviewing them I was going to give them a four-star rating (I'll come back to that), but after putting some more miles on them I've decided that I love them. Since these are the Mix Masters I thought I'd make sure to try them on as many surfaces as possible. I almost exclusively run technical trails but sometimes there is some pavement on the way to the trail head. Surfaces I've covered so far:
-Pavement
-Hard clay
-Sand
-Mud (both slick and sticky)
-Grass
-Stones (both rocks/boulders and loose skree)
-Soft loose soil (wooded trails)
-Water
-Loose leaf litter
Although these are specifically described as trail shoes, that's what I bought them for. I've run several miles over two separate trail systems. One is through a swampy flood plain that has a wide variety of slippery trail surfaces. The other is on bluffs above a different river and is composed of steep rocky climbs, descents and uneven trail surfaces. These shoes have been extremely comfortable and have held up well. The only surface that has given me issues is loose wet leaf litter. These aren't as aggressively treaded as some other shoes I've run in (specifically the New Balance Men's MT110 Trail Running Shoe)and the cleats aren't deep enough to penetrate the leaves and provide positive traction. That was why I originally though to give them a four. However, after putting several more miles in on some very severe terrain I've changed my mind. They've proven to be quite grippy and have impressed me quite a bit.
The toe box is very roomy which is great for me. My 2nd toe is longer than my big toe and this has caused me to injure my second toe with other shoes in the past--this hasn't been an issue with the Mix Masters.
The gussets keep sand and debris out of the shoe, and they shed water very well. Rocks underfoot haven't been an issue and I've thoroughly enjoyed them.
I'd recommend these for any type of outdoor running.
