HERE in the antipodes, we’re sometimes a little slow to catch on to new hiking gear trends. For instance, many of our Northern Hemisphere trail buddies have been utilising trail running shoes in place of boots for years now, especially the ultralight and thru-hiking communities. Full-leather, high-top boots are an endangered species up there, and slowly but surely, many on the Australian scene are starting to follow suit.
But where’s the ankle support? Where’s the waterproofing? The durability? Yes, there are apparent downsides, but for a lot of people these are compensated for by the benefits: much lighter weight; better sensory feedback; more breathable; quicker drying; no wearing-in period, i.e. general all-round comfort straight out of the box. With the evidence stacking up, Great Walks decided it was time to investigate. Each model was worn on and off for a couple of weeks, including at least one decent stretch on trail with a loaded hiking pack.
Merrell Agility Peak 5c
Merrell were early proponents of the barefoot running movement, so I was surprised to see a stack height (a relatively recent term describing the depth of cushioning between the foot and the ground) of 31mm – definitely on the thick side. Ditto the
