Merrell Morphlite Review (2024): Major Value for a Road-to-Trail Shoe!

Merrell Morphlite Review
By Matthew Klein

The Merrell Barefoot Road and Trail Gloves were some of my favorite shoes years ago during my minimalist era. Although I knew the Merrell name, I had not tried any shoes from them as they had not made any significant road running shoes I was aware of (I also had minimal footwear knowledge at that time). After trying a few sizes to optimize the fit, I loved the minimal feel and incredible durability. Fast forward over a decade and we were lucky enough to have the introductory model sent to us, the Merrell Morphlite. Although meant as an affordable shoe, the Morphlite packs that same durability with an excellent ride for what can be found for $69 in many places. A great example of the rest of the line, this has made us more interested in what Merrell is doing in the running world again. 

Merrell Morphlite

Price: $69 - $100 at Merrell
Weight: 8.46 oz, 240 g (men's size 9), 7.58 oz, 215 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 26.5 mm / 20 mm
Drop: 6.5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Road/Trail Hybrid Training Shoe

Pros:Wider fit, stable, easy road/trail transitions, durable, affordable
Cons: Outsole lugs not enough for technical terrain, sidewalls may be too aggressive for some, wider fit requires aggressive lockdown

RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY

The Merrell Morphlite is an affordable road/trail option for those who want a road shoe with decent traction onto softer surfaces. The fit is best for those with wider feet, especially in the midfoot and forefoot. The ride is best for those who want slightly firmer protection, a moderate drop and surprisingly aggressive guidance via sidewalls. The outsole works well on road and smooth trail with a mild lug pattern with excellent durability. A fantastic option for those wanting to test the trail while still having some versatility on the road, the Morphlite is an excellent option for those wanting performance that doesn't break the bank. 

SIMILAR SHOES: Brooks Divide 5, Saucony Blaze TR
PAST MODEL: N/A

FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)

Matt: The Merrell Morphlite fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The fit is on the wider side throughout the length of the shoe. The upper features a two-layer booty construction that is connected to the gusseted tongue that wraps the foot from the midfoot forward. This still does not offset the wider, slightly anatomical forefoot which has a decent amount of wiggle room. The toe box is slightly tapered thanks to the thicker toe guard but there is still enough room. I would highly suggest socks because of the toe guard as it did cause some rubbing without socks. The wider forefoot transitions into a wider, higher volume midfoot. The volume is normal with a little stretch upward in the forefoot but gets large in the midfoot. The tongue is thin and gusseted, but I had to really tighten down the laces to get a secure fit. After yanking them tight, I did not have to lace lock the shoe but did have to be careful with lace bite across the top of my foot. After a few attempts, I was able to get a mostly optimal lockdown. This lockdown is also required as there is not much structure in the midfoot, which also adds some extra room for those who need it. The heel fits normal to slightly wide with a stiff counter and moderate heel collar padding. The counter is rounded and did not bother me much, although those with heel sensitivities should still be cautious. The lockdown requirements helped most on road but I found the flexible upper not to work as well on aggressive terrain with quick turns, further emphasizing the hybrid nature of this shoe. The upper is quite comfortable though and should accommodate those with wider feet or those whose feet swell. 

Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 15
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5

Doctors of Running Checklist

Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly
How Flexible is the Shoe: No
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average

PERFORMANCE

Matt: The Merrell Morphlite is a budget road/trail hybrid shoe that still packs some performance. The midsole features FloatPro foam is slightly firmer, light and slightly snappy. The shoe is noticeably lighter for a hybrid shoe and certainly for a trail possible shoe. It is easy to pick up the pace in this and those that want a shoe that could potentially race on non-technical terrain may have an option here. The moderate 6.5 mm drop feels as it is listed, being neither too low or too high. The heel features a large centered bevel. The medial and lateral sides of the heel are quite flared, which makes for a stable but slightly clunky rearfoot transition. This transitions into a smooth and stable midfoot. The forefoot is mildly flexible with an early rocker that makes for easy forefoot transitions. The heel and midfoot do not have much flexibility but the shoe still transitions nicely once broken in. There is some toe spring and the mild flexibility makes this better for those who have at least some toe mobility. The Morphlite can easily handle moderate distances and uptempo efforts. Although there is no plate or superfoam, the lighter weight makes it easy to pick up the pace on soft, non-technical terrain.

The lugs are not aggressive enough to grip deeply on muddy or technical terrain but on smooth single track or fire road this shoe is great. It also is excellent on road given the smaller lugs, emphasizing its place as a hybrid shoe. It can handle some longer efforts although I have found the slightly firmer foam to not provide enough cushioning over 10 miles or with longer efforts (which may reflect may shorter distance focus right now more than the shoe). I currently have 50 miles on my pair with only a little wear on in my normal posteriolateral spot. The lugs are worn down slightly but most of the outsole has remained intact. This suggests this shoe will last longer than others in its class and may make it a great entry-level shoe for those who have a variety of surfaces they run over. 

STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)

Matt: The Merrell Morphlite is technically a neutral shoe but it acts like a mild stability shoe. There are several methods of new age stability, including a slightly wider midfoot, large sidewalls and sole flare. The most prominent feature is a large amount of medial arch pressure that almost feels like a post. This is present somewhat on both sides of the foot in the rearfoot/midfoot and seems to be occuring due to the decently sized sidewalls in the heel and posterior midfoot. Those who want arch pressure will like this shoe while those who do not may struggle. There is also a large amount of sole flare at the heel and forefoot which provides additional centeredness and some slight clunkiness at the heel. The midfoot is also slightly wider, which adds to the centered nature of the shoe. This feels like a mild stability shoe with how stable it is plus the arch pressure and has performed as such for me. This has made it much easier to stand all day and get some longer efforts in, although the midsole material does firm up a bit too much with longer efforts. Thus, those who want an unofficial mild stability (heel) hybrid shoe will like the Merrell Morphlite. 

Thoughts as a DPT: What is Upper Volume and Why is it Important?
By Matthew Klein

We use different terms when describing the fit of a shoe. Length is a common term, describing how long the shoe is. This is utilized to reference the sizing of a shoe, whether it fits in line with other shoes in a similar size or it fits short/long. Width is another term used to describe how wide or narrow the upper is. It is what most people talk about in regard to the upper of a shoe and we try to use terms like "wide", "narrow" or "average" widths to help people figure out whether the shoe may fit them. We have discussed length and width for years but only recently have begun to talk about volume. Volume can sometimes be defined as the vertical height of the upper or as the total space within the shoe. This can sometimes refer to the 3D combination of height and width.

Volume is important to discuss as feet are 3D. While someone can have wide or narrow feet, there is additional mass that accounts for foot shape. Different people can have larger or smaller foot bones, foot muscle mass, foot geometries (like a higher instep), adipose tissue, skin and other tissues that can adjust the overall size (not just length) of their feet. It is also important to know that everyone's feet change volume and size not only throughout the day but also during activity. Many factors, including gravity, will cause natural foot swelling throughout the course of the day. This is why some people may notice their shoes fit differently in the morning vs the evening. Thus, it is important to be strategic when going to try on shoes as different times of the day may give you a different results in regards to size/fit. Exercise can also cause foot swelling, particularly longer efforts. Those who run ultramarathons (and for some people shorter distances) often have to wear larger sizes and loosen laces to accommodate the large foot changes that occur due to the combination of blood flow from exercise as well as venous insufficiency that occurs due to muscle damage and other factors (Knechtle et al., 2015).

Volume, width and length are all important factors to consider when assessing the fit of a shoe. People often have to go up at least a half to full size when using running shoes compared to their casual shoes to adjust for the natural swelling that can occur with exercise. Those who participate in longer distance events may have to go up additional sizes to accommodate the potential swelling that can occur. Different people will have different levels of swelling, volume, width and length changes in their feet. The best way to determine your fit is through a combination of trying shoes on, making sure you have enough room without your feet sliding in the shoe, ensuring that the fit is comfortable and then testing the shoes on runs as the final test to determine if the fit is right for you.

References:

Knechtle, B., Zingg, M. A., Knechtle, P., Rosemann, T., & Rüst, C. A. (2015). Feet swelling in a multistage ultraendurance triathlete: a case study. International Journal of General Medicine, 325-332.

Vitiello, D., Degache, F., Saugy, J. J., Place, N., Schena, F., & Millet, G. P. (2015). The increase in hydric volume is associated to contractile impairment in the calf after the world’s most extreme mountain ultra-marathon. Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 4, 1-8.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Matt: The Merrell Morphlite really surprised me with how much performance is packed in a shoe that retails for $69 frequently. There are still several areas that could be improved within this budge. My first suggestion is to tone down how aggressive the flare is in the heel and to better round the heel. The flare cuts off the bevel, which makes the heel transition somewhat clunky for many miles. Rather than cutting in, I would round the bevel into the flare.

My second suggestion is to reduce the midfoot volume and add some mild structure there. This will improve security and lockdown, although it may limit those with wider/higher volume midfoot areas. I would also suggest putting structure in the midfoot rather than aggressively at the toe guard. Finally, my last conflicted suggestion is to tone down the higher arch feeling. This is common in Merrell shoes and I really like it because it works well for my feet as someone who needs mild stability. However, this may be challenging for others, so I will let the Merrell team decide who they want to go for. Overall this is a great shoe for its cost. 

WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?

Matt: The Merrell Morphlite is a great option for the new runner who wants to run on road and trail while having a shoe that provides a wider fit, a stable/slightly firmer sole and a durable sole. The wider forefoot and especially midfoot will work best for those who want a wider fit or have higher volume feet. The midsole will work best for those who want a lighter and slightly firmer ride that can do easy and uptempo efforts. Those who like a higher arch or want the feeling of a medial post will do best in this shoe. For $69 in many places, this is a great price for a solid introductory shoe. Although there are some mild things that need to be cleaned up, the Morphlite is an excellent shoe for its price and in the first version. As shoes get more expensive, having excellent budget options is still important. The Morphlite, along with the Divide 5 and Blaze TR, have been my go-to trio to recommend for newer runners interested in testing trail. Given the variety of economy situations, this category needs to stay alive to help those who may not have extra funds still have access to ways to stay active. It is great that these shoes all pack a surprising amount of performance for their price range. While this will not have a permanent place in my rotation as that is already crowded with high-performance trail shoes, it is still an solid choice as a primary shoe or additional option for other people. 

GRADES

Matt
Fit: B+ (Wider fit especially in midfoot/forefoot that takes aggressive lockdown to secure)
Performance: B+/A- (Slightly firmer and lighter ride that transitions well between non-technical road and trail. Heel slightly clunky until it breaks in. )
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral/Mild Stability] (Wider shape, aggressive sidewalls that feel like medial post in heel/midfoot and wider midfoot provide surprisingly stable)
Value: A- (Excellent durability and performance for $69 to $100)
Personal: B+ (A great shoe but sidewalls were even a bit too aggressive for me. Firmer ride is nice until it isn't over longer miles)
Overall Design: B+/A-

SHOP | SUPPORT DOR

Merrell Morphlite

Price: $69 - $100 at Merrell

Shop Men | Shop Women

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Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Danbury and Stevens Point areas, we am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review.  We thank the people at Merrell for sending us pairs.  This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from 20-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady state run as well as a warm-up and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

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