Mountain shoes
Product 2026
Woman, Man
The information and test shoes were provided under embargo. We had the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak in our hands for several months and were able to put extensive mileage on it. Here is our field test.
It is immediately clear that Merrell has paid close attention to the development of this MTL SpeedArc Peak, which features a carbon plate. Merrell claims five years of development work. From a purely cosmetic standpoint, the shoe has an asymmetric color scheme: yellow on the outside and turquoise blue on the inside, with matching accents on the tongue. That covers the looks. Of course, the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak is about much more than a carefully designed appearance.
Let’s get straight to its dynamic qualities. Although it does not feature a pronounced rocker, the carbon plate makes its presence felt when accelerating and picking up the pace. The shoe feels dynamic and very smooth through the stride, delivering plenty of energy return without introducing any unwanted stiffness, particularly in the forefoot. That said, the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak remains a technical shoe, but the demanding character it could potentially have is balanced by generous cushioning throughout the foot. The result is a good combination of responsiveness and comfort on difficult terrain: aggressive fields of rocks and very hard surfaces. The carbon plate also helps dampen the impact of sharp rocks underfoot. The shoe is highly effective on fast descents, giving you plenty of confidence when pushing the pace.
One of the defining features of the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak is its V-shaped carbon plate under the forefoot. This is not a new concept: The North Face used a similar technical solution on some of its early generations of shoes. On the Merrell, the design helps preserve toe proprioception while reducing torsional stiffness. As a result, the shoe places accurately on the ground. We do, however, have one reservation regarding the medial side, toward the front of the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak: the sole is too soft for our liking. The shoe tends to collapse slightly, resulting in a loss of support and precision. In this area, there are two openings in the sole designed to improve cushioning. We would have preferred just one on this Merrell, in order to retain better stability when running on the forefoot.
Aside from that, it is virtually faultless. The foot is held precisely throughout the shoe. The heel lockdown is firm and secure, while the lacing system works very well. The forefoot is relatively narrow. The tongue does not slide sideways and remains comfortable despite its slim construction. We measured 308 grams in a size 43.
The toe bumper is highly effective. The Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole provides reliable traction across most types of terrain. Last but not least, the upper is made from Matryx mesh. After several months of use, the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak has held up very well. The price is very high. Is it justified?
A dynamic carbon-plated shoe that is not necessarily demanding to run in. Carefully designed, it offers good durability and allows you to run fast thanks to its responsive ride. The outsole delivers excellent, consistent grip without becoming overwhelmed.
24 mm6 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
Receive your answers by mail. Do you have a particular question concerning the design, use, durability or other about a tested product? We will answer your question personally.
