Merrell Nova 4 Trail Running Shoe Review

Merrell is one of the OG’s of trail footwear, but they aren’t always top-of-mind when it comes to trail running shoes. Quietly, their Nova line has remained a consistent player for everyday trail runners and the latest Merrell Nova 4 improves on this stalwart shoe while staying true to its legacy.

Merrell Nova 4 Trail Running Shoe Features:

• Merrell Quantum Grip outsoles (4mm lugs)
• Bellowed tongue keeps out debris
• FloatPro midsole
• Stack: 29-21mm with 8mm drop
• Weight: 10.7 oz (each, size 11, actual)
• MSRP: $130

A Nova 4 (almost) all

Merrell’s trail shoes and boots are everywhere. It’s a brand I’ve come to know and appreciate since I was a young man, hiking my way through the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. Someone I knew always had a pair and I would regularly see them on the feet of other hikers on the PCT or other trails throughout the Pacific Northwest. Admittedly, it’s been awhile since I have worn a pair and I was excited to give the new Nova 4’s a good test on my local trail running loops.

Of course, my product critic brain was interested in the initial try-on and fit experience. Just how do they compare with the latest from Hoka, Salomon or The North Face right out of the box? Definitively, they offer a great initial experience. Even the regular width offers plenty of wiggle room in the toe box (awesome) and excellent comfort. The uppers don’t have any pressure points and the mesh feels durable, yet breathable. A few days of around-town break-in had me ready to hit the trails — though I would be 100% confident to go from box-to-trail with these shoes, no question.

Speaking of trails, that’s where we’ll head next. A great forefoot pad, with lateral stability is very important to both comfort and stability on the trails. Merrell has designed the Nova 4 with a wide, trapezoidal forefoot pad for maximum cushioning and stability. This wide platform really amplifies how well these shoes handle all types of terrain. It literally feels like I have way more “shoe” to leverage with each lateral movement or step. But, the heels remain a little narrower than I would expect (especially compared to the forefoot). As a result, the heels could be a little more stable, but the forefoot offers maximum confidence.

The structured heel cup delivers a solid, locked-in fit with zero slippage. And, the cuff wraps around my ankle with precision. I love how easily the laces pull through the eyelets. It’s a cinch to tighten or loosen them  and getting my feet in/out is easy. Usually, I need a heel tab, but this is one of the few times where it’s not as necessary. The ease-of-movement of these laces and eyelets is overall pretty good, but does present some challenges when trying to pinpoint any fit variances (snugging up the forefoot or uppers, for example). That said, I’ll take the smooth-pulling laces every time because it does make for a really comfortable upper, but I couldn’t seem to get the most secure foot on steep descents. Maybe some laces with a little bit of ribbing could provide the best of both worlds?

While running, the Nova 4’s offer an excellent stride at slow and medium paces. The faster I run, they aren’t quite as performant. This is why the Nova 4’s are the “everyman’s shoe” because the combination of uppers, midsole and outsole is optimized for 8-10 min/mile pace. Any faster than that and the toe-off traction feels compromised and I don’t get 100% of my forward propulsion.

I feel like the cushioning is also excellent. It absorbs both terrain and the weight of each step with joint-cushioning comfort. Again, my belief that they aren’t optimized for speedy running comes into play here because the rebound of the FloatPro midsole lacks some of the pop I’ve felt with other shoes.

Fit: I opted for a size 11 in the Nova 4’s, but really should have gone with my usual 11.5. I was okay with ultralight CEP socks for my testing. 

Buy Now: Merrell’s Amazon Store