Choosing the right running shoe is crucial for comfort, performance, and injury prevention. As the seasons change, it’s an excellent time to evaluate your current footwear and consider an upgrade. Our team of experienced runners has put the latest models to the test to help you find the perfect pair for your autumn miles.
This guide provides a detailed overview of the top running shoes available this fall. We cover the rigorous testing process our team undertook and explain why investing in quality footwear is one of the best decisions you can make for your running journey. You will find clear, structured information to help you select a shoe that aligns with your specific needs.
Why Invest in a Quality Running Shoe This Fall?
A good pair of running shoes is more than just a piece of gear; it's a vital tool that directly impacts your experience on the road or trail. As temperatures cool and conditions change, having the right shoe becomes even more important. Quality footwear provides essential support, cushioning, and stability, which helps reduce the risk of common running-related injuries.
Furthermore, a well-designed shoe enhances your performance. Modern shoe technology is engineered to improve energy return, promote a natural stride, and provide a comfortable ride, allowing you to run longer and more efficiently. Investing in yourself and your running means equipping your feet with the support they need to carry you through every mile. Your feet will thank you for it.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts, including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure that the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature highly rated products.
Asics | Astral | Brooks | CEP | Craft | Diadora | Hoka | Kane | KURU | La Sportiva | Merrell | New Balance | Nike | Reebok | Roll Recovery | Salomon | Saucony | Scarpa | Skechers | Speedland | The North Face | Under Armour | Velous
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryz
The Merrell MTL Adapt Matryz is a trail shoe designed for runners who need flexibility and durability on technical terrain. Its Matryx upper provides a snug, adaptive fit, while the FloatPro midsole delivers lightweight cushioning for long-distance comfort. The Vibram MegaGrip outsole ensures exceptional traction on wet and dry surfaces, making this shoe a reliable choice for challenging trails and unpredictable conditions.
High cushion comfort meets responsiveness
First Impressions:
The shoe has some serious stack height to it. Felt like I grew a foot when I put them on. The rocker shape is very pronounced and it felt like I was getting pushed forward. Overall comfort of the shoe is fantastic. For the amount of stack height on the shoe its very responsive still. The shoe is comfortable for longer distance training.
The MTL Adapt Matryx made a strong first impression as a robust, max-cushion trail shoe built for long distances, with a true-to-size fit, secure midfoot and heel hold, and a roomy—though somewhat shallow—toe box. The dual-density midsole feels firm at first but softens with quickly mileage, delivering a stable yet cushioned ride that balances comfort with responsiveness, making it reliable for climbs, descents, and steady long efforts. This shoe has plenty of durability and protection, but runs hot in higher temperatures Overall, it comes across as a durable and confidence-inspiring trail option that excels in comfort and stability, with only minor drawbacks in ventilation.
Things We Liked:
Great grip on the shoes. It would make for a great hard downhill course shoe.
One thing about the MTL Adapt Matryx that stands out is its long-distance comfort and stability. The midsole provides enough cushioning to keep my legs feeling ready to go for miles, while the firmer outer layer adds stability and prevents the shoe from feeling wobbly on technical terrain.
Areas for Improvement:
Fix the heel cup. The heel cup feels pretty loose. While a lace lock could fix it up, the laces are too short for it. The rocker on the shoe is extremely noticeable. If sensitive to that style it might not be the right fit for you.
One area for improvement is its breathability in hot weather. While the Matryx upper is impressively durable and protective, its dense construction can trap heat and limit airflow, especially hot PHX weather. Enhancing ventilation with lighter or more open mesh zones would make the shoe more comfortable across a wider range of conditions without sacrificing its durability.
Final Thoughts
The MTL Adapt Matryx stands out as a trail shoe built for endurance and rugged terrain, offering a confident blend of cushioning, stability, and protection. The dual-density FloatPro midsole delivers a firm yet cushioned ride that absorbs impact while keeping the foot stable, making it especially effective over long distances and technical trails. The fit is generally true to size, with a secure midfoot and heel hold, while the toe box provides welcome room, though its slightly shallow depth may cause minor rubbing for some runners. The shoe’s overall comfort improves with mileage, as the midsole softens quickly, ultimately delivering reliable long-haul performance.
Where the shoe truly excels is in its durable construction, highlighted by the upper, which provides excellent protection and longevity even on the most demanding trails. The outsole adds strong traction, further enhancing confidence on climbs, descents, and varied surfaces. However, this durability comes with trade-offs, as the upper can run warm in hot conditions, and the shoe feels slightly stiff when new. Despite these minor drawbacks, the MTL Adapt Matryx establishes itself as a premium choice for runners seeking a tough, stable, and comfortable trail shoe capable of handling high mileage and challenging terrain.
Specs:
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 10.1 oz
- Price: $190
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Running Trail
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Long Distance, Race, Cross Training, Trail
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Merrell ProMorph
The Merrell ProMorph is a versatile trail shoe that combines comfort, durability, and performance. Featuring a cushioned midsole for shock absorption and a grippy outsole for traction, this shoe is perfect for hiking, trail running, or casual outdoor adventures. The breathable upper keeps your feet cool, while the reinforced toe cap adds protection against rocks and debris. Whether you're exploring new trails or tackling familiar paths, the ProMorph is ready for the journey.
The Merrell Promorph: It's the smooth operator of the trail—sleek, confident, and ready to take on the night... or just your long run.
First Impressions:
It offers enough stability and grip (via the Vibram outsole and secure upper) for moderate off-road use, but remains smooth and efficient enough for long stretches of pavement. The combination of the responsive FloatPro+ foam and the aggressive rocker geometry provides a propulsive, rolling feel that makes it appealing for daily training. For a neutral shoe, its inherent stability is a major standout feature. It’s a shoe that feels confident and secure underfoot when terrain gets uneven.
The Merrell Promorph fit well out of the box and were comfortable, though it took some getting used at first with running because of the shape of the sole. The shoe has good responsiveness and breathability.
Things We Liked:
Despite a generous stack height (32.5mm heel), the shoe feels incredibly planted and secure. It runs like a mild stability shoe, even though it's classified as neutral. The pronounced rocker shape (the curve of the sole) creates a fluid, rolling sensation from heel to toe.
The Merrell Promorph is comfortable and fits true to size, which makes it easy to lace up and jump out on the trials.
Areas for Improvement:
Merrell could adjust the density or composition of the FloatPro+ foam to create a slightly softer, more lively, and bouncier feel underfoot without sacrificing stability.
The Merrell Promorph could use a little change to the bottom which takes some time to get used to and feels like it throws you forward when running.
Final Thoughts
The Merrell Promorph is a versatile, high-tech hybrid running shoe designed to provide a seamless transition between road and trail running, often categorized as a "gravel shoe." It blends Merrell's outdoor heritage with the lightweight responsiveness of a modern road racer, making it a "one-stop shop" for runners who frequently encounter mixed terrain. The shoe features a substantial stack of FloatPro+ supercritical foam in the midsole, which is nitrogen-injected to deliver responsive, lightweight cushioning and enduring comfort for longer distances. This foam is paired with a rockered geometry and FLEXconnect® dual-directional flex grooves, working together to create a smooth, rolling transition and enhanced ground stability.
Built for dependable, all-terrain performance, the Promorph uses a Vibram® XS Trek Evo outsole, which covers most of the bottom of the shoe with numerous shallow (around 2.2mm) lugs. This outsole is specifically engineered to provide versatile and confident grip across a variety of surfaces, from wet asphalt and gravel roads to light and moderate trails. The shoe's athletic design is completed with a breathable synthetic and mesh upper, which incorporates recycled materials and a secure, supportive fit. With a 6mm drop and a focus on both stability and adaptable traction, the Promorph is positioned as a reliable and durable option for daily training and long-distance efforts on varied, non-technical running routes.
Specs:
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 9.17 oz
- Price: $160
- Category:
- Type: Running Trail
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Gravel to Light Trail
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Our Comprehensive Testing Process
To bring you this guide, our expert team, comprised of seasoned runners and footwear specialists, conducted extensive testing on a wide array of shoes. We are committed to providing reliable and unbiased recommendations based on real-world performance.
Each pair of shoes was subjected to a minimum of 20 miles of running across varied terrains, from city pavements to park trails. Our testers meticulously evaluated each shoe based on a set of key criteria to ensure a thorough and balanced assessment.
Key Evaluation Criteria:
- Comfort: We assessed the initial feel and long-run comfort, noting any pressure points or areas of discomfort.
- Fit: Testers evaluated how the shoe conformed to the foot, including the security of the heel, the width of the toebox, and the overall lockdown.
- Weight: We considered the physical weight of the shoe and how it felt during a run—whether it felt light and nimble or heavy and cumbersome.
- Breathability: The upper materials were tested for airflow to determine how well they managed heat and moisture during a run.
- Flexibility: We analyzed the shoe's flexibility in the forefoot and its overall ability to move naturally with the runner's stride.
- Overall Ride: This is a comprehensive assessment of the shoe's performance. It includes the quality of the cushioning, the smoothness of the heel-to-toe transition, and the general feeling of the shoe in motion.