Merrell Men's Nova Sneaker Moc Walking Shoe, 15

Product Information

The heel cup on the Merrell Nova is rigid yet padded to keep my feet free from unwanted motion inside the shoe. The Merrell Nova is designed as a trail runner, and it works well for this purpose. The features that make it so great for hiking also weigh in its favor as a trail runner.

The trail running footwear we test undergo thorough, real-world testing. As soon as they arrive with us, they get allocated to one of our experienced gear testers who take them through their paces over a range of off-road terrain and distances. The upper is made of a durable yet breathable textile with overlays for structural support. I appreciate the way that the upper wraps around my feet and to snugly hold them in place.

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The Merrell Nova appeared to have the right balance of lightweight performance, grip and cushioning. Merrell is owned by Wolverine Worldwide and in its latest annual Corporate Responsibility report (2022), Merrell is mentioned a lot in its work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But there is little detail regarding sustainable materials or emissions reductions. For example, Merrell has pledged all its products will ‘contain’ organic, recycled, or renewable materials by 2025 but doesn’t specify what ‘contain’ means.

I found that I was able to summit a mountain faster than usual in this model, running partway and hiking the rest. There are a few shoes that would allow me to do this. Breathable upper The type of shoe that the Nova/Antora 3 is aiming to be is one that appeals to many of us, whether as a multi-purpose outdoor shoe, trail running shoe for training, or a runner’s first pair. I didn’t feel like my heel was loose in the shoe, which is a critical factor in blister prevention.The outsole is made of durable rubber and features 5mm lugs that provide excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. The M Select GRIP technology enhances the shoe's grip and ensures you stay stable on any terrain. The Nova 3 is made from quite a lot of recycled material but we’ve said before that Merrell has been quite vague about its overall sustainability goals, and that it’s not been rated very well by independent industry watchdogs like Good On You, and the Fashion Transparency Index. It includes a few reflective strips for visibility in low-light conditions. The padding inside the heel is soft and comfortable, keeping the heels blister-free.