The Merrell Nova 4 hits a sweet spot as an everyday trail shoe that handles diverse terrain, very comfortably.
Now, although Merrell positions this as an all mountain trail running shoe, I'm going to file it in the road-to-trail category because it's a transition shoe that performs very well for both road and trail running.
With a spacious fit in the toe box, breathable upper, and balanced midsole cushioning, it’s become a versatile choice for my daily runs, hikes, and casual use.
Key Specifications:
- Price: $130 at merrell.com (For my US readers) / £108 at sportsshoes.com (For my UK readers)
- Weight: 9.5oz / 269g (US Men’s 9)
- Drop: 8mm (29mm heel / 21mm forefoot)
- Upper: Breathable mesh, padded collar, elastic lace keeper
- Midsole: FloatPro foam, FLEXconnect dual-directional flex grooves
- Outsole: Merrell Quantum Grip rubber with 4mm lugs
- Extra Attributes: Bellows tongue, Cleansport NXT odor control treatment
Sizing and Fit
The Nova 4 fits true to size with a roomy toe box that lets my toes splay naturally, offering comfort on the run and allowing temperature to regulate well.
The padded collar and well-designed heel counter provide good heel lock, and immediate comfort without a break-in period.
Alastair Dixon
If you tend to use the heel-lock racer's loop lacing approach, the tongue is well suited to this, and it will give you extra support on descents.
Performance Review
After lots of testing across varied terrains—gravel, packed dirt, grass, and road—the Nova 4 delivers stable, predictable performance.
I have also been using them for dog walks and general lifestyle usage because they're so comfortable and supportive, with grippy lugs that mean I can take them anywhere.
Just look at the padded collars and heel counter in the images below - they're as comfortable to slip on as you'd expect from looking at them - oh I've also included a closeup of the elasticated loop for stowing laces tidily away.
The FloatPro foam midsole finds a nice middle ground between cushioning and responsiveness, offering consistent comfort on longer runs without losing energy return.
It's also protective so you won't feel any sharp trail objects digging into the bottom of your feet.
Traction from the Quantum Grip outsole gives reliable traction, and hence confidence on steep trails.
I also appreciate the zoned design that means weight is kept to a minimum (rubber compound is one of the heavier components of a running shoe).
However, the 8mm drop and flexible forefoot combo can feel less stable on steep technical downhill sections but let's be real here, these are not hardcore all mountain trail running shoes, they're road-to-trail shoes.
Alastair Dixon
The lack of a rock plate isn’t typically noticeable, but it may be a consideration for highly rocky trails.
Breathability and quick-drying capability mean they’re also great for warmer conditions and wetter paths - being in Florida right now means I've tested breathability to the max, the humidity over here is real!
While the upper breathes well, a little extra structure through the midfoot would also help on aggressive descents but for light trails and for most runners, these are awesome.
My Verdict
The Merrell Nova 4 is a solid all-rounder that has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine—running, hiking, walking, and travel, in much the same was as the amazing Nike Pegasus Trail 5.
It isn't built for speed or highly technical terrain but come one this is a versatile road to trail shoe for road and light trail runs, and it's ONLY $130.
I can't think of a better road-to-trail transition shoe for that price, and with that said you can pick up a pair from my trusted online retailers, via the links below:
Merrell Nova 4
A solid road-to-trail running shoe - there's no better choice in this category for the price.
