Drawing on 30 years of leading outdoor performance and innovation, Merrell is once again pushing the boundaries of traditional fit paradigms. Part of the new M-Connect series, the minimalist minded Proterra seamlessly merges Merrell’s heritage performance with the Merrell Barefoot experience to create rugged and durable multi-sport shoes that carry some of the best aspects of minimalist design into the hiking category.
On the Proterra Line…
After changing the way people view running shoes and the running experience, the minimalist revolution is now making its way into the hiking world. Trailblazing the way forward is the Merrell family of Proterra hikers. Available in both men and women’s stylings, the Proterra Sport and the Proterra Mid Sport (the Proterra Vim Sport and Vim Mid are the women’s equivalent) are categorized by Merrell as “speed-hiking” shoes.
Think of them as a hybrid that merges the best aspects of a hiking boot and minimalist trail runner. From start to finish, the entire Proterra line represents a unique approach to the hiking experience.
On Performance and Design…
Sporting a four millimeter drop, the Proterra line isn’t an absolutist when it comes to minimalism. Yet, the low heel offset and lightweight midsole materials provide a closer connection to the terrain whether you’re out on the trail, or taking the shortcut downtown.
Lest you think that Merrell sacrifices comfort by dropping the foot closer to the ground, you should know that both our male and female testers gave the Proterra kicks high marks for overall fit and versatile performance. From long walks around Morro Bay, to tracing miles of trail through Yosemite Valley; even during days sweating it out at the gym, the Proterra easily handled any and every terrain we put before them.
The quality fit starts with Merrell Stratafuse™ technology. To create a glove-like fit while keeping the weight of the shoes down, Merrell injected the foot cage into the Stratafuse fabric.
The Proterra line also offers a wider forefoot area. This allows for your toes to relax and spread out naturally – avoiding that cramped feeling of a narrow hiker. This provides for greater stability, and in our opinion, a better hiking experience. And while it’s great for long days on the trail, it may result in a need to size down about a 1/2 size for some outdoor enthusiasts.
The Proterra family also features a unique inverted lug design. It’s a dramatic change up from the beefy lugs of traditional hikers, but the result is a tread pattern that keeps you grounded to the trail both literally and figuratively. The unique design also adds to the versatility factor of the Proterra family ensuring that they feel as at home around town as they do in the backcountry.
Admittedly there are those of us who pack along a separate pair of shoes to slip into after a long day of heavy miles on the trail. If you fall within that category, the Proterra is about to change your old ways. The thoughtful design of this line ensures there’s no longer a need to pack sneakers and hiking shoes. Granite slabs or European cobblestones, the inverted lug design along with sticky, proprietary Merrell rubber ensures less slipping and sliding. All the while, you receive a greater sensation of the actual terrain your trodding.
Looking for a little extra protection from the elements? Merrell also offers the Proterra Sport and Proterra Mid with GORE-TEX® ConnectFit waterproof membrane. Whether Mother Nature decides to surprise you with a little shower, or you’re planning on some puddle jumping with the kidlets, you get a low-bulk upper that remains breathable while keeping your feet dry.
Notes from the Trail…
As noted above, the Proterra isn’t a pure minimalist hiker, and it’s slightly heavier than one might expect from a hiking shoe that falls under the broad “minimalist-in-design” umbrella. While the overall design brings you closer to the trail, it also ensures that you have plenty of protection when the trail gets rough. The other thing you’ll notice is that these speed-hikers aren’t as flexible through the mid-foot region as some other lightweight hikers in this category. However, that factor never detracted from the overall ride and simply meant a little additional adjustment time for our test team.
Bottom Line…
The Proterra line strips away the thick, heavy boots once synonymous with hiking, and embraces a more minimalist design that aims to help people connect to the world around them in a more natural way.
*Gumption Gear Review received a sample of the item featured in this review from Merrell at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The item featured was provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.