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. 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. Overall, the Merrell Moab Adventure Luna Lace looks and feels ready for adventure. The Merrell Nova fits just right 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 shoe is ideal for those who value breathability, as the mesh upper and lining help keep your feet cool and dry. The removable EVA foam insole allows for a personalized fit, making this shoe ideal for those with custom orthotics. The shoe is also stylish, with a range of colors available to suit any taste.

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.The Merrell Nova is a versatile and comfortable hiking shoe that's perfect for any trail. With a combination of durability, support, and breathability, this shoe is designed to keep your feet comfortable and protected during long hikes. I didn’t feel like my heel was loose in the shoe, which is a critical factor in blister prevention. I appreciated the lightweight design, overall flexibility, cushioning pods in the heel and forefoot, and excellent traction that this model provides. 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 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. On the terrain it prefers, the Nova 3 feels agile. We liked the confidence the toe protection gave us too. Sustainability Its design is similar to that of brands such as Altra or Topo, with a lower heel-to-toe drop than many traditional running shoes and a roomy toe box.

Design and features

The heel cup on the Merrell Nova is rigid yet padded to keep my feet free from unwanted motion inside the shoe. The RW Takeaway: The Nova doesn’t skimp on traction, cushioning, or durability (despite its modest price) and is well-suited for wet terrain and trails of moderate difficulty. It gets the job done well so that I could make it to the mountaintop in record time! The Merrell Nova is a rugged-looking shoe

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 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. The shoe includes a durable toe bumper for protection as well. I can attest that, without the bumper, I would have probably experienced a toe stub on at least one of my hikes or runs. Reflective strips on the Nova

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Featuring sneaker-light comfort and hiker-like durability, the Nova Sneaker Boot offers the perfect cold-weather escape vehicle for when you're ready to answer the call of the wild. 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 Merrell Nova appeared to have the right balance of lightweight performance, grip and cushioning.