These days, it’s not just the terminally online that could benefit from getting outside more; it’s most of us. The great outdoors – essentially anywhere that isn’t your house or workplace – is filled with grass to be touched, new friends to be made and (importantly) steps to be logged, but your shoes will determine just how comfortable your journey will be. Merrell, the world's leading hiking and outdoor footwear brand, wants to take the outdoor industry into a new era with the SpeedARC. The brand launched the SpeedARC Surge BOA in January and the SpeedARC Matis today, introducing an athletic fast hiking sneaker, merging style, fit and engineering for effortless hiking. 

In Merrell’s SpeedARC campaign, we meet three young creatives as they get their steps in around New York City. Graham, an artist and gaffer, heads to his local laundry mat, neighbourhood deli, coffee shop and then to Maria Hernadez Park. Giovanni, a dog walker and ‘corporate baddie’, starts his day at the park before stopping by Lighthouse Fish Market and shopping for new plant pots. Violet, a student and styling assistant, gets a classic bacon egg and cheese at Corner Grocers and then goes shopping at Ludlow Flea Market and Tompkins Farmers Market.

The SpeedARC collection pushes the boundaries of trail footwear. It brings over 40 years of trail legacy and innovation into one revolutionary hiking shoe, bringing you revolutionary energy return, an advanced midsole system and precision fit technology. Born to be worn beyond the conventional trail, the ultra-lightweight, soft and durable SpeedARC Matis are athletic, lightweight and stylish, with FloatPro™ Foam Cushioning, FlexPlate™ Technology and the Vibram® Megagrip® Outsole. Rebellious in design and revolutionary in propulsion, the SpeedARC™ midsole system’s active response coils are precision-engineered to deliver effortless performance . Essentially, the SpeedARC Matis is your everyday hiking shoe that will make four miles feel like two. 

Getting outdoors is simple but powerful: that’s why Merrell is committed to helping people experience more of it. Whether you’re on a light hike or the sidewalk to the trail, the SpeedARC collection propels you forward, offering energy return to help make your strides easier and more efficient. Even if you put a little energy in, you’ll get a lot of energy out. “We’re transforming expectations and reimagining what hike can be, where it can take you and how a hiking shoe looks, to give you a sense of confidence on each hike,” says Merrell Senior Design Director Ian Cobb. This means there’s no walk too easy or tough: you can move effortlessly from paved streets to rugged trails. 

The SpeedARC Surge BOA and new SpeedARC Matis are available now.