Merrell is starting off the new year with a brand-new sneaker model.
Called the SpeedArc Surge Boa, Merrell’s latest product is categorized as an athletic fast hiking sneaker that introduces the new SpeedArc midsole system featuring active response coils, an innovative construction crafted with the latest FloatPro technology and Flexplate.
According to the Wolverine Worldwide-owned footwear brand, the proprietary design is made up of “coil-like shapes to work in harmony with the layered nylon plate, delivering shock-absorbing stability and energy return, making the next step effortless to set your hike free.”
Merrell said in a release that its design team was inspired to recreate the shock absorption system of a high-clearance vehicle as a shoe – to use its power for rebound and transform unstable trail surfaces into energy.
“We’ve purposefully built the SpeedArc Surge Boa to return every ounce of energy you put in, taking each stride and propelling it forward,” Ian Cobb, senior design director at Merrell, said in a statement. “With double the energy return found in our independent lab tests, it keeps your feet feeling cushioned and comfortable every step of the way so you can experience a motion that knows no bounds and zero limitations. This shoe will make your four miles feel like two.”
What’s more, the new model introduces a new nitrogen-injected supercritical foam called FloatPro+ SC, providing improved cushion and propulsion. The FloatPro+ SC foam sole is doubled up as two individual midsole layers and separated by an exposed nylon Flexplate feature in an innovative sandwich construction.
The company added that the shoe’s construction creates a unique stabilizing platform: the foam midsole closest to the ground absorbs the shock of hiking on rocks and uneven terrain, while the foam midsole closest to the foot absorbs and rebounds the body’s gait cycle. The nylon Flexplate feature separates the two soles acts as a stabilizer between the two midsoles – creating a cushioned propulsion forward for the hiker wearing it.
Paired with the full Matryx upper by Chamatex with a knit bootie collar construction, the shoe also has a dynamic lock down fit by turning a knob to tighten, loosen and snap laces into place.
“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,” Cobb added.
The SpeedArc Surge Boa, which retails for $290, will be available in men’s and women’s sizes on Jan. 7 at Merrell.com.
