Merrell Nova 4 Review: This One’s for the Boys (No, Literally)

Introduction to the Merrell Nova 4

MICHAEL: As shoe reviewers, it’s easy to always be focused on the next big release. Our perpetual anticipation of the next flashy racing shoe often results in heaps of great daily trainers, which happen to be designed for 350-plus miles of training, falling to the wayside. It’s kind of wild when you think of it that the shoes that are probably worn for around 10-20% of a runner’s yearly mileage get 80-90% of the industry’s attention at events like TRE.

While I don’t necessarily have the data to back it up, I imagine that a historical analysis of what shoe models actually see the most trail mileage would argue that the most important gear choices we make have nothing to do with what is coming on the horizon, but rather those relatively boring products that we probably already own (think about the old, crusty pair of Altra Lone Peaks or Hoka Speedgoats in your closet).

For a non-running example, my trusty Amazon coffee grinder, coffee maker, and favorite mug play a hugely pivotal role in an important, daily routine I’ve been fostering for the past few years of procrastinating getting out the door for my morning run. Without them, I’d probably have no problem meeting my GRIT goal every time, and we can’t have that. You see, it’s these oft-overlooked “daily drivers” that actually make the most significant impacts on most of our experiences, whether they’re on the trails or on the couch.

It’s with this ethos, one of day-in, day-out simplicity and durability, that the Merrell Nova was created. Bringing in aspects of classic Merrell styling from their beloved hiking lineup, Merrell designed the Nova with functional materials for normal folks like us to enjoy running in the everyday. For this particular iteration, a simple yet stylish mesh upper is paired with a relatively ordinary lightweight FloatPro EVA midsole. Add a durable Quantum Grip outsole, and the Nova is well poised to just simply run trails. So grab your trusty mug, pour yourself a fresh cup, and settle into your couch for a breakdown of this versatile workhorse. Shoot, maybe even procrastinate your morning run while you’re at it? This one’s for the normal people out there.

SAM: Michael and I seem to often be of one mind in these reviews we do together. I, too, can sing you the praises of a utility shoe. I, too, have pairs of dirt-crusted Altra Lone Peaks and Saucony Peregrines tucked through my house like they’re acorns and I’m a hoarding squirrel prepping for a winter of miles. I, too, time my mornings around the gravelly crunch of my coffee grinder and the steam wafting off my Bonavita brewer.

But I’m not going to use up this space to also regale you with the benefits of those daily driver shoes we can never seem to give up, Michael has done an amazing job on that already. Nor am I going to go into more detail of the construction and features in the Merrell Nova 4, the shoe all these words theoretically concern. He took care of that too, so I have the wonderful chance to swing for the fences and be a little creative (or, a little lazy) here.

Truthfully, when I think about my test miles in the Nova 4, I’m reminded that disappointment is an ever-morphing friend, even when it comes to something as commonplace as an everyday trail shoe. By morphing, I don’t mean that disappointment is going to form a Megazord and swing a sword at an oversized Rita Repulsa, but instead that it’s not a permanent, definite state. Instead, it’s a way for us to see new perspectives, to learn and grow.

Apparently, Michael wrote such a good intro that it made me wax philosophical instead of actually talking about shoes, so I’m going to move on before this gets any worse, and you’ll have to figure out what I mean in the following sections.

What we like about the Merrell Nova 4

MICHAEL: As previously mentioned, Merrell starts things off for the Nova quite nicely with an upper design that harkens over to its uber-popular hiking lineup. That statement will mean different things to different people, and not everyone likes to get on board with the scout leader aesthetic, but I really enjoyed the subtle styling and subdued blues of my Cement sample colorway. In fact, I really enjoy all six (!) of the colorways Merrell has to offer for this shoe. Simply put, I appreciate that the vibe here is just as at home on a neighborhood stroll as it is on the trails.

Like the styling, I found the upper material itself, and the midsole for that matter, to be refreshingly average. The simple mesh upper struck a nice balance between breathability and perceived durability, and the tongue was comfortable. The FloatPro midsole erred on the firmer side, giving the shoe a nice structure and protection underfoot whilst keeping the weight of the shoe down. The ride is not necessarily soft or cushioned and feels a little like its distant cousin (Merrell and Saucony are owned by the same parent company), the Peregrine.

Playing off the upper, the outsole of the Nova proved to be simple and dependable, with a web-like construction that helps to keep the weight down without sacrificing durability or coverage. The Quantum Grip material itself performed adequately, much like Saucony’s PWRTRAC outsoles perennially featured on the Peregrine.

As Sam mentions below, the FloatPro midsole does a great job of providing a balance of protection and cushioning. This instance probably errs more on the protective side, allowing the Nova 4 to forgo the need for a rock plate or full coverage outsole without significant issues. It’s fairly comfortable, lightweight, not at all flashy, and equally adept at running the same local singletrack loop for the hundredth time this year as it is to go on a neighborhood walk with your dog.

To quote Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

SAM: Michael is right, the visuals on the Merrell Nova 4 have crept in from the company’s erstwhile sportstyle line, and then they’ve been sprinkled with a touch of “classic hiking shoe.” It’s an understated look, especially when compared to other flashy Merrell sportstyle releases like the SpeedArc Surge BOA, but it’s a good one. There’s just the hint of the outline of mountain peaks on the weave on the side of the upper, and I think using contrasting colors for the highlights in some of the colorways is a bold choice that pays off.

This same upper is made from an engineered mesh that is very breathable. It fits true to size, and there’s plenty of room for your toes in the toebox, an apparent turn from many of the other Merrells I’ve worn. There’s support around the heel, and I didn’t have issues getting my heel set into the heel cup.

Underneath that upper, the FloatPro midsole is medium firm and protective. It softened a bit less but felt better on the step-in than when I tested it in the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX. To reduce stiffness in the forefoot and promote confidence and momentum, Merell has cut cross-hatched grooves into the inner footbed of the FloatPro foam right under the ball of your foot. They call it “Innerflex,” and the grooves definitely make the forefoot of the shoe more flexible without jeopardizing the protection offered by the foam.

The Nova 4 is equipped with an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop, and that drop, combined with the extra flex in the forefoot and the support in the heel, creates a feeling of forward momentum that’s fun and still casual on easy, flat surfaces.

To keep you on your feet, the Nova 4 is equipped with a proprietary Quantum Grip outsole with lugs arranged on a web-like soleplate. It has slightly more coverage than the similar web-like outsoles on the Skyfire and Agility Peak lines, and we certainly love to see proven tech trickle down to more affordable models. This outsole on the Nova 4 is plenty grippy in all conditions.

What we don’t like about the Merrell Nova 4

MICHAEL: While I enjoyed the look and construction of this upper, I found the fit around the heel and midfoot to be baggier than the boot cut on Kendrick Lamar’s jeans. As long as I wasn’t blasting down hills, it didn’t end up being a problem, but when the going got steep, I definitely noticed my feet sliding around in the shoe more than I’d like, despite my efforts of cinching up the lacing chain for more security. The longer, roomier toe box leads me to think that this may have simply been a sizing issue, so it may be worth trying a half-size down if you normally have to do that kind of thing

Also, I agree with what Sam is saying below about the drop. When combined with the loose fit, 8 mm felt a little too severe for really technical, steep descents. This is an area where the Nova might look to its aforementioned cousin, the Peregrine, which features a 4 mm drop.

SAM: Just above, I noted that the Nova 4 fell into the “more affordable models” part of Merell’s trail running lineup. Remember the “disappointment” I alluded to via word salad in my introduction? Here’s where that returns to us, because at $130, this shoe is only $10 less than the Merrell Agility Peak 5, which Taylor loved. However, it’s $30 more than the Morphlite, which we were slightly more torn on. So it’s affordable in that it’s cheaper than other shoes, mostly.

And that’s all fine. Inflation in shoe pricing is a topic we reference in almost every review but never really want to tackle. It just is what it is. The thing is, with this model of the Nova 4, we’ve lost the overlay structure, the rock plate, the gaiter loop, and the Vibram soleplate from the Nova 3 and increased the cost of the shoe by $5.

This is all too bad because the upper in the Nova 4 could use some structure. It’s very baggy. Michael compared it to K-Dot’s boot-cut Super Bowl jeans, but I’d put it one step closer to jeans you might find on an industrial rap-rock band circa 2000. In the end, there were issues with it stretching over the course of a run, and tightening it down made it crease at the end of the lacing chain and at every lacing eyelet. I tried so hard and got so far, but I had a lot of lateral movement in the ball of my foot when trails ventured away from flat because of this. So, in the end, did it really matter?

The 8 mm drop also feels out of place, especially with the extra flexible forefoot from the Innerflex grooves. Downhill sections felt desperate like I was leaning over my toes without much stability to catch myself. The heel felt like a chunky block that wanted to roll over the easily flexing forefoot. As I noted above, this is nice for forward momentum as long as surfaces are flat, but slanted trails and downhill sections weren’t great.

Final thoughts on the Merrell Nova 4

MICHAEL: Whether you pick them up as your first pair of trail shoes or your 20th pair, Merrell’s simple, versatile, and subtly stylish Nova 4 has everything you need to just enjoy trail running. That is, of course, as long as you’re not expecting a crazy dialed fit or the latest tech. It’s not the greatest shoe out there, but it’s far from the worst if you’re just looking for something to get in your singletrack fix.

SAM: I ended my test miles not quite thrilled with the Merrell Nova 4. Then, I read Michael’s section of the review, and my disappointment began to shift. One of the things I love about the way we approach shoe reviewing here in the Dirt Division at BITR is that we really don’t talk to each other about what we think before we sit down to write. I get perspectives I hadn’t considered, angles to view a shoe from that I was previously blind to.

The truth is that the Merrell Nova 4 is chasing the casual trail runner who wants something familiar and reliable that won’t compromise on protection and grip. The flexible forefoot makes this more approachable, and the durable FloatPro midsole is sure to withstand more miles than most people would want to put on it. For all of that, this shoe fulfills its promise.

Maybe with this one, Michael and I aren’t in quite the same lockstep we usually are, but I’m thrilled to learn from his perspective. This still isn’t exactly the shoe for me, but if you’re the kind of runner, hiker, or urban explorer who likes shoes like the Brooks Cascadia and Altra Lone Peak, the Merrell Nova 4 has an accommodating fit, breathable upper, and more protection and grip than you could want.

You can pick up the Merrell Nova 4 for $130 from Merrell by using the button below.