ProView – Merrell Women’s Antora 4 Review

I started learning most outdoor adventure sports later in life. As a jack-of-all trades and master of none, I am continually trying new things. The one exception to that is running. I have been a casual runner since I was 18. But it wasn’t until a few years ago I really tried my foot at trail running. It felt like I had finally found “my thing.” A big lover of backpacking and hiking, the progression to trail running felt natural. As a gal who tries to use her gear as long as possible, I learned quickly that the same concept doesn’t apply to trail running shoes. As any runner knows, support and tread matters way more than I realized as a beginner. Last summer I ran my first 50k, and fell in love. A long day of suffer-festing through mountains? Say less, I’m in.

As spring begins in Montana, I am happy to be hitting the trails, prepping for long runs and leaning into training blocks. My shoe choice definitely matters. I have found that the Merrell Antora 4 is a reasonable choice for close-to-home, easy trails. It’s comfy and lightweight, making it something I will grab for runs on gentle trails.

Fit & Comfort

I have wide feet and nearly always need to size up in trail shoes. Usually a 7, I chose a womens 8. I could have stuck with just half a size up. Even accounting for the wide foot, I had more room than expected for a narrow shoe. The sides of the shoe are a soft mesh. They don’t squeeze and don’t feel crowded, even when laced tied. Merrell seems true to size, but it’s still a narrowly built shoe. Keep that in mind when buying! 

The footbed is cushy and supportive. I’ve run consistently for a month in these shoes, and not a single blister (a true win). The soles have a medium sized tread. There is notable wear after a month of running. My guess is due to the lighter, less durable rubber. They give my foot an average amount of stability. The shoes heel is high to help keep debris out. 

Look & Features

Sporty and clean, the Antora looks more like a road shoe than the classic square toed shoes we all know and love. I like a pop of color, so I went with a choice, and have received lots of compliments. A cute trail shoe isn’t a must, but it sure is more fun. 

Durability & Construction

The body of the Antora 4 feels well enough constructed, but doesn’t give a feel of durability. More time in them might prove me wrong, but the wear on the tread already has me questioning if they will hold up for more than a few months. There are no other signs of premature wear.

Function & Performance

Overall I have been content with the shoes’ performance. They are comfortable on short-mid length runs (ranging from 3-10 miles). They still feel good after consistent use.

In that same vein, the lightweight build of the shoe makes me less likely to choose them for a full day excursion. I personally prefer my trail shoes to be made of sturdier materials on big days. I wish the tread wasn’t wearing as fast. I know trail shoes take a beating, and I am skeptical that these will hold up for more than a short period of time. The Antora 4 feels more like a road-hill shoe than full on trail shoe. 

The Final Word

The Antora 4 is a good option for casual trail running on soft terrain. Lightweight and breathable, it does well on easy runs, but lack of a study tread means they won’t be my first choice for anything technical. 

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