If you’re looking for that perfect minimalist shoe for both road and trail, look no further because the Merrell Mix Master 2 is here for the rescue. The Merrell Mix Master 2 has a 4mm drop going from 9mm in the heel to 5mm in the toe, meaning this doesn’t fit into the “barefoot” category, but it does an amazing job in the minimalist running category.

The upper of the Merrell Mix Master 2 is made from a mesh material for breathability and synthetic leather to allow the shoe to keep proper shape and form. The synthetic overlays go over the forefoot which helps prevent your foot from blowing out of the sides and it also keep your foot from running too sloppy. From the top lacing hole, there is a heavier synthetic material that goes in a diagonal direction down the the heel and wrapping around to the other side to provide a snug secure fit in the heel.

The upper sits pretty low on the foot, so there is less ankle support for those needing that extra protection, but for me it was just right. The footbed of the Mix Master 2 is standard footbed foam, nothing fancy but it does its job. For a little abrasion protection on the toebox, there is a layer of synthetic material with a light coat of rubber over the material. I wouldn’t consider this to be a beefy toe bumper by any means, but it helps keep shoe form in the toebox and helps keep your precious little toes protected.