Merrell All Out Rush and All Out Fuse Review and Giveaway!

A few months ago, the folks at Merrell were nice enough to send me two pairs of shoes to test, the All Out Rush and the All Out Fuse. 

Giveaway!
Merrell has generously given me two pairs to give away to you, dear readers. 

If you'd like a pair, leave a comment below on which shoes you'd like to win and why. You may also Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway for another chance to win. Let me know you did so in your comment and be sure to mention @MerrellOutside in your Tweet or Facebook post.

Using RandomPicker, I'll choose two winners by the end of the day Thursday, September 25.

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN! Congratulations to Elizabeth Cleary and Shelly Cable! Send your contact info and I'll have Merrell send you the pair of your choice!

Thank you, Merrell. I have really enjoyed running in both pairs of these shoes. Below is my review.




The All Out Fuse
I basically live in the minimalist-leaning All Out Fuse. 

They are very lightweight (just 13 oz - that's for the pair). They fit like a glove and they're what I want to run in on all my short to mid-length runs on pavement or dirt trails.

When I have worn them on rocky trails, they aren't so minimalist that this is a deal-breaker. I simply wouldn't choose them for exceedingly rocky trails like the Massanuttens or the Appalachian Trail in Maryland or Pennsylvania.

These shoes are fantastically responsive and light. They have surprisingly good toe protection and a tread that really grips. The more I run in these shoes, the more I fall in love with them.

Merrell All Out Fuse

Another bonus: I get frequent compliments on the All Out Fuse when I wear them with casual clothing.

The All Out Rush
These babies are noticeably more rugged than the All Out Fuse. This is the shoe for my rockier runs. 

The All Out Rush performed equally well on the super-technical, rock-laden Appalachian Trail and the hard-packed jeep roads and soft dirt trails of the Vermont 100 miler. They loved the trails of Rock Creek Park in DC as well as the George Washington National Forest in West Virginia. I can take these shoes anywhere and know I'll be running happy.

Merrell All Out Rush after a trail run in West Virginia

Once I had them on my feet I mostly forgot I had them on. That's the true test that a shoe is working well for me. They simply performed solidly.

The feel of the slightly low cut around the ankle took a little bit of getting accustomed to at first, but in the end I really liked that feature. Anytime I can find another couple of degrees of freedom, I'm excited about that!

They're lightweight and nimble at just over 14 oz for the pair. They run a little wide, I think; I have a narrow foot and noticed that the toe box puckers a little when I tie them. The rigid sole provides more than ample protection while still allowing me to feel connected to the trail beneath me.

The traction is top notch. Though I have not yet had the chance to run in wintry conditions, they handled everything else Spring and Summer threw at me with aplomb; grass, mud, dirt, big rocks, sharp rocks, wet rocks, gravel.

Merrell All Out Rush at the Vermont 100 Miler 

These were both excellent shoes for trail running and I've already bought a second pair of the All Out Rush. I plan to buy another pair of the All Out Fuse after a few more miles, too. 

Don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible to win a pair for yourself!