The premise of the Limited Edition Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper trail running shoes is just great. Made out of recycled plastic and algae, this shoe has a small carbon footprint whilst offering a great trail running experience too.
The Sweeper Edition of the Bare Access XTR is a thank you from Merrell to all the hard-working volunteers who help keep trail running routes clean before and after the event, called sweepers. These are the people who remove debris from the path before and pick up all the rubbish after the races, making sure nature is returned its original state.
- Buy Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper Women's trail running shoes on Amazon for £90
- Buy Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper Men's trail running shoes on Amazon for £90
- Best trail running shoes: storm over tough terrain
Algae and plastic living in perfect harmony
Why do we like the Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper trail running shoes?
The Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper is built on the Bare Access XTR and its main concern is finding the balance between comfort and connection with the ground. Merrell has been manufacturing hiking footwear for over 30 years so knows a thing or two about what makes shoes good for trails.
The FLEXconnect technology supports the natural flexing of a foot
in motion to enhance agility on any terrain. Anatomically-inspired, bidirectional
flex grooves allow the foot to move naturally on uneven ground, providing
improved ground connection and stability.
On top of this, the Sweeper is really a running shoe we can call green. The material breakdown is as follows:
- 40% recycled mesh lining
- 100% recycled laces
- 30% recycled Vibram Ecodura outsole
- 100% recycled TPU overlays
- 40% recycled front mesh
- 10% algae BLOOM foam midsole
- 100% recycled rear mesh
- 100% recycled Hyperlock TPU film heel counter
The only plastic you should be proud to wear
Like it wasn't enough that the Sweeper is already using mostly recycled materials for most of its construction, the BLOOM foam midsole is made from 10% algae biomass which cleans and restores the environment when harvested for a more eco-friendly alternative to standard foams.
An extremely direct yet comfortable running shoe for all the eco-friendly trail runners (so basically all them). Priced at a moderate £90, given all the benefits of the Sweeper, it really is a no-brainer to get one.
- Buy Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper Women's trail running shoes on Amazon for £90
- Buy Merrell Bare Access XTR Sweeper Men's trail running shoes on Amazon for £90
- Best trail running shoes: storm over tough terrain
-
Under Armour’s running shoes are super cheap for Cyber MondayBag up to 50% off some of its best-sellers
-
Sore lower back after running? A physio says these three exercises can helpIf you’re prone to back aches after a run, give these a try!
-
The best fitness advent calendars for workout warriors and runnersStuffed with socks, protein bars and more!
-
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review: Smart bone conduction headphones with enhanced bassShokz's headphones changed my opinion about running while listening to music, and now I struggle to go out without them
-
How to survive an ultramarathonFear and self-loathing (and lots of love and lessons learned) on the Montane Lakeland ultra, the UK’s equivalent of the UTMB
-
Saucony Peregrine 14 review: old faithful gets more comfortableMinor tweaks are afoot, but this is still one of the best trail shoes out there
-
Hoka Speedgoat 6 review: a trail classic attempts to retain its title as the GOATUpgrades and revisions see this comfortable stability shoe back on top form
-
Forget sportswatches, here's the best way to track a runWorld's first smart running track has been announced
