The RW Takeaway: Merrell and Honey Stinger have teamed up to launch a sweet limited edition of the Agility Synthesis.
- Honeycomb-patterned upper
- Environmentally-friendly and functional features
- Responsive Bloom foam midsole
- Sizes sell out fast—so beat the swarm
Price: $110
Type: Trail
Drop: 6mm
Weight: 9 oz (M), 7 oz (W)
Available: Now
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I’m a sucker for food-themed inedible objects. And I can’t be alone. Think: sugar cookie-scented candles, avocado pet costumes, burrito blankets, and pumpkin spice-everything. And Runner’s World staff loves Honey Stinger Waffles; they were voted number one in our energy “bar” taste test.
So, when Merrell and Honey Stinger collaborated on a trail shoe, Merrell’s Agility Synthesis, and fellow staffers asked, “But why?” I retorted, “Why not?” What may seem like synchronicity, is actually a perfect marriage of gear and fuel. Sure, you cannot eat these shoes, but snacking on hexagon-shaped gummies or mini waffles for energy on the trail while wearing Honey Stinger trainers is just. So. Meta.
Rest assured that the only thing sticky about the Agility Synthesis is the rubber outsole, which has 5mm lugs. The responsive and soft Bloom foam midsole is made of 10 percent algae biomass, a biofuel that, according to Merrell, “cleans and restores the environment when harvested.” In fact, the shoelaces, TPU toe cap, and heel counter are all made from recycled materials. And even though the shoe is decked out with a honeycomb pattern, the Agility Synthesis, in actuality, is vegan-friendly too.
The shoe sold out after its mid-September release, but Merrell has recently restocked the trainer at merrell.com. But judging how us runners have hive minds when it comes to snagging limited edition food-themed running shoes (alas, it was sad to see you go so quickly, Brooks Melts Collection and Merrell x Dogfish Head), this new batch likely won’t hover for long.
