Standing for Moving Quickly in the Mountains the third iteration of our best-selling multi-tool of footwear is stable enough to hike in agile enough to run in and durable enough for light scrambling. Version 3 features a new grippy Vibram sole and a lace-to-toe lacing system for an improved locked-in fit.
Standing for Moving Quickly in the Mountains the third iteration of our best-selling multi-tool of footwear is stable enough to hike in agile enough to run in and durable enough for light scrambling. Version 3 features a new grippy Vibram sole and a lace-to-toe lacing system for an improved locked-in fit.
Standing for Moving Quickly in the Mountains the third iteration of our best-selling multi-tool of footwear is stable enough to hike in agile enough to run in and durable enough for light scrambling. Version 3 features a new grippy Vibram sole and a lace-to-toe lacing system for an improved locked-in fit.
Standing for Moving Quickly in the Mountains the third iteration of our best-selling multi-tool of footwear is stable enough to hike in agile enough to run in and durable enough for light scrambling. Version 3 features a new grippy Vibram sole and a lace-to-toe lacing system for an improved locked-in fit.
Last updated at 08/08/2025 00:40:14
originally posted on merrell.com
I use these shoes for discgolf and I love them for both comfort and function. As far as that goes theyare amazing....however, both shoes tore in the same place on the toe box after less than three months use.Rest of shoes look fine. Unfortunately I bought a second pair and a gore tex pair prior to this becoming obvious.Having climbed for many years, I have beat the life out of many shoes/boots and never saw any fail first on top where they do not contact much of anything -this and the fact this occurred on both shoes in the same place seems like a quality issue.I considered returning but they are so comfortable I'm just gonna goo them and see how far they go.I have not purchased Merril shoes in many years. I always remembered them being indestructible and was so ... MoreI use these shoes for discgolf and I love them for both comfort and function. As far as that goes theyare amazing....however, both shoes tore in the same place on the toe box after less than three months use.Rest of shoes look fine. Unfortunately I bought a second pair and a gore tex pair prior to this becoming obvious.Having climbed for many years, I have beat the life out of many shoes/boots and never saw any fail first on top where they do not contact much of anything -this and the fact this occurred on both shoes in the same place seems like a quality issue.I considered returning but they are so comfortable I'm just gonna goo them and see how far they go.I have not purchased Merril shoes in many years. I always remembered them being indestructible and was so excited about funding these. Unfortunately this was not the case.
originally posted on merrell.com
I previously owned the mqm gtx and it was amazing. Fit was perfect. I was a size 10. Waterproof was solid but failed after a while, as is the case with almost all waterproof shoes, but it was fine because I definitely got my money's worth!I was so excited to order a new pair of kicks and these were on sale a few months ago. Since I was traveling overseas, I ordered a new pair, size 10, and sent it to my parent's home. A month or so later, I arrived, tried them on, and they seemed ok, but a bit tight in the toe.Whatever, they needed to be broken in I guess. Since it was summer time, I didn't wear them much and stuck with my sandals.Now, I am working a job in agriculture, which is perfect for these shoes! I started to wear them daily - months past the return ... MoreI previously owned the mqm gtx and it was amazing. Fit was perfect. I was a size 10. Waterproof was solid but failed after a while, as is the case with almost all waterproof shoes, but it was fine because I definitely got my money's worth!I was so excited to order a new pair of kicks and these were on sale a few months ago. Since I was traveling overseas, I ordered a new pair, size 10, and sent it to my parent's home. A month or so later, I arrived, tried them on, and they seemed ok, but a bit tight in the toe.Whatever, they needed to be broken in I guess. Since it was summer time, I didn't wear them much and stuck with my sandals.Now, I am working a job in agriculture, which is perfect for these shoes! I started to wear them daily - months past the return date - and immediately my big toe nails became severely bruised, and my feet are in tons of pain.Since then, they've added the disclaimer here to order a half size up. I don't know why they would size things incorrectly - if you're supposed to order a half size up, why not change the 10 to a 9.5, and the 10.5 to a 10? Seems pretty silly.Regardless, now I own $100 paper weights, that, when I wear them, create a lot of pain. I am outside of the return window. Everything else about these shoes are exactly what I needed - a semi low drop of 6mm, waterproof, comfortable (regardless of the pain that these shoes give me AFTER I take them off, they are actually decently comfy when wearing them, aside from a tightness in the toe box).I suppose I will wear them around town and when I don't need to walk very much to get some value out of the money, but I'd recommend ordering at least a half size up in these, especially if you intend to use them hard in any way.
originally posted on merrell.com
Once again, a shoe company has decided to fix something that wasn't broken. The MQM Flex and MQM 2 were some of the only decent trail runners offered by this company, and they have decided to redesign them. The "Climbing zone" on the tread gives no grip and makes it super easy to slip on wet rocks, grass, and mud. The fabric ripped in four spots in the toe box with less than 300 miles on the shoe. The old version was one of the most durable trail runners on the market.Additional thoughts- why is it so hard to find a non-gortex option of this shoe? Any hiker knows that there is no such thing as a waterproof shoe due to the large hole in the top where your foot goes in. Give us something breathable that dries (and no, that isn't Gortex). Also the title of the shoe is ... MoreOnce again, a shoe company has decided to fix something that wasn't broken. The MQM Flex and MQM 2 were some of the only decent trail runners offered by this company, and they have decided to redesign them. The "Climbing zone" on the tread gives no grip and makes it super easy to slip on wet rocks, grass, and mud. The fabric ripped in four spots in the toe box with less than 300 miles on the shoe. The old version was one of the most durable trail runners on the market.Additional thoughts- why is it so hard to find a non-gortex option of this shoe? Any hiker knows that there is no such thing as a waterproof shoe due to the large hole in the top where your foot goes in. Give us something breathable that dries (and no, that isn't Gortex). Also the title of the shoe is confusing. There are several different MQM models and it isn't a simple numbered system, and they all seem to be pretty different. You find one you like, they discontinue it, then you get to start a game of trial and error all over again.
I use these shoes for discgolf and I love them for both comfort and function. As far as that goes theyare amazing....however, both shoes tore in the same place on the toe box after less than three months use.Rest of shoes look fine. Unfortunately I bought a second pair and a gore tex pair prior to this becoming obvious.Having climbed for many years, I have beat the life out of many shoes/boots and never saw any fail first on top where they do not contact much of anything -this and the fact this occurred on both shoes in the same place seems like a quality issue.I considered returning but they are so comfortable I'm just gonna goo them and see how far they go.I have not purchased Merril shoes in many years. I always remembered them being indestructible and was so ... MoreI use these shoes for discgolf and I love them for both comfort and function. As far as that goes theyare amazing....however, both shoes tore in the same place on the toe box after less than three months use.Rest of shoes look fine. Unfortunately I bought a second pair and a gore tex pair prior to this becoming obvious.Having climbed for many years, I have beat the life out of many shoes/boots and never saw any fail first on top where they do not contact much of anything -this and the fact this occurred on both shoes in the same place seems like a quality issue.I considered returning but they are so comfortable I'm just gonna goo them and see how far they go.I have not purchased Merril shoes in many years. I always remembered them being indestructible and was so excited about funding these. Unfortunately this was not the case.
I previously owned the mqm gtx and it was amazing. Fit was perfect. I was a size 10. Waterproof was solid but failed after a while, as is the case with almost all waterproof shoes, but it was fine because I definitely got my money's worth!I was so excited to order a new pair of kicks and these were on sale a few months ago. Since I was traveling overseas, I ordered a new pair, size 10, and sent it to my parent's home. A month or so later, I arrived, tried them on, and they seemed ok, but a bit tight in the toe.Whatever, they needed to be broken in I guess. Since it was summer time, I didn't wear them much and stuck with my sandals.Now, I am working a job in agriculture, which is perfect for these shoes! I started to wear them daily - months past the return ... MoreI previously owned the mqm gtx and it was amazing. Fit was perfect. I was a size 10. Waterproof was solid but failed after a while, as is the case with almost all waterproof shoes, but it was fine because I definitely got my money's worth!I was so excited to order a new pair of kicks and these were on sale a few months ago. Since I was traveling overseas, I ordered a new pair, size 10, and sent it to my parent's home. A month or so later, I arrived, tried them on, and they seemed ok, but a bit tight in the toe.Whatever, they needed to be broken in I guess. Since it was summer time, I didn't wear them much and stuck with my sandals.Now, I am working a job in agriculture, which is perfect for these shoes! I started to wear them daily - months past the return date - and immediately my big toe nails became severely bruised, and my feet are in tons of pain.Since then, they've added the disclaimer here to order a half size up. I don't know why they would size things incorrectly - if you're supposed to order a half size up, why not change the 10 to a 9.5, and the 10.5 to a 10? Seems pretty silly.Regardless, now I own $100 paper weights, that, when I wear them, create a lot of pain. I am outside of the return window. Everything else about these shoes are exactly what I needed - a semi low drop of 6mm, waterproof, comfortable (regardless of the pain that these shoes give me AFTER I take them off, they are actually decently comfy when wearing them, aside from a tightness in the toe box).I suppose I will wear them around town and when I don't need to walk very much to get some value out of the money, but I'd recommend ordering at least a half size up in these, especially if you intend to use them hard in any way.
Once again, a shoe company has decided to fix something that wasn't broken. The MQM Flex and MQM 2 were some of the only decent trail runners offered by this company, and they have decided to redesign them. The "Climbing zone" on the tread gives no grip and makes it super easy to slip on wet rocks, grass, and mud. The fabric ripped in four spots in the toe box with less than 300 miles on the shoe. The old version was one of the most durable trail runners on the market.Additional thoughts- why is it so hard to find a non-gortex option of this shoe? Any hiker knows that there is no such thing as a waterproof shoe due to the large hole in the top where your foot goes in. Give us something breathable that dries (and no, that isn't Gortex). Also the title of the shoe is ... MoreOnce again, a shoe company has decided to fix something that wasn't broken. The MQM Flex and MQM 2 were some of the only decent trail runners offered by this company, and they have decided to redesign them. The "Climbing zone" on the tread gives no grip and makes it super easy to slip on wet rocks, grass, and mud. The fabric ripped in four spots in the toe box with less than 300 miles on the shoe. The old version was one of the most durable trail runners on the market.Additional thoughts- why is it so hard to find a non-gortex option of this shoe? Any hiker knows that there is no such thing as a waterproof shoe due to the large hole in the top where your foot goes in. Give us something breathable that dries (and no, that isn't Gortex). Also the title of the shoe is confusing. There are several different MQM models and it isn't a simple numbered system, and they all seem to be pretty different. You find one you like, they discontinue it, then you get to start a game of trial and error all over again.
Split it down the middle with my review. Received my men's size 13 early November 2022 as a replacement for a pair of MQM Flex 2 that was defective. Today is January 12, 2023. Roughly two months old. MQM 3 Gore Tex is s completely different shoe than the Flex. I use my pair for hiking in Massachusetts. First, the Gore Tex has been great keeping my feet dry. I've trekked through wet meadows, edge of brooks and rivers, stepped in puddles, in the mud and my feet are dry. Exterior of the shoe seems rugged. No tears from snagged branches or rocks. Traction is run of the mill. Not impressed. They don't dig into a trail surface like I'd hope. Stepping on boulders / rocks they can be slick. Stepping in stream side or river mud or trekking up a moist dirt hill, horrible ... MoreSplit it down the middle with my review. Received my men's size 13 early November 2022 as a replacement for a pair of MQM Flex 2 that was defective. Today is January 12, 2023. Roughly two months old. MQM 3 Gore Tex is s completely different shoe than the Flex. I use my pair for hiking in Massachusetts. First, the Gore Tex has been great keeping my feet dry. I've trekked through wet meadows, edge of brooks and rivers, stepped in puddles, in the mud and my feet are dry. Exterior of the shoe seems rugged. No tears from snagged branches or rocks. Traction is run of the mill. Not impressed. They don't dig into a trail surface like I'd hope. Stepping on boulders / rocks they can be slick. Stepping in stream side or river mud or trekking up a moist dirt hill, horrible traction. Wet pavement too. Not grippy. Laces frequently come undone, a major nuisance when it's below freezing. I have mine laced to the top and the laces aren't long enough to double knot. Toe bumpers on both shoes are coming undone. Stitching along my ankle at the top of the shoe is coming-up. Cushioning is not what I was used to with the MQM Flex 2. MQM 3 it's poor. I'm 6' 3", my knees take a beating. MQM 3, my knees are starting to ache. I have narrow, low volume feet. Narrow fit is great. Toe box is not too roomy and not too tight. I'm happy. The volume at the top of the toe box for me is not the best, completely different than the Flex, but has improved since I've broken-in the shoes. They crunch/fold into my toes. Thicker sock the better it is. If you have normal, narrow feet you'd be fine. I've contacted MERRELL customer service about my pair's defects and other feedback I'm giving in this review. Rep was receptive and I've initiated a defect claim via MERRELL's website.
I have many Merrell shoes and boots - all 5 stars. This is the first pair of Merrell shoes that I don't like for three reasons: 1) the 'Climbing Zone" at the toe of the sole has no grip. Great if you are scaling a mountain (in these shoes?) but terrible for most of the hiking I do on wet roots/soil/snow as there is zero grip on the front of the shoe. It's a bit dangerous trying to get a toe hold if I'm not careful. 2) The shoe does not accept orthotics very well - it's not deep enough. When I insert my orthotic my heel just slips up and down, which causes blisters and excessive wear on the shoe (all my other Merrell shoe accept orthotics just fine) . Without an orthotic inserted the shoe has limited use for me. 3) It's a bit firmer than the other Merrell shoes I've ... MoreI have many Merrell shoes and boots - all 5 stars. This is the first pair of Merrell shoes that I don't like for three reasons: 1) the 'Climbing Zone" at the toe of the sole has no grip. Great if you are scaling a mountain (in these shoes?) but terrible for most of the hiking I do on wet roots/soil/snow as there is zero grip on the front of the shoe. It's a bit dangerous trying to get a toe hold if I'm not careful. 2) The shoe does not accept orthotics very well - it's not deep enough. When I insert my orthotic my heel just slips up and down, which causes blisters and excessive wear on the shoe (all my other Merrell shoe accept orthotics just fine) . Without an orthotic inserted the shoe has limited use for me. 3) It's a bit firmer than the other Merrell shoes I've owned - I have come to expect the 'walking on air' feeling with Merrell, and this one just doesn't feel that way.
I have to say, I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS SHOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merrell had an excellent thing going with the mqm2, and they took it and threw it in the TOILET, turned on the terrible shoe machine, and then sold it at a premium. The mqm2 was the perfect cross shoe that didn't try to be some wanna-be rock walking shoe like it's newer model. I mean, it was basically a gore-tex new balance made for active outdoor use. The fit on the 3 is extremely narrow and just generally sucks compared to the previous model. The toebox is so narrow, it crunces my toes. I get that the laces came untied excessively on the last model...the extra loop hole on the new one is ok, but the loops on the toe are WAY TOO FAR DOWN, and constrict the widest part of any foot as well as the ... MoreI have to say, I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS SHOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merrell had an excellent thing going with the mqm2, and they took it and threw it in the TOILET, turned on the terrible shoe machine, and then sold it at a premium. The mqm2 was the perfect cross shoe that didn't try to be some wanna-be rock walking shoe like it's newer model. I mean, it was basically a gore-tex new balance made for active outdoor use. The fit on the 3 is extremely narrow and just generally sucks compared to the previous model. The toebox is so narrow, it crunces my toes. I get that the laces came untied excessively on the last model...the extra loop hole on the new one is ok, but the loops on the toe are WAY TOO FAR DOWN, and constrict the widest part of any foot as well as the toes!!!!! I should have bought every single mqm2 in stock in my size. Now I have to go look for another shoe that Merrel doesn't sell. Thought I'd finally found the best shoe ever with the mqm2. FAIL. I took the insoles out of the mqm3 and, now, I switch them between my raggedy mqm2's. It's better to look like I wear I old shoes than to wear some new pieces of trash that look cool and hurt my feet (I can only have the mqm3's on for a few hours, before I have to take them off. They give me top of foot blisters as well as soreness on my heels, footpads, and toes). Merrell, I hope you see all these terrible reviews and do something about it.
I work at a distillery, mostly in the office these days, but I do a little bit of everything around here. I do not need a composite toe boot, and did need something water proof, anti slip, and breathable. Some days I'm around water standing quite a bit. These so far have fit the bill. I can wear them all day and still not have sore feet. Although this is not the intended use for these shoes, they are perfect for me. I only gave 4 stars since they are still rather new, I will update in a year.
I'm not sure about the use case of some of the other reviewers. This is a climbing approach shoe with transitional grip depending on what part of the shoe is taking your weight. This is especially important to note when walking on loose or wet surfaces.My review:TLDR: Okay for climbing up to 5.10 gym routes, I struggled with the 5.11s. Used them to climb an alpine route today and I'm going to buy out all pairs in my size.I'm shopping for a climbing trip to Rogers Pass and I'm looking for a shoe I can wear for the climbing and the hiking. The intention to only have a single style of shoe so I don't have to carry up climbing shoes or hiking boots. With that in mind, I ordered these and tested them this weekend.Gym test:I took the shoe to my local climbing ... MoreI'm not sure about the use case of some of the other reviewers. This is a climbing approach shoe with transitional grip depending on what part of the shoe is taking your weight. This is especially important to note when walking on loose or wet surfaces.My review:TLDR: Okay for climbing up to 5.10 gym routes, I struggled with the 5.11s. Used them to climb an alpine route today and I'm going to buy out all pairs in my size.I'm shopping for a climbing trip to Rogers Pass and I'm looking for a shoe I can wear for the climbing and the hiking. The intention to only have a single style of shoe so I don't have to carry up climbing shoes or hiking boots. With that in mind, I ordered these and tested them this weekend.Gym test:I took the shoe to my local climbing gym and tried out the routes. I'm a high 11's low 12's kind of climber wearing good shoes and these things were fine up to 5.10+. When I tried the 5.11a/b routes I found doing them quite a challenge. This is pretty par for the course for any Vibram soled approach shoe though. They're too soft to edge the higher grades. On the boulder problems it was of course very problem dependent. These shoes have the climbing toe but the reinforced walls for jamming crack are only for show. There are better approach shoes out there if you're anticipating crack climbing. These things are for smears, slopers, and limited edging.Alpine test:I wore these and climbed Mount French. This is a low difficulty alpine climb and it had a little bit of everything. Bushwacking, deadfall, long approach, glacier travel, scree, debris field, slab, and low 5th climbing at high elevations.The good: I felt quite sure of my footing doing the low 5th class movement with high exposure. The toe and shoe platform worked well on the smooth limestone I was climbing. I could comfortably hit 2 cm edges and uncomfortable hit 1 cm edges. Anything smaller than that I was just smearing. The mid-transition grip worked surprising well on the glacier. I wasn't expecting that.The bad:Why make a shoe like this waterproof? I just don't get it. Maybe there are other shoe users out there that need it but I've never been in a climbing environment where I wanted a shoe to be waterproof (boots yes, I want those waterproof sometimes). I started this climbing early, everything was covered in dew. My shoes were soaked within 15 minutes and remained soaked for the next 9.5 hours of climbing. The only good thing about the waterproofing was that when it rained while I was crossing the glacier, the slush couldn't flow into the shoes because the shoes were already full of water.The ugly:These are light weight approach shoes meant for a hike and a bit of climbing. Taking them out on an alpine route takes a lot of the life out of the shoe. I cut through the sidewall going down a debris field and I wore the cushion under the climbing area of the left shoe during some of the corner climbing I had to do. This is the price you pay for getting a shoe that's this light, you're going to have to buy more. My guess would be you could do 5 PD+ alpine routes in this shoe and then you'd need a new pair. For my trip, I'm purchasing 3 pairs.
I’ve been a size 12 in Merrell’s from the start. The toe cap on these boots are tight. I can only wear them with the lightest ankle socks. However, then my heal slips a bit. Right now I’m breaking them in walking around my house. I have yet to have them on the trails. I’ve purchased 2 pairs. They are light. Cant tell you if they are waterproof but, the color is sharp! This is the first pair of boots from Merrell I can’t wear boot socks with. For the price (on sale) I figured why not. I can’t go with a bigger size as my heal will come out and smaller is not an option either. We will see how it goes
Bought these because I wanted a waterproof lightweight shoe for walking around the Disney parks in Florida. They are great, even at 10 miles per day. Surprisingly did not overheat my feet, and did not get wet inside even with the afternoon rains pouring down. Definitely agree with the reviews that recommend going a half size up from your normal. That was the perfect fit for my feet. Normally I am more comfortable in a wide width, and these run a bit tight/narrow, but again, going the half size up fit me perfectly.
