These are all-around great shoes for camping/hiking (backpacking TBD). Would recommend. Very comfortable - my feet are particular and I haven't had any unusual blisters (longest hike 6 miles). I can fit my orthotics on top of the insoles, and the footbox is wide enough. (Granted I went up 1/2 a size from 7.5 to 8 like I usually do with hiking boots for foot expansion and thick socks.) Compared to the 2011 Vasques I bought at REI 10 years ago these are *20%* lighter (I measured, but I felt it right away) and also waterproof. If someone was like “I need new hiking boots,” I’d be like "yeah you probably wouldn’t go wrong with these" - comfy, practical, sturdy, light, grippy Vibram soles, and no issues so far.When I picked up my feet and felt how light they were, I ... MoreThese are all-around great shoes for camping/hiking (backpacking TBD). Would recommend. Very comfortable - my feet are particular and I haven't had any unusual blisters (longest hike 6 miles). I can fit my orthotics on top of the insoles, and the footbox is wide enough. (Granted I went up 1/2 a size from 7.5 to 8 like I usually do with hiking boots for foot expansion and thick socks.) Compared to the 2011 Vasques I bought at REI 10 years ago these are *20%* lighter (I measured, but I felt it right away) and also waterproof. If someone was like “I need new hiking boots,” I’d be like "yeah you probably wouldn’t go wrong with these" - comfy, practical, sturdy, light, grippy Vibram soles, and no issues so far.When I picked up my feet and felt how light they were, I thought “hiking boot technology has really improved!” And then I thought that again when I was at the beach walking close to the waves and tidepooling and could step *in* the water - it was surprisingly anxiety relieving. No more fears of discomfort for days because of one misstep in my only boots. I often poo-poo new tech because it seems unnecessary, but I get it now. I haven't noticed them retaining more sweat than usual. And, their lightness makes them mentally easier to throw them in the car or pack them in a bag than before. Other new cool features were the reflective laces (safety), how the sole goes up the back of the heel (when I use one foot to take the other shoe off the sole doesn’t start to separate from the upper like my old ones), and the back hoop for pulling them over your heel is strung through the shoe and very sturdy. (I do wonder if it could be bigger for people with large fingers.) The lace hooks are also very sturdy metal vs plastic, which gives them a quality feel. These were fixes to problems I was aware of, and also improvements to issues I didn't even know I had.The main problem for me is their looks. Not terrible and the blue matches my pants, but I am *tired* of subtly gendered colors, and (as my friend says) *ready* for the full-function hiking boot that can go from the trail to the restaurant/hotel, so the only other pair of shoes you need are shower flip-flops. The fit and the form is there - but Merrell could really lure me in (and IMO open up a new niche that would become the standard) with a sleeker, minimalist exterior and more modern/imaginative colors (while keeping all of the practicality). My friend has the taller Merrell winter hiking boots that are all black and I wish these were offered in all black (or even all brown or grey) at the very least. I do feel like I should be pairing these with khaki zip-offs, a mismatched trail button down and an archeological treasure map, which I would wear if I had them and also a time and place. But I don't, so let's hurry up the innovation please hiking boot industry.My potential future caveats are that because I haven’t owned them over multiple years, is that I don’t know how they’ll hold up (including the waterproofing/how to care for the waterproofing) and I haven’t taken them backpacking. So far the soles feel less sturdy than my high-top Vasques (can’t feel a thing through those, but can feel a little bit through these) so I will still take the Vasques backpacking as my tried-and-true. But I’ll take these on non-backpacking camping trips, post-work daily hikes, and when I’m near water.

I’ve hiked regularly with these boots and am very pleased with them. First of all, they were the best fit for my wide, flat feet. And I love the fact that they don’t have pink or purple on them - why do manufacturers think all women want to wear girly colors, all the time? They have decent, moderate ankle support, and don’t bruise my ankles at the top of the boot! The laces don’t loosen up as I walk if I cross them only one extra time, just below the top, so they hold my feet in place securely without squeezing them too hard. They protect my feet from rocks and roots nicely. They grip the terrain well, though I haven’t been far enough from home to get above tree-line yet. I pronate badly in most boots, but these center my weight over the soles pretty well. My feet ... MoreI’ve hiked regularly with these boots and am very pleased with them. First of all, they were the best fit for my wide, flat feet. And I love the fact that they don’t have pink or purple on them - why do manufacturers think all women want to wear girly colors, all the time? They have decent, moderate ankle support, and don’t bruise my ankles at the top of the boot! The laces don’t loosen up as I walk if I cross them only one extra time, just below the top, so they hold my feet in place securely without squeezing them too hard. They protect my feet from rocks and roots nicely. They grip the terrain well, though I haven’t been far enough from home to get above tree-line yet. I pronate badly in most boots, but these center my weight over the soles pretty well. My feet have stayed warm & dry so far. The only complaint I have is that they could have more arch support, but then they probably wouldn’t fit as many women. Hoping the moderate cushioning lasts a long time, and looking forward to putting many more miles on them!

I have very wide feet with bunions on each foot. I also have a bone spur on the back of my right heel. Therefore, I have difficulties finding comfortable shoes. My first hike I went on, I wore hiking boots that looked brand new but were at least 15 years old. After the 7-mile hike, I had a blister on the back of my heel where the bone spur is and my toes and bottoms of my feet were so sore. I felt like I was walking barefoot on the rocks. My feet were sore for a few days following the day of the hike. My brother recommended that I get these Merrills. He has worn Merrills for many years and has never had any issues. After purchasing these Merrills, we went on a 9-mile hike over the course of 9 hours. We hikes over rough rocky terrain and crossed the stream many ... MoreI have very wide feet with bunions on each foot. I also have a bone spur on the back of my right heel. Therefore, I have difficulties finding comfortable shoes. My first hike I went on, I wore hiking boots that looked brand new but were at least 15 years old. After the 7-mile hike, I had a blister on the back of my heel where the bone spur is and my toes and bottoms of my feet were so sore. I felt like I was walking barefoot on the rocks. My feet were sore for a few days following the day of the hike. My brother recommended that I get these Merrills. He has worn Merrills for many years and has never had any issues. After purchasing these Merrills, we went on a 9-mile hike over the course of 9 hours. We hikes over rough rocky terrain and crossed the stream many times. Although the shoes are waterproof, the stream was higher than the tops of my shoes. I sloshed in my Merrills for the majority of the hike. My feet were very happy in these shoes, as I was able to walk on big rocks without any difficulty, my feet never were sore, I did not get one blister, and my toes were very happy the entire time. Although the shoes were wet most of the hiking time, they dried out very nicely. I am so happy with these Merrills. I am looking forward to my next hiking trip.