Yeah, Merrils have spoiled me.  There always have been boot that last longer but that no breakin thing is a hell of a selling point.  I have my Danners to my son over that and they were obviously better boots.  Merrils strength is that breakin.  They got their start making shoes for nurses etc. People who work in shoes and don't have the time to break them in.  That's their nitch, good traction, specific shoe/boot application, and comfort with good arch support.  I have probably five pairs now.  This one for work travel.  This one for winter.  This one for summer summer camping.  This one for camping.  Its better that way.  You don't wear them out that way and have the boot you need for the specific task.  I use to do one boot does all but I like my feet now.  

Sandals?  Good luck.  It takes me buying about three or four pairs I think are what I want before I find one that fits the what I want.  Though I'm really not a brand snob, unfortunately, sandals are just like boots.  You go cheap, cheap is what you get.  Sometime even the designer brands shock you.  I bought a pair of Nautica's years ago because they were on sale and they're still my favorite even worn with age.  I like a progressive tread, nylon velcro or clip upper, and smooth foot area for long day use and mulitiple getting wet and dries.  You'd figure that easy to fine but its not.  The proof in a sandal is walking.  If they are uncomfortable on a long walk, its a fail even if they do dry fast.  Get a good pair, like a good shoe, they're an extension of your feet.  Besides how temperature cool a sandal is, their strength is how light weight they are.  

I had an uncle who swore by moccasins but then his feet were like leather themselves.  I like having feeling in my feet, thus the Johnson's Foot Soap threads.  

I like Keens, they're a almost wear them out of the box like a Merrill and last longer.  They have a bit better styling too, but they are a quick wear out compared to say a Danner or other premium break in boots. They're an inbetween that no breakin comfort and too much breakin last forever.  

I just got some surprising boots for Christmas.  The wife bought me a pair of Harley Riddicks, $160 boot made for Harley by Wolverine.  Now keep in mind, motorcycle boots are not necessarily let's go walk in them boots and I didn't expect these to be.  They are.  Heavy suckers, they're lace side water resistent zipper for fast on, second zipper for venting, and enforced toe for shifting.  The surprise was Vibran plugs, air cushion heel, thick padded insole with outsanding arch support.  Hell if it wasn't for the weight, I'd hike in them.  They are heavy but built like a tank.  It beats the crap out of my Bates motorcycle boot which this replaces.  The Bates, well its a combat boot in biker styling.  It was a shock.  So much of Harley gear is the logo but there are exceptions I guess.

Tj

My first pair of Merrels is like that, a field only boot.  They're too heavy and bulky for every day wear.  They're really a summer boot, get wet fast dry versus keep your fee dry, but have a very aggressive tread pattern thick sole and feature metal eyes, things like that.  They're a lot temperature cooler as motorcycle boots too but every bit as bulky.  They have like 2" rubber sole.    

That's what I meant about Merrills.  I don't know if they still do but they use to have one very wide offering in boots from almost a tennis shoe with arch support to heavy clunker for ardious hiking.  They even use to rate them by pack carry, rock terrain, things like that.  

Its why I have so many of them.  I have a lined Gortex for winter use, low vented low quarters, similar to the Moab, for every day (they're really just a little better tennis shoe), light weight high quarters, etc.  They're the company got me away from one boot does it all.

That's saying something seeing I used my Vietnam Era combat boots till they had no treads and the soles were coming off.  That was like three decades but then those were made like a tanks and the breakin from hell  

When I use to work trade shows years ago, we use to be on our feet sometimes 16 hours a day on concrete with no padding.  I use to spit shine those boots and wear them even with a suit and tie.  I had/have a sick sense of humor sometimes and when the guys that worked for me would ask after a hard day on their feet if they could wear Converse style tennis shoes, I'd say sure.  Then I'd watch and smile at them suffering as I knew they'd only do that one day.  I use to try to explain to them, the lack of arch support would kill them but some things people just have to learn the hard way.  That's how I learned.

Tj

Hell my friend, I'm sorry I ever introduced Merrills and the such to my wife.  

Thinking like a man, it never dawned on me a woman would take to comfortable shoes right out of the box like a duck to water.  She's probably got 2 dozen pairs now mostly their work shoes.  

BTW, We may be heading down your way soon.  We're tossing around the idea of spending a couple days at Bike Week.