Posted: 8/2/2008 9:59:47 PM EDT
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I'm not sure if this is the proper place for this or not, so move it if necessary. I'm looking to get a pair of sport/hiking shoes for frequent wear. I'm looking at the Merrell Outland Mid GoreTex Thoughts?? Junk? Decent? Good stuff?? I'm all ears, or eyes rather 
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I've had a few pairs of Merrill's, mostly the lower cut models. They are very nice and very comfortable but wear out very quickly. Because of that, I only buy them when I can find them on sale (Sportsman's Guide often has prior years models), but they are great for kicking around. For hiking/backpacking, I still prefer classic leather, specifically Danner Mountain Lights... rugged and last for years. |
| my dad just put 50miles on his outland mids in the sierras, absolutly loved them. they are good boots and took the mostly rocky trail very well. He did say they were light enough for what ever use too and they were not too stiff since they were a light/mid hiking boot. |
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I just went through this and this is the very shoe I was looking at. I tried several Merrell styles and couldn't find a single pair that felt good. The Ventilator mid hurt the hell out of the ball of my foot with every step. I ended up with the Keen Targhee II mid and absofreakinlutely love them. Incredibly comfortable. The only problem was finding some that would fit. Most folks say to get 1 1/2-2 sizes larger. I was ok after 1 1/2. I'm normally a 10 but had to get 11.5. I've been on a few hikes around the area and really like them. |
Love my Moabs as well. I also was given pair of their sandals but haven't really put them to much river use. Good stuff but I also agree with the previous posts. (get them on sale). |
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I had a pair of low cut hikers. Yeah they ran a little small. I bought them online...so I just broke them in and they were fine acutally. However, my pair had a short tread life. The sole had basically fell apart in pieces over the course of a couple weeks. I was disappointed. 
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| I've had great luck with Merrells.... BUT and a big but, the insoles are crap. Unless they have changed anything over the last few months, the insoles are this cheap crappy foam. I don't understand why they would make such a fine and comfortable shoe and put such a cheap insole in it. The thing is flat as paper after a couple of months. That said, I wear Merrells a lot, though I do have a pair of full grain leather Danner hiking boots to back them up... |
I can second the account on the sandals. I bought a pair back in spring of 2001, wore them all over Iceland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Czeck republic, Switzerland, Austria...you get the picture. I've had these sandals a long time, and they are still in active use, none the worse for the wear. If their shoes are anything like the sandals, wear them! |
Always a good idea. I have a couple of pairs of Merrells, and a long, relatively narrow foot (I wear 14Bs). They tend to run wide, in my experience. I've had pretty good wear from them, however...seem to be on a par with my Danners and my old Nikes (both nylon/leather), and less than my Vasques or my ancient Hermans (both full leather). One thing I've learned, years ago, and found to be true: if you can buy two pairs of shoes simultaneously (ideally, identical pairs, but 2 pairs at the same time), and alternate wearing them, you get a much-extended useful life from them; much more so than if you bought a pair, wore them everyday/wore them out, then bought another pair. That gives you 2 lifetimes, so to speak. By alternating them, you allow the shoes to rest/breathe between wearings, and get something like 3-5 lifetimes instead of 2 lifetimes of wear. I also benefit greatly from having my shoes fitted by a board certified pedorthist. David |