These shoes are very comfortable. They have the stability and base of a much more significant boot despite being low hikers. They feel on your foot like you are wearing a very supportive and sturdy full hiking boot but lack the weight. Right after I put the shoe on I was impressed with the level of support and comfort. Very high marks on both. I found them comfortable while hiking and again found the stability quite impressive. The reason for 4 stars centers around the design. My wife joked at one point that me and a 60yo man "had the same shoes" at one point (they werent the same). I found the design to be modest but a bit frumpy. As a 34 yo male, I was not inclined to wear these shoes anywhere other than in the woods. In the woods, I was very pleased with the shoes and would recommend them to others.
For reference, I am a big fan of Merrell shoes and boots. In fact, I have a pair of hiking boots that are REI brand that I've had for about a decade and loved, which I discovered after the fact were made for REI by Merrell. Merrells are some of the only shoes I've worn that were as comfortable on the first day as they were years later, no breaking in required. That hasn't been my experience with these shoes.
I have a narrow foot and don't find many shoes that fit. These were comfortable right out of the box. The tread is low profile but grips well. This made using the toe cages on my bike easy. Full leather and quality stitching make them seem like they will hold up to abuse. I would definitely recommend these and will probably be getting a pair of their boots
I bought these especially for a week-long trek in the Amazon. I wanted a shoe that was lightweight, waterproof, and somewhat breathable. This shoe outperformed on all of these qualifications. I dont normally write reviews, but this trip was exceptionally important to me, and in that environment comfort and performance are critical. Needless to say, I did not have to worry about my feet the whole trip. Additionally, they provide excellent support. I have also used these for work in horticulture for months and the shoes still hold up. I have been dissapointed in other name brands hiking type shoes, mostly because it seems as though they are not sealed thoroughly in at least one place. I think that is a major difference with these in that they are thoroughly sealed along the seems aas well as on the tongue top part. If these shoes have lasted through these conditions I would definitely bring them to many other type of vigorous hiking, such as at cooler altitudes, and/or rocky terrain. Oh yeah, they also grip well. Thank you AKU. I hope this helps somebody in their decision making process.
I have worn these boots for a few weeks on a variety of hikes, from short with consistent, steep elevation gain to longer rambles over gently rolling hills.
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