Merrell is a popular brand for both hiking boots and hiking shoes. The brand has legions of fans online who are quick to post "I love my Merrells" every time someone asks for hiking footwear recommendations. But Merrell hiking boots and shoes are much more popular on Facebook than they are in the outdoor industry. Is Merrell a good brand for you? As I explain below, that depends on your fit, your hiking style, and if you're most concerned about support, weight savings, or cost.
My Merrell brand review weighs the pros and cons of this popular brand based on my outdoor industry experience and my personal experience testing Merrells the past few years. How do Merrell hiking boots and shoes stack up against other brands? Why do many people in the outdoor industry not recommend Merrell to their friends, family members, and customers? Why do many hikers love them anyway? What are Merrell's best hiking boots and shoes? You'll find the answers below in my Merrell brand review.
Merrell Brand Review
Merrell has been around for forty years. The company initially sold custom-made hiking boots for the outdoor specialty market. When the original owners sold the brand in 1986, however, Merrell moved its manufacturing to Asia and shifted away from premium hiking boots to mass market footwear. Since 1997, it's been a subsidiary of Wolverine Worldwide— a Michigan-based company that also owns Wolverine work boots, Chacos, Keds, and Hush Puppies.
Merrell is best known for footwear that blurs the boundary between "hiking shoes" and casual "outdoor lifestyle" shoes. The brand's best seller is the Merrell Jungle Moc, a casual slip-on shoe that's not made for hiking. The Merrell Moab is known as "the world's best-selling hiker." However, many Merrell fans wear the Moab as a work shoe or everyday shoe— not strictly as a hiking shoe—and its quality is average at best.
Best-selling Merrell Moab hiking shoes
Merrell may be a popular brand in Facebook hiking groups, but it's a brand that many outdoor industry professionals love to hate. Why? The main reason is that Merrell hiking boots and shoes generally don't have much more support than your average sneaker. Merrell is best known for its "snikers"—hybrid sneaker-hikers that lag behind the best brands for hiking boots and shoes in support, durability, and quality. Many of my customers also have had issues with delaminating soles or Merrell's mediocre waterproofing. That's why most outdoor industry professionals (like me) do not hike in Merrell—and often steer friends and family members away from Merrell hiking boots and hiking shoes.
Merrell is a good brand for casual outdoor shoes and budget-oriented hikers. However, it's not one of the best brands for serious hikers and backpackers. Still, there's no shortage of Merrell lovers.
Why buy Merrell hiking boots or shoes?
In spite of what many outdoor industry pros think of Merrell, many of my customers wouldn't think of buying another brand. Here's why many people like Merrell hiking boots and shoes:
Budget-friendly
Merrell's popularity probably has more to do with price and availability than performance. It's a good brand for hikers on a budget. You can also find them at most box stores, sporting goods chains, and even some discount stores. As the price of good hiking footwear soars, Merrell remains relatively affordable.
Wide fit and "out of the box comfort"
Many people— particularly beginners and casual hikers— prefer Merrell's "out of the box comfort" to more supportive hiking footwear. Merrell also has a wider fit than most brands, which often appeals to hikers with wide feet, heavy-set hikers, and those who want extra wiggle room for their toes.
Trail-to-town versatility
Merrells make good outdoor lifestyle styles, or "trail to town" shoes that you can hike in, work in, and wear around town. My local REI footwear guy won't hike in Merrell, for example, but he's happy to weqr them while he's working on his feet all day.
best Merrell hiking boots
What are the best Merrell hiking boots? Merrell's best-selling hiking boot is the Moab 3 Mid, which is their best boot for day hikers. The Merrell Rogue Hiker is the brand's best hiking boot for backpackers.
Merrell Moab 3 Mid
Best Day Hiking Boot
Main Benefits:
Meet the best-selling hiking boot in the world! The Merrell Moab's "out of the box comfort" scores points with men and women who prefer its more casual feel to sturdier hiking boots with better foot and ankle support. Moabs also feature quality Vibram outsoles, a plus at this price point, and one of the widest fits on the market. The Merrell Moab 3 (updated in summer, 2022) seems a little sturdier than previous editions, which is a plus. It's not the best choice for hardcore hikers. But the Merrell Moab Mid may be a good hiking boot for beginners, casual hikers, and hikers on a budget who want a wider fit. I sold a ton of Moab hiking boots when I worked footwear at Appalachian Outdoors.
This post includes affiliate links. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer at no cost to you if you click these links and make a qualifying purchase. If you've found this post helpful, please consider purchasing a pair through these links to support Hiking Feet.
Merrell Rogue Hiker GTX
Best Lightweight Backpacking Boot
Main Benefits:
New in 2023, the Rogue Hiker GTX is Merrell's first backpacking boot— and arguably its first performance hiking boot in 40 years. Made for fast hikers with light packs, the Merrell Rogue Hiker is a lightweight backpacking boot with plenty of flex underfoot for hikers who prefer a flexible hiking boot to a more supportive one. In other words, it's not a traditional backpacking boot—it wears more like a basketball high-top. (For more, see my Rogue Hiker review.) While Merrell isn't known for its quality, this is a high-performance boot with reliable and breathable GORE-TEX waterproofing and premium Vibram outsoles with aggressive hiking traction (not multi-use traction like other Merrells). This Rogue represents a step up from the best-selling Moab hiking boot. I personally backpacked two tough Pennsylvania trails in the Merrell Rogue Hiker and also chose it for my Tour du Mont Blanc trip, a 180km hut-to-hut hike through the Alps.
Best Merrell hiking shoes
Merrell Moab 3 Low
Best Hiking Shoe
Main Benefits:
This is Merrell's best-selling hiking shoe. The low-cut Moab provides less ankle protection than the mid-cut boot above; however, I prefer the low-cut because it's lighter, less expensive, and works well as a "trail to town" shoe that you can wear on the trail and around town. [Pro Tip: The non-waterproof Moab Low makes a decent trail shoe for desert day hikes.] And the low cut offers a little more support, traction, and durability than a sneaker or gym shoe. Overall, the Moab III Low is not a strong choice for hardcore hikers and backpackers; however, it may be a good budget buy for the casual day hiker or hikers looking for an everyday outdoor shoe. For more, see my first-hand review of the Moab 3 hiking shoe.
Once again, the low-cut Moab is available in several styles, including standard and wide sizes, non-waterproof (ventilator), waterproof, and Gore Tex (most expensive).
Merrell Nova 2 (men) and Antora 2 (women)
Runner-up Hiking Shoe
Men's Nova 2
Women's Antora 2
Merrell also makes two gender-specific trail shoes that might interest hikers: the men's Nova and women's Antora.
The Nova 3 and Antora 3 are two more Merrells that blur the boundary between everyday sneakers and athletic shoes—and also blur the boundary between trail running shoes and hiking shoes. These "snikers" are light-weight sneaker-hikers that are lighter than the Moab with a little more support (and weight) than typical trail runners. Many casual hikers and beginners like this light and flexible feel over the fit and feel of a true hiking shoe. Novas and Antoras feature gender-specific fits and both standard and wide sizes. These are lighter and more athletic than the best-selling Moabs. I wear my Novas as trail to town shoes, but they're also appropriate for easier hikes on maintained trails. I personally prefer them to the best-selling Moab.
Pros vs Cons: Merrell hiking boots and shoes
Merrell has a rabid fan base—and many detractors who think Merrell hiking boots and shoes are little more than glorified sneakers. My Merrell brand review is based on my specialized Merrell training and my personal experience hiking in the Merrell hiking boots and shoes mentioned above. Here's a balanced overview of the brand's pros and cons:
Many hikers assume that Merrell is one of the best brands for hiking boots and shoes since so many people recommend them via social media. However, Merrell hikers are mostly made for the mass market, not the outdoor specialty market. Merrell may be a top shelf brand at sporting good chain stores, but it may be a bottom shelf brand at REI or your local hiking and backpacking specialty shop. If hiking boots were beers, Merrell would be yellow beer brand like Budweiser— not a craft brewery.
That being said, a lot of people drink Budweiser—and a lot of hikers love their Merrells. The Merrell Moab is the best-selling hiking boot in the world, after all, and many Merrell lovers wouldn't consider buying any other brand.
If you're looking for a hiking boot or hiking shoe that doesn't break the bank, this is probably your brand! That's especially true now the KEEN has raised its prices above the budget price point. Merrell is now the better value.
Overall, these are the "best fits" and "best matches" for Merrell hiking boots and hiking shoes:
Best Fit
wide feet
Best Match
budget-oriented hikers, beginners, trail to town wear
Should you buy Merrell hiking boots and shoes?
If you're more concerned about cost than support or weight, Merrell should be one of the first brands you should consider for hiking boots and shoes. If you have wide feet, Merrell's regular size is as wide or wider than many brands' wide sizes—and they also offer most of their best-sellers in wide sizes.
Do you think Merrell hiking boots or hiking shoes might be right for you? If so, please consider buying your next pair through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer at no cost to you. That supports this website (and gives me a little back for the hundreds of hours I've spent writing free, independent, and ad-free content).
If you're not sold on Merrell, please check out my brand recommendations and feel free to browse my recommendations for the best hiking boots and best hiking shoes. Many of my customers, for example, have switched from Merrell to Oboz footwear for better durability and support or to Salomon for more support and less weight. There's a good chance that you'll find the best fit for your feet and the best match for your hikes somewhere at Hiking Feet!
