Merrell Wilderness Canyon Boots - Men's - 2011 Closeout

Comments about Merrell Wilderness Canyon Boots - Men's - 2011 Closeout:

I have not been on a long hike with these boots, but they are very comfortable and light. I would think they would work great on a 2-3 day hike.
Maybe not good for a extremly rocky area because the boot hits a little above the ankle, but for the North Georgia area they will be great.

Comments about Merrell Wilderness Canyon Boots - Men's - 2011 Closeout:

These boots bear a strong resemblance to Merrel's Wilderness boots (these are the Wilderness CANYON boots), and generally look like the indestructible waffle-stompers of the 70's. The one-piece, full grain leather upper and the Goodyear welt construction would imply true burliness. But these are not the same boots as you might remember.

The Vibram sole is a soft rubbery compound. The lugs are about 4 mm deep, but the softness of the compound might mean you get less traction on loose soil or gravel (and more traction on bare rock or concrete.)

The sole incorporates an EVA foam layer, reducing weight and adding cushioning, but reducing support.

The leather is thin, supple, and soft, unlike the 2 and 3 mm leather you find in boots like Limmers, for example. It can be waterproofed by the usual Nikwax/Snoseal compounds. It will necessarily be less breathable than boots lined with a Gore-tex membrane or something similar, but you don't have to worry about puncturing the membrane (which is inevitable, in my experience.)

The lining is a synthetic material, which makes the boot lighter and drier-feeling, but probably is not as durable as a leather lining (which is admittedly difficult to find nowadays.)

The boot uses Goodyear welt construction, which is solid and makes the boot easy to resole, but is perhaps less desirable than Norwegian welt construction.

And the boot is light, nearly as light as nylon-and-suede boots with molded soles.

The fit is roomy, especially in the toe. There is plenty of room for thick socks and orthotics. That means that your toes will not be squeezed and will therefore be warmer.

So what we have is a lightweight, flexible, soft boot that is good for day hikes and general walking, that is probably more durable, slightly heavier, and somewhat less breathable than the usual fabric-and-suede boot used for day hiking. What we do NOT have is a heavy boot like the Vasque/Danner/Limmer models of yesteryear.

Comments about Merrell Wilderness Canyon Boots - Men's - 2011 Closeout:

Ok, so I bought these boots because, first, they were on sale, and second, because they claimed to be water proof. Well, Just last weekend I spent three days snow camping and snowshoeing. The first day I wore these boots, water got inside and my toes got cold and my sock wet. Luckily, I brought my old pair wich are waterproof and saved me from spending the rest of my adventure with cold, frozen toes.

Other than the fact that they are not waterproof, they feel good quality.

I would take them back, but at the price I paid for them, I am keeping them to use for non-rainy days.

Comments about Merrell Wilderness Canyon Boots - Men's - 2011 Closeout:

Next to impossible to lace up correctly. Merrell makes better products than this. The all-leather construction is why I bought it, but the fit is large by at least one full size. While it may seem beefy at first, it lacks the durability and long-lasting quality of Italian or American made boots.

Look elsewhere for a full time hiker.