Merrell  SpeedARC Matis GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes - Men's

I hike between 30 and 50 miles per week. These shoes hit hard on the ground compared to when I hiked in Hoka ATR Challenger 6 and 7. My bad experience with Challenger 7 got me to switch to Merrell. I am glad I did. I do replace the shoestrings before using the shoes, and I swish the shoes in a creek after any muddy hikes. I order and wear size 12 which works great for my size 10.5 wide feet. Energy return from the shoes seems minimal to me compared to Skechers HyperRide 8 that I wore at one time in the past. Traction of the Vibram outsoles appears quite similar to GoodYear. The EVA in the midsole shows a small amount of shredding.

Love it! Beware: Runs narrow! Amazing shoe!!! Keeps my feet dry & warm on long snow jogs & in wet grass! I have a somewhat narrow foot, this feels great with a thin sock & I know they’ll stretch a bit. Should be perfect. It has great support. I’ve never had a shoe with so much cushion & bounce! They feel so easy on the knees when I run! I recommend size up a half size esp if your foot is not narrow. If you have a wide foot, you probably do not want this shoe. I Ordered Men’s size 10. I’m 5’8” normally Men’s Size 10. I could probably do a 10.5 in this if I wanted a more roomy feel, or needed to wear thick socks.

It's a comfortable shoe with a Vibram sole. I only buy Vibram soles, but not all Vibram soles are created equal. These have good Vibram soles. In my judgement, this shoe is not designed for hiking because it will collect mud in the space between the shoe and sole and the shoestrings are designed for kids to pull. Besides the mud problem, the shoestrings can catch sticks while walking a trail. Give me the Merrell Moah for trails. This shoe is for walking on hard surfaces in a controlled environment. Thus a 4 star rating.

I've been wearing these Merrell hiking shoes for a couple of weeks now, and they're super comfortable and supportive. I love how they look, and they've been great for casual walks and more intense hikes. It's reassuring to know that they have Vibram soles and GTX weatherproofing but most importantly I'm constantly blown away by how stylish they look and how easy it is to wear them out to non-hiking adventures as well! The Merrell SpeedARC has quickly become my favorite shoe to wear out no matter the weather.

This shoe is quite different from other trail runners I’ve had. It really has cushion and spring to it. Can wear it all day without any hot spots or sore feet after long hikes. I think the best part is the traction. This thing can hold its own on ice and slick rocks. Really love the feel to these. They are a little heavier than others out there, but the added features make up for it. Honestly, I’m still shocked these didn’t wet out walking through ice slush.

These are some of my favorite running/hiking shoes, but unfortunately run narrow right at the 4th-5th digit. (my feet are not wide) and I’ll have to return them. They do not make a wide version. It’s a shame, I really like them but can’t see a long hike in these without pain

They are very supportive and comfortable! They are also wide enough. They couldn't be any better.

Very comfortable pair of walking shoes. By that I mean road walking. When I walked trails the last day, all the spaces between traction filled up with debris like leaves, pebbles and mud. Hard to shake off, couldn't remove by walking on grassy areas. This negated all traction on both trails, roads and sidewalks. I've found very few comfortable low cut shoes in my life, and did not own any till I purchased the SpeedArc. Every low cut shoe I have ever purchased caused wounds on my heels and ankles even when professionally fit. These were comfortable out of the box. Theses shoes have substantial cushioning under foot and are very light weight. The heel area really is not padded. The first day I went for a long walk, it was fine, no irritation. Then I decided I was going to pack into the mountains and camp there overnight. I was carrying 35 lbs, I weigh 140#. Feet look great. Next day I hiked home up and down terrain. No irritation or soreness. I can live with a little less traction and dirt packed into my soles. I'm 63 years old and very active. This is the first pair of SHOES I have successfully worn since High School ! All my adult life, even at jobs, I wore boots. I even wore boots through my entire nursing career and at formal events. I would give these shoes 5/5 for comfort, lightness, ease of wearing - no bending down with a pack on your back to re-tie a shoe, no "foot fatigue" , stylish looks that were not overtly flashy, and able to be worn as regular footwear without yelling "these are for the great outdoors!". I have to give the sole of this shoe a 2/5. It picked up everything it touched -leaves mud, pebbles, sticks, bird seed, unfortunately not gold nuggets. Also, the price point is high for the quality of the shoe. Its not leather, the sole also seems fragile. It feels like the bottom of a Croc clog. I live in Alaska, so this shoe is limited to a very short season of Summer. Its June in 2 days and it still has not hit 60F in Anchorage. Time will tell. Verdict: Would I get them again? Too early to tell. If they made these in a leather hi-top, I would jump on it.

When I slip these shoes on my feet and tighten the laces within seconds, I feel ready to attack my day. With the comport and support these shoes bring to my life; I can run miles, or hike through any terrain and not have a worry about the durability or comfort during my journey. When you look to buy your next shoe, this one should be your top pick. I will continue to push this shoe and spread the great word of MERRELL.

In looking for a comfortable shoe for the daily walking of our Goldador, I found the Merrell SpeedArc Matis GORE-TEX model to be a “hands down” winner. Light weight, waterproof, stable, a great fit that’s easy to get in and out of, this good looking shoe works is perfect for me and my lifestyle. I average 60 miles per week just walking and 70% of that over the last 3 weeks has been in this shoe.