Merrell should be embarrassed - Rogue Hiker

Buy here to help support the channel

VIDEOS MENTIONED:

ROSE ANVIL CHANNELS:
ROSE ANVIL EMAIL LIST:
ROSE ANVIL LINKS:

CREDIT:

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:37 Boot Info
2:47 Leatherless upper
3:52 The problems of the upper
5:02 The waterproof lining
7:25 The insole
7:48 The midsole claims
9:53 The outsole
10:45 The Construction
12:10 Cut in Half
13:49 What's Inside
15:19 The #1 flaw

#hikingboots #merrell #hiking #boots

[WolfMimirMori]

This is false advertising, tough? Like they just lie flat out. We seriously need more laws against these things.

[ash]

There's a market for lightweight hiking boots but that shouldn't come at an expensive of ruggedness, and an annoying increase in use of synthetic materials. You don't want your boot to fall apart on a trail. It's wild how quickly a brand will be willing trash their reputation built on good footwear just to chase increased profit margins or "turn their boot into fashion" when they can be both fashionable and well made

[_theoriginalbhandles_Genflag]

Worst hiking boots I've owned were Merrell.

Damned lower separated from the upper out of nowhere in the middle of a hike.

Glad I always carry electrical tape on me when out on a hike, would have been a real pain hiking several miles back home with one boot.

[dcstiger]

I bought my first pair of Merrells back in 1997. I spent the next 6 months hiking wilderness areas from Arizona to Montana in them. Not only that but they were my only pair of shoes so I wore them all day every day regardless. I didn't have a vehicle so I walked a lot even when I wasn't on the trail. After all that they weren't even close to being worn out. I used them again a couple of years later for a similar trip that was 4 months in duration. Still not worn out after all of it. Since then I have owned many pairs of their footwear. Over the past decade I have noticed that Merrell has shifted heavily into becoming a fashion brand. The overall quality and durability has diminished.

[jeffblahblah]

What Ive learnt from your show is the bigger the branding on the actual shoe the shittier the product!

[oleksandraverchenko]

I think there is a trend to make lightweight and comfortable hiking boots. That appeals to people who hike infrequently on short hikes because of trend on outdoors.
Pro hikers, who spend all time in mountains typically roll in tough classics.

[VGMO]

Do the Merrell Moab 3's, they're the newest, most popular, affordable hiking boots now

[mars_hikes]

This is probably a classic 500 mile boot. It's for people who value an Altra Lone Peak because it's so simple and has like nothing that can destroy your gate. The glue of Altras is basically their signature feature: If the toe part doesn't come apart the first day you have to check your mileage or you know that you hiked just half a mile. Once they got tired of this and started sewing their toe flap to the shoe.
These boots are more for anxious people who believe the marketing of Gore - on longer hikes Gore-Tex just keeps your shoes wet so they will never dry out in the field over night. The price of these boots clearly was calculated by marketing, speculating that people are willing to pay for the flashy Gore-Tex sign.
I guess it's just a question of time until such garbage is no longer in demand. Clever people like Mr Anvil may bring out modular shoes: Outer sole, midsole and upper will be exchangeable and adaptable. You don't buy a shoe anymore, you buy a system. In winter you can use a higher upper against snow an so on.
When I go on longer hikes I need 15 pairs of shoes in a year and they are all trash after 400 - 500 miles - that is a lot of trash.

[ZackStuart-fq]

I’ve had bad experiences with merrell. Zamberlan makes a great hiking boot. Bay far my favorite

[chicomtl]

Loving these series. Will help a lot for the purchase of my next boots. My Lowas are nearing the end .I Had them for more than 5 years. Maybe 10 🤔 ..
Continue your great work. When I'll have to change my wallet, I'll support your channel by buying one.

[chuck]

As a Merrell customer since about 2002 I can definitely say that the quality has drastically declined and specific to the Merrell Trail glove... they changed layout to make more narrow and less feel to the ground.
No longer the Trail GLOVE... RATHER A SHOE.

Appreciate your in depth focus to help save money and comfort!

[UnknownUser-rbpd]

My 2008 Merrell Moab Mid boots (now used for the garden) are also made with cheap materials. They're lightweight and comfortable for most people and cheap enough that if you use them a lot you can buy a new pair every year or two. They are definitely not made with premium materials and are generally more in the category of a ruggedly built hi-top.
The reason they're so popular is that they're comfortable and feel like sneakers.
There are a lot of far more rugged, mostly leather, hiking boots.
That's not a criticism of Merrells but when they're so heavily discounted much of the time you can see that they're built down to a price.

[adrianbyrne]

Thank you for your honest reviews. Please do not feel pressurised to sit on the fence or not critique any products because of any liability. We need real honest reviews from you.

These boots would probably not last in Ireland where there are wet bogs with acidic conditions. A full leather grain boot whilst heavier tends to be the only type boots suitable for here. The Merrel boots seem to be for tourist hikers doing a couple of well known hikes in dry conditions, walking on hard surface trails and be worn in an urban environment. At over 200 dollars, these seem like a disposable boot and not the type i.e. a full grain from a reputable Italian boot maker that with care will last for years. I would not spend that type of money on a glorified trainer when for the same money have a proper hike boot with real leather and be re-sole able

[TandC]

Interesting, I have about fifty trail miles on mine and don’t show that much wear or concern of coming apart. Maybe I have a different perspective, typically I wear a trail running from TNF and wanted something a little more robust when the conditions were less than ideal (but not bushwhacking) the rogue hiker fits that role well for me. Full disclosure I paid $70 at Sierra and wouldn’t have paid retail even before watching this video. For the right price I think these are a good transition boot for anyone going from a stiff boot to trail runners. Someone else mentioned that they are probably marketed to the casual user and that’s probably right. Twenty to thirty miles a year for four years would be a good value for around $130. Anyway my one love of these is the tread, very grippy on various surfaces.

[Old_Sailor]

Been wearing MOABs since the original version. Best LIGHWEIGHT hiker I have tried.

I don't carry anything, just dog walking and yard work, grocery getting, etc.

If I were hiking on tough trails I would certainly look for something with a heavier sole and real leather uppers.

[TheSara]

Keen hands down are some of the best made boots 🥾 I’ve worn my work boots for about 3years at 50-60 plus hours a week for three years and the boots are still very comfortable one spot wear the stitching is failing but after so much wear I’m sure I got my moneys worth

[edwardkoenig]

Your point on the goretex being like a paper bag is spot on, but something else to include... goretex is either waterproof or breathable, not both at once

[anomicanomic]

I have their “world legend” which is a leather low top that meets my uniform requirements. I do 5-10 miles a day mostly pavement and gravel and they last about 6 months. They fail with wear through the tread no seperation or other issues on upper. It looks like stick down but could be fake. They are more than capable of making a good shoe. Their classic slip on sneaker/hiker also lasts a long time.

[sethchapman]

It really sucks that marketing BS like this is more and more the norm. Once good companies get bought out by corps that care about nothing other than profit. Be nice if there were actual repercussions for lying in advertising, and if our country wasn't run by corporations. Our system is rapidly failing before our eyes.

[BL-yjwp]

I‘ve never had any trouble with direct injection molded soles, glue however is certainly a mixed back. Big fail on a hiking boot like this.