This event has ended. Thank you for your interest!
JUNE 12-21, 2026
Earn DOUBLE POINTS on every pair of Merrell shoes purchased.
FOR LOYALTY MEMBERS ONLY – Log in or sign up now for free >
Try on a pair of Merrell footwear for your chance to WIN A FREE PAIR!*
*IN STORE ONLY
Why choose Merrell?
Merrell sits in a useful middle ground in the outdoor-footwear market: more technical than a generic walking shoe, more comfortable out of the box than most dedicated hikers. The Vibram outsole is the brand's most consistent signal. It's the same rubber-compound and lug-pattern engineering you find on serious mountaineering boots, applied across a much broader range of styles. The trade-off worth knowing: Merrell's cushioning leans toward immediate comfort over racing-shoe responsiveness, which is what most buyers want but is worth noting if you're shopping specifically for a fast trail-running shoe with maximum energy return. Most styles are available in both medium and wide widths.
The hiking line is what Merrell is best known for, anchored by the Moab 3 and its waterproof variants. Vibram outsoles, supportive midsoles, and a choice between mid-cut boots for ankle support or lower-cut shoes for flexibility cover most day-hike and backpacking needs. The Moab 3 Mid Waterproof and the Moab Speed 2 are the two styles most often compared side by side in our stores.
The Jungle Moc, the Encore Breeze 5, and the Encore Gust are the daily-driver Merrells: easy-on slip-ons and casual lace-ups built for walking, travel, and long days on your feet. Cushioning is immediate, the upper construction handles wear, and the same traction principles from the hiking line carry over to wet sidewalks and grocery-store floors.
Lighter, faster, and lower to the ground than the hiking line. The Agility Peak 6, the Antora 4, and the Trail Glove 8 each target a different point on the cushion-to-feel spectrum: maximum cushion for long efforts, balanced cushion for mixed terrain, and a near-zero-drop minimalist option for runners who want ground feel. FloatPro Foam midsoles and aggressive lug patterns are common across the line.
Life in Merrell
The Jungle Moc by the back door
Mud still drying on the Moab
A Vibram lug print in soft trail dirt
Three pairs of laces, one trip
Find Your Fit in Merrell
Merrell sizing is generally straightforward, but a few details matter when shopping by style. Most casual styles like the Jungle Moc and the Encore Breeze run true to size for everyday wear. For hiking boots like the Moab 3, many wearers find a half-size up gives toes room on downhill sections without compromising heel hold. Trail runners are typically sized like running shoes: true to size or a half-size up depending on whether you wear lighter-weight socks for shorter runs or thicker socks for longer ones. Width is the other variable: Schuler stocks Merrell in both medium and wide, so if your foot has felt cramped in standard-width shoes before, the wide option is worth trying.
How to Choose Between Merrell Hiking Boots, Shoes and Trail Runners
The three categories overlap more than they look like they should. Hiking boots like the Moab 3 Mid add ankle support and a more protective collar, which helps on rocky descents, multi-day loads, and uneven trail surfaces. Hiking shoes (the low-cut version of the same platform) give up the ankle support in exchange for flexibility and lighter weight, which most day-hikers prefer once they've tried both. Trail running shoes are the lightest of the three, with more cushioning under the forefoot, aggressive lugs for grip at speed, and a fit closer to a road runner than a hiker. A useful rule of thumb: if you'd rather have stability under load, choose the boot; if you'd rather have agility and speed, choose the trail runner; and if you mostly hike day trips on moderate terrain, the hiking shoe is the middle ground that most buyers find first.
Caring for Merrell Shoes and Boots
Most Merrell shoes hold up well with simple maintenance. After a muddy hike, knock off loose dirt and rinse the outsole with cool water; let everything air-dry away from direct heat (a radiator or hot dashboard will dry out the midsole foam and the upper). Suede and nubuck styles like the Jungle Moc Nubuck respond to a soft brush rather than water, and a periodic suede cleaner keeps the nap looking right. Waterproof models with Merrell's M Select DRY or GORE-TEX membranes don't need re-treatment as often as a leather hiker, but a water-repellent spray on the upper extends the beading life by a season or two. Replacement timing: most Merrell hikers and trail shoes give 500 to 800 miles of usable life depending on terrain; casual styles like the Jungle Moc are more about midsole compression than mileage and tend to last one to two years of regular wear.
