****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
The first day I wore these boots, I couldn't keep them on the entire day because they caused so much pain. The seam between the soft and rigid part of the tongue rubbed a deep dent into my ankle, but only on the right foot. My assumption was that the right shoe had been put on or tied differently, so I took it off and put it on a few times trying to alleviate the discomfort to no avail. I was about ready to send them back, but had to get to work and threw them on for another try. During the second day, the pain slowly vanished and they became very comfortable. By the time I got home from work, I had forgotten that there had been an issue with pain at all.I only have about 60-80 miles trekked so far in them, but I forget that they are there entirely and my feet are as dry and comfortable as can be. The initial problem is still somewhat of a mystery. They fit like gloves now and have been thoroughly tested in the rain. This kind of quality is the only reason that my tight-wad self would spend this kind of money on shoes. Fashion be d4mned; I need functionality!5 stars for the most comfortable hiking boots I've ever owned (after the second day at least).Edit: 7 month update. I walk through wet grass every morning in these shoes and the leather has cracked and peeled away in multiple places. The soles of the shoes have detached from the toe completely as of a couple of months ago, but were glued and held together until now. These Boots remain comfortable and keep my feet very dry, but I cannot say much for the build quality or longevity of the item. To be honest, I have some $18 Brahma hiking boots that are nowhere near as comfortable, but have lasted almost 10 years. I walk approximately 1500 miles every year and these shoes are struggling to make it to the 1,000 mile mark. This is disappointing for the price I paid, even if the comfort is Grand.Much better Salomon boots to be purchased. These had a crap quality feel to them. And had a funny bend across the toe. I returned them.Extremely impressed with these boots, especially for the price!Sizing was dead on: I normally wear a 10 in running shoes/sneakers and these in size 10 fit perfectly: nice and secure around the ankle, but with plenty of toe room to prevent toe bruising.I broke the boots in with 4 miles on flat terrain before taking them on a 7 mile round trip hike with 2,000 ft of elevation gain, and they performed very well. My feet were comfortable throughout the hike with no hot spots or blisters. The ankle support is decent, about what you would expect for a mid-height boot like this.Waterproofing seemed to work well in the mud and shallow streams we encountered. Do note that the tongue gusset only extends to the base of the ankle, so the upper portion of the tongue is not waterproof.I will update this as I use the boots more and report on the longevity and quality over time, but for now I am very pleased!I honestly don't recall adding these to my wish list, but they were a Christmas gift so, being the adult that I am, I figured I would try them on, say they didn't fit and then just return them that way my daughter wouldn't be upset. That was then. I haven't worn my Merrell's since. I really like the fit and feel of the Outward GTX. It doesn't have all the padding that the Merrell's have so it's easier to customize to my foot and the tongue cinches up nicely so I don't have to retie it all day. Best of all, they breathe. FWIW, I've gone thru a lot of boots being raised in rural America and over a two decade career in the military. These are well made boots. I would definitely buy again, NOTE: size 13 in Merrell and Salomon fits the same for me.I enjoyed testing these boots out. They work phenomenally off the pavement and beyond expected on. I've equipped these with speed laces which they are built for. I have also treated the leather sections with mink oil to boost water resistance to the next level. They have exceeded my expectations and believe they will outlast any other pair I have previously purchased. Hope this gives you some ideas. 5 star backpacking shoe here.I’ve had these boots for less than two months and they are already falling apart. The water proof layer only lasted a couple times in light water splashes and a little bit of snow. Within the first week of wearing these I was getting my socks soaked in rain. I regret buying these and not returning them in the return period. I thought maybe they’d make for an okay summer boot, but there’s now a hole exposing my pinky toe. I wouldn’t recommend wearing these boots in any sort of wet conditions as they are incredibly slippery if you are on any wet smooth surface such as concrete. Two stars because I enjoy the look of them, but don’t waste your time or money.Quality of item was exceptional! Speedy to send. Quality of the wrapping was outstanding. Thanks.These are great boots though they will require significant break in time.First test of these was a 15km walk in the sodden grass, mud and puddles. I was amazed that my feet were still dry after I'd finished. These are very comfortable boots to walk in and are as light as training shoes so even better!! The only minor issue is that the laces tend to come undone as they are very smooth and don't grip each other when tied but a double knot solves that problem. Outstanding boots, buyers won't be disappointed. ;-)OkOne of the best purchases I ever made... It a class apart product... Any other brand would have costed 8-12k... but it's worth every penny at 14-16k... It's as light as any normal sports shoe... fits perfect... can be used out of the box...el tubo de la bota molesta en los tobillos.Excelente producto, con acabados de calidad.
