User Review: Merrell Edge

Merrell Edge
Above: The current Edge, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed March 10, 2006 by Marc Adin

Rating:
Materials: leather
Use: approach, light hiking, urban pavement, and general knocking around in a protective shoe.
Break-in Period: 1 minute and 24 seconds.
Weight: Jeez, I am an unpaid volunteer reviewer, not a Merrell employee or 87 kilos. You decide.
Price Paid: $90

Pros: true to size, excellent traction with Vibram Approach Sole [that is non-marking...how'd they do that?], excellent mid-sole/strong shank to protect foot from bruising, comfortable, does what it advertises. The leather tops are tough, unlike the fabric on the Solo and its BS "welded" TPU studs that fell off when my Solo's rubbed against Jello. Good job, Merrell on the Edge, but take the Solos off the market.

Cons: not great on wet rock, but what shoe is? Cheap laces. It is the exact same shoe as the Solo [see above] excpet for the uppers. Why are shoes made in China so expensive, though? When labor costs are soooo low, why are the retail prices so high? Merrell should pay attention to their level of greed and its association with their profit margin.