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Merrell Grassbow Air

rated 5 of 5 stars
photo: Merrell Grassbow Air trail shoe

My knees get tired long before my feet do with these shoes on.

Pros

  • Outstanding fit and comfort
  • Great mid-sole support
  • Great traction under most conditions
  • Keeps relatively cool in Carolina summer heat
  • Can wear in a business casual office

Cons

  • Beware of mud

Fit

This shoe fits me like a glove. Err... not like a Vibram, but seriously I couldn't ask for a better fit.

Comfort

I brought these home from the store and walked off into the woods thinking I'd walk a couple of miles to start breaking it in. I ended up walking seven miles. And my feet felt fantastic at the end. No break-in was needed. No chaffing. No pressure points. I've got over 200 miles on these now and since they are a low shoe I do sooometimes get the occasional pebble or piece of debris in there.

Support

The support has been great. I've been losing so much weight and these shoes have been giving me the confidence to scramble up root-strewn hills, even to do a little bit of trail running intervals. The mid-sole support especially is fantastic.

Water Resistance

Ha! I bought these shoes in particular because I wanted something that would ventilate well. Our summers get very hot here and I didn't want swampy feet. So if you walk in water, your socks are getting wet.

Traction

On most surfaces, this shoe grips really well. When things get wet, I've got a little less confidence in these shoes when I have to deal with mud.

Temp Control

I feel like they vent well in the summer and autumn. I've had these shoes out in ~40°F degree hikes and they are still relatively comfortable, though I suspect any colder than that and I'm going to want a warmer shoe.

Ease of Use

It's a shoe, not a boot. Goes on and off as easily as any sneaker I've ever had.

Construction and Durability

I've got a little over 200 miles on these shoes now in environments ranging from rugged backwoods trails to urban sidewalks and business offices. The tread still looks very good and the top of the shoe still looks pretty new. This shoe is really well-built!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $99.95

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Specs

Men's
Price Historic Range: $49.83-$100.00
Reviewers Paid: $99.95
Women's
Price Historic Range: $39.73-$100.00
Product Details from Merrell »

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