User Review: Merrell Perimeter Gore-Tex

Bought these over a year ago and love them. Right off i was unsure about the fit and thought they might be to narrow for my feet, which tend to run a bit wide, i get EE's for my redwing work boots.

I wore these for the first time on an 8 mile hike that had A LOT of up and down steep hill sections. I also had no liner socks on which may have been the problem. At the end of the 8 mile trip my feet were RAW my heels were shreaded and the pad just under your toes felt like it was on fire. I even fooled with the laces throughout the 8 miles tieing them tighter and looser and just couldnt get a good solid fit.

These boots almost scared me away and i'm glad i was, to be honest, lazy. I was ready to send these back to rei based on a few other reviews i read where people said the perimeters ran small. After a few months of sitting around one of my friends hit me with a spur of the moment day hike, about 10 miles. I was very very scared to wear these boots remembering the assault they took on my feet last time around. I do have to be fair and mention i had on some wig wamm Gobi liners and some thorlo hiker socks the second time around.

Armed with alot of moleskin and duct tape for my hot spots i set out on my adventure. Honestly i cant figure out how they felt so nice with it being the second time i wore them, they felt like your favorite old pair of sneakers this time. My heels never slipped my toes never jammed the toe box, and to further the situation it started pouring down rain about 5 miles into the hike. Even with damp, moist conditions, even steping through mud and rain puddles my feet were honestly 100% BONE DRY.

From that day on i have had nothing but confidence in these and would wear them any where any time. And have since become my daily shoes/ boots. It's been a cold snowy winter here in pennsylvania and these boots have kept my feet warm and dry even through deep snow over the tops of my ankel. I would imagine this is a result of how well the gussetts and the top of the boot closure fit around MY ankle anyway.

Some of the reviews i read said something about a big washer type feeling or something. And the eyelets letting loose? I have never had anything close to what they are claiming. I tie my boots TIGHT and never have any separation of any of the hooks or eyelets. these look 100% new after a year or so.

I also should add i weigh about 270 or 280, and i normally carry a 40 to 60 pound pack and still never have any discomfort in the footbed or anywhere else in these boots.

I would highly reccomend these to anyone, and have. several of my friends have these and have nothing but good to say about them. I would buy these with confidence and would buy them again.