Merrell Wilderness
Average Rating: 
Reviewed by 29 Trailspace users
Description
The Wilderness is a backpacking boot made by Merrell. It has an average rating of 4 stars (out of 5), based on 29 user reviews.
Here's what other sites are saying:
From Moosejaw:
"Free Shipping. Merrel Men's Wilderness Boots (Spring 2008) The Men's Wilderness Boots by Merrel are a legend in leather; a boot for a lifetime. Norwegian welt construction puts a wide platform underfoot for stability. One piece, top-grain leather upper with bellows tongue showcases Italian craftsmanship.End Uses: Backpacking with a medium to heavy load (35+ lbs). Best worn with mid-weight hiking socks or a combination of light liner with mid-weight sock.Features: Norwegian Welt Construction 3mm Waterproof Full Grain Leather Leather Bellows Tongue Tesivel 3-Bar Knit Lining Italian Hardware Dual Density Footbed Microporous Rubber/Rubber Midsole 5mm Leather/TPR Insole Crampon-Compatible (Strap-on Only) Vibram Roccia Block Sole/Trek Rubber Specs: Men's Weight: 3 lbs. 8 ozs."
From Backcountry.com:
"If you don't prefer the techy space-boot look, you'll appreciate the Merrell Men's Wilderness Backpacking Boots' sleek Italian style. Waterproof leather uppers and grippy Vibram Roccia soles protect your feet from the perils of planet Earth's backcountry surface by keeping them dry in wet weather and stable on slick, steep trail. Merrell gave the sturdy Wilderness Boot a dual density, microporous midsole for shock absorption and breathability. When your trek leads you to a low-angled ice field, take your strap-on crampons from your pack the Wilderness boots are compatible. Merrell recommends wearing this boot with a midweight hiking sock or a liner/midweight sock combo."
From Altrec Outdoors:
"A timeless classic that's nearly ageless too. A true, traditional mountaineering boot that will still be in style - and probably in service - 20 years after you buy it. Rugged, resoleable Norwegian welt construction. Uppers are one-piece 3mm waterproof full-grain leather. Meticulously crafted in Italy for years of hard use."
From EMS:
"Merrell's Wilderness hiking boots showcase traditional Italian leather craftsmanship, while Norwegian welt construction puts a wide platform underfoot for stability. The upper is made with one piece of top-grain leather. Ideal for backpacking with a medium to heavy load (35+ lb.). Waterproof full-grain leather upper (3 mm). Norwegian welt construction uses double stitching to attach the one-piece upper to the sole. Leather bellows tongue. Dual-density footbed puts a wide platform underfoot for stability. Rubber midsole with leather/TPR insole. Strap-on crampon compatible. Vibram Roccia Block sole with trek rubber. Italian hardware."
User Reviews
Men's Wilderness
Reviewed by goyo, Jan 26, 2008
"I've had my pair for about a year-and-a-half, and I guess I'll probably have them for another 20 or 30. It is an absolute wonder to me that anyone still produces something of such simple and perfect craftsmanship! The uppers are nearly one solid piece of leather and, with proper care, probably won't tear or rupture without the encouragement of a land mine."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Fool4boots, Oct 10, 2007
"Got a pro-deal on a pair when I worked for REI - the sole de-laminated while I was in the backcountry of Iceland, in very wet weather. I'd used them seldomly for 2 years prior to this trip - but they began de-laminating at the toes almost immediately after acquisition."
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Men's Wilderness
Reviewed by mountainpete, Jun 29, 2007
"I was disappointed when the sole on one boot delaminated after less than a year of wear. But the company resoled them, and the boots proceeded to give me 15 years of good service. They were resoled twice more, and the uppers had to be restitched here and there."
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Men's Wilderness
Reviewed by Mark Hodson, Jun 23, 2007
"I purchased these for my wife and myself as a replacement for our aging Sundowners. They were a fairly comfortable boot and performed satisfactorily for a couple hundred miles. Then, at about the same time, the soles began to delaminate on both hers and my own boots."
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Men's Wilderness
Reviewed by Tony, Jan 23, 2007
"Best Damn boot anywhere! I have had this boot since 1992.
They need to be resoled and I can get another 15 years out of them. I thought they were discontinued but a salesman at REI told me to go to their website. I will definitely order another pair."
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Men's Wilderness
Reviewed by Andrew Friedman, Nov 19, 2005
"I wore these for six years, from 1987-93. They were a Littleway welted boot with an all-leather lining at the time. Very comfortable, easy to break in. Reasonably easy to waterproof. Wear was the main problem -- the lining wore out and tore near the heel counter, and the sole separated from the midsole more than once."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Pivetta Lover, Oct 21, 2004
"I bought these to replace my beloved Pivettas eight years ago. I have had nothing but blisters and wet feet with them. The removable footbed slips backward, creating ridges that blister both heel and toe. The sole separated from the welt on both toes. The tongue leaks. They are now officially reserved for splitting wood and digging holes."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Duckfoot, Sep 22, 2004
"Very comfortable boots. My brother and I each had a pair for our hike on PCT through Washington. It took us about 35 days to hike the state and we had 28 days of rain. Both of us had problems with the stiching keeping the soles on rotting and the soles falling off. This allowed mud and dirt to get inbetween. We both returned our boots to REI at the end of the trip."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Kevin McCarthy, Oct 29, 2003
"I love my Merrell Wilderness boot. I just bought mine last December, and they have been great and upheld many rocky mountains... I think they have improved this year... they also have a one year warranty. I love mine, and have bought my co-leaders the same."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Donald McCrimmon, Aug 02, 2003
"Don't be shocked at the price. I bought mine more than 20 years ago, and while they have seen some shelf time while I got into sailing rather than hiking, I've still logged over 500 miles with them.
Aside from the laces giving out and the insoles wearing thin, they are in great shape, with only a minimum of care on my part (occasional cleaning, snow seal and avoiding salt water like the plague)."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Ian, Feb 25, 2002
"I like everything about these boots except for the fact that they leak like a sieve through the tongue seam on the top of the boot. When I first got them I noticed this leak and returned, unfortunately, the next pair did the same. I have had them for about 5 years and resoled them once."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by jbrd528, Dec 13, 2001
"I bought mine from a guy who used them once. The fist time I used them I did a Presidental Traverse in NH. This is some of the roughest terrain in the Northeast. After 23 miles in a single day I fell in love with the boots. Not a single blister."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Thomas Funke, Jul 14, 2001
"After 1000 miles of North Country Trail hiking in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, two resoles, countless laces, I finally blew a hole in the side during a very wet trip in Pennsylvania.
These boots dry out remarkably fast if you just set them in the sun."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, Dec 09, 1999
"I thought I was buying a great boot. They were comfortable but wore out quickly. I wore them out in eleven months. The soles were shot. The leather on the inside that touches the back of the ankle completly shreaded, and one of the gromets that the laces go through pulled out leaving a gaping whole in the boot."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Mike "Howdy" Good, Feb 05, 1999
"After reading all the mixed reviews on this boot, allow me to set the record straight. I've had mine for 7+ years, over 5000 miles (mostly with heavy backpack), and am on my third set of Vibram soles. I've had excellent success in snow, rain, steep climbs (more important, steep descents with no blisters)."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Jeff Moyers, Jan 11, 1999
"awesome boots! very little break-in time for such a stiff boot. easy to break-in across the toes--the only place your boot should bend. there is no torsional flex. i've had mine for about seven years and they were re-soled in year six. they're as good as new."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by B., Dec 21, 1998
"I tore these boots apart. Perhaps I got a dud pair, but after a few hundred miles (granted, they were wretched miles with a wretched pack in Nepal) the soles decided to peel off. The leather streched more than I wanted too, compromising fit -- use softening grease (i.e. Limmer's) with care. Overall, I was shocked with the flimsy sole."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Bruce Coye, Oct 18, 1998
"Best fitting boot I've owned in 30+ years of backpacking. Never required any break-in period. Used for extended backpacking cross country trips off trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. After three years, soles need replacement and are beginning to delaminate from the midsole, but otherwise no problems."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Psal, Jan 09, 1998
"I used one pair for my AT thru hike. Over 2000 miles. They are totally trashed (the weather in Maine sucked) and smell funky (actually, borderline toxic).
Mine may have lasted longer due to the fact that I weight 145 lbs and carried a 35 lb pack."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Chris Jones, Dec 04, 1997
"These boots have been with me for four years now and have performed beyond my expectations. Resoled once, I wear them all the time and will buy another pair this year. From the Great Smokey Mountains to Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness my feet stayed dry and comfortable."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by S2, Nov 20, 1997
"I have very narrow low volume feet so my search for a good hiking boot was an exhausting one. I tried on Vasque, Fabiono, and Scarpa all in narrows. None fit. Finally after about a month wait my special ordered Merrell Wilderness arrived. These boots were pretty comfy right out of the box but felt even better after about 10 miles of trail hiking."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Ed Goldstein, Oct 29, 1997
"The most comfortable leather boot I ever wore, right out of the box. Strong enough for the AT. But, they won't last. I've had many pair, and although the soles can be replaced (Norwegian welt), rarely does the interior (cheap cambrelle lining - not leather) last longer than the soles."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Jeff Shannon, Aug 12, 1997
"I originally liked the boots quite a bit. They broke in quickly and were fairly comfortable both on and off trail. However, they are only a year old and the vibram outer sole is pulling away from the leather mid sole. I am going to have them resoled with a full shank, but I think that it's pretty bogus that they are shucking the original soles after only a year of use."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Pete, Jul 29, 1997
"I purchased these at the REI sale because they had the Norwegian Welt style and felt good in the shop. I really liked these boots. They had a very short break in period and are good even as a light hiker for me. I've used them going up to Camp Muir (Mt."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, May 28, 1997
"These boots looked good and felt great when I put them on. There was no need for a break-in period. I started packing in them as soon as I got them which was in the spring of the year. In July I wore them for a week in Rockie Mountain NP. They were very comfortable but started looking like they might be coming apart."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by Scott Mohler, May 26, 1997
"I purchased a pair in 1989 and hiked over one half of the AT and 400 miles on other trails before they required new soles. I didn't have good luck with the resole work. I had them resoled with the original Vibram type soles, the leather between the soles and the uppers seemed to separate."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by svedosh@..., Sep 09, 1996
"You can take my pack, my ice axe, my tent, or my sleeping bag, but DON'T TOUCH MY MERRELLS.
I bought these 8 years ago and use them about 20-30 days per year. They are currently being resoled the second time. These boots conformed to my feet the moment I put them on."
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Wilderness
Reviewed by english@..., Mar 29, 1996
"- 4 Season wear in New England with VBL
- Work well with strap on crampons
- Very waterproof, Have tried Sno-Seal, Biwell and
straight beeswax, prefer beeswax with no additives
- Extremely satisfied, getting ready for resole after
2.5 Years"
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Wilderness
Reviewed by jrichard@..., Mar 29, 1996
"These are decent boots, but I've had a few problems. They are lighter compared to some other all-leather boots. The tread has held up well and the soles aren't slippery when wet. I bought these boots because they ran wide and had plenty of toe room."
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