Merrell Outpulse Leather

Low cost trail shoe.

I wanted a comfortable around town shoe and found these on sale, just two pairs left, I was told, they have just flown from the shelves. The 10 was not quite right, but the 10.5 was perfect. I might have had my winter slippers on! 

Now I have had them for nearly a month and can say that they are now my go-to shoes for all my outdoor activities: going to town, daily walk, and the weekend trips on the local hill tracks. One of these tracks is gravel at an average 30-degree slope and tests footwear and fitness over a 2.5-km climb. These shoes make one feel like a mountain goat so surefooted is the performance, and being light and flexible plus a sole thick enough to iron out all the stones makes for a very happy hiker.

I do not know what the sole material is but it says "Merrell Select Grip" and I strongly suspect it is a so-called sticky compound; that and the 5 mm deep lugs certainly do the job for me. The upper is a mix of leather and synthetic and breathes well, but is not at all waterproof and the tongue is loose not bellows, so expect the odd bit of gravel to find its way in.

Now the real test is to come as I am off to section hike part of the Te Araroa Trail near Tekapo, NZ, at the end of the month and feel very confident in my new acquisition being more than capable of the task ahead. 

Background

Over 50 years of hiking all over the world.