Merrell Men's Refuge Core Mid Waterproof Boots

Everything they're supposed to be
December 22, 2011

Tried on a pair of these boots at another retailer and knew I had to get some. Found out they make wide widths and altrec stocked them. Woot! Construction feels like they were custom made for my foot. Excellent support for ankles and plenty of cushion for my needs. Laces feel heavy duty and should last a long time. Only possible con is I have to tie the laces just so. Otherwise the upper will rub against the ankle. But that's just the nature of this kind of boot.

Great Fit, But Coming Apart
September 01, 2011

This would be a 5-star review if they hadn't required a return. My husband purchased these as a lightweight alternative to his HANWAG hiking boots. First off, let me commend Merrell for offering extended sizing. He wears a 15, and it is very difficult to find him a lightweight, non-custom, hiking boot...well, any shoe really. He really liked the fit, and the fact that they weighed next-to-nothing compared to his other boots. He wore them in Alaska for three weeks with little/no breaking in prior to leaving. In that 3-week period he had no blisters, and his feet stayed dry in the rain/when crossing small streams. The only complaint, and ultimately the reason for the return, was that the rubber toe started separating from the upper. He liked this pair of boots so much that he's going to give them another try when his size is re-stocked. Who knows? Maybe the toe separation was just a defect with that particular shoe. Will update if this is a recurring problem.

Best Hikers I've Ever Had
February 09, 2011

These hiking boots are far and away the best I've ever had. Since I had never purchased footwear of any kind via mail order, I was concerned that they would fit, and that they would be as good as the write-ups had advertised them to be. Those concerns disappeared when they fit like a glove right out of the box, and didn't require any break-in whatsoever. The day after they arrived I hiked three miles up a steep and rocky trail here in the Smoky Mountains. The boots supported my ankles, while the toe and heel bumpers did a superb job of protecting my feet in spite of numerous clumsey trips and scrapes on the large rocks along the trail. The ground was muddy and icy in spots at the lower elevation, with 3" to 5" of snow up higher. I purposely fjorded several shallow streams in order to test the boots' waterproof properties and NEVER had a single leak. My feet were as dry when I took off the boots at the end of the hike as when I put them on. The breathability was excellent. To put it bluntly, my feet never sweat. Traction on gravel, mud, or snow, both straight-up as well as laterally, was excellent. I was amazed at how well these boots performed in all categories. I highly recommend them for easy as well as strenuous hiking.