Customer Reviews Merrell Wilderness USA

I bought my pair in Dec. of 2008. I've put lots and lots of hard miles on them on rocky trails in NY, CT, and NH. I've literally stood in streams with these on and have never had any water defeat the seams. With a good cleaning, they still look almost new, it's pretty incredible. The leather is extremely durable if you take care of it. Earlier on, I used Kiwi mink oil, but lately I've switched to Obenauf's. The boot is resoleable, which is great, but mine are still pretty solid. The only reason I didn't give top marks for comfort is I still haven't found the right combination of sock and insole for very long, strenuous hikes - although that's really not the boots fault. Overall, I'm extremely happy with these boots and I know they'll last me for many more years.

I hardly ever wear these boots anymore but when i do i feel connected to the glory days of fine boot making. Mine are nearly twenty years old. The quality is very high. As expected with the Norwegian welt, there is little cushioning but the boots are comfortable nonetheless and the feel is solid and stable. They could be a bit taller and the collar a bit more snug - at times snow or scree can drift in. I also have a pair of Merrell Ridgelines, a very rugged mountaineering boot that is no longer in production but that- along with the Wilderness- will last to the end of my days. I really wish that there were more boots like these in production, given their quality and unbelievable durability and i applaud Merrell for holding onto to this exemplary design.

I purchased a pair in 1994 before entering the Peace Corps and a post in Nepal. These boots were perfect for the many treks I took in the himals. Upon purchasing them I sealed the seams and broke them in on several day hikes. They fit like a glove after several uses and never caused my feet any pain. I did purchase new insoles with a rubber footbed after the original insoles wore out. I wore synthetic sock liners and rag wool socks taking three pairs of liners and two pairs of wool socks on my treks. I still have the boots but they have been repaired after a neighbor's dog decided the leather smelled like a new chew toy. Looking to return to Nepal and I'll do it with a new pair of Wilderness boots.

I really couldn't be more satisfied with these boots. I work in LE and fortunately have an assignment that allows me to wear these to work nearly every day for 3+ yrs now. I've abused them a bit but they continue to take whatever gets thrown their way. I replaced the insole early on with superfeet and I can honestly wear them for 12+ without any discomfort. I'm frequently asked what brand they are/ where I got them by others who are tired of overpriced, low quality athletic shoes being passed off as boots.

I train hunting retrievers as a hobby. I also hike several miles a day and hunt upland and waterfowl at least 30 days a year. I wanted a boot I could wear everyday that was comfortable, warm and completely waterproof. I've only had the boots a month but so far so good. They are breaking in nicely and are comfortable. The fit is good/ Most importantly they are waterproof. The only complaint is they are very heavy.

Long term review: I bought these Wilderness boots (stupidly) right before leaving to travel and hike in India and Thailand for 6-7 months in 1993 (yes, 1993). They are the most amazing boots I have EVER come across or worn. That being said, I didn't break them in before going and it was a bit torturous breaking them in "on the job". I hiked on all types of terrain, including wet conditions, and they were great, but as I said...breaking in took forever and they were too stiff on terrain where I needed to climb up rocky slopes where I need them to be a little more flexible in the front box. However, when I slide off the edge of a rocky waterfall - they provided excellent protection. Also, if you're hiking in very hot, humid weather, they're going to make your feet too hot. Again, they are amazing hiking, light mountaineering boots (you're going to need higher boots or good gaiters if you're planning on deeper show or seriously muddy areas). Many years later, they are still incredible, look amazing, but I sometimes think that they're still not broken in yet :) (I'm 1/2 joking). I'm happy that I bought them, but I wish I had bought them about 3-4 months before going on my trip...which is my recommendation to you...and get an extra set of laces.

I have owned perhaps four pairs of the Wilderness over the last three decades, and I have loved them. I do extensive hiking on and off trail in New Hampshire's White Mountains and these boots have provided excellent support, traction and comfort in all kinds of terrain and weather (non-winter). They also break in quickly, I don't recall ever having a blister. However, I have now experienced the same serious problem with the last three pairs: the midsole delaminating from the Vibram sole. A pair I purchased in 2014 began delaminating in less than a year, if I recall correctly. The retailer where I bought them was kind enough to return them and acquire a new pair from Merrell, which I greatly appreciated from both parties. However, both boots of the replacement pair have now delaminated to the point where I can't use them for the upcoming spring/summer/fall season, with a gap several inches long. I may try to find a cobbler to attempt a repair, but I'm not sure it will work over time. Sadly, I don't think I can justify shelling out four bills for another pair unless this issue had been resolved in the last few years.

I really like the style and and workmanship. I find the toe box a little tight on the right foot. Waiting for the Horween to come out

Great boots got them in brown. Only took 6 hours of use to break them in. I did use 3 applications of boot dressing which may have helped along the break in process. Wore them in light rain for about 2 hours and my feet did not get wet. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is they do seem to mark or scuff fairly easily however after using the boot dressing the marks fade away to almost unseen. However if I were to take these on serious hikes I'm sure the marks that would be obtained would not be so easy to buff out with boot dressing.

I've been hiking in a pair of Merrell Wilderness boots for about 5 years now. They're comfortable boots once you've broken them in, which will take a couple weeks. The insoles that come with the boots are thin, so I recommend replacing them with a pair of superfeet or the insole of your choice. I've hiked around 400 miles or so with a full pack on in these boots. They've been through the Smokies, the Chiricahuas, Yellowstone, and Glacier. They grip extraordinarily well and are sturdy enough to keep your ankles from rolling on uneven terrain. The leather is good quality and will last as long as you clean it and condition it regularly. I've used Sno-seal. What would keep me from recommending these boots, however, is that they leak horribly. I noticed early on that the boots would leak slightly after hiking hours in the rain. Now I can't walk down a damp trail without my socks becoming soaked. Recently on the AT the insides of the boots were soaked after 5 miles in light rain, and I avoid puddles. The water seeps through the stitching on the welts, so no amount of water proofing or conditioning of the leather will improve the problem. I take good care of my boots. By all appearances, you'd think my pair were brand new. But they're effectively useless unless I'm hiking in completely dry conditions. I can accept that sewed down welts might perhaps allow some moisture into the boot when your standing in a stream. I can't accept a boot I have to pour out every few miles when I'm simply hiking down the trail.

They're beautiful boots, but even after months of heavy usage they never really got comfortable. The tongue and bellows are too bulky and material gets bunched up when you tighten the boot. The d-ring eyelets are poorly finished and the sharp edges saw through laces at an alarming rate. Perhaps these boots are just perfect for some people, but not me. They don't fit the same as my other Merrell boots, so try them on in person for sure.

I've owned these hiking boots for 4+ years and hiked a lot in them. The boots broke in nicely and are comfortable on long walks. The down side ... they are not water resistant. Crossing streams or walking in snow is not advisable. Each hike ends up with wet feet especially around the toes. I have applied water-proof cream to the boots but this has not helped solve the problem. These boots are only meant for dry weather hiking. Will not buy these boots again. Way too expensive for dry weather boots.

The construction and quality of the shoe was great but I have to say that the fit was not. I have feet that are on the wider side of things and they just didn't work. I don't fault the maker just noting that it was not a good match for my needs. Too bad, it's a great boot.

The leather and classic design are great once broken in. However, when hiking once the sole fell off. I have taken good care them. luckily-I was on my way out of the woods. Went from loving them to being very very disappointed and worried about quality in a safety situation.

I love the feel of these boots and merrell is my go to for trail shoes. I was excited for a forever boot. But after a few years with these, I'm getting really frustrated. I treat the leather twice a year with a beeswax blend. But the seams around the sole, especially near the toes just leaks and leaks. And the soles are constantly delaminating. I have to use shoe goo to cement them every season. I'm not sure what to do, I'm really not sure I want to invest in another merrell, but they are the best fit for narrow feet.

My last review never appeared, so I'm going to try again. I've had a pair of Merrell wilderness boots for about 5 years. I bought these boots, at their premium price, because they're purported to be sturdy enough to last a lifetime. The leather seems to be of good quality and the boots are sturdy. Once broken in, they're comfortable to wear and provide plenty of support on uneven terrain. I've taken these boots on backpacking trips through the Smokies, the Red River Gorge, Olympic National Forest, and Yellowstone. Each time, however, I encountered the same issue: they leak. If conditions are dry these are great boots, but if there's even a light rain, expect your socks to get soaked. I waterproofed and conditioned the leather to no avail. The water seeps through the stitching around the welts. On a recent trip to the Smokies, my feet were drenched after hiking for 5 miles in moderate rain, and I avoided puddles. For a boot of this price, you wouldn't expect them to fail so miserably. I could understand some moisture getting through if you're standing in a shallow stream; after all, they've got sewed-down welts and they're not lined with gore-tex. But to have sopping-wet socks after every shower is unacceptable. I wouldn't recommend getting these boots if you plan on spending time outdoors in them.

I bought these boots for a job in a conservation corps near Taos, NM. I shelled out the money for these boots and they did their job for a couple months. The waterproofing quickly wore out and the boots couldn't handle what I threw at them. The sole came off around the fifth month of owning them. You would think for the price they would hold up for a longer amount of time and that Merrell would stand behind their product and replace them! If you plan on using these boots everyday I would not recommend them.

I have always used Merrell hiking boots, years ago I had a full leather that I just loved but they didn't make them anymore. Being afraid that these also would no longer be sold I bought 2 pairs. They do fit like a glove, very, very comfortable. Bought them 2-3 years ago. One pair is still in the box, kept it for the future. The other pair, I used them one season and they held their water tightness, 2nd season I had an injury thus didn't use them. Now I started hiking again and even using snow wax they just leak through the seams, the boots are in great shape, not a single issue with them but just walking on a lawn with morning dew will result in wet toes. I guess I will only use these boots for dry hiking. Obviously not what I expected from Merrell, will have to now look for another hiker

First of all I love the comfort and look of the boots, yet I have owned 2 pair in the last 4 years and both of them have had the toe area come unstitched between the leather and the sole. The first pair was the left boot and the current pair is the right boot that has the stitching issue. Both pairs were made in Italy, per the tag. I mainly wore them for hiking the smoky mountains. I do really love the boots. The comfort is indescribable, just rather disappointed with the issue. Not sure if I will be investing in another pair.

These are comfortable boots and I was excited to get the 'last boot I'd ever buy.' However, just walking through puddles I noticed my feet would immediately get wet, water just pours in through the seams. I tried several coats of bees wax waterproofing for leather boots on the seams (as recommended by my local cobbler) to no avail. The seams are large and I have not been successful in waterproofing them. Cool looking boot, but I would not recommend them for any real outdoor use.

I now have the boot fully broken in, and put a few miles on them. The sheep skin lining is perfect, sad to say it's the only thing about this boot Merrill did right. The tongue is a soft glove leather with flimsy gusset , that I have no doubt the laces will eat through in short order. They have a very spongy and cushioned midsole instead of a solid leather one. It offers no stability or support. They are basically a horrid tennis shoe designed to look like a boot. If your main reason for buying this boot is to sit around the coffee shop, you should be very stylish. If on the other hand you are looking for a solid American made boot that you can actually walk and hike in, look elsewhere this is not it.

Not happy with these boots. The heal lining on both of my boots has ripped up after about a year of owning them, only wear them once in a while, so I haven't even broken then in yet, and I won't be able to now as the heals are now causing blisters. The lining bunches up and rubs. Useless boots.