Are Merrell and Berghaus worth the money for hiking boots?

[SatsumaFan]

Looking for some waterproof and comfy walking/hiking boots. The above brands are around £100 a pair, whereas Karrimor or Gelert are around £30.

I've never had proper walking boots before and am planning on keeping up my 5-mile ish walks a few times a week during lockdown. Wore old trainers today and my socks were wringing wet when I got home and my feet wrinkly!

Thanks

I’d like some recommendations too please.

Bump

I’ve got a paid of Gelert, they are reduce atm. So far so good. Waterproof, great grip & very comfortable compared to the Karrimor ones I had.

I have some from Regatta which are great! No water gets in and they're the comfiest shoes I own. Would definitely buy boots from them again. Worth a look at their website. They have a sale on just now I think and also an outlet, accessible from the main site

Ah thanks but doesn't look like Regatta have a size 5.5 which I need

@Mixitupalot where did you buy your Gelert ones please? Have you got a link?

Wow thanks for all those fab tips @DDIJ! Some really good advice there Unfortunately I'm in England and in lockdown again so no chance to try on, but I'm a definite 5.5 and slightly wide foot I'd say. Will look at returns policy with that in mind.

I have a couple pairs of Merrel hiking trainers and I love them. Millets have pretty good range and just had a sale, think it’s still running.

They’re probably looked down upon as a brand by hardcore walking types but for me the fit/comfort has been really good, and they last well.

You may need to size up to accommodate thicker socks so still worth trying a size 6. Echo what the others said about getting fitted properly. I have leather Brashers and they are great boots; if you are going to use them regularly it's worth spending a bit more. Also worth getting decent insoles that suit your feet. Someone once told me that Italian boots come up narrow, while German boots come up wide.

I honestly don't care about brands for the sake of branding/fashion for anything, but nowadays, I head straight for Merrell as I've found the quality and durability outstanding. You can sometimes find them significantly cheaper (brand new) on eBay.

Karrimor ones seem as good when new, but they just don't last anywhere near as long, IME.

These are the ones I got. However I store they are reduced another 20%

www.sportsdirect.com/gelert-horizon-mid-waterproof-ladies-walking-boots-186276#colcode=18627669

I love my Merrels. I'm on my second pair. My feet are slightly wide as well, got some waterproof ones with ice grip a couple of weeks ago and have has toasty warm dry feet since.

My Merrell hiking boots are 20 years old and are still going strong.

Merrell I would say yes. Berghaus, probably not these days. Karrimor are terrible quality, shame they used to be a good brand. I’ve no personal experience of Gelert but they sell nasty cheap waterproof clothing which would put me off their boots.

At that price I’d look at Salomon if you can find them in a sale in Blacks, go outdoors, etc. Those shops do 10% discount for various stuff, students, armed forces, caravan club, duke of Edinburgh, etc.

Just to add I have also had a couple pairs of £30 Karrimor equivalents that look practically identical but they’re nowhere near as good.

Also, don't forget decent insoles - thick and gel if you can. However good the shoes or boots are, the insoles they come with can never compare with the ones by Athlete, Sofsole, Slazenger and the like for comfort and foot support. Just make sure that the model/size you buy is deep enough to accommodate them as well as your foot!

And be aware just because they say waterproof doesn’t mean they are. I got some waterproof shoes from sports direct, probably karrimor and I’ve never had wetter feet!

DH got 15 years' heavy use out of his last pair of Merrells. He's just replaced them with a higher spec pair of the same brand.

I bought Merrell hiking trainers last month and am very pleased.
Had to go up a size to fit in proper hiking socks.

I've just bought new ones. My previous pair were Merrell and lasted 20yrs, but I find them too narrow now due to foot spread from being barefoot so much, and apparently Merrell aren't as long lasting these days. I went with Solomon (men's boots for an extra wide fit!). Go Outdoors will match a competitor's price, even online retailers, and take another 10% off so I got £150 rrp boots for £95. So far they are warm, comfy, and dry although they have yet to face the 'flooded field' trial...

My Merrels were great, they definitely fit quite wide. Totally impenetrable by any form of weather.

I can also add
To the Merrell chorus, I love mine and also sized up to accommodate socks, I’m also a 5.5. It’s really also worth investing in decent socks as they can be as big a source of blisters as your shoes.

@DDIJ

And be aware just because they say waterproof doesn’t mean they are. I got some waterproof shoes from sports direct, probably karrimor and I’ve never had wetter feet!

The reason to look for boots that are sold as waterproof is so you can get a refund when they are not as described. Unfortunately there's only one way to find out if they actually are waterproof

This was sports direct we’re talking about.....they were sent off for “testing” and it was declared they were waterproof. So no refund and I was basically accused of been a liar.

Another vote for Merrells. It's worth trying on a 'big kids' size 6 when they are in stock if you are a 5.5, as they are an eu38 which is usually a size 5 and I've found them to have a half size leeway. I'm a size 4.5 in other shops but I'm a size 4 in Merrell adult sizes but a 5 in Merrell kids (I have emailed and checked and this is a deliberate sizing thing they do between adults and kids). They do good kids waterproof walking boots if you're looking to save money and it does fit. I got their kids barefoot type trainers and sandals in the summer and they're so comfortable.