Merrells?

[BeaLola]

Go east please ...
I'm after some comfortable type walking "trainers" for my walk through local park (rather than just wear my ankle boots).

I have seen Merrells mentioned on here before ... are they any good ? I would be after a dark colour - saw sone online with Sweaty Betty reduced -I have wide feet and am usually a 6.5 -are they true to size or would a 7 be better?

Thank you

It's a perfectly respectable brand, but I've not worn any

I bought some and didn't suit me at all. I have them to my DSis after I'd walked about 12 k in them. They don't have enough heel cushioning for me and I've learnt from it
Now for walking I wear Nike Pegasus trail Gore Tex. These have been so good that my DH now has a pair and he says they are his most comfortable shoes.
Having said that, Merrell are very popular and an established brand. I'm in two minds about walking shoes though. I can walk 10k comfortably in Puma suedes and DD did 15k a day for a week in Nike AirMax

Trail running shoes won't go as far as a proper walking shoe from what I have heard and read (more flexibility maybe leads to more wear, probably a softer sole for running than just walking) but I prefer a flexible sole

If it's only a few K around a park, maybe some ordinary trainers would be fine

I have a pair of their walking boits and two pairs of their walking sandals and I think they’re great value for money.

I’ve had Merrell shoes before and would recommend, the ones I’ve bought have always been well made and last a good while (I walk a lot). I’m about a size 5.5 and normally get a 6 in these which fit just fine.

Merrell is a good brand but with walking shoes/boots I would never buy online - you need to try them on and walk around the shop in them. Good outdoor shops will have lots of different ones to try and will have slopes to walk up and down to check the fit.

A good pair should last you for years but if you get the wrong fit you'll want to chuck them out after a week.

Go to Cotswolds Outdoors and get them to advise you - they do the gait analysis. I'd go up half a size too, but try before you buy.

I had a pair of Merrells and they were awful. There was something wrong with the heel or maybe they didn't have enough cushioning as a PP said, but after walking just a few miles in them it felt like something was pushing up through the heel on each shoe. They were very uncomfortable and when I asked for a refund due to what I assumed was a manufacturing defect I was told no because I'd already worn them outdoors. I would never buy from them again.

I haven't found Merrell to be very good quality. I had one pair and they were very comfy but the rubber split. Replaced with another pair and they leaked, so didn't bother trying again!
Yes to Nike Pegasus Trail Goretex trainers!! Very comfy and keep my feet totally dry.

I mainly wear Merrells for walking. I have a couple of pairs of shoes (one pair is Goretex) and a pair of boots, which are basically the same as the shoes, but high top.
Surprised about the heel issue, as I have plantar fasciitis and the Merrells have never set it off.
For serious walking I wear Aigle.
In the past I've had Karrimor - which are crap now they've been bought out, Salomon, Clarks, but prefer the Merrells.

I have Merrells - can't remember what they are, either walking shoes or trail shoes, quite lightweight. They were great, very comfortable but the top of the shoe on the 'webbing' has split after only 18 months or so. I thought they would have lasted longer.

I have wide feet and my current walking shoes are Merrells - they're at least a couple of years old now and I walk a lot.

But really footwear is very individual and there are now lots of decent brands of goretex walking/trail shoes. (No point getting non waterproof shoes)

As to size, you definitely should always try on walking shoes and boots (tbh I don't know how anyone buys shoes online esp if you've wide feet), wearing socks of the typical thickness you'd wear for walking. A good outdoors shop will have a ramp so you can see how they feel on slopes (I once bought a pair of boots without checking, they were fine on the flat or uphill but stubbed my toes doenhill)

Does anyone have these - Clarks Orianna lace up?
https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/orianna-w-lace/26174798-p

They would be a massive purchase for me and my main shoes. I'm wary of spending so much, as I have plantar fasciitis and if they set it off it will be £130 down the drain. But atm I have some appalling Heavenly Feet boots which desperately need replacing. I can't wear my Docs anymore before they are suggested.

Urgh. Sorry that was supposed to go in a separate thread 🤦‍♀️

If you are just doing casual walking locally, not hiking trails, hills etc. I'd stick with a good pair of trainers. As PP mentioned Nike have gortex pairs. Also with any waterproof fabric the waterproof coating needs to be topped up so you can buy a spray coating to put on them also.

If it's only a few K around a park, maybe some ordinary trainers would be fine

If any of it is on grass then waterproof is a must, IME - wet grass is the absolute worst thing for soaking feet!

(tbh I don't know how anyone buys shoes online esp if you've wide feet)

Apart from having very limited local choice, I always buy online because it gives me 7 days (often more) to try them in the house. A quick walk around a shop even with a ramp, isn't enough for me. I've bought all my Merrells on Amazon, I just watch for discounts, often certain colours are heavily reduced. Although admittedly the deals have been sparce recently.

Best to find a good fit vs a good brand.
merrell fit me well and I pick up various trail or day shoes when on sale, so do solomen.
nike depends on style.
sketchers not at all, zip zero zilch no matter what.

I love Merrell but find them very mixed. My walking boots are super comfy, like walking on air! They've played lasted years and I've worn them a lot.

My walking shoes are also Merrell and whilst they are good, they are way less padded inside so feel harder, I also think they've started to go a bit on the toe however I've battered them, they've done well.

I'd but then again but probably the upper end of the range and I'd a try few on to check how comfy they are.

They are a long established outdoor footwear brand. They come up a bit small.

Keen boots/shoes are wide fitting. Don't own any as we are a mostly standard/narrow fitting family but might be worth a try. We don't have many shops nearby so tend to order a variety from amazon on either try before you buy or free returns and do it that way. Berghaus tend to be standard to narrow.

Keens are a wider fit but quality has seriously gone downhill. I’d only recommend if a great bargain, more than 50% off.

That's a shame. It's happened with a lot of previously decent brands.

Wow , thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Ideally I would love to buy in person but I live remotely and work etc so tine to get to a store with lots of choices for me to try would be more like March and I wanted to get back to exercising in January. I will be getting several to try and will try Nikes mentioned as hadn't realised they did these waterproof ones.

Thank you

Any decent shoe shop lets you return within a week or two if you've just tried them around the house anyway though.

Wow, your local stores are more obliging than mine.