|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | |||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Merrell Mesa II Mid Hiking Boot > Owner Review by Jo Ann MoffiMerrell Mesa II Ventilator Mid Hiking Boots
Owner Review February 7, 2007  Age: 33 Gender: Female Height: 5' 6" (168 cm) Weight: 175 lb (79 kg) Shoe Size: US 8 women's Email address: jomoffi AT gmail DOT com City, State, Country: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Backpacking Background: I was introduced to backpacking about 15 years ago when I met my husband. We have been backpacking, canoe camping, car camping, hiking, and participating in all sorts of outdoor activities ever since. We live in a border town (US & Canada), so we spend lots of time in both countries for our outdoor excursions. My most recent foray has been into Adventure Racing. When making a decision on gear, I like to go lightweight and practical. I don't like to carry around extraneous bits and pieces. Product Information: Manufacturer: Merrell Manufacture Date: 2006 URL: http://www.merrellboot.com/ Style: Mesa II Ventilator Hiking Boot MSRP: N/A Size: Women's US size 7.5 (Available in women's US sizing 5-11, including 1/2 sizes to 10) Color: Taupe Listed Weight: Both boots: 1 kg (2 lbs, 3 oz) Actual Weight: Both boots: 850 g (1 lb, 14 oz) Material: 1.6mm (0.06 in) pigskin leather with breathable mesh panels upper and mesh lining, Benecke Ceaprene® toe bumper, breathable Ventilator bellows tongue. Warranty: "Merrell's warranty program applies to defective materials and workmanship and lasts for one year on shoes and boots and 90 days on sport sandals from the date of purchase." Field Information: I have worn these hiking boots on just about all of my hiking and backpacking outings for the past 10 months. I purchased them in April 2006, just before a 3 day hike in the Caines Head State Recreation Area near Seward Alaska. Since then I have logged around 200 km (124 mi) in these boots on many outings. They have been worn in just about every terrain, from the shale beaches of Resurrection Bay in Alaska to leaf strewn trails in the boreal forests of Northern Ontario. Product Review: As the product name indicates, these are a mid height boot, not as low as a shoe, but not a full height hiking boot either. They provide a small amount of ankle support to just above the malleoli or the two bony prominences on either side of the ankle. The material of the boot is quite cushy around the ankles. Not only is this comfortable, but it also molds around my ankle providing little opportunity for twigs and other debris to enter the boot. I notice if I am wearing a light coloured sock that my socks are dirty right around the top of the boot, most likely from kicking up particles of trail dirt into top portion of the boot. However, other than a little dirt on the outside of the socks, there has never been a chaffing or irritating issue. I haven't worn gaiters to prevent this, although I would imagine that doing so would eliminate the dirt from making it onto my socks. The weight for these boots on the manufacturer's website is 150 g (5.3 oz) different from the measurement I made of my boots. I could not find anywhere on the Merrell website that indicated which size they were weighing to determine that figure. This could be one reason for the discrepancy in weight. Another reason may be that my boots have been worn for 10 months and may be packed down or lost a bit of their materials here and there, the sole may be a bit less chunky that it was. My best guess would be a combination of both possible scenarios. The boots fit true to size. I generally wear a Women's US size 7.5 to 8.5 shoe, depending on the manufacturer. These boots are a Women's US size 7.5. They are comfortable enough as long as the socks that I wear are not exceptionally thick. If I was intending on wearing them extensively in the winter months, I should have purchased a Women's US size 8 shoe. Saying this, I have worn these on most of my winter backpacking and hiking outings this winter, but I have worn them with only a midweight hiking sock and on occasion a midweight hiking sock with a liner. I have not been able to get two pairs of midweight hiking socks into these boots and still remain comfortable. There was no appreciable break in period for these boots. I have never gotten blisters from them, even from the first days of wearing them. Within two days of purchasing these boots I went on a 8 km (5 mi) hike with perfectly happy feet. I love these boots! I have naturally hot feet and have never been able to wear a winter hiking boot, even on the coldest days in winter. These boots offer plenty of ventilation, so much so that my feet don't get overly sweaty in summer provided I wear a very lightweight sock in them. I have worn them into the winter months with the addition of a pair of gaiters to keep snow out. The sole and fabric of the boots are very durable and show very little wear. In fact, after a recent shopping trip to an outdoor sporting goods store, my sister-in-law thought I had just purchased the boots!  The Vibram Multi-Sport Plus sole is great for traction on all types of surfaces. I have worn them when traversing shale beaches at low tide, rocks covered in algae and other slime, ice and snow covered rocks, boulder strewn beaches, and trails with damp leaves and mud. The boots provided me with adequate stability to maintain my footing in all these situations. They have splashed through mud and shallow water, and have come through without any lasting adverse effects to them. The sole shows very little wear at all and I haven't noticed any loss of grip. The boots are very lightweight when compared to other brands and styles I have worn in the past. At just under 1 kg (2 lbs, 3 oz) a pair, these are the lightest boots I own. They feel like not much more than my running shoes on my feet, a feature I find highly desirable. I am always looking at ways to reduce the load I am carrying and wearing when backpacking. One caveat I have with the boots is the laces. They are exceptionally long, which can easily be remedied by wrapping them around the top of the boot. In addition to the length, unless they are tied in a 'double' knot, the laces will come undone within a few steps. Tying the laces in a double knot also helps minimize the length of the bows, so this is generally what I do to combat both issues. Most desirable features: * Highly breathable lining and mesh panels * Superior traction of the Vibram Multi-Sport sole * Lightweight Least desirable features: * Laces don't stay done up unless tied in a double knot Summary: A great all around mid hiking boot for more than just summer hiking. An easy break in period followed by many miles of reliable stability and durability. These boots have lots of life left in them and will continue to be my favourite hiking boots for many months to come. Read more reviews of Merrell gear Read more gear reviews by Jo Ann Moffi Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Merrell Mesa II Mid Hiking Boot > Owner Review by Jo Ann Moffi | |||