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What do you know about this brand? Trusted? Good, bad, indifferent...what are your thoughts? I tend to always lean towards Merrell's, but maybe I'm missing something.

Preston the yeti wrote:not worth what REI charges for them

That's why the gods invented ebay

Bought my Keens from Bass Pro and couldn't be happier.

Well, it looks like I'm just going to try them out myself. Keen Zions - low cut. Great discussion with mixed experiences. :thanx:

You just can't beat the sticking power of the Merrell Moab Ventilators. They're like Spiderman shoes. It's not just the Vibram, but also the more flexible sole that gives you a better grip when you need it the most.
I recently bought a pair of Keens for the wider toe box. Comfortable on my foot? Sure. Happy on the trail? NEGATIVE! The sole design is so flawed, it started peeling off right away. Chucks of it are missing now and the rest keeps getting glued back on. I suppose they'd be alright on a 'user friendly' trail (I'm only guessing because I don't think I've ever hiked one), but for scrambling, bouldering, loose rock, slickrock and water hiking... forget it. After wearing Merrells for so long, I feel very unsteady in these. I'd compare it to rock climbing in mittens.

Blah! Scrambling, bouldering, loose rock, slick rock....all things I'm looking to do with my new shoe. Well, if they don't feel right they can go right back to the store without any expense incurred.

I had the Merrill Moab Ventilators and hated them. Fell apart pretty quick and seemed to be blister inducing. Right now just using some Asics trail running shoes and really like them. Do hate spending over $100 on shoes that only last 300 miles, so I've had decent luck buying close-outs on Amazon.

snakemarks wrote:You just can't beat the sticking power of the Merrell Moab Ventilators. They're like Spiderman shoes. It's not just the Vibram, but also the more flexible sole that gives you a better grip when you need it the most.

Blah!.. I like Merrells and I need "sticking power" for a March'13 return--> http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=298889
(I just purchased a new pair of low tops online for $89.95 total (no shipping cost and no tax) :thanx: Kat

I heard about a newer model of women's Keen "Whisper" sandals that run narrower, thought I might try them out sometime.

Google my size 11 Narrow (2A) or 10.5 Narrow (2A) and you'll be shocked at what I have to go through to find shoes. To add to my woes, today's narrow lasts fit like medium widths used to fit, so now I have to wear very thick insoles even with the narrow boots. I have a couple of pairs of Vasque boots that fit okay, and one time tried on some low cut trail shoes, maybe they were Salomons or La Sportivas??, that ran narrow. Didn't buy them, though. New Balance "narrow" shoes are extremely wide on me. Merrell Moab Ventilators are out of the question. I got comped a pair via the search and rescue group I'm a member of, but had to them away after I almost broke my ankle via the foot twisting inside of the shoe, even with a super thick insole and two pair of very thick socks.

I have to buy Men's boots to get a good fit, women's are too narrow and I'm like in a 3/4 size.... ;)

Outdoor Lover wrote:I have to buy Men's boots to get a good fit, women's are too narrow and I'm like in a 3/4 size.... ;)

My Hi-tecs are "youth-sized" sometimes it's good to have teeny-tiny feet.

My split Merrells were Mesa Ventilators and I'll have to search online to see if I can find them or if they even make them anymore. I really liked those boots

A couple of photos of my first pair of keen's that have been through months of abuse. I bought them using a gift card and so maybe $30 out of pocket, I don't remember. I've been really happy with them. They are now finally on their last stretch and breaking down and losing a little chunk here and there, and I don't wear them on major hikes. However, for my quick Camelback/Papago workouts they're still performing nicely. There's a little slide rock spot on Echo Canyon where I always test them for grip, and today they were still good. Today I bounced down the Cholla trail with total confidence in them. I think I'll get a few more good runs out of them.

Devils Mountain wrote:A couple of photos of my first pair of keen's that have been through months of abuse.

Holy cow! Can't say that you don't use your shoes. They've definitely seen better days.

@Trishness
Trish, the Mesa Ventilator was replaced by the Moab Ventilator. They're very similar.

I don't like girl scout cookies - they were in my store selling them on and off for about two weeks, and I think I'm the only employee not to buy any! They did well with locals and visitors alike.
I only own one pair of Keen sandals, and one pair of Keen light hikers ... like them both just fine, but the durability of the hikers does leave something to be desired. Love my orange Keen baseball cap that I must have gotten at my last trade show - about 8 years ago!
I have always been a big Merrell fan - but my latest pair (Moab Waterproof) gave me large blisters in strange places that lasted for months ... kept wearing them for short periods of walking around - not hikes - and now they are broken in and I can hike in them without the blisters.
When the Merrells proved unwearable for hiking at first, I bought my first pair of Salomon's (X Ultra) and I absolutely love them! Light, comfortable, grippy ... I should buy another pair or two of the same model before they change them.
Cost is not that much of a consideration for me since I get to take advantage of pro-deals, which means I usually pay no more than half of the retail price ... but I would say that Merrells last the longest and wear the best for the price.
Oh, and if you ever need snow boots, Sorel Caribous are the absolute bomb!

hope i never need snow boots again

i have the salomon xa comp 7 and love them
grippy, comfy, more durable than previous models, good for hiking or trail running

I wear Merrell Moab Mid Ventilators. Absolutely love 'um. Can't comment on the KEENs. But I do suggest that whatever you want to try, buy them from Zappo's. Free shipping both ways, simple returns, 365 day satisfaction period etc. Never would have thought that buying shoes online would be a workable business model but Zappo's has figured out how to do it. Better prices than most any brick and mortar store.

My hiking is rock (McDowell Sonoran Preserve et al), sand (raw desert) and urban asphalt/concrete. No water. We don't have water in Phoenix.. ;) The Moab's last great for me. No sole separation, no broken seams, laces/eyelets/speed lacers all still intact after many many miles. I'm a big and heavy guy putting a lot of weight and stress on shoes. The Moab's seem to take it just great. Paid 100 bucks for them at Zap.


Sgt Lumpy - n0eq

I'm still working on a pair of Merrell Moab Mid Ventilators. I've worn them for over 400-miles in mostly desert terrain. They've been "retired" to 2nd-tier status for me because after several long trips almost entirely in water (Aravaipa, Wet Beaver, West Clear, etc.) the insoles disintegrated. (Unlike Jonnybackpack, the laces are still just fine though. ) I bought new insoles, but should have spent more money on better ones. But since I only use them for water hikes now, it doesn't matter too much. There are a couple of holes developing on the toes, but the Vibram soles are worn but still solid and grippy on almost every surface.

I'm using a new pair of the same for my dry hikes now. No real complaints!

Grasshopper wrote:

snakemarks wrote:You just can't beat the sticking power of the Merrell Moab Ventilators. They're like Spiderman shoes. It's not just the Vibram, but also the more flexible sole that gives you a better grip when you need it the most.

Blah!.. I like Merrells and I need "sticking power" for a March'13 return--> http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=298889
(I just purchased a new pair of low tops online for $89.95 total (no shipping cost and no tax)

I just wanted to "close the loop" regarding my above 2/28 post:
I had my new pair of low top "Merrell Moab Ventilators" out for their maiden off trail hiking test this past week at the Salt River Canyon Wilderness area hiking two different off trail canyon hikes and I am very pleased to report that they are so far a great recommendation and I am I purchased them and I would also recommend..