You’ll need a shoe that can keep up with you if you plan on spending some time outside, hiking, and engaging in other outdoor activities. Merrell is a footwear and apparel company founded in 1981 by Clark Matis, John Schweizer, and Randy Merrell.
John and Clark have considerable background in outdoor travel which gave them a boost in building a successful company, Randy, on the other hand, had the appropriate shoemaking skills.
The main goal of this friendly and cooperative partnership was to design, manufacture, and market high-quality footwear without sacrificing the wearer’s comfort or productivity.
Although footwear remains Merrell’s primary focus, the company has diversified over the years to produce a wide range of other products.
In this article, we will look into what’s so special about Merrell’s footwear and why Merrell’s shoes are so expensive.
Top 4 Reasons Why are Merrel Shoes Expensive:
We will discuss four valid reasons for Merrell’s high costs and whether they live up to the hype.
1) Top of line Materials:
Only high-quality materials can be used to make effective shoes and boots. In line with its values, Merrell makes most of its products out of recycled rubber and polyester. This, however, doesn’t affect the performance of the brand’s shoes in any way.
Merrell uses both natural and man-made materials, like leather and nylon or polyester fabrics. Most of the brand’s shoes have mesh linings that help them breathe and allow air to pass through.
The outsoles are made by Vibram, which is still considered one of the greatest manufacturers in its industry. Vibram’s Arctic Grip outsole is well-known for its superior grip in difficult conditions.
Each pair of Merrell shoes comes with a pair of insoles made in the company’s signature Kinetic Fit design, which is meant to support the wearer’s foot in the arch and heel.
Their goal is that by 2025, all of their products will use recycled, organic, or renewable material. However, the cost of this type of material got factored into the steeper price for these shoes.
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2) Cutting Edge Technology:
Merrell uses both its own and third-party technologies to make its shoes as comfortable and full of features as possible.
M-Select Dry is the most well-known of Merrell’s patented technology. As its name suggests, this technology is designed to keep your feet dry and comfortable in wet conditions.
The GORE-TEX technology creates an innovative waterproof barrier between your feet and the elements, using the power of laminated membranes and waterproof sealing.
Their slip-resistant footwear has either M-SelectTM GRIP traction outsoles or high-performance Vibram rubber soles to ensure that your steps strike where they should and remain there until you’re ready to go on.
Vibram has maintained its 70-year leadership and dedication to the performance hiking, running, and climbing industries through its partnership with Merrell. On the trail, the high-performance rubber soles of outdoor boots deliver power and stability.
M-Select WIND produces a thin, breathable, wind- and water-resistant barrier that is very flexible, allowing for a greater range of motion and comfort.
Reflective micro-spaces created by M Select WARM insulation absorb your body heat and keep you cozy without adding more weight.
M-Select WICK materials that absorb perspiration, transport it away from the skin and redistribute it so that it evaporates and dries more quickly.
Their mesh-lined, airy footwear helps keep feet dry by absorbing sweat. Your feet will feel the cool mountain air when you wear shoes by Merrell.
Their Sun Protection technology is noteworthy as well; they’ve developed a unique UPF-treated fabric that prevents the sun’s rays from reaching the wearer’s feet.
As a result, these technologies are factored into the retail price of the footwear to cover the expenses associated with product innovation. The price of a pair of Merrel shoes goes up as a result of all of these features.
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3) Ultimate Protection:
Outdoor activities require specialized footwear, which is healthier for your feet’s health. Toenail issues, bacterial infections, and inflammations are all things that many runners, athletes, and seasoned hikers suffer from.
Furthermore, even if you don’t have an athlete’s foot, wearing the incorrect socks and shoes for your chosen activity can result in itchy, stinky, or even painful blisters on your feet. If your feet are not in good shape, you may experience various difficulties during your trip and beyond.
When you’re outside doing things like hiking, there’s always a chance that you could get hurt by a falling rock, a wrong step, or even just stepping into a bramble bush. With the Merrel shoes, you can make sure that if this happens to you, your feet won’t get cut, your toes will not get crushed, or you won’t get hurt badly.
If you have strong and durable Merrel shoes, you can walk on rough terrain without getting injured.
On such terrain, low-quality cheap footwear not only wears out quickly but also provides insufficient protection. If you’re planning a hike, a climb, or a walk even if it’s just around the house it’s a good idea to invest some more money in quality footwear so that you can enjoy it.
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4) Great Value for your Money:
All of their product lines were made with materials that are natural, recycled, or renewable. You, the customer, and the planet all win when you choose sustainable brands.
Less trash and fewer harmful byproducts of manufacturing are the key advantages of sustainable footwear. Fast fashion contributes significantly to the pile of used clothing and footwear that fills up landfills and won’t biodegrade for decades.
When shoes aren’t made with sustainability in mind, they end up polluting the environment. These chemicals damage the environment during production and also thereafter, leading to major health problems in many parts of the world. By showing support for sustainable shoe businesses, you can help cut down on pollution in many different ways.
Merrell footwear is beneficial to both the environment and the customer, as the shoes are very well made and last for a long time.
If you want to help the environment, buying sustainable footwear is the way to go. Shoes made from recycled, sustainable materials have a higher initial investment cost than their standard products due to the greater cost of their raw materials.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Is Merrell a good brand?
Merrell is an extremely well-known brand that designs and manufactures outdoor footwear. The company has been entirely owned by Wolverine World Wide for more than twenty-five years now. While the brand does not strictly promote to a certain age group, they do ensure that the energetic community is aware of its activities. This brand is hard to overlook because of its well-made, long-lasting, and comfortable footwear.
Are Merrell shoes good?
Merrell is unquestionably one of the few footwear manufacturers that offers shoes that are packed with unique features. Their footwear is of very high quality and comfortable. Regardless of which pair of shoes from this brand you choose, if you take proper care of them they will endure for many years.
Are Merrell shoes worth the money?
Merrell shoes are ideal whether you require slippers, sandals, or hiking shoes that can help you climb a mountain and help you enjoy outdoor activities. By choosing to manufacture its shoes from recycled materials, the brand offers a pleasant alternative to the harmful practices of the fast fashion industry.
Where to buy Merrell shoes?
Merrell has a wide selection of footwear on their website. If you’re looking for retailers, you can find Merrell products at Soft Moc, Rubino Shoes, The Last Hunt, Altitude Sports, Sport Chek, The Shoe Company, Mark’s, and DSW.
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Conclusion:
Merrell has designed hiking boots, trail runners, and casual shoes for over three decades. The four aspects of Merrell’s design philosophy are comfort, durability, style, and versatility. Therefore, all of their boots feature an anatomical footbed with an integrated heel counter and arch support.
In addition, the heels include air cushioning to absorb shock and provide stability, and the outsoles have a good grip to provide traction on slippery roads and uneven terrain.
Given the price range and function of Merrell footwear, there is a great deal of competition in the marketplace. However, not all of these competitors make their shoes using genuine leather, waterproofing technology, or in an ethically responsible manner, this is why the products made by Merrell are really worth their extra cost.
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