The boot is ready for any hiking trail – whether it is through fields, on a path or on muddy or rocky terrain. The Zion hugs our foot through the arch and cradles our heel tightly enough that we’ve yet to experience any blisters. The protective rubber toe cap meant my toes were safe from stumbles and bumps, and I was thoroughly impressed by the undercut heel to help braking on the way downhill. The Merrell Zion GTXs are – very deliberately – inspired by a sneaker design and feel, following the trend set by Adidas Terrex and Columbia’s new SH/FT Outdry range for hiking shoes to almost look like a pair of super-cool fashion trainers. Merrell have certainly peppered a lot of technology gobbledygook into their descriptions of the Merrell Zion GTXs.

All GORE-TEX® Pro garments must pass Gore’s toughest test conditions and most aggressive rainstorm test. Built on a trail running platform for a trainer-like fit, it provides comfort and style from the word go. Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® product technology are durably waterproof and windproof combined with optimised breathability. It gripped well over rocky terrain and slightly slippery grass in the Lake District – and, despite the conditions, I never once felt out of control.But, if you are looking for a versatile shoe for a range of uses that aren’t too technical or hardcore, the Merrell Zion GTXs do live up to their billing. And we consider the hit on longevity a reasonable tradeoff for the assurance that we’ll stay upright on a variety of terrain. Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon Republic, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (U. We are experiencing a high volume of traffic at the moment, please bear with us whilst we load your page. Paclite® product technology is the ideal solution for hiking, golf, travel and other activities where space and weight are critical.

Otherwise, the boot doesn’t feel clunky or heavy, partially because it was designed on a trail running shoe last, which generally has a lower volume than a traditional boot last for a snugger fit.

On opening the shoebox, my first impression was that the Merrell Zion GTXs didn’t really look like hiking shoes. In terms of negatives, I was left feeling a little bit like the Merrell Zion GTXs don’t quite know what they are. It scores points not just because of its long lifespan, but also because of its outstanding grip and traction which is down to its 5 mm stud depth.

I accept the terms and conditions, and conditions of use, I have read the privacy policy and I confirm that I am over 16 years old. There's a removable and supportive Kinetic Fit™ Base insole, rearfoot and forefoot dual-density EVA inserts which, along with the compression-moulded EVA midsole, cushions and absorbs shocks.

Due to their sneaker-inspired design, they fitted like a glove and I immediately felt at ease with them on my feet. The latter features a new lug layout, with an undercut heel for easier slowing during your descent, a large contact area for toe and heel grip, and stronger lugs along the full length of the shoe for increased stability. Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® Active product technology are built for extreme breathability and are ideal for highly aerobic, done in a day activities. But we’ll confess to, at times, having been those day hikers that are more concerned with keeping our boots looking pristine than being good trail stewards.