Where Walked:

I first tried Merrells when I was restoring wetlands. We would consistently be in water over our ankles so I was looking for a boot that was waterproof up to almost my knee. I went to the store and tried a brand that I had not heard of before, Merrell. I do not remember the style name but I wish I still had those boots. They were more comfortable out of the box then anything else I had ever tried. I wore them everyday for about a year straight. Eventually they were destroyed by the surfactants that we used to make the herbicides more effective on the invasive species we would spray in the wetlands. I got back into hiking about a year ago and remembered that Merrells were great then so I decided to buy another pair. I was just hoping that they fit the same as the first pair. Again, out of the box perfect fit. The next day we hiked about 10 miles with no blisters or complaints. Since then we try to hike about once a week. I have convinced both my hiking friend and my wife to buy Merrells just by talking about them. We are working on section hiking the AT starting here in Virginia. In the picture is my dog Jersey and I overlooking Carvins Cove.

Recommendations:

Great shoes make the trip. Pack light, but make sure to have lots of water especially in the summer.