In 1981, a rodeo cowboy and bootmaker named Randy Merrell, together with two partners, set out to build a better hiking boot at a time when serious hikers wore heavy, stiff leather. Merrell’s insight was fit and comfort without sacrificing the trail; the company later put a whole generation into the Moab, one of the best-selling hiking shoes in history. Odds are you have walked past a hundred pairs today.
The short version: Merrell, founded 1981 and owned by Wolverine World Wide, is the world’s default hiking-footwear brand: comfortable, accessible, everywhere. Buy it for day hiking, the ubiquitous Moab, and approachable trail footwear that fits most feet out of the box. For technical alpine or precise fast-and-light performance, specialists like Salomon go further; Merrell owns the vast, welcoming middle.
Where Merrell came from
Randy Merrell’s custom bootmaking pedigree gave the brand early credibility; the focus on comfortable, trail-ready fit made it huge. Under Wolverine World Wide (which also owns Chaco and Saucony), Merrell became the best-selling hike brand in much of the world, anchored by the Moab (Mother Of All Boots) and its endless variants.
What they actually make well
Day-hiking shoes and boots, above all the Moab; trail runners; and casual outdoor footwear that bridges trail and town. It is the accessible counterpart to the sharper, narrower performance of Salomon and the water-and-wide-fit niche of KEEN.
Built to last?
Comfort and value come with honest trade-offs: Merrells are not the most durable boots at the extremes, and hard users cycle through them. Warranty support runs through Wolverine. Sustainability progress (recycled materials, some repairable and recraftable lines) tracks the industry curve.
The causes they actually fund
Merrell has invested notably in outdoor access and inclusion, funding programs that get underrepresented communities onto trails, a fitting cause for the brand that made hiking footwear approachable. It is less activist than the apparel leaders here, and more focused on the on-ramp to the outdoors.
Where this gear comes from, and where it earns its place
At home on the day trails where most hiking actually happens: the moderate miles of every region in the Trail Atlas, including the family-friendly routes in our Colorado Plateau guide.
The honest take
Merrells wear out faster than premium boots and are not built for technical alpine ground, so serious mountaineers look elsewhere. But for comfortable, affordable, out-of-the-box day hiking that fits most people, nothing is more reliably good, which is exactly why the Moab is everywhere. Buy it as the sensible default.
From a rodeo cowboy’s bootbench to the most-worn hiking shoe on Earth. More makers in Brands We Love. Last verified July 2026.