Merrell Walking Shoes vs Mountain Warehouse Walking Boots: Which Performs Better on Real Hikes?
Choosing the right walking footwear is one of the most important decisions you can make as a hiker. Comfort, durability, waterproofing, and long‑distance performance all play a huge role in how enjoyable your walks are. After owning Merrell walking shoes for two years and then testing a budget pair of Mountain Warehouse walking boots, I discovered just how big the difference can be.
This review is based entirely on real‑world use — long hikes, coastal paths, wet weather, and a few painful lessons along the way.
🥾 My Experience With Merrell Walking Shoes
Merrell has a strong reputation for comfort, and my pair lived up to that from day one. They were lightweight, supportive, and ideal for long‑distance walking.
Where Merrell Performed Well
Excellent comfort over long distances
Supportive fit
Great for mixed terrain
Where Merrell Fell Short
After around six months, the waterproofing failed. I kept them going with waterproof socks and even a silicone repair job (thanks, Paul), but during a rainy walk in Weymouth they finally gave up — my feet were completely soaked.
Despite that flaw, the comfort kept me loyal… at least until I tried a budget alternative.
🥾 Testing Mountain Warehouse Walking Boots: A Budget Option Gone Wrong
The day after the Weymouth soaking, I spotted a pair of Mountain Warehouse walking boots on sale for £34.99. At that price, it felt like a bargain worth trying.
My first walk in them was a tough 14‑mile stretch of the South West Coast Path near Kimmeridge — and that’s where things went downhill.
Problems I Experienced
Severe ankle pain
Swelling after the first long walk
Even with gel socks and padding, the boots didn’t fit my feet properly
Eventually bruised the bone from the pressure
No amount of adjusting or breaking‑in helped. In the end, I sold them on eBay and went straight back to Merrell.
⭐ Verdict: Merrell vs Mountain Warehouse — Which Is Better?
If you’re choosing between Merrell walking shoes and Mountain Warehouse walking boots, here’s my honest conclusion:
Merrell Wins For:
Comfort
Fit
Long‑distance performance
Mountain Warehouse Boots:
They looked like a great budget option, but for me they were a false economy. The discomfort outweighed the savings, and long walks became painful instead of enjoyable.
Even with the waterproofing issues, Merrell still came out on top overall.
👍 Enjoyed This Review?
If you found this helpful, check out my other walking gear reviews, recipes, and hiking adventures. There’s plenty more coming.
Hi Folks,
We try to be as sustainable as we can, as far as our own affordability will allow, and we like to buy our fruit and veg from Riverford.
We are only buying fruit at the moment as we have some vegetables in our own garden, but generally we get our organic fruit and veg from Riverford.
If you are interested in supporting small scale farmers and eating fresh organic produce then feel free to follow this link: I think we will both get £15 after your first order.
Jayne
Hi Folks,
When planning our South West Coast Path walks we use the following resources:
As an Amazon Affiliate, if you click on any of the amazon links and buy something I might receive a small commission.
Links to resources for swcp walking:
Walking the South West Coast Path
Vol 1: Minehead to St Ives
by Paddy Dillon
Walking the South West Coast Path
Vol 2: St Ives to Plymouth
by Paddy Dillon
Walking the South West Coast Path
Vol 3: Plymouth to Poole
by Paddy Dillon
Walking the South West Coast Path
National Trail
from Minehead to South Haven Point
by Paddy Dillon
Link to The South West Coast Path Association (no affiliate link)
Book, map and loads of information from:
We hope you enjoy using these resources to plan your walk around The South West Coast Path.
Paul and Jayne 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Hi Folks,
When we first became vegan we got through a lot of food processors because we eat a lot of nuts I suppose, but in the end we decided to invest in a SAGE food processor which has lasted us about 4.5 years now. We have had to replace parts from time to time, but the motor is guaranteed for 20/25 years so it should last us a few more years yet.
Well recommended, but I have noticed that the model we have is no longer available, it appears to have been superseded by this one, if you are interested.
As an Amazon Affiliate, if you click on this link and buy something I might receive a small commission.
I will put the videos about the food processor opposite if you are interested.
The link is here (click on the image below):
Enjoy your vegan cooking.
Jayne 😋
Hi Folks,
Paul loves to walk and has found using walking sticks very beneficial.
He bought a cheap pair of walking sticks about 2 years ago and did a review because he was very pleased with them.
They are still going strong so if you are interested in seeing his review I will put it opposite. Also, I will put the link on the image below if you are interested in buying a pair.
As an Amazon Affiliate, if you buy something after clicking on this link, I might receive a small commission.
Happy Walking
Paul and Jayne 🚶♀️🚶♂️
