About My Merrell Eagle Low Hiking Boots for Women
Written: Jul 28 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable, great traction, almost waterproof!
Cons: Strange tongue; truly a light day hiker.
The Bottom Line: These are a great light day hiker. Comfortable, durable and they look nice as well.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Merrell 2000 Eagle Low Hiking Boots Womens 5.5 |
About the boots:
I bought the Merrell Eagle Hiking Boots while in Maine. On a rainy day when we first got to Acadia National Park we did some shopping and stopped at L.L. Bean. I needed to replace my old hiking boots, which are low but lower than the Eagle’s with much less ankle support. The Eagle's were $10.00 less at this outlet so I paid $49.00 for them and can return them at any time with L.L. Bean’s guarantee.
These are considered a lightweight day hiker and are not meant for rugged backcountry hiking. At the time I bought these I didn’t think I would be doing anything but light day hiking. They are not advertised as waterproof. What they do have is what is called a Vibram Edge Sole, which they claim improves traction and durability. I was told at the store that I wouldn’t have to break them in. They are advertised as “no break-in day hikers." The outside is made of suede leather and Cordura construction. Cordura is a type of nylon made by Dupont.
What they are like and what I think of them:
They look good if you are concerned about style. I can wear them with shorts, for example. They have 14 (7 on each side) eyelets and no holes to lace up. I found during my 2 weeks of wearing them that the laces stayed secure and I could easily adjust how loose or tight I wanted them depending on my socks or if it was warm and my feet had swollen. They have a lot of mesh on them, which makes them much more lightweight than others might be. I never felt as if I had to lift my leg to pick up my foot!
The traction is fantastic. What I noticed on them versus my Hi-Tec’s is the tread on the back of the sole. It acts as a stop or brake and I would really encourage you to look for a boot that has that additional bit of traction as well as good traction all over the sole, which the Eagle does.
Although they are not waterproof we not only got caught in several downpours one day, but I found myself walking through streams and my feet kept dry. I am sure that if I were submerged the water would get through but they worked well for me during those times that I thought the lack of waterproofing would be a problem.
They fit well and are comfortable for light day hikes. There are two things about the boots that I don’t like and you should be aware of.
The first is the tongue. Although the picture doesn’t show the tongue well, you can see elsewhere that the Eagle has an extra long tongue, the top of which is not attached to the boot. I have no idea why this is constructed this way. At first I thought it was to make it easier to put pants in them (for bug protection) but my pants didn’t stay in them so that theory didn’t pan out. That is something I don’t like about these boots because the tongue sticks out. It is not an aesthetic reason but a practical reason. It is very easy for dirt to get into the top of the boot.
The second thing I didn’t like about them isn’t the boots' fault. They really are true day hikers and not meant for rugged hiking. If you are doing light day hiking I am going to highly recommend them. They are comfortable, durable and inexpensive. Even after walking in mud and washing them off, they look brand new so I think you will be happy with them. However, if you think that your hikes might be a bit more rugged than light day hiking you will want a shoe that offers even more support and perhaps waterproofing. It is possible that at the end of one 7 hour hike, no boot on earth would have made my feet burn less, but I do know that when we travel cross country next year I will buy a $200 boot as was first suggested to me. I am keeping these because they do serve a purpose and for $50 it is hard to do better for a decent quality boot.
My final thoughts:
These boots are padded and cushioned making them very comfortable. At the end of 2 weeks of hiking I had no blisters as promised. The traction is excellent and I did very little sliding – even less than my husband who bought boots from Eastern Mountain Sports before we left. I felt secure even on very slippery slopes or almost perpendicular granite rocks. Although they are lower than some, they offer enough ankle support for light hiking. There were times that my ankle slipped but considering our hikes, the fact I had no injuries is a testimony to these boots.
My final, final thought, though is that if you are hiking over an extensive period of time, it will be worth your money to invest in another pair (It is a good idea to have 2 pairs in my opinion.) for long, strenuous hikes.
Feel free to leave me a comment or question.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 49.00
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