MerrellWomen's All Out Blaze Aero Sport Hiking Water Shoe

I needed some water shoes, and my feet aren't going to grow anymore (40yo and no more babies thank you very much) so I wanted to get a proper pair that will work for creeking and rafting/canoeing and swimming in the lake/ocean, but also for playing disc golf with my husband and light trail hiking, and will last for the next 5-10 years at least. I started off by heading to Cabela's (FYI, I have a local Cabela's, Field and Stream, and Duluth all within spitting distance of each other, and out of those three brick and mortars, Cabela's had the best water-hiking-shoes selection, BY FAR). In the store I tried on the KEEN Newport Hydro, the KEEN Whisper (mostly they had KEEN and their store brand, Worldwide Sportsman...or something like that), and a few of their Worldwide Sportsman brand. I did not find any Merrell water-hikers in-store (at any of the stores). Anyway, out of the ones I tried at Cabelas, I quickly decided against the Worldwide Sportsman as they did not fit well (loose on my very wide feet, but tight on top and jamming into my leg at the top of my foot). So that left the KEEN. Both the Whisper and the Newport fit well, but I wanted something sturdy and hefty, and the Newport fits the bill on that. If you are looking for cuter and lighter, the Whisper is that. I chose the KEEN Newport Hydro...but they didn't have any in my proper size (size 10 womens, with a wide foot). I bought a half-size down (still fit all right) and went home ($100). I really wanted to try something other than KEEN, so enter Amazon. I proceeded to order the exact same KEEN in my proper size (10) and a different color ($100), the Merrell All-Out Blaze Sieve in a 10 ($75), and the ATIKA All-Terrain Orbital in a 10 ($31). I made sure they all had free returns before purchasing, and waited patiently to try them all before returning the rest. Here are my thoughts on them all:KEEN Newport Hydro***PROS***-Cute-Very sturdy sole-Fits firmly but still has lots of room in the toe box (excellent for wide feet)-Seem to fit okay in my proper size and a half-size down. In fact, when forced to choose, I would choose the half-size down-Larger cut-outs seem as though it would be easier for water to drain from shoe. Didn't try in water so just my assumption-Excellent and substantial toe guard***CONS***-Expensive-Back strap is less comfortable than other options-Heavy***OVERALL OPINION***Great shoe. Comfortable. Heavy. Expensive.Merrell All-Out Blaze Sieve***PROS***-Cute-Fits like a dream-Very sturdy sole-Very comfortable to walk in-Back strap has an extra layer of padding compared to others I tried and it makes a huge difference when walking. Much more pleasant than KEEN-Cheaper than KEEN-Neoprene webbing around foot has less gaps in tongue area compared to the others***CONS***-Not as cute as the KEEN (just my personal taste), but still very very cute-Smaller cutouts compared to KEEN...not sure but my initial assumption is they would take longer to dry than the KEEN when creeking-Not as substantial guard in toe area***OVERALL OPINION***Great shoe. Very comfortable. Pretty expensive.ATIKA All-Terrain Orbital***PROS***-So inexpensive!-Cute-Very comfortable***CONS***-Fit is a bit weird. The bungee on top needed to be tightened a lot to fit on my wide foot, yet they were a touch short. Where the back of the sole comes up to hug your heel was jutting into my heel a bit and while not a big deal, it would likely be a big deal after wearing all day. Would prob need to size up half a size.***OVERALL OPINION***Surprisingly great shoe for the price. If price is your leading factor in deciding, or if your foot is still growing (hey girls your feet get bigger when you have a baby...I used to be a size 8 before my four kids), this would be a great shoe for you.In the end, I'm going with the Merrell. I expected to like the KEEN best, but was surprised at the superior comfort and the sturdiness of the Merrell, and at a cheaper price tag, I'm sold.

I earn my keep by being in the outdoors most of the time, and I "hike" rivers like other people hike mountains - not on the banks, but by going straight up the middle. This means that my shoes are in the water for hours/miles at a time, and are subjected to a constant barrage of mud, rocks, sticks, and other debris. In the month of July, I literally destroyed three new pairs of what one would call the classic "water shoes" - the little slip-on things with mesh uppers and rubber soles. This is not new - I have gone through countless pairs. I was logged in on Amazon, doing a search for yet another pair this week when this pair of Merrell's popped up in the suggestions. I just about fell out of the chair when I saw the price, but after a quick calculation, I realized I was spending at least this much in disposable water shoes over the course of every summer, so I gave it some serious consideration.My feet are fairly wide, and as a result, I normally shy away from women's shoes and buy boys instead. However, I noticed that one of the other reviewers mentioned that these had a pretty wide toe box, so I decided to take the chance and order them.My UPS guy delivered them as I was loading my kayak on the truck yesterday evening - couldn't have been better timing - I was headed up river a few miles, taking the kayak along to tow my stuff, and I was prepared to go barefoot, which works, but sometimes results in a bruise or two. I pulled them out of the box and was impressed with the design - sturdy, but lightweight. I then put them on and was equally impressed wit the arch support (I have high arches - it felt really nice). Then I walked across the floor, and much to my delight, I could feel the air moving through the mesh, cooling my feet. So far so good - it was time to head to the river.Upon entering the water, the shoes (of course) immediately filled with water, but very little sand/gravel. As I made my way up river, I was amazed - a lot of the rocks are slick with moss and sediment, but I didn't slip. And not a single "OUCH!" as I made my way through fast water where I couldn't see the bottom - normally this means coming down hard on a rock at least once, and although I'm sure I did, I never felt the first twinge of discomfort. Slogging through sandy areas resulted in a small amount of sediment in the shoes, but not enough to be uncomfortable.Upon my return back down river, I took the shoes off to rinse them out. That was easy - they didn't capture and hold on to sand/gravel like the other ones did that I had been wearing. I also noticed that they float - an added bonus should one get away from me. I inspected them carefully for signs of destruction - normally after only one trip, the cheaper ones will show cracking on the bottom and at least a few tears/loose threads. Nothing was wrong with these - nada. I put them back on and climbed the muddy hill to the truck - they had great traction there, as well.All in all, I am EXTREMELY pleased with this purchase. The shoes not only perform exactly as I needed them to in the water, but they are actually REALLY comfortable. We still have a fair amount of summer left here in Virginia, and I will be putting them through their paces for quite a while longer. I will update my review toward the end of the season.I paid full price for these shoes and did NOT get them at reduced cost or for free in return for a review. :)

I've ordered numerous water shoes including the Chaco brand. Normally love Chaco but their water shoe - not sandal - was way to narrow for my foot. I ordered Jambu and several other brands where ordering the W width was good but the length was too roomy and would slide around on my foot when wet.I ordered this Merrell shoe in a size 6. The toe box is wide and the length was snug enough so that it isn't going to slide on my foot when wet. I have a wide foot so this shoe works perfectly! It is not light weight and it only offers mesh vents in the sides of the shoe, it is not a floppy water tennis shoe. It holds up for hiking, walking and being in the water. They will take longer to dry than a flimsy water tennis shoe and they may be a tad bit heavier in the water than a flimsy water shoe. I have very sensitive feet and needed something that was secure on my foot, wide and comfortable. After trying numerous cheap shoes and not so cheap brands, this one fit perfect for a size 6 (European size 36) and has room in the toe box for a wide foot despite this not being a 6W size. I have only worn the shoe barefooted; it would be too snug with a sock should you want to wear it not in the water- expect to not wear it with socks.

OMG I LOVE these cute shoes! I hesitated to keep them, as they are a bit snugger than usual for Merrell's. But they are so comfy that I kept them anyway (they are a tiny bit more narrow than I would like). They are instantly comfy and I have even worn them around the house as they provide great support for sore feet. I can't wait to wear them to the beach!

Fit perfectly for my wide foot. Breathable fabric. I wear them all day for work and my feet are so happy!

Habe diese Schuhe von Merrell vor Jahren schon einmal gekauft und jetzt monatelang nach Ersatz ersucht. Sie sind sehr bequem und dank des Gummizugs am Hacken sitzen sie fest an den Füßen, was sie im Gelände zum perfekten Begleiter macht. Fast unverwüstlich sind sie außerdem. Leider ist dieses Modell in Deutschland in dieser Farbe nicht mehr zu bekommen, deshalb habe - trotz kleiner Bedenken - in den USA bestellt. Es war völlig prblemlos und die Trekkingschuhe sind genau die, die ich wollte. Ich bin total happy!

The grey areas on these shoes are see-through mesh. Which means these shoes are very light and airy and your feet stay cool. I wear them at work as a nurse and they offer excellent support. I am a fan of Merrell, in general, and these shoes did not disappoint. Excellent quality and fit. I would buy a second pair, for sure.

Qualità ottima, comodissime, prese per la mia ragazza dopo aver preso il modello da uomo. Calzata a pianta abbastanza larga, assorbimento urti ottimo. Testate oltre 20 giorni nei parchi americani con lunghe passeggiate anche impegnative, se la cavano su ogni terreno e a fine giornata nessun fastidio ai piedi!