Women's Alverstone Hiking Shoe

UPDATE TO REVIEW: After owning these shoes for many months, I am changing my 1 star review to 5 star review. This is the best hiking shoe I have ever owned! I had originally given one star because they made noise when walking at first; however, It turns out it’s the Lycra in my socks that make it sound like the shoes are squeaking. Once your foot & sock warm up, it stops squeaking. I have hiked all over Central Oregon Ochoco mountains & huge rocks in this area and the shoe still looks brand new. Very sticky tread in wet & dry conditions; zero slips. It was a perfect fit straight out of the box; no “wear in” factor. Very comfortable shoe & foot bed. Perfect sizing. I wear ladies US size 8 medium width. These shoes are not too light or too heavy. The fabric part of the shoe doesn't let dirt through so I don’t end up with muddy toes like other breathable shoes do. Buy this shoe. You won’t regret it!!!! It’s the perfect hiking or walking shoe.

I typically wear a size 8.5-9 depending on the type of shoes. Originally I purchased a size 8.5 in another Merrell but they were too tight and didn’t have them here in a 9 so I switched to the Alverstone. I fell in love with how these looked out of the box, but didn’t fall in love with them the minute I put them on. The toe box is really roomy, and at first I felt like I was wearing a clown shoe. I thought they were too big but my toes were right where they should be. I decided to keep them and break them in. Wore them on a week long camping trip and as they broke in, an ANNOYING “crimp” developed in the shoe over my big toe so every time I would walk it would bend and dig in to my toe. **Warning!! On our hike we came to a damp wooden dock which we went out on. The dock was not overly slimy but it wasn’t fresh wood. 3 of us had Merrells on and 3 of us almost slipped. They don’t have good traction in damp. I’ll keep them for future camping trips because I like that I don’t have to worry if these get dirty but, it won’t be a comfy hike.

Very pleased with these Merrell Alverstone hiking shoes. I have flat and wide feet and ordered 1/2 size up from my usual and it's a comfortable fit. No more black toenails from smashing toes against the front of my shoe (yes, lacing the shoestrings correctly helps also). The Alverstone sole isn't as deeply grooved as the Moabs, and the Alverstone do not have the vibram sole, but I also paid $20 less for these shoes. I hope the Alverstones will last much longer than my Fila and Saucony walking shoes where the soles gets worn-out smooth after a 4-5 months of hiking once a week.I'm saving up money for a pair of $100 Merrell Moabs for better traction and grip. Merrell makes shoes that fit the shape of my feet; it's very hard to find comfortable and durable shoes that look good, as well. I want everything, haha!I purchased my Alverstones from Gear Coop, good seller. Earlier, I had bought the shoes from Zappos but got a defective/previously-returned item; one of the heels squeaked! Amazon took it back and gave me a refund, but I didn't want the return hassle to begin with.

I really like these shoes and the size was right on. I walk 3- 5 times a week, about 3-5 miles at a time. I try to walk every other day but sometimes 2 or 3 days in a row. I wore these, right out of the box, for 3 days in a row and was surprised to find I didn't have any discomfort or blisters! The toe box is larger on these shoes as opposed to the Nike shoes I usually wear and I found that it was much more comfortable. The arch support is great for me but more towards the front of the foot. The bottom sole of the shoe is stiff and provides firm support. Most of the walking I do is usually in urban areas but sometimes through trails and canyons. They seem like they would be a great cross training shoe - you could wear it to the gym or for a run.

Very disappointed. These were not new shoes. It is evident they have been worn and not lightly. Stitching is coming out and wear on the fabric is evident. Logos inside the shoes have rubbed off from wear. I will be returning and expect a full refund. I love Merrell brand hikers and have used them exclusively for 2 years and never seen this in new shoes. There’s no way these are new or that this is poor workmanship. I have never had quality issues with Merrell. This is a seller issue. I will try to add pics.

I’ve been struggling to find a shoe for my work where I’m on my feet 10 hours a day with a lot of walking, at a garden center. By the end of the day my feet were killing me. I ordered this in a size up from my normal, a 10 rather than a 9. Perfect solution! There’s plenty of room in the toebox, but the heel is not too wide. Great support with room for swelling feet. This would also work on hikes for me.

These shoes are very comfortable shoes, but are not waterproof. Ok for damp grass or drizzle but get soaked in rain.

I find this shoe brand/style to be very comfortable and I receive many complements as well. The she fits perfectly and I find it to be perfect for hiking in the mountains and wearing on the city streets. It keeps my feet nice and warm in cold weather too. Highly recommend.