Summary
We spent 7.8 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what hikers think:
5 reasons to buy
- Most Merrell Ontario owners testified to the comfortable feel of this day hiking shoe.
- Less than a handful praised the functionality it delivered in both casual and backcountry settings.
- The lightness of these Merrell Ontario hiking shoes was lauded by a couple of wearers.
- According to a satisfied online buyer, he was sold with its stylish look.
- An impressed user mentioned that he did not want to take off the shoes even after a long day.
2 reasons not to buy
- An online shopper commented that it runs narrow.
- This Merrell offering is expensive.
Bottom line
Those who are seeking for a new pair of hiking shoes may be enticed to check what the Merrell Ontario has to offer. Its prime feature is its provision of comfort which earned the favor of people who bought it. The brand’s engineers were also successful in maintaining its weight low without compromising its ability to fulfill different functions. Nevertheless, a reported drawback indicated that it has an unaccommodating fit. Overall, Merrell Ontario hiking shoes seem to please narrow-footed hikers more.
Facts
| Use: | Day Hiking |
|---|---|
| Cut: | Low cut |
| Price: | £150 |
| Features: | Lightweight | Breathable |
| Weight: | Men: 374g |
| Width: | Normal | Normal |
| Brand: | Merrell |
| Material: | Leather, Rubber sole, Vibram sole |
| Colorways: | Black, Brown, Green |
| Special editions: | |
| SKUs: | J48783, J48785, J53207 |
Expert Reviews
Experts are hikers, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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- The Merrell Ontario provides a simplistic yet functional solution to the challenges faced by hikers on the trail. It has the capability to deal with odor thanks to M-Select Fresh.
- This hiking gear provides adequate security over moderately rough terrain with its hardwearing sole unit. It is comprised of an outsole from Vibram and a compression-molded midsole. It has a curved toe zone (a.k.a toe rocker) which gives users extra swinging power during push offs.
A low-cut, relatively true-to-size day hiking shoe for men is the Merrell Ontario. It is offered in full and half sizes in standard width. Wearers can get a personalized and secure fit with its ghillie lacing system.
Users are able to adhere to most types of outdoor surfaces thanks to the Ontario’s Vibram Megagrip outsole. It comes with triangular lugs (at 3 mm deep) to improve its sticking power. It has zigzag grooves at the heel and forefoot to give hikers additional ascent and descent control. Besides surface traction, this grippy component also provides bump protection with its sturdy front tip.
With the Merrell Ontario’s compression-molded EVA midsole, hikers get to have a steady footing over uneven terrain with ample cushioning and protection. A brand-owned tech called Merrell Air Cushion is built at its heel to give users enhanced shock mitigation on ground contact. This additional element also elevates the midsole’s stabilizing ability.
Joining the shoe’s midsole in providing underfoot comfort is the proprietary Kinetic Fit Base footbed. This removable insole also adds a flexible kind of support to the shoe’s utility.
This hiker protects the foot from most terrain hazards in its full-grain leather upper. Its cushy interior is lined with breathable mesh. Giving it the capability to prevent debris from entering the shoe is its bellows tongue. It has an overlay cupping its heel for extra support.
The footwear’s front closure is made up of metallic eyelets and a synthetic lace. The topmost eyelets have an open design for quicker configurations.
