The IntroThe marriage of a lightweight flexible trail runner to a sturdy , ready to kick up some trail dirt hiking shoe. The Merrell MQM 3 is a blend of both worlds, rugged, yet flexible and nimble to perform. The shoe is the third generation of the MQM series (move quickly in the mountains) . For all the imposters out there , including the merrell nova II , the MQM brings some new shiny upgrades including a rock plate and toe cap to protect your foot and toes. The grip is improved with a Vibram 5 layer to the sole and finally a bellow tongue with a lace to toe locking system. The bellow keeps dirt out but equally provides comfort, while the lacing systems improves the fit and closure. This shoe looks great on the surface, but lets walk the talk and put it to the test.
Disclaimer: The following product review is not in collaboration with Rei or Merrell , no compensation or materials were given or presented for this review. Product purchased @ REI.com Fast Facts about the MQM3:
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What you will love about the MQM3
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First Impressions
I was excited for this MQM 3 series shoe, my goal of finding a tough trail running/hiking hybrid had been the thing of hopes and dreams for many years. I was drawn to this shoe for several reasons, the additions of a toe cap at the front, a rock plate underneath and the Vibram 5 at the sole for grip were necessities for tough day hiking.
The out of the box impression was that this is a nice looking shoe with solid design and careful thought for the third generation MQM series. Immediately, I was caught off guard by the bellows tongue because it felt like the exterior of a winter ski coat with texture and abundant thickness. The shoes itself had a versatile design, with its tough exterior for trail performance (running or hiking) and the contrasting colors of black and silver aligning nicely with my personal preference. At this point my bias alert was buzzing as I was skeptical of the bellow tongue and its fit for comfort but the first look and touch was overall positive.
The out of the box impression was that this is a nice looking shoe with solid design and careful thought for the third generation MQM series. Immediately, I was caught off guard by the bellows tongue because it felt like the exterior of a winter ski coat with texture and abundant thickness. The shoes itself had a versatile design, with its tough exterior for trail performance (running or hiking) and the contrasting colors of black and silver aligning nicely with my personal preference. At this point my bias alert was buzzing as I was skeptical of the bellow tongue and its fit for comfort but the first look and touch was overall positive.
The Performance
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The MQM's boast that its a hiking shoe, so to meet that marketing pitch from Merrell I felt it best that this shoe needed a proper welcome to our areas terrains in the form of a three trail review.
At first slide in, you are greeted with comfort, this shoe's air cushion treats the user to a soft yet firm lining. the shoe fits neither snug nor large, so when purchasing, aim for your standard shoe size. the concern of the bellows tongue thickness quickly evaporated by the lace to toe locking system. what does that mean? think of a climbing shoe or ski boot where the laces go all the way down to the toe area. this creates a more snug feel and prevents debris from entering. MILL PRONG REVIEW: As expected being a hiking shoe with a trail running soul , the MQM performed exceptionally well on this mainly dirt covered trail. The kicker with Mill Prong was that it was the longest trail in our review at over seven miles. The MQM effectively kept out dirt, there was no shift or gliding within the shoe (any shifting or gliding = blisters) and it had adequate breathability. the shoe's performance met the challenge of a distance based hike. Ravens Rock: A qualified testing ground for its distance and its terrain. A consistent flux of changing topography will have hikers feeling the burn and watching each turn across this terrain. Ravens Rock provides users with tactical steps in and around its rocky descents. The MQM toe cap and rock plate pleasantly held up across the entire trail. Additionally, another pleasant surprise was the support during swift descents with little to no pressure on the ankles (being a low top shoe). Furthermore the toe gap provided fantastic protection from roots, rocks and all the great things that want to stub your toes. Billy Goat: A short but tough hike that requires balance, mobility and sturdiness. The MQM was up to the challenge as the most improved and flaunted upgrade (the Vibram sole) was effective and over performed on the boulder scrambles of Billy Goat. The terrain wielded opportunities of mastering rock hops, a 60 ft. rock wall scamper and dancing between roots, loose rock and debris. The most impressive takeaway was the durability combined with lightweight providing an effortless feel on the trail. The Final Thought: This is a solid shoe for day hikers and weekend wanderers looking for a hiking shoe that can adapt to terrain changes, provide flexibility and mobility with added protection. The game changer for the MQM 3 are the addons of toe cap, Vibram grip and the rock plate which easily tailor with the light weight comfort feel of a trail runner without taxing the performance. I truly love this shoe and its become my primary go to for hiking , heck I even took it with me to a few trails in Rocky Mountain national park. This is an easy review , an easy win for hikers who want comfort, lightweight and the max protection all in one. |
THE TESTING GROUNDS:
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