Merrell Women'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.

In an effort to replace my worn out, beloved pair of Ahnu sports sandals, which are no longer manufactured, I recently purchased the following shoes, all in size 9M: Teva Omnium Slate Merrell Women's J034170 Choprock Shandal Hiking Shoe Merrell Women's All Out Blaze Sieve Water Shoe Merrell womens Water Shoe HYDROTREKKER LTR SHANDAL Brown Oak Women's Closed Toe Outdoor Hiking Water Shoes Sport Sandals Northside Santa Rosa Sport Sandal Teva Terra Float Active Lace Wild Dove Womens Sporty Sandal Note that I have a 2” arch to support in this review. Yes, it really measures 2”. Even the podiatrist was surprised. Okay, here’s the rundown: The most rugged, most sportlike, and least sandal-like were the Merrells. If you’re looking for stability, support, and good traction, look at Merrell. All of them ran longer and more narrow, particularly in the heel. The Choprock felt lighter and more open than the All Out Blaze or the Hydrotrekker. The Brown Oak pair felt far larger in general and wider, specifically. My feet flopped around in them. Little molding or cushioning in the footbed; but then, that’s relative to the Merrells. The Northside Santa Rosa was the most open and least sporty of them all. No molding or cushioning in the footbed. No real support. Scratchy interior. Better protection than open sandals, though. If you need to seriously lockdown your ankles, look to the Teva Omnium Slate. I liked the security, but it didn’t allow enough space in the instep for me. These took slightly more work to put on with the additional buckle. So, weigh whether you need stability or convenience more. Finally, and my favorite, the Teva Terra Float Active Lace felt immediately comfortable: soft interior; snug, but not tight; ample support; sufficient space in the instep to allow for an additional ¾ orthotic for arch support; supportive, but not clunky; plenty of breathability; more coverage (in mesh) for the forefoot than my Ahnu pair, which should help keep out debris; sufficient traction for my everyday activities. Ahnu had been an offshoot of Teva, and is now manufactured by Teva. So, it makes sense that the Tevas were a good replacement for my old Ahnus. I’m grateful I found a pair that would keep my feet comfortable.

Right out of the box an amazing Merrell product at an equally amazing price with almost instant delivery from Amazon UPDATE: 13 months later.....these are the very best sandals I've ever owned hands down....they are so comfortable I have worn them frequently with sox in the Winter in VT! Being retired I spend the bulk of my free time fishing, all Summer throughout VT, NH, ME and Canada...these sandals provide perfect traction in the boat, on slippery rocks, even walking brookside in 3' tall weeds, great ventilation, great when wet, great on any terrain.....the Vibram soles are tough and even after extensive wear, only the outside heal nubs show any wear at all......next Spring I'll buy another pair without even shopping! UPDATE July 2020: While these remain very capable and comfortable, I am faced with a failure that I should mention. My sandals remain in very good general condition however ONE loop guiding the lace on the left foot, right hand side, has broken for no apparent reason leaving the sandal loose and it cannot be easily repaired! This is a manufacturing issue on an amazing pair of high quality sandals...NOW, do I bite the bullet and buy another pair anyway, or look at alternatives? MERRELL?

First off, these look like straight up normal trail runners from the front, so if you're looking for a rugged water hiking shoe that's not in-your-face water sandal-y, this is it. Compared to the Keen Clearwater CNX sandals I was comparing these to, the Merrells have a much thicker sole, which means better protection from sharp rocks, and better support for when you want to wear these for more rugged terrain or with a heavier pack. The neoprene-like material feels wonderfully soft against the tops of my bony feet - I definitely do NOT expect blistering or chafing. It also has better arch support than the Keens, and the heel "strap" feels nice and cozy with that same neoprene material. That being said, for a shoe that's meant to be worn without socks the ventilation holes are quite small. Admittedly this feature is precisely what gives the All Out Blaze Sieve shoe that "normal" trail runner look, but I'm looking for a water sandal-hiker I can wear both in the water AND keep cool in when I'm out on the trails, and ... there ain't much ventilation in these shoes. Even sitting at my desk I could tell my feet were getting sweaty. The toe box is very slanted/angular in shape, so it crushed my fourth toe despite fitting well everywhere else. I'd say the width is normal - I have narrow hamster feet and these didn't feel TOO wide, although they looked super wide from above. These shoes also look HUGE (length and width), so if your feet are anything above a size 8.5, beware of Clown Foot Syndrome. I think I would have still kept these Merrells had I not found the Ahnu Anza sandal - perfect for my narrow feet, with no cramming of the fourth toe, lots of ventilation, and an adjustable velcro heel strap to boot. The Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve water shoes would be ideal for rugged waterfall/river hikes and crossing multiple rocky streams, since the tiny holes practically guarantee no rocks/sticks getting inside the shoe. And, simply put, the blue with yellow bungee lacing simply looks rugged & cool. But... that fourth toe, man. Overall great, well-made shoe - just not for me. :)

Original Review: I'm comparing these to Keens Newport H2 sandal, which I assume they are supposed to be compete with. I work outside, on gravel or pavement, and am constantly wet and out in the elements. These are supposed to be my warm weather work shoes, and for the prices these things run, I'm disappointed with everything out there on the market. These are better than the Keen Newport H2s for me: far less clunky / lighter on feet/ no longer feel like I'm wearing clown shoes, more comfortable / feet less sore at the end of the day (still sore, just less), slightly less hideous. Better constructed - my last pair of Keens started to unravel stitching in multiple locations within a week of use, although the first pair I did manage to get 2 years of use out of. How the Keen Newport H2s are better - have more arch support (not much, just more), ankles are better supported, better traction (not great, just better). Update: agility is GREATLY improved in these, compared to the Keens, which more than make up for the fact that the foot feels less protected. Still wish it had more ankle support, more padding, and more arch support. Final Update, ~20 months after buying: Long term view is that these have been GREAT, due to lightweight/agility/comfort, like wearing ballet flats. At this point, the cording has torn off one of the little elastic cloth bands that keep them in place (see picture), the treads are definitely getting a lot more slick, and the cloth(?) edges are also fraying. Not sure how many miles I've put on these, I can easily do 10,000+ steps a day. Back to buy another pair. Upgraded from 4 stars to 5.

These are great. I wore them to a state park on a couple of 5mi. trails that had water crossings and into a river. I did not wear them all day. The sole is extremely sturdy and thick - great for hiking and walking on rocks, dirt, and uneven surfaces; and the tread is super non-slip with tons of traction - great for navigating all of those slippery river rocks in the water. I never lost footing. They dried and aired out quickly - at least in the Texas heat. The inner fabric that rests against the foot was soft and comfortable - no blisters (even around the toes). My feet felt great the next day - no soreness from the rocky terrain. I purchased these along with 2 pairs of cheaper ($20-30) water shoes thinking those would be enough. I am so glad I picked these instead. They are much more versatile and more light weight than you'd think. I had no problem swimming around in the river with them on. My boyfriend bought the men's pair and was equally satisfied. Merrell is quality and I can't say I expected anything less. I highly recommend.

I bought these "surf-n-turf" shoes before my trip to Belize, where I had planned to be at the west coast of the country and the in-land jungles for hiking on hard and challenging terrains. These shoes are so comfortable that they make you feel like your feet have morphed and undergone an evolution where you become an amphibian that can transition from land to water with ease. I climbed over rocks and slippery surfaces, leaving no stone unturned in the beautiful jungles of Belize. No height was out of reach and I felt invincible. A previous review had mistakenly said that these feet protectors "fit too small". That person did not try and test them the way I did. They fit the way they're mean to fit. When you order them, order the exact size that you are because I made the mistake of ordering half a size bigger (due to said review) and then I was forced to hear the squeaky sounds of my feet in the shoes. Luckily I did not mind, for the place where I was was glorious, and it sounded like monkeys at a distance..only it was my shoes. The shoes are rated to withstand the shock load of carrying the most dangerous of jungle animals - a.k.a young adult Caucasian females that have been impaired during a treacherous hike. While I am not at liberty to discuss the rated capacity of said load, I can safely promote the integrity of these feet covers during this very difficult task, walking upstream, on slipper rocks, whilst hearing the angry calls of a female and her wounded ego. These feet miracle workers will dry at a relative quick speed. Commoners that did not have the same shoes experienced blisters around their ankles. I laughed in the face of these unfortunates because these All Out Blaze Sieve Water-Land shoes have a built-in pad ankle protection, expertly made, that even Achilles himself would sign off on. They are now resting safely in my closet, and I cannot wait to morph once more, in a near future.

We went to Costa Rica in November and each got a pair of the All Out Blaze water shoes. I did a lot of comparison shopping, and Merrell has usually done a good job for us in the past so I went with these. They did not disappoint! We wore them every day for 11 days in Costa Rica and hiked, ziplined, rafted, and climbed through canyons and waterfalls with them. They held up great and I even bought a second pair for myself. Very comfortable, good support, no rubbing on the toes, and the soles are nice and thick. They dry pretty quickly, and I love the heavier toe protection. My husband likes his too, and he usually doesn't like wearing anything except regular sneakers, but in Costa Rica we figured it would be too hot for regular shoes, and we were right. We brought these shoes and one other pair of low-hiker shoes and we didn't wear those at all. I can be on my feet all day and not have soreness as I do with other shoe types or sandals in summer. The only thing that may be a negative is that my feet get really sweaty once in a while in these compared to more open water shoe types. Our weather up here in Michigan's UP hasn't been so great this year so far, but on warmer days and into summer I plan to wear these almost every day for hiking, kayaking, work, daily use, etc. I would definitely recommend these to anyone.

Brilliant walking sandals & really good quality

Have had two pairs of these so far in my life and only sacked them off because they got faded and scruffy looking - they didn't actually wear out! They fit perfectly and are unbelievably comfortable. You can wear them with or without trainer socks but I find that on a long walk, trainer socks are best. They're especially good on hot days as the in cut-outs in them keep your feet nice and cool. If you go fell walking, scree running or climbing, forget wearing these unless you are absolutely sure of the territory because the elastic at the back is not strong enough to hold them on your feet and they will slide out under pressure or on difficult terrain. Once wore them to climb Coniston Old Man - big mistake! The slate there is incredibly volatile and you need all the traction you can get. My feet slid out of these twice going up Saddlestone Bank and I vowed from then on only to wear my proper walking boots for that particular walk but for every other kind of relatively flat but rough terrain, water adventures or road walking, they are great - can't fault them!

These shoes were really comfortable from the moment I put them on, they did not need breaking in. I haven’t worn any socks with them and my feet haven’t been cold. This is a great summer sandal and true to size. I am a size 6 and purchased a size 6.

Bequem, leicht und unentbehrlich geworden. Ich habe mir die Schuhe im Frühjahr gekauft, den ganzen Sommer fast täglich getragen und damit ausgiebig getestet. Klare Kaufempfehlung!

Exactement les sandales de randonnée qu'il me fallait. Je recommande ! Par contre, le prix est étonnement variable : un rapport de 1 à 4 selon la taille, le colori et le commerçant.