Going hiking long distances in potentially wet climates? Looking for a lightweight hiking boot that won’t kill your feet as the miles add up? If so, you might want to check out the Merrell Perimeter boots. Read our review for more.
The Perimeter is a lightweight hiking boot from Merrell that is designed to take just about anything you can throw at it. Thanks to the leather upper and the double tongue, these waterproof boots can stand the stream crossing you may come upon on your next backpacking trip. The Gore-Tex lining also means your feet aren’t going to feel like you’re wearing a garbage bag.
The vibram soles and the lug pattern Merrel chose for the Perimeter gives the Perimeter a steady grip on nearly every surface we came across during our testing. The insole provided good cushioning and heel lift was well controlled. While the Perimeter takes a bit to break in, the boots gave no issues after this period and I wouldn’t hesitate to take these on a very long backpacking trip.
While I normally find a couple issues with the products we review, for once I’m coming up empty handed. While I don’t think there is a perfect boot out there, Merrell’s Perimeter comes about as close as I can imagine a boot can. With a MSRP of $175, they’re not the cheapest boots on the market. However, they are significantly cheaper than buying a cheaper boot and replacing it later on once you realize that you want something nicer.
