Randy Merrell started making hiking boots in 1981 after failing to find a pair that kept his feet comfortable. He had no idea that that first model, cobbled together from leather and metal, would be the start of a footwear empire that now sells everything from burly hiking boots to fast and light trail runners.
This fall, 37听years after the original 听went on sale, the company Merrell founded came out听with听a modernized re-creation of the boot听that celebrates the brand鈥檚 evolution. The new 听($400) features the same听durable Horween-leather upper as its predecessor but now features听a听soft sheepskin lining and a gusseted tongue to keep trail debris at bay. Plus, Merrell added听a sturdy Vibram rubber outsole for grip on all manner of surfaces.听Despite the hefty leather construction, the Wilderness Legend feels听comfortable enough for a full day鈥攐r multiple days鈥攐n the trail. I have found them surprisingly light and flexible on my feet.
Certainly, hiking footwear has gotten lighter and more breathable in the last few decades; these days, you鈥檙e more likely to see people walking in trail-running shoes than leather boots. But we鈥檙e suckers for a good piece of throwback gear, especially one that鈥檚听as well-made and long-lasting as the Wilderness Legend.听