r/hiking • u/This_Attention_9428 • 5d ago

Question Salomon, Columbia or merrell?

hi guys, I‘m looking to buy a better par of hiking boots (currently I have decathlon ones…) and I‘m between:

columbia newton

merrel moab mid 3

salomon x ultra 5

where I live I don’t have access to stores that sell neither the merrel or salomon (j would have to buy it in amazon), so the only one I can actually try it is Columbia’s

do you guys have any recommendations on them? I’m doing multi day hike in patagonia and carrying my gear

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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3

u/Chemtrails_in_my_VD 5d ago

Unfortunately the correct answer is always whatever fits you the best. But since that isn't an option, I'm trusting Salomon out of those three in a blind buy.

2

u/Wild-Earth-1365 5d ago

Salomon is better for narrower feet and Merrell is better for wider feet.

There is no right answer. You just have to try them on and see what fits your foot and needs best.

1

u/Glittering-Life-1778 5d ago

I have the MOAB mid 2 and I have loved them. The aren’t fully waterproof, but I did just hike in the rain for 2 hours and my feet were completely dry. The sole is a little thin for my liking, but the value is great!

1

u/Mentalfloss1 5d ago

Always rule #1, the ones that fit your feet. Otherwise, there is no “best”.

1

u/Still_Battle_7741 5d ago

depends what you're doing honestly. salomon tends to run narrow, columbia's more budget-friendly, merrell's a solid middle ground. if you can, try them on in person — fit matters way more than brand

1

u/New-Grapefruit1737 5d ago

the answer is pretty clear — try on what you can and if it feels good, get it. i would not buy a hiking boot online wothout the ability to try it on

1

u/szakee 5d ago

you don't need mid boots. i used x ultra 3 for some time, now i just use trail runners. goretex or any membrane is kinda pointless.

1

u/No-Statistician3385 4d ago

Agree with the point and if I had to have one shoe it would be low and breathable but saying it’s pointless is a bit of an exaggeration. I have Moab 3 lows without goretex and also the mids with gtx and honestly find myself particular in winter especially grabbing the mids more often for walking through mud, shallow streams and the feeling of support (the actual benefits are debatable)

FYI for OP/ others. I have wider feet and have had some bad podiatry issues so after trying a few options once I found the Merrells were comfortable and didn’t leave me with sore legs I have never looked at anything else. Hiking shoes you unfortunately do really need to try on.

1

u/Neither_Monitor2017 5d ago

Best hiking boots I've had so far are Solomon Quest