Merrell Women's Spire Stretch

First off, I had to return these shoes so this review has nothing to do with durability. These are very very small and tight around the opening so it is nearly impossible to get my feet into them. I did manage to pull and push and get my foot inside and they are very close to the right size for me as far as length. Going up a 1/2 size really wouldn't help with making them go on my feet any easier and they would probably be too long. As I wore them around my house for a few minutes I also noticed that the leather seemed very stiff on the top of my foot and was biting into the skin. They might break in after wearing them a bit but I'm afraid for me these are just not made to fit my feet. I usually have no problem fitting into shoes as my feet are pretty average overall. I'm not sure where the word "stretch" comes from in the name because they were anything but stretchy. If you really want to try these get at least a half size bigger than normal (including other Merrell shoes you might already have). For me, I will be sticking with my Merrell Mocs!

I have arthritis in the joint of my big toe and have to be very careful with shoes. I can't wear heels anymore and require both metal plates and insoles in my shoes. I have been really disappointed with the style of shoes available for people with foot problems. I had a pair of these years ago that I completely wore out and wanted to try them. I was leery after reading all the bad reviews that Merrell had changed the design, but these shoes are great! At first they were stiff and a little difficult to get on, but that should be expected with a new leather shoe. After a few days of wear they are nicely broken in and are now the most comfortable shoe I own. I am able to slide them on without a shoehorn, and can wear them all day without the metal plates or inserts or pain in my joint. Best of all, they don't look "orthopedic" at work. Highly recommend.

I really wanted to love these shoes. I was looking for a pair of comfortable work shoes and came across these. Because the price was so high, I researched these for a while and found that they had very high reviews. At first, the fit was extremely tight. After breaking these in, they are probably the most comfortable shoes I've purchased. However, I am extremely disappointed in the quality of these shoes. Within a month, there was a gap between the sole of the shoe. I stopped wearing them for a couple of months but looking at shoes that cost $100 just sit really bothered me. I just started wearing these again over the summer and now there are more gaps. I was ready to give up on these shoes but I've found a local shoe repair shop that may be able to fix them. I really hope they can.

In Merrell brand I typically wear a size 10. These are a bit snug so I just wear thinner socks. They are breaking in quickly so they are loosening up a bit.My only complaint is how much the back of the show curls in. I've seen this with alot of shoes lately, as if the manufacturers forget ankles and Achilles tendons exist... I have slightly raw skin on the back if my ankle due to this flaw. This area appears to be breaking in nicely so I will keep them but I am annoyed it's even an issue.

I was looking for a pair of waterproof shoes that did not look like sneakers or hiking shoes and that had a bit of a heel as I find that walking in a pair of very flat shoes causes me pain. These looked perfect and the reviews were also pretty good so I got myself a pair. I like them very much but the reason I am giving them only three stars is because of the difficulty of putting them on. The stretch part is made of neoprene which does not give very readily, and since I have very high arches, I struggle quite a bit each time. I seriously think I should invest in a shoehorn for these, or else all my fingernails will break! Once they are on, they are pretty comfortable but not as soft as I was hoping, although maybe with use they will break in and soften up a bit.

Thes shoes are really nice. This is my second pair since the bottoms of my first pair are rather worn and are now slippery on wet surfaces. No complaint though, since I have regularly worn the shoes for 6 years. The leather is still in good shape and shoes look new. I would rate my new pair 5 stars if not for the very stiff fit. However, they may be stiff simply because they are new. They are still quite comfortable. I consider these shoes dressy, all day, walking shoes that I can I wear with pant suits and jeans. I highly recommend.

I had a pair of these shoes for years and they were SO comfortable--and I am hard to please with shoes. My feet grew a 1/2 size and I now ordered the exact same pair a bit larger. They can be dressed up or down. The toe box has enough height to not hurt toes, is wide enough but tapers a bit so they look dressier. The stretchy material around the top holds the shoe on well, is really comfortable, and keeps its shape. I have narrow heals and have a hard time keeping on non-tie shoes, and these work! These shoes tend to run a 1/2 size larger than most, so know that when ordering. My other pair held up like steel despite them being worn a lot; in fact I gave tmy old pair to a friend who raved about how comfortable they were and she thought they were new.

This is my third pair of Spire Stretch Merrells. They always fit perfectly so can order my size with confidence. They last for years and with a little polish, still look great. My new pair will now be worn at work, my old pair with jeans. (They look like boots when worn with jeans). BTW, these were the only shoes I wore on a recent trip to France, more comfortable than sneakers and looked better with black slacks. Merrell, please don't stop making these!If you find this review helpful, please let me know by using the voting buttons. Through the years, I have relied on reviews to make smart purchases and now I'm trying to "pay it forward" by helping others with my reviews. Please let me know how I'm doing with your vote. Thanks!!