MerrellMen's Intercept Walking Shoe, Blue Wing, 9.5

Good quality arrived quickly which was goo as they were a gift

Always liked the look of these Merrell shoes particularly in the blue/green of these blue wing version, but reviews were very marmite, some people love em and have bought multiple pairs, others are critical of build quality, durability and bizarre sizing ( too small generally) so I’ve steered clear. Now that they have been around for almost 20 years they can be picked up for around £80 to £90 ( rrp is £135) so I’ve dived in with a pair of 9.5 size (usually a 9) and they are a perfect fit, 9 would have been too snug, size 10 probably a bit sloppy in the heal. If you are a snug fit in your usual size I’d go a full size up, otherwise a half size up should be spot on. I think the size issue is because they are a narrow(ish) fit in the toe box and you need the extra sizing to give yourself some wiggle room in the width rather than the length. They look and feel solidly made with a great sturdy supportive sole and a mixture of thick soft leather and textiles on the upper. Love the colour combo on this blue/green version and the laces really make them pop. I have high hopes for comfy summer hill walking in these ( they are designed to be very breathable so don’t expect much waterproofness. There is a GoreTex version for that apparently) I also think Merrell are possibly phasing these out because most retailers only seem to have very small or very large sizes, which would indicate low stock. Amazon are one of the few places selling all sizes at a good price.

Been buying Merrill products for 20 years and absolutely love them.Thought I’d track gold with these shoes as they are so comfortable. This is my second pair and both have fallen apart after seven or eight months of use. They’ve split to the point where you can see my foot when it’s inside the shoe. Such a huge disappointment for such a trusted brand.

I am glad that I forgot to write a review on these Murrell walking shoes when I bought them. First of all they were on the snug side and I went up a size. Second, they cost a lot of money and lasted only 18 months with fairly light use. The colour faded from quite striking colours to a dull grey and to cap it all the rubber toe cap just split on both shoes. See the photo. Just worth letting you know that your £85 or more invested in a pair of walking shoes from a company with a relatively good name might not be as longterm as you'd imagined!

Best walking shoes

Get a size bigger than you would normally or expect a tight fit.. but super quality

I have had three of this Intercept model. First split on the rubber beside the toes and were replaced by Merrell. Same failing on the replacement. I bought again in between times and after just over a year the same failure. Looking at some reviews this is common failing. A supportive and comfortable shoe but time to give up! If Merrell want to refund or replace with a different model let me know.

good shoe