For a lightweight hiking boot stability is really good thanks to a flexplate - a plate in the outsole which makes it more rigid - and the sheer depth of EVA foam.

Designed to take you from your doorstep into the great outdoors, Merrell’s Zion GORE-TEX shoe provides sure-footed traction and wet-weather protection for unforgettable adventures, every day. Merrell have certainly peppered a lot of technology gobbledygook into their descriptions of the Merrell Zion GTXs.That’s apt – because for hiking up hills (and around cities, for that matter) the Merrell Zions are a great choice.

They were super-comfy, waterproof, breathable and grippy, striking a nice balance between being robust and nimble. They have a Gore-Tex membrane which, as you will know from the well-known brand, offers waterproof and breathable performance. Merrell want the Zion GTXs to provide the best of both worlds: the snug fit and comfort of a trainer, but all of the protection and prowess of a hiking shoe.

Plus the cushioning EVA midsole gives a great feel because its absorbent properties make every step wonderfully soft, even when going downhill. All components are built for maximized ruggedness while strict textile performance specifications ensure optimum strength. They allow us to adapt the presentation of our site, using in particular the A/B testing solution Dynamic Yield.

Whether you're a first-timer or a top athlete, since 2015 we've been sharing with you our love of good gear and our passion for the steep trails we love to run around on. Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon Republic, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (U. Versatile, durable, at home on the streets or the summit of Schiehallion – they’re perfect for the unpredictable hillwalker in your life.When you connect to our site, subject to your choices, we (or our partners) may be required to install various cookies on your device that allow us to recognise your browser while the cookie is active. Their durability doesn’t come at the expense of comfort either; with the EVA foam midsole in play these boots were easy on my feet when the terrain was not. Breathable, fully waterproof and with unbeatable grip thanks to the Vibram® Megagrip outsole, these walking boots walk like hiking boots but feel like sneakers on your feet.

At 816g per pair these feel almost impossibly light in the hands and that translates to a trainer like feeling - at least in terms of weight - on the feet.

Ballistic mesh is very durable but still lightweight and the leather is full grain so high quality and adds a touch of class without too much weight. Consistently we’ve found the Zion runs hot, especially in the toe box where leather and rubber provide protection but limit sweat from evaporating.