My Gear

Merrell’s Ontario 85 Mid Waterproof Boot

I may not be the best judge of hiking boots, seeing as these are the only pair I’ve ever owned, but they are AMAZING. I don’t live near a store that carries these, so I had to go out on a limb and purchase them online without trying them on. I did my research prior and found that with most Merrell boots, you want a half-size to full-size larger than your typical gym shoes if you wear hiking socks. I went with an 11 (normally a 10/10.5), and they fit perfectly.

I intentionally held out on buying hiking boots so that I wouldn’t make an impulse buy and later regret it. I have heard that Merrell is a great brand, and I didn’t want boring, plain hiking boots. When I saw this boot come up on an Instagram ad (no, I’m not kidding), I instantly knew those were the ones I wanted. Once I tried them on, I knew they’d be great boots and a worthy investment.

A lot of people commented that they look very cool and similar to Jordans, so clearly they are stylish, which I appreciate. Even if you get a different color set, I still highly recommend the Ontario boot, it is an all-around great purchase with no regret.

Pros: Lightweight, waterproof, flexible on the foot, great color options, strong grip, variety of height options

Cons: Expensive