The Merrell MQM range stands for ‘Moving Quickly in the Mountains’, something UK-based adventurer Ben Wright is no stranger to. On his recent trip to the Italian Alps, and back home in the Lake District, Ben got to grips with the MQM 3 GORE-TEX® hiking shoes, the latest iteration of Merrell’s multi-sport, multi-terrain footwear range.
I tested out the MQM 3 GTX in both the Italian Alps and the Lake District fells. In the Alps I was trekking up to the mountain huts on an expedition to climb the Gran Paradiso, a 4,000-metre-high mountain lined with steep rocky paths. I continues my review in the Lake District when climbing Coniston Old Man, which challenged the MQM 3 GTXwith different types of terrain such as scree, wet rock and grass.
The MQM 3 GTX is perfectly designed for multiple outdoor activities such as light scrambling, hiking, and trail running and the design suits all ages.
The shoe is durable and breathable which makes long days in the hills a breeze, giving you maximum comfort and performance at the same time with the trust that you can move quickly over wet rock without the shoe slipping.
The MQM 3 GTX is definitely value for money. You can't put a price on a high-quality GORE-TEX® shoe that will last long, protects you on different types of tricky terrain and looks good. You can also wear the shoe for everyday life to really get your money's worth, being on your commute to work, in the gym or just for a leisurely walk.
The features I like most about the shoe are the design and the GORE-TEX® membrane. It isn’t often you get a shoe that performs well and also looks good but with the multiple colours and shaping, it is a modern-looking shoe. The biggest feature for me though is the GORE-TEX® membrane which is so important when on hikes in the UK because of the weather and terrain you are likely to encounter. You need a shoe that’s going to keep your feet dry and repel water and wind on those long days in the hills and this shoe does.
The only thing I would improve on the shoe would be to make it a little more lightweight for trail running with a little bit more protection on the front just to maximise comfort when coming downhill, but apart from that, I am very impressed.
I would go out and buy a pair of the MQM 3’s if you are like me and love the outdoors and want a shoe that not only looks great, but will optimise your performance whilst having the confidence that it will keep you protected from the elements. I am not usually a lover of a shoe without ankle support on hikes but I have used these multiple times since I reviewed them.
Summary
Out-of-box comfort – 4 out of 5
You can wear the MQM 3 GTX straight out of the box without having to worry about breaking them in, helping you get stuck straight into your adventure.
Breathability – 4 out of 5
You can wear the MQM 3 GTX straight out of the box without having to worry about breaking them in, helping you get stuck straight into your adventure.
Waterproof performance – 4 out of 5
The shoe performed well in wetter conditions keeping my feet dry and warm due to its GORE-TEX® membrane protecting you from the elements.
Grip/traction – 4 out of 5
I tested the MQM 3 GTX on multiple types of terrain in the Italian Alps and Lake District and the grip was good, especially on wetter rock where a lot of shoes can let you down.
Design – 5 out of 5
The design is modern with different colour ranges which look good together whilst also having a bellow tongue that keeps out debris so you don’t have to keep emptying rocks in your shoes whilst on the trail.
Merrell Men’s MQM 3 GORE-TEX Walking Shoes
£110.00 £140.00
The latest instalment of the MQM shoes feature a partially recycled construction and improvements to the laces and sole for unbeatable performance in the mountains.
Shop now
