A World Champion Fast Walker’s expert review of the Merrell MQM 3 GTX

British Olympic race-walker and world record holder, Tom Bosworth, has put Merrell’s MQM 3 GTX through its paces - here’s what Britain’s most-deocrated walker had to say...

Merrell has a rich history when it comes to hiking boots – their MOAB series lays claim to being the most popular hiking shoe in the world – with over 25 million pairs sold to date. But Merrell aren’t a brand that rests of their laurels, so in addition to their popular MOAB series they’ve also just released the new version of their MQM line – the MQM 3 GTX. I recently put the shoe through its paces in the Lake District - here’s what I’ve got to say about this ambitious hiker.

I say ambitious because the shoe claims to be a “multi-tool” hiking shoe which is “stable enough to hike in, agile enough to run in, and durable enough for light scrambling”. Effectively, Merrell say this a shoe that can do it all. It’s a big claim to make, but one I think it manages to back up.

If this shoe was a race car, the sole is the V12 engine.

The shoe features a GORE-TEX® waterproof membrane which kept my feet dry throughout the hike but, importantly, was breathable too. The breathable mesh lining played a big part - it helped keep my feet comfortable and is made from 100% recycled materials, which is a nice touch.

Now, let’s get on to the sole – if this shoe was a race car, the sole is the V12 engine, and is key to its case that it’s a shoe that can do it all.

The first thing to note about the sole are the lugs – at 5mm, I found the shoe gripped the trail well without getting stuck or feeling like the shoe was working against me. You can also tell that due thought when into the shape and placement of the lugs - they’re directional which made walking in them feel smooth and effortless.

Something which you may not notice at first glance, or at least I didn’t, was the ‘climbing zone’ at the toe. This small section might seem insignificant, but I found it really kicked in when I was navigating rockier parts of the trail and found myself needing to do a bit of light scrambling. The flat area looks just like one you’d see on a traditional climbing shoe, and it helped me ‘slice’ through mud and debris and find a purchase from which I could push off – very handy when you’re looking to scramble your way out of trouble on the trail.

Now we come to the very important question of what the sole is made of – after all, having nice lugs or fancy climbing zones mean very little if the sole material is flimsy or has no grip. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about either of those things with the MQM 3.

The sole features the latest Vibram® TC5+ outsole. This technology, formulated exclusively for Merrell, ensures the sole is ultra-grippy and durable, whilst also allowing some give for when you’re running or scrambling.

Tom's verdict

At the start of this review, I said that the MQM 3 GTX can back up it’s a claim as a multi-tool hiker that can do it all. Whilst you would be able to find shoes elsewhere in the market that you can run, hike, or scramble in better than the MQM, I don’t think I’ve come across a shoe that can do all three as well as this one can.

Each part of the shoe’s design has a specific purpose in mind and it’s this efficiency which allows it to lay claim to being a running, hiking and scrambling shoe. So, if you’re someone who likes to hoard shoes and is looking to create some space on your shoe rack, the MQM might be just for you. One shoe, three times less space.