Merrell Men's All Out Blaze Aero Sport Hiking Water Shoe

Great shoes! Very light and comfortable. Will purchase again.

This will be my third pair; they are wonderful, walked over 300 miles on the Camino de Santiago, used two pairs for that trip as a backup, or if one pair got wet. They dry quickly, but the mesh does allow for sand and small rocks, but still worth it.

Merrell has long been one of my favorite boot brands. When I started browsing for a pair of shoes or boots suited for warm-weather wade fishing, Merrell was one of the first places I checked, and they did not disappoint. -Fit & Wearability: I pair these with a sock liner and quality synthetic socks (check my other reviews), so I sized up half a size and got a perfect fit. On or off trail, wet or dry, these shoes are both comfortable and secure. -Traction & Water Performance: These double as trail shoes and water shoes, and Merrell nailed the traction. Whether on dry trails or slick creek stones, the grip holds up. The low-cut ankle offers great range of motion and keeps them lightweight, though you'll trade off some ankle support compared to full boots. They also drain efficiently and dry quickly while still offering the structure and durability of a proper trail shoe. -Style: They’re nearly identical in appearance to my Moab 2s (which I’ve used and loved for years). I bought these for function, not fashion, but they actually look pretty good too (opinion). Overall, I am very impressed with these hybrid water/trail shoes. If you plan on doing creek crossings, wade fishing, or just need breathable, fast drying footwear for hot weather hikes, these are a fantastic option. I wear these any time I wade or fish for hours at a time, and they have held up to the abuse without getting my feet chewed up or weighing me down, not sure I could ask for better.

This is my second pair of the Merrell All Out Blaze Aero Sport, and if that doesn’t speak to my satisfaction, I’m not sure what will. I’ve worn these shoes through hikes, travel, yard work, and even casual days out—and they hold up impressively across the board. Durability is top-tier. My first pair lasted years of abuse on rocky trails, muddy paths, and everyday wear. Even after extensive use, the Vibram soles held their grip, the mesh upper stayed intact, and the structure never collapsed like I’ve seen with other brands. What really sets these shoes apart is their all-around wearability. They’re light, breathable, quick-drying, and offer solid ankle support without feeling bulky. Whether I’m on a long trail, crossing shallow creeks, or just running errands, they’re comfortable and reliable. I don’t have to think twice—I just grab them and go. I’ve been loyal to Merrell for years, and the Blaze Aero Sport reinforces why. Their commitment to quality and performance is unmatched in the outdoor footwear space. The design strikes that perfect balance between performance and everyday practicality. This is my second purchase, and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a third when the time comes. Highly recommend these to anyone needing a rugged, breathable, multi-use shoe that doesn’t quit.

Finding a quality water / hiking shoe is not easy. This is by far the best one I’d found. Purchased in 2018, they wore out with low to moderate use by 2025. The toe box is wide and the arch support was higher than expected, but they worked. The mesh on the sides eventually failed and glue on the toe started to come loose on one shoe. They did a decent job keeping rocks out of your shoes while in water. The sole held up exceptionally well. Tried to purchase another pair last week, but ultimately canceled after waiting 7 days, because they wouldn’t get here in time. I tired contacting the seller, but did not get an answer.

I was skeptical, since I've never had a Merrell shoe before due to them never fitting me the way I liked. But this model turned out to be a great trail hiking shoe. Bought it specifically to hike the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, which is rough, muddy and wet. I wore the shoe a couple of times before the Kalalau 8 mile hike and the break in time for me was easy and comfortable. They performed great on the hike and provided the grip I was hoping for on the rough trail. I wore them on a 5 mile warm up hike a few days before and as can happen in Kauai, got caught in 2 drenching rains, where the shoes got thoroughly wet. I hiked 2+ miles in the soaked shoes and I was really happy with how comfortable they were compared to other times I hiked with wet shoes. The size 11.5 was perfect. Some of the brands of shoes I buy are 11 (e.g. Keen) and the other (Asics, Altra) are 11.5.

Long time Minimus guy here. Once again they stopped making them so I was looking for something close. Light, great traction, flexible, tactile, and tough. These do not disappoint. They're actually better on all metrics but weight but that's a very slight difference. I love that they're as flexible as they are without letting through the pokes and prods of tougher terrain, and the exterior materials seem like they'll hold up better. My only complaint is that the box is a little big for me. Big enough to make me think I could have gone down a half-size. I ordered the same size I wear in all my other Merrells and these seem a smidge big, but not enough to be a problem. All that remains to be seen is how they hold up to life on our mountain, but I love them so far.

Sizing: I had to buy a 1/2 size smaller than I normally would to make sure it was snug. (I didn't want these slipping off when I was walking through mud.) Despite being a 1/2 size smaller than I normally wear, these were still comfortable. Performance: I bought these specifically for Tough Mudder Tahoe 2016 and purchased these a month before the event for break-in. Lots of jogging on concrete/asphalt, lots of baseball practices, lots of hiking on trails...these were comfortable from day 1!!!! Broke-in very nicely (but they were comfortable from the first day already.) Tough Mudder: these handled AWESOME on all the different terrain from Northstar at Tahoe: mud, rocks, dirt, water. These grip!! Yes, these did lose grip in the pyramid scheme obstacle but that obstacle was meant for your shoes to lose grip (jump into muddy water before getting on the slick incline). The Everest - I was able to run up the wall high enough to where I could securely grab another mudder's hands to be pulled up and over. Water obstacles: In all honesty, I am not as strong a swimmer with shoes as opposed to barefoot, but I was still able to swim comfortably because the shoes are light and does not soak up a lot water like normal running shoes. These shoes drained water quickly and easily (you need that for tough mudder). Due to the many water obstacles, these shoes were damp not soaking wet. If it was hotter than 50s/60s, I'm sure these would have dried. I fully expected that these shoes would be ruined base on what experienced mudders have told me. After the race, I hosed myself down as well as the shoes and the shoes looked fine. Got home. Gave a thorough cleaning and it still looks good. Yes, there are some stitching that has come loose (like old well used shoes) but it has not compromised fit, comfortablness, or performance. They still work AWESOME. One final note: I did not get these shoes for free or at a deep discount in exchange for my honest review. Lol. I paid normal Amazon price for these. This review is truly unbiased and unpaid for.