Not your father's hiking boots
A deep dive on the Merrell archives and how they're using older designs to drive the future of hiking and lifestyle footwear.
If you’re American, you understand the heritage of American hiking + outdoor brands, from LL Bean and Marmot to Columbia and Patagonia.
But for many of us, there is a nostalgia tied to these brands because of how many of our parents wore the brand. And few others have a more IYKYK approach and attitude than a brand like Merrell.
When I recently visited Paris for fashion week, I had the opportunity to tour Merrell’s 1TRL showroom, a division of the larger Merrell brand.
The history of Merrell
Before we dive into the modern-day Merrell, let me jog your memory. The brand has been in operation since 1981, with the goal of producing high-performance hiking boots for serious outdoor enthusiasts.
It was born in the American mountains as reliable gear you could trust on the trail.
Over the years, Merrell has remained true to its roots, while also making inroads with new types of customers who aren’t outdoor enthusiasts but still want to wear the products.
The rise of gorpcore and function-forward fashion has been the key driver of this.
Specifically, with the introduction of 1TRL, their design-forward sublabel, which is all about archival silhouettes, bold palettes, and rugged textures made to work in the city as much as in the wild. It gave Merrell a new look and a new audience.
And now, they’ve taken it even further with Merrell Test Lab (MTL), their innovation incubator. This is where their R&D gets dialed in.
Designed for elite athletes, products tested in extreme conditions, and shaped by real feedback, MTL shows what Merrell’s capable of when they go all-in on performance.
It’s a beautiful thing when a brand understands its roots, but isn’t afraid to evolve.
Merrell is making gear that feels relevant across worlds and it’s worth taking note on.
I had the chance to chat with Paul Ruffles, Merrell 1TRL’s Creative and Brand Director, while I was there.
He is an incredibly knowledgeable designer and creative force for the brand, and I’d love for you to check out the interview we had together from my Paris vlog, which starts at the 27:05 mark.
PS, the great photos you see here were taken by my pal, Andy Foote.
One thing I love about Merrell’s product and footwear is how intentional they are with design. You can literally see the outdoors in the product like topographic textures, the M-logo shaped like a mountain peak, the ridged Vibram sole that mirrors the terrain it’s built for.
Every detail nods back to nature.
They’re drawing inspiration from the environments these shoes are designed to explore. From the way the midsoles curve like canyon walls to the muted, earthy palettes that feel pulled straight from a trailhead, Merrell isn’t trying to look outdoorsy; it just is.
My time in Paris
Quick reminder — here’s the full vlog of my time in Paris, a roundup of what I did, all the people and brands I met, and the conversation I had with Paul from Merrell.
Dig in!
Ooooh those aint bad.