Merrell Women's Calia Hiking Shoe

"The Merrell Calia are fit to weather soggy fields, forest floors and your daily gauntlet for the long haul." I would strongly disagree about soggy fields unless you don't care if your feet get wet. I wore these through dew covered grass and my socks definitely got damp I wouldn't begin to contemplate taking them through anything more wet than that. I may try some waterproofing spray to see if it helps. That aside, the show IS comfortable on the first wear, and while I only had them on for about 1.5 hours, I believe they'd be comfortable walking around all day. I ordered a 7.5, I usually wear 7, but previous experience with merrells led me to order a half size larger. The fit is ok and will accommodate a thicker sock; I only had on gym socks today and it didn't feel too big but I could tell a thicker sock won't make them too tight either. Overall, I like the shoe, and I will get some good use of them, just not as water resistant as I thought they'd be so I'll purchase something else for that need.

I bathe a lot of big dogs and walk through a lot of grass in my job at a dog boarding facility, so I wanted a sturdy shoe that could keep my socks and feet dry but not be a big, clunky rain boot that would sporadically crack and leak. I was excited at getting these shoes thinking they would be perfect. But if you accidentally get water on the fabric portion of this shoe, maybe the "waterproofing" slows the water down, but your feet will still get damp/wet. And then your shoes, socks, and feet start to stink after a day of work. I have not had these shoes long and am disappointed. I guess I'll have to go back to changing into Crocs or water socks when bathing dogs. That's too bad, because it wastes time and Crocs/water socks look less professional. And I could have just gotten comfortable non-waterproof shoes instead of these which also cause me heel pain if I have to walk or stand a lot in them. I'm going to have to get Dr. Scholls inserts in them as they're not very cushioned. And hope that maybe baking soda or baby powder will help with the smell. :( I'm not sure what washing them will do to the water-proofing, so I'm hesitant to do it.

I wanted to love these shoes, but I just didn't. I was hoping they would be more water tight, but they weren't. I really like the color combination, but they just weren't comfortable to me. They are loose in the heel area and I have to tie them really tightly but then they cut into the top of my foot. And they are longer than any other 5 1/2 shoe I have ever worn. I can get by for a couple of hours, but that's about it.K. Kris Loomis is the author of How to Sneak More Yoga Into Your Life and several short fiction collections.

I got my first pair of Merrell's about a decade ago and they were amazing, like walking on a cushiony cloud! These are no exception, they fit great, true to size, hold your foot snugly in all the right places so there's no shifting when you walk (zero blister risk) but there's plenty of wiggle room in the toe area. I was originally going to replace my old ones with a pair of walking sneakers as I use them more for daily exercise than hiking but I could not find a single pair of sneakers that didn't feel like they were made out of cardboard, they all fit poorly and felt like there was no support. Not these! I will never even bother thinking about getting a pair of "sneakers" again - only Merrell's from now on!

I purchased these thinking that they had stretch laces and they turned out to be "tie" laces. They were a bit small and not that comfortable.I did end up buying a pair of Merrells with "traditional tie" laces but was very disappointed to learn that Merrell has discontinuedthe "slip-on" stretch lace shoes for women. I am a fan of the slip on style and have worn that type for years. I hope they decide to bring them back. I love everything about the Merrells that I have had in the past.

These shoes were purchased so I could walk outside when it is less than dry out (not wanting to ruin my everyday walking shoes). They really are water resistant. The fit is true to size and they are fairly comfortable but a bit stiffer than I am used to. Perhaps that is by design since they are meant for hiking. They were a very good value for the money.

Got these shoes while in Colorado for the summer. Was very hopeful. They fit, but my arch overshoots the arch in the shoe. I liked the look of them so I kept trying to figure out a way to make them "fit", but for day hiking, not a good idea. I had to return them and that process was great! Finally found some Keen's that were way better for me!

These shoes are very comfortable with a firm sole. My feet are somewhat narrow and these fit great. I need a firm sole rather than flexible due to several foot problems. I am on my feet all day and am finally not in pain at the end of the day. I have had bursitis/tendinitis in one foot for about 2 years with little relief. I have worn these for several months now and they have made a huge difference. I have also had plantar fascitis multiple times and have not had it flare up at all with these shoes!

The otter colour in the pic is very accurate.They look great on and are very lightweight and comfortable; great for those days when it's not quite warm enough for walking sandals but not really cold enough for full-on walking shoes (ie most of the UK spring and summer!). The only reason I've awarded 4 stars is that they're not waterproof (although not advertised as such - not too bad in light rain) - they do dry out very quickly though.

Bought these for my wife who needs to wear quality shoes as she gets heel pain. She has used them frequently for long walks with no trouble at all. Good price for a Merrel shoe. She is a size 6 but after reading some reviews about sizing got a 7 but they were too big. Easy to exchange through Amazon and the 6 is an excellent fit. Highly recommended.

This is the third pair of Merrell hiking shoes I have bought and as per the others I got them strait out of the box and promptly did a 5 mile walk, they are instant comfort and don't need wearing in. As with the others I would recommend getting either a half or full size up (depending on what thickness of socks you wear). They are not waterproof, but don't advertise as being so, but can take a bit of rain and fairly muddy conditions without your feet being saturated. Brilliant shoes :-)

The headline sums it up. I have not worn these much yet, am still enjoying my other Merrell shoes, so am keeping these mostly for trips away and town walking at the moment. They are a little more stylish than the Siren Breeze Trekking shoes in my book - so better for 'best' wearing. I would recommend these, especially if they are still on offer. You won't get a better walking shoe at the price.

Bought these as I have read a lot about the G-form system that they have which is designed for women in particular. I have been very impressed with how comfortable they are to walk in and they are quite sturdy as well. Good value for money.