Merrell started in 1981 as a custom bootmaker in Utah, and it’s fair to say the fit stuck. Four decades on, their reputation for out-of-the-box comfort, no-nonsense hiking boots has made them the biggest name in the game worldwide, and this season’s lineup shows why they haven’t stood still. The Cham Redux and Moab families take Merrell’s trail heritage and rework it for daily wear – genuine GORE-TEX waterproofing and Vibram grip, but built for a wet dash to the shops as much as a soggy Sunday on the Downs. There’s still a slipper-soft moc for padding round the house, and a rugged trail runner for anyone chasing PBs on muddy singletrack. Whatever you’re doing outside – or getting to and from it – Merrell’s spent 40 years working out how to make it more comfortable.