MERRELL technology

F.I.S.T. – Flex Insole System Technology

Why Merrell’s flexibility is different
Casual shoes are stiffer and tighter than running shoes, but not as stiff as hiking boots. Here we are dealing with an intermediate layer made of a mix of glass and polymer. This layer is often used in heavier hiking footwear and in boots because its primary goal is to protect the foot against sharp rocks. The layer features 8 different stages of flexibility. Ask the shop assistant if the shoe features F.I.S.T. technology.

SOLES:
How can a better midsole benefit a hiking boot? The insole and the flexibility of the entire boot are closely interrelated and influence one another. When the foot lands on the ground, the insole will help stabilize the foot while preventing twisting on an unstable surface.
The soles of hiking boots by Merrell are harder and more stable to allow you to bear weights on rapidly changing terrain. These shoes feature nylon soles with filling to ensure flexibility for the front part of the foot. The stiffness and flexibility of soles has been developed to match the size of the foot and the weight of the hiker.

Advantages:
1. The sole will last as long as the shoe
2. Not influenced by humidity
3. Will not collapse
4. Protects feet against sharp rocks

Air Cushion midsole:

MERRELL's patented midsole offers the best of both worlds - the cushioning you need for all-day comfort and the control you need to support in all kinds of terrain. They've been engineered so that each step provides the compression necessary to absorb up to four times the body's weight with a pronounced heel cup keeping the foot centered for greater stability.

Difference between women’s and men’s lasts:

Footwear by Merrell is designed for women and men according to the properties of their soles. In developing its products, Merrell took into consideration the differences between the lasts of men and women already when commencing its business. When it comes to women’s soles, we always consider that:

* A woman’s heel and Achilles tendon are narrower than those of a man
* Proportionally women have longer toes than men
* The arch of the instep is higher on women
* A woman’s shin muscles are longer (reach deeper in the shoe)
* The pelvis is wider, the centre of gravity is lower (especially on pregnant women)

Based on these factors, each hiking boot model by Merrell features additional padding in the EVA material for women at certain places, this technology is called Q-form:

It's a fact that women are anatomically and biomechanically different  from men. Unfortunately, there differences are too-often ignored. Working with Sport-Biomechanics, Inc, a leading sports medicine organization, MERRELL spent years studying how these differences contibuted to dicomfort and in some cases injury for women wearing "men's" shoes. So MERRELL specifically engineered the midsoled in their Womens shoes to prvide the proper support, cushioning, and corrective positioning women need to make possible a more balanced, natural stride that ensures longer-lasing comfort and reduces wear for each shoe.