I Wore These Merrell Shoes Hiking and Paragliding in the Alps — and I Trekked for Miles With Zero Pain

Spending the last ten-odd years in Europe, I’ve found that fall is my favorite season to be an adventurous traveler. It’s a wonderful time for strenuous but rewarding hikes in the Alps, going on walks in forests, and cycling in national parks without the crowds because many popular destinations like Megeve, St. Moritz, and Lake Paijanne are less congested with Europeans back at work and school. 

To ensure I live up to my self-proclaimed title of being a light packer and traveler, I have a multipurpose pair of shoes that I travel with on these lofty adventures. I’m a big fan of Merrell shoes — they’re often durable, functional, and affordable — so I frequently turn to my pair of Merrell Antora 3 shoes this time of year. These shoes are versatile enough for different activities and terrains, whether I’m running, climbing, or hiking through slushy mud, mixed pebbles and stones, or soft mulch.

Merrell Antora 3

The Antora shoe has been a constant part of my travel wardrobe since it was first released several years ago, and this season I found the newly-revised Antora 3 to be even better than the past editions. These trail shoes proved highly durable during recent trips to the Swiss Alpine region of St. Moritz, the French Alps, and the lakes of Finland. 

Although revered for winter slopes and epic ski runs, St. Moritz didn’t have any snow when I visited at the beginning of fall, which meant I could take my Antoras on multiple hikes throughout the Graubunden region. These shoes were comfortable during non-strenuous and easy walks from my hotel, Badrutt’s Palace, to Pontresina, a small nearby village, with mild hills and inclines. I also safely ran on loose debris and asphalt while wearing these shoes, thanks to the special “Super Rebound Compound” that provides greater support than other shoes I have hiked and run in. I appreciated the breathable mesh lining which kept my feet cool and not sweaty during the almost three-hour walk. (Suffice to say, the three scoops of gelato I had at the hotel’s ice cream parlor when I got back tasted even better after these adventures.)

On the same trip, the Antora 3s were also great hiking shoes during my more strenuous trek up the mountains. Located at 2,180 meters, the Paradiso Mountain Club and Restaurant was my hiking goal (I am a foodie at heart, so all my journeys lead to places to eat), and I loved how well my Merrell Antoras held up as hiking boots and not just trail shoes. They were light enough to do a slow sprint up the mountain without weighing me down. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I did this same climb along the Schellen-Ursli trail more than once, and I found the shoes to be excellent on all three climbs; the forefoot and heel offered enough cushioning when I even ran back down the hilly mountain to the spa for some R&R.

Merrell Antora 3

On the other side of the Swiss Alps in Gstaad, I also tested out my Antora 3 mid-length shoes during my first paragliding adventure. (These are essentially the same shoe with more support from the mid-height ankle design.) With a bit of rain during my stay in the Alps earlier this fall, I was glad I wore these mid-length shoes because, during take-off, I had to walk through mud (and cow dung!) before flying off a mountain and into the air. During landing, I felt entirely secure and didn’t worry about my knees and ankles buckling because of the higher support on the ankles. The waterproof outer material was a blessing to have, too — a simple wipe down with a damp towel when I returned on foot back to my hotel and I could use them again for the next three days without looking like I just stepped out of a Swiss pigsty.

Merrell Antora 3 Mid Wp

Many other travelers have taken their Antora 3 shoes on trips around Europe. One Zappos reviewer noted wearing them in Italy, Germany, and Prague and said they were “so comfortable and stable.” Another person said they use them for both trail walking and hiking, like myself. “The [Antora] 3 is even better than the 2. Lighter, more comfortable, but still feels just sturdy and confident walking in wet and unsteady conditions,” they wrote. “Also a great shoe to wear to the wet fields for kid's sports every weekend morning! I have a wider foot and the medium fits really well.”

In the last month, I’ve really put my Merrell Antora 3s to the test. On a trip to Megeve in France, the Alpine region where one episode of Emily in Paris was recently filmed, I wore them on hikes exploring waterfalls and hiking up incredibly steep mountains on mixed terrain. My goal here was to hike to the L’alpage des Marie, a cute little refuge and restaurant in between the mountains. My Antora 3 mid-length shoes were grippy enough to withstand a steep incline on pebbled terrain with stones of all sizes. My feet were always secure on the ground, and I had enough strength to push forward without feeling tired. 

I loved the challenge of taking on the domineering French mountains with my trusty Antora 3 shoes. Maybe it was the promise of French wine at the end that helped me get there, but I would like to think it was these amazing Merrells!

More Trail and Hiking Merrell Shoes:

Merrell Agility Peak 5 Trail-running Shoes

Danner Trail 2650 Hiking Shoes

Altra Timp Hiker Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Lightweight Waterproof Shoe Hiking Boot

Hoka Trail Code Gore-Tex

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