Shoecare & Product Advice

Need tips on breaking in your new Merrell's? Here's how. 

Get the right fit. 

With wear, your new Merrell's will stretch widthwise, but not lengthwise. Make sure to have at least 1cm of space from the tip of your longest toe to the front of the shoe. If you have a wide foot, choose a wide fitting style which will allow your toes to spread comfortably. Before ordering online, chat to our Product Experts either via Live Chat or on 1300 131 766 for a virtual fitting. 

Take it slow. 

Start by wearing your new Merrell's for short periods of time. Begin by wearing them around the house so that you can take them off if your feet ache or they start to rub.   

Tighten the laces. 

It may be tempting to loosen the laces to allow more room inside the shoe, however, tying them up tightly will help to stretch the fabric and speed up the break-in process. 

Grab your thickest socks. 

Wear your thickest socks whilst you break in your new Merrell's. It will create a thick, padded layer between your feet and your new shoes which will prevent rubbing and blisters. The bulkiness of the socks will also help to stretch the material of the shoe. 

Do: Clean your Merrell's ASAP if they get dirty or wet to prevent any long term damage. 

Do not: Wash your Merrell's in the washing machine or use bleach to clean them. Glue and other fastenings can be damaged in the wash. 

How to clean your Merrell's

1. Disassemble your shoes. Remove the insole and laces for a thorough clean. 
   
   
2. Wash the laces. Throw them in with your clothes laundry and wash on a cold setting with your regular detergent. Pro tip: Place in a laundry bag or sock so they don't get lost. Need new laces? Shop our replacement laces here. 
   
   
3. Remove dirt from the upper and outsole. A small brush or towel works well. 
   
   
4. Scrub clean.
   Suede & nubuck: We recommend brushing away any surface dirt with our Block & Brush kit. After extended, rugged use, wash with mild soap and warm water. 
   
   Athletic shoes - Canvas & fabric: We recommend using our Athletic Gel Cleaner. The brush top applicator allows you to scrub away stains and soil, while brightening and deodorizing the shoe.
   
   Alternatively, create a soapy mixture of water and laundry detergent, and gently work into dirty areas using a towel or soft bristle brush. 
   
   
5. Wipe down. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe of excess soap and cleanser. 
   
   
6. Allow shoes to dry, naturally, away from direct heat or sunlight. 

Squeaky shoes are often caused by moisture or friction within parts of the shoe. 

The easiest way to stop squeaky shoes is to use baby/talcum powder:

1. If possible, remove the inner sole of the shoe and loosen the laces.
2. Sprinkle baby/talcum powder on the underside of the innersole as well as inside the shoe.
3. Let the powder sit overnight to absorb any moisture. Shake out the excess powder the following day. 

Whether you’re going for a casual hike, bushwalking through a national park or taking on a mountain, there are different ways to lace your hiking boots to optimise their performance and comfort.

Reducing Top-of-Foot Pressure:

If you have a high instep or simply pain across the top of your foot then this is the one for you.

• This technique can also be beneficial for long descents, where we aggressively flex our foot inside the boot.
• It is important to note that the ‘window’ can be moved one eyelet down if your foot pressure tends to be lower.

Parallel Lacing:

This is an alternative to the first technique as it removes pressure from the top of your foot – something that can occur when breaking in new shoes.

Heel Lock Technique: 

This technique is ideal if you’re prone to heel slip, blisters or you simply need extra support when hiking up or down hills, when the heel can be subjected to high forces. However, it does mean that your shoes will be a bit trickier to take off, as you need to properly loosen the laces.

Yes, we do. Shop our barefoot styles here.

Good to know: Merrell Barefoot styles’ anatomical shape provides natural comfort, adaptive materials and minimalist construction. Our shoes have been built with a full forefoot to allow for a more natural foot movement.

Our barefoot styles also have a sock-like feel for a locked-down fit, plus a Vibram sole with nearly zero ground-to-foot separation.

We stock Merrell replacement laces online and in-store. We recommend visiting us in-store for a larger range. 

Contact our Merrell Experts either via Live Chat or on 1300 131 766  if you need help choosing the right product for you. 

Shop our Moab laces here. 

Many of our styles feature Vibram branded rubber soles, which is an extremely durable material.  The ridges provide added traction - particularly when ascending steep climbs on the trail. 

The compromise for ensuring the rubber is hardy is that they can be a bit slippery on urban surfaces.

It's important to keep in mind that as a hiking shoe, they are designed to last on rough, off-road terrain. 

Over time and with use, the sole with roughen up and grip better on urban surfaces. 

Unfortunately, we don't offer a price match guarantee if our styles are on sale with a third-party retailer.

However, join our mailing list and we'll keep you up to date with promotions and upcoming sales! Simply scroll to the bottom our homepage and enter your email address. 

If your item has recently gone on sale, unfortunately, we are unable to refund the difference between the original and sale price. We're sorry for any disappointment this may cause. 

We recommend subscribing to our mailing list to stay in the loop about any upcoming sales, promotions or new releases. To sign up, simply head to our website, scroll down to the bottom and enter your email address.

Yes, we occasionally receive restocks of short-run releases, however, we unfortunately won't be able to inform you if and when, we will be restocking in a specific style. 

We recommend that you take advantage of our current in-stock range, and keep up to date with new releases and restocks by joining our mailing list. Simply scroll to the bottom of our website and enter your email address. You can also keep watch on our social media channels. 

Please note that we don't have a preorder system and are unable to place single unit orders for sold out items. 

Gore-Tex is a brand of waterproofing membrane that we use in selected models.

M-Select Dry is our in-house brand of waterproofing.

Both offer the same level of protection from the elements.

Merrell stands behind all the products we produce with an assurance of quality materials and workmanship. Please see below for our warranty period and conditions.

Warranty period

Boots & Shoes: 12 months

Sandals: 6 months

If your item(s) meet the below criteria, we will offer a refund online or refund/exchange in-store.

Warranty conditions

• The product is faulty or is not of acceptable quality
• The product is not fit for its intended purpose
• The product does not match the sample or our description

Note: This does not cover normal wear and tear, improper care, improper use, or the natural breakdown of materials over extended time and/or use.

Examples of what is not considered defective:

• Worn stitching, worn soles or frayed webbing due to normal wear
• Damage that is a result of misuse, normal wear and tear or damage occurred during storage
• Broken or damaged laces, lace retention devices and worn soles
• Improper fit/comfort issues

If you believe any purchased items may have a manufacturing fault, please contact our Merrell Experts here and provide the below information;

- Order number or proof of purchase

- Photos that display the fault from all angles

Our Merrell Experts will be able to advise the next steps.

Important to note: If the item(s) were purchased from a Merrell stockist please take them back to the place of purchase, they will need to assess them for you and handle the warranty process. Our Merrell Experts are unable to assist with any third party retailer claims.