More than half of my season to date has been spent in the mountains chasing birds at elevation. I saw the MQM – Moving Quickly in the Mountains – and they got me with that marketing hook. When you’re chasing Chukar, moving quickly is a high priority. I have now worn these shoes for hundreds of miles in all kinds of terrain.
The MQM are the lightest shoe I’ve ever tried hunting. I honestly don’t know what kind of dark magic Merrell has summoned to keep a shoe that appears mostly mesh both waterproof and durable. And though I’ve been on some extremely rocky descents, not once have I bruised a heal or arch. I even transitioned these shoes to the prairies and subjected them to the repetitive thrashing of Bluestem. They are starting to look a bit frayed, but the performance hasn’t quit.
I’ll be purchasing another pair at the end of the season for the start of spring training. There is a women’s version of the MQM as well as a mid-height variation for those looking for a bit more ankle support – $140.
