Side by Side Comparison of: Merrell vs People Socks vs SEOULSTORY7

Merrell's are amazing, take your time in finding the right size and you'll be rewarded with a great pair of boots. Waterproof yet cool, and able to withstand mild winter conditions, I can wear them with confidence in any situation. Plus they look great.

After having worn these for a few weeks I must say they are my favorite shoes so far. I typically wear size 11, 11.5 or 12 depending on brand, style and whether I need to add an insole or not. I also have the Merrell Fraxion winter hiking boots and wear 11.5 in those even with an extra insole for arch support, but in the Annex mid size 12 seems to be perfect with no insole at all. The arches in these are pretty high and are actually built right into the shoe UNDER the removable insole that come with them. I tried several insoles and found the best for me to be just the factory setup. Comfortable and supportive, they keep my feet dry and the Vibram sole is a great for traction and protection from rocks and whatever else I might come across. These feel a lot like a street shoe, but perform closer to a hiking boot. I'm on my feet and stay very active at work so this shoe transitions perfectly from home to work and back again.

These are exactly what I was hoping they would be.I do not like big heavy clunky hiking boots. A couple years ago I started hiking in simple cross training shoes, but I missed having a bit of ankle support. These boots are the perfect combo. They are light and flexible while still providing ankle support and they are waterproof. They feel fantastic on the foot right out of the box but did get better after 5ish hikes in them. I've put in around 50 miles on them now and they show no sign of wear. Hopefully the durability continues to impress.The sole of the boot is thinner than the typical old school hiking boot with reinforced shanks. So if you have never hiked in cross trainers or lightweight shoes that may be an issue for you. But if you are looking for a lightweight comfortable hiking boot, look no further. I love these boots.

UPDATE 11/15/2015I received the replacement boots and so far so good. I haven't tested them out in snow (it hasn't snowed yet here - Chicago), but I'll change the start rating to 5 stars and if I'll find anything negative about the boots I'll update my review.I received the boots and, excitedly, I wanted to try them on. I couldn't even tie up the shoelaces for the left boot before it failed on me. As you'll see in the picture (and probably understand better than from my written explanation), one of the four hooks just fell off. I did not pull too hard (it's not rocket science to tie up a shoelace and I'm pretty sure my technique is standard ;-) ) or in any way that should have negatively influenced the hook.Another issue is the laces not being the same length (again, see the picture).These are pretty expensive boots from what I thought is a trustworthy company. This is a big oversight from Merrell's quality check. Obviously, I'm going to return the pair. I do like the way they feel and the right foot boot is pretty much perfect (length of the shoelace, the fact that nothing broke while trying it on - this is a feature nowadays). I'll ask for another pair and hope that one will be up to the quality standards that I expect from a nearly $200 pair of boots.I will update the review once the new pair arrives.

Okay, so as other reviews have stated you do need to give them a few days to break in. When I first tried them on I panicked and thought "these are too small, too narrow, too tight, etc" but I thought I'd roll the dice and wear them for a few days before deciding to keep or return them. I'm glad I did, because after about 3 days (wearing them 3-5 hours each day) they fit perfectly! I understand that at the price point of nearly $200 most people won't want to risk wearing them for 3 days for fear of not being able to return them. I would encourage you to be brave and break them in (indoors if you want to keep them clean). The arch support is better than I expected and the color scheme on these bad boys is gorgeous. I haven't had any issues with them (worn them on 3 hikes at about 5 miles each so far). Very happy. but like I mentioned at the beginning: they are tight out of the box and may even be uncomfortable on day one but they will break in after a few days and you will love them.

Solid construction, lightweight, and comfortable right out of the box. Rigid enough for the trail but is flexible and good for city-wear. I really like the design as an all purpose boot.

I just repurchased another set of these today, obviously I've found them to be very good socks.My experience has been that the weight, comfort, fit and durability of these have been superior to other socks I have, even others with the high concentration of Merino wool and/or other advertised modernities.These are multi-day wear socks as I can take them on trips and pack few pair because I can wear them more than a single day between washes. They don't get all sweated-up and crunchy after even a couple days wear like other socks do.So, per my experience I would recommend. I like the 4 pack with multiple colors, makes it simple in my sock drawer.I live in the Northeast and wear these mostly as a colder weather sock, but they are comfortable and probably work just fine in summer except I am a no sock sandal guy in warm weather.Good luck to you.

I was afraid these socks might be a little small for my "huge" size 13 feet, but it turns out they've got just the right amount of stretchiness so the fit is great and they don't slide down your calves to your ankles so easily. Unlike the cheap socks I've been used to wearing, these wool socks are thicker, warmer, better-smelling-for-longer (yes, really), and will hopefully last longer.So, don't fret if you're a shoe size 13, size 14, size 15, or possibly a bit larger, as these socks should fit fine. Attached is a photo of a brand new sock on my foot next to its never-worn twin.

These are moderately warm and cushiony. Your feet aren't going to be burning up in summer, and they're not going to be miracle hot in winter either, but they are definitely an improvement over cotton socks.They're not too hot for summer hikes either while keeping your feet cushioned in your hiking shoes. Noticeable improvement on toe & sole blisters.I am a repeat customer who's bought the low cut socks for summer hiking and the crew socks for winter.These are my only experience with wool socks so I can't compare it to other brands, but the price was too good to pass up since REI had wool socks for sale for $15 for just 1 pair, yeesh.To make sure I wear them all out evenly, I don't wash or wear any of my socks until all pairs have been worn, then i'll wash the batch of them and allow them to air dry before wearing them again.

First a little background. My feet are in horrible shape. They crack. They bleed. They itch. They smell horrible. Two of my toenails have fungus. I've been fighting all of these things for over a year and not once have I thought that maybe wearing cheap hanes socks might have something to do with it. I use anti fungal and anti bacterial soap when showering. I've tried creams, powders, lotions, soaking my feet in a foot bath, but don't have the time to maintain these treatments 2 times a day as directed unfortunately. Walking on carpet barefoot is unbearably painful because of the horrible shape my feet are in. I'm also very stubborn about going to doctors about this kind of thing so I wanted to try everything I could first before seeing a podiatrist.I've googled and googled foot care over and over and I thought to myself, "Well my socks are cotton. They shouldn't have anything to do with it." Finally, after trying a ton of other medicines, soaps, soaks, etc, I thought I'd give wool socks a try. Here's what I have to say about People Socks:I have a size 12 foot on the wide side and these socks fit my feet perfectly. They are the most comfortable socks I've ever worn. I could tell the second I put them on that I would be happy with them. My feet do not sweat whatsoever in these socks and my feet have a tendency to sweat even when I'm sitting down doing nothing that involves a lot of walking or running when wearing cheap hanes socks. The tops of the shoes I wear daily are made of mesh, and when it rained here yesterday, I found myself walking through large puddles of water that would normally soak my feet and leave them cold. With these socks on my feet stayed completely dry, they felt a little cold as if water was trying to get in, but my feet stayed bone dry. I couldn't believe it. Also the pain in my feet has gone away. The itching has stopped. The cracking has reduced and my feet and shoes do not smell like a horrible bowel movement.All of this has occurred in the TWO DAYS I have worn these socks. I cannot believe the change in my foot condition just from wearing wool socks. This being said, I cannot recommend these socks enough. whether it be for work, or heavy activity, or just every day lounging, these socks have blown me away.

I'm loving these socks.When I deployed to Afghanistan, a buddy recommended I stock up on wool socks. After the first time slipping my feet into a pair, I was sold - never going back to cotton/poly blends. I decided to buy a bunch of pairs of wool socks. Learned they don't come cheap. So, I shopped around quite a bit to find the best bang for the buck - when you're a single dude in the military, you're not exactly rolling in the dough.My research discovered the best wool socks out there (IMO) were the Redhead brand that Bass Pro shop sells - $10-15 for a pair. And that's where I've always gone to buy wool socks. But it's out of the way - 20 miles away.So, since Ive pretty much sold my soul to the Amazon gods and purchase more and more of my goods via the Amazon app, I decided to take a look at what wool socks options were on here. Stumbled across these socks and was pleasantly surprised to see 4 pairs for so cheap. Naturally, I was skeptical. But then I realized this was one of those times being a Prime member really pays off. 66% off?!! Heck yes!About these socks...-They fit just right. A little tight on me (I don't skip leg day at the gym), but not uncomfortably so.-They arrived promptly, minimal packaging - respect to the environment, y'all!-They're made in Amer'ka! F ya!

Talk about exceeding expectations!At one time I had at least a dozen pairs of Smart wool as that is what I wore without exception;Winter, Summer, Hot or Cold, They were my go-to socks.They wore out, I got tired of spending $15/pair and up and I eventually my needs changedBut now I find that I need some warm long wearing socks and BAM! I find People Socks!More Value and Lower Expense? How do they do it! I don't know, but I'm glad and I'm a convert.

Good light boot good fit, insoles need work move around and up the heel of the boot I put in super feet insoles it made all the difference. Besides the Insoles the boot is worth the price

The only reason why I'm not giving this product 5 stars, is because the shoes are not as breathable as I would like so my feet sweat a bit more than they do in some of my other shoes. Also, I havent had them long enough to see if they will stand the test of time. But they seem pretty tough so far for the 2 weeks of "hell" I've already put them through.Coming from a military background "Marines", I've worn all kinds of boots/hiking shoes. These a very comfortable, pretty stylish, "military type" colors, and they are working great for me.I've already put some miles and wear on them. Running up and down some fairly steap grass, wooded/ rocky areas, gravel, pavement, and they have great traction in them all. Hiking in some pretty thick woods, sprints, and daily casual/ work wear, they have been awesome. I've had them for almost 2 weeks now and they are going through some punishment and have not let me down.I'm going overseas, and while Im in trainning, I wanted to test these shoes out to see if they would be a good fit to take to the desert. They passed my test in the "short" time Ive had them, and I will be getting more to take overseas when that time comes. Just a different color.So if Merrell/ Vibram come out with this same shoe that is more breathable. I dont think I would buy another pair of work/hiking/ "go on adventure" shoes.

these boots are awesome I've hiked roughly 75 miles in them so far however they do run small in my opinion, i normally wear a 9-10 and i ordered these in 10s and my big toes will rub on long hikes especially if I'm wearing thicker socks

The boots look awesome but I gave it 4 stars bc the boot looks to have the front of it go up. Kinda like if elfs had these custom made. I usually see ppl that buy footwear a size too big [aka handmedowns most of the time] have this type of thing going but these weren't big at all.

Great boots!! But just have a problem with mine idk if anyone else has this problem but after about 2 hours of wearing the boots the inside sole keep slide out of the boot by my ankles and by the end of my day the sole is completely out of the boot without even taking the boot off and it kinda sucks couse now the rest of the day your walking and your foot isn't even on a coushion sole! But besides that the boot is good!

Fit is perfect. 10.5 is my size and the size I ordered, still with room for bigger socks. I've worn these all day without getting sweaty feet. The only reason I gave a four is because the lace catch on the outside feels like it's poking into my foot on the inside of the shoe. Great shoe though. Would definitely recommend buying a pair!

Very nice socks. Much heavier/thicker than I thought, making them an even greater value. I like the extra cushion it provides. I have been a long time user of merino wool socks, wearing them daily. I usually order them on sale from Sierra Trading Post, and my favorite brands are Goodhew, Brookdale, and Lorpen. Generally I go with a medium weight hiking sock, but I have bought some heavy weight as well. My experience has been that the higher the percentage of wool, the less wear I get out of the sock. I'm finally convinced that a good blend with synthetics is the better for durability. I will update my review after I wear these and see how they hold up with washing and wear. For durability, Goodhew has been my gold standard, although I think Brookdale has the nicest fit, generally with a design that puts the synthetics in an elastic form in specific locations, which doesn't do much to improve heel wear.Why merino wool? I spend some of my time in the rural mountains, and the merino wool sock gives me the protection I need from blisters, is cool in summer and warm in winter and is soft as a kitten. My favorite thing is that you can wear them wet. I generally only have to pack an extra pair, even for several days. I can take a little soap and water and wash them out, wring well, and air dry, or even put them on and let them dry on my feet.

Warm, dry, rugged, and comfortable. Every pair of boots should come with a pair of People Socks.I live in New York and we deal with a lot of cold, wet, unpredictable weather during the winter months and proper foot gear is critical. These socks do an outstanding job of keeping our feet warm and dry. The quality is high, the wool is excellent, tightly woven and doesn't stretch out over time. They can be washed easily with regular clothes and tumble-dried without any significant shrinkage. Why can't someone make sweaters out of this same wool-blend?!They do get holes occasionally like any other sock and we've had to replace a few of our older pairs but I can certainly recommend these to anyone who want's a simple, solid sock that will keep your feet warm in inclement weather.

Warm and fairly smooth inside but you can feel the outer stitching a little bit after wearing them all day. Felt like they were wicking the moisture out of my feet like they're supposed to do. Works good in hiking boots. Also they are made from real wool, so they smell a little...animal like... after the first washing, but it goes away. Don't put them in a dryer, let them dry in the air and stretch them a little before wearing them again. Would definitely buy again, and am proud to see them MADE IN THE USA!

It's a true sign of my growing weakness that I felt the need to buy wool socks for winter in Los Angeles. A friend had given me a pair of handmade wool socks from Peru that were luxuriously comfortable, warm and breathable but had no elastic in them at all and soon became big and floppy. Admittedly, though I never machine washed them, I doubt I cared for them properly as they were my first and only pair of wool socks. These People Socks are also comfortable, warm and breathable. You can machine wash them inside out and air dry them and they're good as new afterwards. I wear them around the house and to sleep. I like that my feet never get all sweaty and gross and I can wear them for several days before they start to pick up any smell. I'm not a hiker or outdoor person but I've worn the People Socks in my Timberland boots for a day's worth of walking and they felt good, though they made my boots a little tighter, being thicker than my normal Hanes cotton socks. I don't have any other wool socks to compare to, but for the price of 1 pair of "fancy" wool socks you get 4 pairs, which seems like a crazy good deal.

I purchased two packs of these socks in 2012 for nothing more to keep my feet warm in bed in the winter. Not hiking. Not long walks. Mostly indoor use, normal washing. VERY LIGHT use even because I have 3 full sock drawers. The Same laundry detergent I use with all my similar socks. COMPARE - after 4 years, not one set left - Exclamation Point - They ALL developed numerous holes in them. IN Comparison, I purchased at the same time in 2012 Cahartt heavy wool socks for same use and 4 years later, same washing detergent same light use, not one problem. Buy the Cahartt, BUT CONSIDER buying these for the reason below.MAY 16, 2016 UPDATEI Changed my rating from One Star to Four Stars solely because the Company is a rare thing, Without a warranty, it stands behinds its products and cares about its customers. Without asking, they emailed me and asked for a copy of my Amazon Invoice, informed me they stand behind their products, and sent me 4 pair replacements. They did not ask me to amend or change my review. They asked for nothing in exchange at all, other than apologizing for my experience, asking if I had the defective products for them to give their factory to get better (I did not have them), confirming my address, then sending replacements. While I don't know if the replacements will stand the test of time, the company's actions are worthy and show integrity.

The socks are a little thick but will definitely keep your feet warm. I picked the multiple colored pack but wished I would've gotten all one color because they are so similar in color that they're weirdly hard to match up. Also be warned (as other reviewers have noted) that they will most likely pill after the first wear. And be careful to follow the instructions when washing them. But other than these small issues I would totally recommend them.

Great concept, terrible implementation. As always, take reviews with a grain of salt. I love the concept of the shoe, but several design flaws. First, as usual, Vibram outsole is the bomb. Love it. Supple leather upper is also beautiful, to a fault. You almost worry about it touching anything for fear of it getting damaged. Quite the oxymoron for a cross-application hiking boot. But, that's not a gripe.Now, the tongue, or "partial" tongue, if you will, is another matter altogether. As others have mentioned, the tongue is not wide enough to span the front of the shoe properly. A boot tongue is supposed to span the front of the ankle and wrap part way around toward the sides of the ankle, with enough margin to be easily covered by the outer "flaps" where the lace hooks are. But, unbelievably, the tongue of this boot does not! I've never experienced a boot like this in my entire life, including other Merrell boots. Now, I do not have a big ankle by any means, either. In fact, the biggest problem I have with shoes/boots is that my heel slips up out of the heel cup, so if the tongue of this boot doesn't span the front gap of the boot with my narrow-heels/ankles, that should give you an indication of how narrow the tongue really is.The tongue padding, or lack thereof, is ridiculous. It's bad enough there is no leather whatsoever on the tongue to provide cushion from the laces, which I knew about beforehand, but I didn't expect the padding of the fabric tongue to be so soft, to the extent that it does nothing to insulate you from the edges of the outer flaps (if you can manage to snug the top enough to get the tongue under the outer flaps) or the laces. While the padding LOOKS plush, that's all it does. Snug down the laces, which you will likely do to try and compensate for the tongue not spanning the front gap, and after a few minutes the pressure of the laces cuts right though the padding and starts strangling your ankles.Then there's the issue of the sewn join-line at the top edge of the Gore-tex that comes up on the tongue. Because of the narrow-ness of the tongue, the edges of the stitching ends right at the front edge of my ankle bone. So, when I tie the boot, the stitching knots press down on my ankle bones. And, that hurts! Had the tongue been an inch or two wider like it should have been, this would have been a non-issue.There is simply no excuse for such a crappy tongue, in terms of both width and thickness. I'm sure the non-durable, wide-pored fabric of the tongue contributes to the lack of protection the tongue offers, or doesn't offer, I should say. I think canvas, a la a Converse sneaker, would have provided more protection from the laces, I'm not kidding. If there was a way to fix that tongue without compromising the fit or the integrity of the Gore-tex, I would have kept the boots. But, alas, there isn't. And, for $180, I shouldn't have to jerry-rig something. Shame on Merrell to be selling these with the "partial tongue. I can't believe something as little as a faulty tongue can make a boot unwearable.Like I said, beautiful boot, and great concept, but needless to say, I was quite bummed to have to return them. Maybe these are the very issues as to why a Merrell corporate store told me they discontinued these, even though they are still on the company website.

I ended up returning these because there wasn't enough arch support. North Face is much better in this regard. These Merrells are irresistibly cool-looking, but alas I just needed more arch and cushion. Felt too flat and hard. For what it's worth though, they seemed impeccably well-made and the materials looked modern and top-quality.

The shoes fit great and are extremely comfortable with great ankle support. They also have very good grip, hiked a steep, wet paved path pushing a stroller and felt like I had great footing. The tongue fits in the boot a little awkwardly when laced all the way up (I have skinny ankles) and the laces don't sit evenly (they bunch up) and I'm worried this may cause some discomfort on longer hikes, but the tongue is substantial enough to prevent this from being a problem on short outings. I did not experience an issue with the metal hooks like another reviewer mentioned.My only issue is that the boots were shipped with different length shoelaces, one is the proper length but the other barely has enough to tie properly (I am left with a tiny shoelace bun if I try to double knot). I can't find these laces for purchase by themselves and couldn't find a way to correct this problem through amazon without replacing the boots so I'm writing this review.

I normally wear a 12 so I ordered a 13 to have plenty of room for winter socks.I tried them on with thin athletic socks and they Barley fit.Otherwise seem comfortable and of good quality

I really wanted to like these boots, as they were light weight, had a gore-tex lining and relatively stylish. The fit and finish were great, EXCEPT for the narrow, really prominent arch. It was actually quite horrible for my wide feet. I don't even have that flat an arch, but it felt like a huge slightly soft rock was in my shoe under my arch. If the arch had been anywhere close to some of the other Merrell's that I have worn, these would have been the perfect lightweight hikers.

Cool shoes at first. Wore them all day for a month. I know why they make hiking boots brown because when your kicking up dust all days these shoes will be brown. I also used them on a 3 day very rough terrain hike and they started to fall apart (cracking of the sole, stitching fall apart). These $180 held up worse than other peoples hiking boots that were less than $100.

Look elsewhere for wool socks. I have a lot of of much more expensive Darn Tough and DeFeet wool socks. I would gladly trade 4 pairs of People Socks for 1 pair of either of those. These socks are not comfortable to me. I'm giving them 3 stars because that might just be my preference. Honestly, these just sit in my drawer until laundry day. I'll wear my cheap cotton socks first.

I must agree with other customers, the quality in manufacturing dropped off. I was very happy with my last purchase of these sock but for some reason they now make the sock a lot thinner. The reason I switched over to merino wool was for the little extra cushion it gives when being on my feet all day. It's hard to find any alternative without spending $20 plus on a single pair. I'll stick with them because there still a much better alternative than socks you find at the store.

I was very pleased when I found these Merino wool socks at such a good price. When I received them, I noted that there was a lot of spandex in the socks, which disappointed me somewhat. However, I decided to keep them, let my husband wear them, and then review them later. So here is my review: Most of the pairs of socks have held up but one sock's back has disintegrated and now is full of holes. I have no idea how this could have happened, other than the sock was not sewn well.

Fits nice but 1 year later all four pair have worn thru. I like that the are made in US but wish they lasted. My other, older pairs of Merino wool soxs are still going strong.

These socks are exactly what one would expect for the money. They are average wool socks that fit to size, keep the feet warm, but beginning piling and stretching quickly after laundering.I live in the far north of the Midwest where it gets bitter cold during the winter. I wear these as my daily socks in a pair of Gore-Tex lined hiking boots. Even in the coldest weather, these do the trick for me. My feet are warm when outside and if I put on a pair of slippers inside, my feet will sweat. With properly dry boots or shoes, these will keep the feet warm. I've no experience with them when wet.If wearing a larger pair of boots, such as calf-length Muck boots, these work well with a pair of thin, knee-high, wool boot liners, like military kinds found on Amazon. Put the liners on first, and then these. Without the liners, the socks tend to fall down around the ankles in high boots, making them a pain to wear when hiking, snowshoeing, or other mobile activities.The issue here is not one of warmth or price, but one of durability. I own seven or eight different brands of wool socks and sock systems for various activities, including many outdoor winter sports. These are the least durable socks so far (but also the cheapest). The next closest comparison are some Browning 77% wool blend socks. They cost a little more but have held up much better over many years. These People's socks have already started degrading after just one winter season. If you plan to replace them regularly, then they are a great purchase.Another issue of quality is the hold. The tops just don't hold well after several uses and begin to slide down even under normal, daily wear. If you hate wool socks that fall down to your ankles, be warned, these are likely to do that -- I own eight pair, all do that.Launder them carefully according to instructions as improper laundering will likely degrade the socks even faster.

Ok, My honest review.. I use merino socks (ALOT) solely for hiking/backpacking/mountaineering/etc. I have been through some expensive brands and my favorite are still Darn tough merino wool socks. The "People socks" tend to slip around and aren't quite a snug fit for hiking purposes(will eventually cause blistering if used for backpacking). However, they are much cheaper and the same type of product. You do get what you pay for and they are a great deal for everyday use. When using these on a 12 mile hike last weekend with a 30lb pack, my feet were slipping around in the sock just enough to rub blisters in the strangest places. On the same hike, using the same boots but the darn tough brand, had no problems. It may not be a big deal to some.. Just my 2 cents. The darn tough socks keep their form even after wearing all day,wash, repeat.. the people socks have not but once again, a great value for normal everyday use.

SO SEDUCTIVE. Yet... so confused.These Merrell's would have been killer as a casual boot. As it is, it's a confused product. Merrell chose to combine its best-looking boots with... waterproofing. A pair of boots that don't look out of place with a pair of dark jeans, yet if you wear them for longer than 2-3 hours, your feet will feel damp because of the utter lack of breathability.The sole is also extremely flexible, which is what you'd want for a casual shoe, but not for a pair of hiking boots. For hiking boots you would want a firmer sole so your feet don't take as much of a bruising on rugged terrain.I like the way the shoe LOOKS a lot. The actual functonality is just strange. Whether you're going for a casual pair of boots for everyday wear, or for something more technical, I would look elsewhere. If you're just going to wear these occasionally on rainy days, or will only use them on well-maintained paths on weekends, then sure, go for it.

Very aggressive arch that is also unusually narrow. I can tolerate narrow shoes more then others but these rough. Tight fitting and not comfortable.

I loved these shoes until the top eyelet popped off the fourth time I put them on. Pretty disappointed!

good night please size for the shoe, "Merrell Men's Annex Mid Gore-Tex Boot, Castle Rock, 9 M US" request on 9 and product delivery came in 10, please desire to be delivered me size requested, to request the size 9 M US

Package arrived on- time but with no Merrell box, first red flag. Shoes look great, but were delivered with the 2nd eyelet completely detached. After investigating, it appears that all 4 of the top eyelets are shoddily attached to the upper. Still like the look of the shoe but can't recommend it for any serious hiking. I'll be returning this for a better quality product.

I really wanted these to fit, they seem to be made well and look great. The length is perfect (I wear size 14), fit as expected. Issue comes with the arch support. It seems that the arch area dug into my foot while walking around the house. I usually do not have any issues with the width in shoes but this boot seems to run a little on the narrow side.

UPDATE BELOW ORIGINAL REVIEWBrown Small-Medium 4pairs 71% Premium Merino Wool Crew Hiking Socks Made in USA People SocksThey seemed OK for a couple of months and then they started wearing out. It seems like a lot of people are having the same problem. They are supposed to have a one year warranty but I have not gotten a response back from the company after multiple attempts to contact them and providing photos, order number, etc. I might go with the more expensive Darn Tough next time...After reaching out via email a couple of times, then Facebook, then leaving this review I was contacted and sent replacement socks. They said that Amazon orders do not normally qualify for their one year warranty. These are supposed to be a more durable. I will update after a time and see.

These socks fit perfectly at first. They felt nice on my feet and seem very well made. You can definitely feel the difference between these socks and the cheap ones at a department store. The problem came after washing them a few times. I washed them on gentle cycle using cold water and hung them to dry, yet they have shrunk enough that they're no longer comfortable. In fact they fit terribly. It's a good thing that they are so well made, because normal socks would have already torn from all the tugging that is required in getting them on. I continue wearing them because they aren't cheap and are still much thicker than normal socks. I wear size 12-13 shoes, so I bought the biggest socks that they offer (large), but given the shrinkage definitely needed an x-large.

These are budget wool socks so I understand these won't match up to a company like Darn Tough. However I was disappointed in what I received. Immediately one of the socks had what looked like a dark ink stain near the toe. Now I don't mind that if it's just an aesthetic thing, but that area was incredibly thin compared to the rest of the sock and felt weird on the toe. I chalked it up to a manufacturing error and went on with the rest of the socks.Within a couple washes another sock already has a dime sized hole in it. Another has a seam that looks like it's close to busting. The socks just don't seem that well put together. Now I'm not tough on these socks either. They get worn around the house and in shoes for normal use. I washed them in cold water and air dried them (did put them in the dryer for a mintue to fluff them up). I can't imagine them holding up well to heavy use.On a positive note they are wool and about as good a price as you'll get for that amount of wool. They also fit well. Maybe I just received a bad batch. But I've tried other budget wool socks like Button and Pleats which seemed to be of higher quality and not have these manufacturing flaws. I'd recommend passing on these.

These socks lasted about a year before the bottoms were completely worn through. They were very nice, warm socks when the were new, but I really feel like these should last longer than a year. I contacted People Socks about their "guarantee" to replace the socks if they wear through and never received a response.So, due to incredibly poor customer service and poor quality socks that wear out too quickly, I give them two stars. The only thing saving them from one star is that, when they're new, they're quite nice. But this is too expensive to essentially rent a pair of socks for a year before they become unusable.

They are a little tight just below the cafe. I ordered in March 12, 2015, and I've already thrown out 3 socks because of holes. My pair of Darn Tough I bought years ago, finally just got their first hole. I also wear the Darn Tough socks more often because they are lower cut while I reserved these socks mostly for the colder weather. They get 2 stars because they are otherwise nice, just didn't know I'd have to buy new ones every year.

We just got our second order of People Socks - ordered the exact same ones as last time, according to Amazon - but now they're thinner and not nearly as warm. Did they change their design? Went to cheaper quality yarn? What happened? They were GREAT when we bought them a year ago - the old ones are actually still going strong! Just wanted more (actually wanted to replace the SmartWool socks we have).But am disappointed in the new pairs...would love to know if anyone is having the same experience. I'd return them, but we went ahead and washed them, thinking they were the same.

I purchased these boots for work and I work for a public utility provider (water, sewer) and have had the boots for about two months. They fit well and have held up so far, I always switch to rubber boots in wet/muddy conditions. The reason I am giving them one star is the insole. I put the boots on and within ten minutes the insole slips back and half of my foot is sitting on the shoe bed. This is very uncomfortable and it is a pain to have to take your boots off every ten minutes to adjust the insole. I can buy an "aftermarket" insole but for $179.99 I shouldn't have to.

Just received my order of Merrell Men's Annex Mid Gore-Tex Boot. It appeared a cheap knockoff. Similar color and style and without question much poorer quality. Example the sole was not Vibram but some other name. shoe had eyelets for laces not the pull through system.The leather body was rippled in areas and soft. The color was not "clay" but I think 'chocolate'. So I sent it back. Bummer. Amazon is cool but I think they a stock check on this item.

Received my boots with a missing eyelet, and a note attached from the last person to send back the boots!

These boots are not as comfortable as advertised or as expected. The upper part of the boot that supports the ankle digs into my ankle when the laces are tied. This causes a sharp pressure against my ankle and rubs my ankle which makes the boots very uncomfortable to wear. Unfortunately, I've wore the boots or I would request to return them for a refund.Update: Amazon refunded the entire purchase price of the boots. I thought I was going to have to eat $180, but much to my delight I didn't have to. Thank you Amazon!

Merrell Men's Annex Mid Gore-Tex Boot,Blue... Three design flaws. I really wanted to like these boots, but I will be returning these. They otherwise seem to be of decent materials, just a bad design for my feet. Everyone's feet are different, and I'm sure these work fine for many other people. I include enough detail that may help you decide if these will work for you. 1) he inner eyelet, of the bottom set of leather eyelets, is positioned right over the big joint in my big toe, forming an uncomfortable pressure point. The lack of sufficient cushion material under the eyelet contributes to this. I re-laced the boot, to not use the bottom pair of eyelets, which helped, but that brings me to 2), where the top two sets of quick lace eyelets do not have sufficient material on the tongue to cushion the crossing laces as they pull across the front of the ankle. For some unknown reason, the leather-like tongue material on the lower part of the tongue stops short of the crossing of the top two eyelets. 3) The top part of the tongue, under the top two pairs of eyelets, is not wide enough, and doesn't fully tuck under the sides where the eyelets are located. I don't have unusually big ankles, and so I don't find the tongue on my other boots to be too narrow.

I've owned many Merrell's - shoes and boots and never felt they were narrow. My foot is a little wide, but not quite out of a "D" especially with Merrell. The Annex appear really well built, look great and are priced in a range I would expect. From the moment I tried them on, I knew this was not a traditional fit, size 11 that I was used to. The front of my feet were cramped and felt "twisted" inward.I replaced them with Merrell's Pulsate boot and found those to fit as expected. Annex has been the only Merrell product that I didn't love. Amazon made for an easy return. I hope Merrell knows they've made a mistake.

I wear size 9.5 women's and got the smal/medium. They are too small, before washing and drying. The heel just reaches the right spot but once I wear them a while it migrates toward the arch. The seam at the toe is bulky and ended up rubbing a blister into the top of my toes. I can honestly say that's never happened before. One of the four pairs has two different heights when you put them on. I was looking forward to some good socks but was disappointed.

Right off the bat, don't believe the high reviews. The positive reviews are mostly based on the older sock design and construction. These are a 'new' style and are aweful in comparison.I had purchsed these socks 2 years ago and absolutely loved them. I wore them daily through all seasons because they kept my feet dry and my shins covered in my boots. After 2 years of washing them after every use (inside out as recommended) they finally reached the end of their useful life.I needed some new pairs so I happily ordered more only to discover that the 'new' socks are junk.- They are much more thin than my older ones. I can see my skin through them as I put them on.- They are shorter than my older ones and are no longer tall enough to cover my shins in my boots.- They cost $5 more than my older ones did for poorer quality.Overall, I am incredibly disappointed in this new style and really wish they hadn't changed them. I returned the new pairs because they aren't worth the money and won't hold up like the older ones did.

I bought these socks in March, 2015 and I can honestly say that they suck. Yes they're warm and comfy but they start falling apart after six months. I've include some photos to show their current condition. Don't buy these socks, they're crap!

Update 4/12/2017The first 2 orders of socks I purchased were fantastic so I decided to order another. This last order of socks seemed like some cheap knockoff. The material was thin and the weaves were loose. It's like the company tried to outsource the product. I am so disappointed that I couldn't get what I paid for. I am returning this last order and will search for a better company. The sock on the left is the substandard sock and the sock on the right came from the first order.-----The material seems quality, the feel is very soft and nice. My girlfriend wears a size 5 shoe and I wear anything from an 8-9 mens and the socks fit us both comfortably. I received the small/medium green socks as a gift.The socks do keep my feet warmer and my feet do not sweat. I don't have any feet issues, just wanted to try out these socks.One thing I noticed is that the socks rub on my boots and cause some material buildup on the outside of the socks. I am hoping that this is just part of a break-in process. The socks are a little high priced, but they are quality socks.

These socks are much thinner than they used to be. I've been wearing people socks daily for more than two years. The pairs I just bought are so thin they are almost sheer. I won't be buying this brand again.Several reviewers have made this same point and seller keeps claiming that the loom and yarn is the same, seemingly implying that if the loom and yarn are the same, the product must be the same. There are obvious physical differences between the old and new socks, for example the PS logo on the calf, so the socks HAVE changed and in my opinion they are inferior to what they once were.

I wont go as low to say they are garbage, but not far off the mark. They are a little small, a little short, a lot thin, not warm and I'm not the kinda person that gets cold feet easily. Not sure what they are good for... maybe summer...no, to uncomfortable. I'm actually trying to figure out how people suffered thru wearing these long enough to develop holes in them, I couldn't get them off quick enough. I'm thinking extra socks for the camper or tent in case all your GOOD socks get too wet or dirty these could be a last resort. Or they would make nice toilet paper in an emergency. You could store things in them I suppose. I read the poor reviews and thought, oh people are just being picky, nope they were all accurate. Someone compared them to Haynes socks but I'm pretty sure Haynes are thicker and fit better. Too bad. I really would keep looking. Unless of coarse you need some good toilet paper.