Merrell

Randy Merrell decided that if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he would just to make it himself. An expert bootmaker and avid backpacker, he came to that conclusion when faced with miles on the trail in stiff, heavy, narrow European hiking boots. So in 1980, he built a better boot. This boot, known as the M1, was dubbed “the most functional and comfortable boot in North America” by Backpacker Magazine. Enter Clark Matis and John Schwietzer, former Rossignol employees looking to start a hiking boot company. They persuaded Merrell to join them in the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the Merrell Boot Company was born. Production began on the Wilderness boot, meant to rival the finest hiking product from Europe. Unlike the competition, it was lightweight and flexible, with a roomy toebox, precise instep, and snug heel. It was also affordable, which helped make it an instant hit. It was so successful, in fact, that it’s still sold today. In the following years Merrell and crew perfected their approach by soaking up information from Italian shoemakers and testing their new products rigorously. Some important innovations in those first years were the use of a women’s last and the introduction of the Eagle boot, which combined leather and textile in the upper to significantly reduce the weight and increase the speed and agility of the boot. In 1986, Merrell decided to return to Utah and get back to the business of building custom boots by hand, but the company had been set on its present course. As the popularity of hiking and backpacking in this country took off, and the needs to outdoor enthusiasts evolved, so did the company; case in point was the Front Range hiking-running shoe hybrid of 1993. Up to 1998 Merrell had been doing very well, with many years of increasing sales. That year, though, saw a significant turning point with the introduction of the Jungle Moc, a slip-on with comfort of performance footwear but with a pigskin suede upper that gave it a casual look and feel. It was a smash success—nearly 10 million shoes were sold in the following decade—and it’s still in production today. Since then, Merrell has continued to diversify, adding a line of kids’ shoes in 1999, and apparel in 2006. An important milestone was the introduction in 2011 of the Barefoot collection, a line of low-profile shoes for hiking, trail running, and casual wear. Today, it offers a full line of performance footwear, from water shoes and sandals, to low-profile running shoes, to Gore-Tex backpacking boots. Its casual shoes let you bring the legendary Merrell comfort with you to work or out on the town. And even as the company pays homage to its past with the Origins line, which combines the look of 1981 with the technology of today, it looks to the future. It continues to innovate, developing new technologies and products to help you get outside.

Find the latest Merrell Shoes, Footwear, and Apparel at Backcountry.com. Learn why avid hikers, backpackers, and trail runners have been choosing Merrell for over 25 years.

Merrell - Shoes, Boots, Sandals, & Clothing

Randy Merrell decided that if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he would just to make it himself. An expert bootmaker and avid backpacker, he came to that conclusion when faced with miles on the trail in stiff, heavy, narrow European hiking boots. So in 1980, he built a better boot. This boot, known as the M1, was dubbed “the most functional and comfortable boot in North America” by Backpacker Magazine. 

Enter Clark Matis and John Schwietzer, former Rossignol employees looking to start a hiking boot company. They persuaded Merrell to join them in the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the Merrell Boot Company was born. Production began on the Wilderness boot, meant to rival the finest hiking product from Europe. Unlike the competition, it was lightweight and flexible, with a roomy toebox, precise instep, and snug heel. It was also affordable, which helped make it an instant hit. It was so successful, in fact, that it’s still sold today. 

In the following years Merrell and crew perfected their approach by soaking up information from Italian shoemakers and testing their new products rigorously. Some important innovations in those first years were the use of a women’s last and the introduction of the Eagle boot, which combined leather and textile in the upper to significantly reduce the weight and increase the speed and agility of the boot. 

In 1986, Merrell decided to return to Utah and get back to the business of building custom boots by hand, but the company had been set on its present course. As the popularity of hiking and backpacking in this country took off, and the needs to outdoor enthusiasts evolved, so did the company; case in point was the Front Range hiking-running shoe hybrid of 1993. 

Up to 1998 Merrell had been doing very well, with many years of increasing sales. That year, though, saw a significant turning point with the introduction of the Jungle Moc, a slip-on with comfort of performance footwear but with a pigskin suede upper that gave it a casual look and feel. It was a smash success—nearly 10 million shoes were sold in the following decade—and it’s still in production today. 

Since then, Merrell has continued to diversify, adding a line of kids’ shoes in 1999, and apparel in 2006. An important milestone was the introduction in 2011 of the Barefoot collection, a line of low-profile shoes for hiking, trail running, and casual wear. Today, it offers a full line of performance footwear, from water shoes and sandals, to low-profile running shoes, to Gore-Tex backpacking boots. Its casual shoes let you bring the legendary Merrell comfort with you to work or out on the town. And even as the company pays homage to its past with the Origins line, which combines the look of 1981 with the technology of today, it looks to the future. It continues to innovate, developing new technologies and products to help you get outside.

Nike

The legend of Nike begins with an athlete, a coach, and a distribution agreement. The year was 1964, and University of Oregon's track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, went into business with former U of O runner Phil Knight. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the fledgeling distribution company got its start peddling running shoes at track meets throughout the northwest out of the back of Knight’s car. But as you already know, Nike had bigger things in store. The Nike success story might have turned out very differently, if not for Bowerman's insistence that he could build a better running shoe than what was available at the time. The duo’s empire was built from the ground up, so to speak, beginning with the feet of the University of Oregon's track team. Bowerman’s desire for progress and innovation led to his legendary experiments with wife's waffle iron, making soles for prototypes of the groundbreaking Cortez track shoe. The official release of the Cortez coincided with the 1972 Olympics; images of athletes in the Cortez sent sales of this new shoe bearing the now-iconic Swoosh logo through the roof. It was an instant success, and launched the Nike brand on its path to world domination. Today, Nike's focus has broadened, but it remains committed to producing exceptional athletic footwear for men, women, and kids. Beyond shoes, Nike Sportswear makes running apparel, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets, socks, t shirts, backpacks, sun glasses, gloves, hats, pants, and yoga pants. Nike Snowboarding produces boots, jackets, snow pants, goggles, and base layers. Nike also makes watches and casual clothing.  From running shoes, to Michael Jordan's signature Jordan line, to the hugely successful SB skateboard line, Nike continues to push the envelope of shoe construction. Technologies like weight-shedding, impact-absorbing Lunarlon foam and the supportive filaments that make up Flywire construction are allowing Nike to produce its most advanced footwear to date. It doesn't matter if they're casual trainers or pro level performance footwear, if your shoes are adorned with the trademark Swoosh, they come with a heritage that few others can match.

Checkout the latest Nike Gear and Apparel at Backcountry.com. Whether you run, hike, or ski, Nike has you covered.

Nike - Clothing, Sunglasses, & More

Engineered for world-class athletes, Nike Action unites the performance innovation of Nike with a deep commitment to the history, creativity, and raw athleticism of action sports. With a focus on Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Surfing, our footwear and apparel merge advanced materials and design with classic styling, driven by the voice of our athletes. Based at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Action is dedicated to inspiring and supporting the world of action sports.

The legend of Nike begins with an athlete, a coach, and a distribution agreement. The year was 1964, and University of Oregon's track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, went into business with former U of O runner Phil Knight. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the fledgeling distribution company got its start peddling running shoes at track meets throughout the northwest out of the back of Knight’s car. But as you already know, Nike had bigger things in store.
 
The Nike success story might have turned out very differently, if not for Bowerman's insistence that he could build a better running shoe than what was available at the time. The duo’s empire was built from the ground up, so to speak, beginning with the feet of the University of Oregon's track team. Bowerman’s desire for progress and innovation led to his legendary experiments with wife's waffle iron, making soles for prototypes of the groundbreaking Cortez track shoe. The official release of the Cortez coincided with the 1972 Olympics; images of athletes in the Cortez sent sales of this new shoe bearing the now-iconic Swoosh logo through the roof. It was an instant success, and launched the Nike brand on its path to world domination.
 
Today, Nike's focus has broadened, but it remains committed to producing exceptional athletic footwear for men, women, and kids. Beyond shoes, Nike Sportswear makes running apparel, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets, socks, t shirts, backpacks, sun glasses, gloves, hats, pants, and yoga pants. Nike Snowboarding produces boots, jackets, snow pants, goggles, and base layers. Nike also makes watches and casual clothing.
 
From running shoes, to Michael Jordan's signature Jordan line, to the hugely successful SB skateboard line, Nike continues to push the envelope of shoe construction. Technologies like weight-shedding, impact-absorbing Lunarlon foam and the supportive filaments that make up Flywire construction are allowing Nike to produce its most advanced footwear to date. It doesn't matter if they're casual trainers or pro level performance footwear, if your shoes are adorned with the trademark Swoosh, they come with a heritage that few others can match.

Endura

Endura builds biking and cycling gear for the long haul. Every piece of Endura outerwear and gets tested in the Scottish Highlands-a place known for being brutal on equipment. If a piece of gear has an Endura tag hanging on it, you know it's up to the task. 

The Scottish roots of Endura makes them experts at making jerseys, shorts, jackets, and more for the worst conditions you'll dare ride in: Rain, wind, even snowy slushy ick. Thanks to their high performance fabrics, Endura will keep you dry and comfortable. And they know a thing or two about summertime fashion, too, as shown by the snazzy lines of Endura baggy shorts and short sleeve jerseys.

Adidas Outdoor

HOKA

Shop HOKA ONE ONE on Backcountry. Expertly curated outdoor gear and clothing for the adventurer in you, from big brands to the small and undiscovered. 

Hoka One One - Running Shoes and Footwear

Hoka One One

Vans

Since 1966 Vans has been putting shoes on the feet of skaters and surfers. Their canvas shoes with gum rubber soles gripped onto slick piers and skinny skate decks like nothing else before it. In short time their waffle pattern sole and colorful uppers became synonymous with southern California board riding culture. Throughout the '70s and '80s skatedecks grew bigger, surfboards got smaller, and music got louder. It was during these fast times that Vans solidified their reputation with legendary skateboarders and original punk rockers, Tony Alva and Steve Caballero. To this day, Vans shoes have been worn to more skate missions, mosh pits and surf breaks than any other.

Browse a wide selection of Vans shoes, clothing, and accessories at Backcountry.com. Find the latest Vans jackets, pants, dresses, hats, and more.

Vans - Shoes, Clothing, & Accessories

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