The Merrell Capra Mid boots tick many boxes for the general recreational walker - reasonably lightweight, and supple enough to need little to no breaking in, in fact they feel as though you can wear them happily all day straight out of the box. The Capra are also waterproof thanks to the Gore-tex lining but still reasonably breathable due to the soft mesh outer.
Both waterproofing and breathability attributes were tested on a recent walking trip to an alternately stormy and baking hot Catalonia - and both came good.
Serious walkers will find a few flaws with the Capra Mids - firstly the grip from the sole is lacking slightly, although this is really only noticeable on more challenging scrambles, and secondly, the easy going, supple nature of the boots soon translates into a lack of torsional rigidity and ankle support when the going gets tough. Although this is fine for lightweight trail-walking, you start to feel vulnerable carrying a heavy pack over challenging terrain.
All in all though, a pleasurable boot to wear which we would recommend for low-level day walking on easy going terrain.
