 This Product
Merrell Siren Edge 3 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best for Versatile Performance | Best for Speed |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best Hiking Shoe Below $100 | |
| Price | $115.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $149.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $149 List $149.00 at Amazon | $109.95 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $52.50 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An inexpensive and lightweight day-hiker for casual adventures on storm-free days | A comfortable, high-performing hiking shoe that's versatile enough to tackle everything from well-maintained trails to technical and steep terrain | High performance without the added weight, this shoe is built for pushing the pace in mountainous terrain | This affordable hiking shoe offers great support for those with high arches | The lightweight design and sneaker-like feel provide ample comfort under foot |
| Rating Categories | Merrell Siren Edge... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | The North Face VECT... | Merrell Moab 3 - Wo... | Columbia Crestwood... |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Merrell Siren Edge... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | The North Face VECT... | Merrell Moab 3 - Wo... | Columbia Crestwood... |
| Measured Weight (per pair, size 8.5) | 1.28 lbs | 1.54 lbs | 1.34 lbs | 1.70 lbs | 1.50 lbs |
| Upper | Mesh, 3D-printed TPU | Synthetic textile | Performance mesh | Pigskin leather, mesh | Leather, mesh, and webbing |
| Lining | Breathable Mesh | Gore-Tex | Futurelight waterproof membrane | Recycled mesh | Omni-Tech |
| Midsole | EVA foam with softer zones that may reduce pronation | EVA | Single-density EVA | Super rebound compound | Techlite |
| Outsole | Vibram TC5+ | Rubber Contagrip | Surface Control rubber | Vibram TC5 | Omni-Grip |
| Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular | Regular, wide | Regular, wide |
If it weren't for its low price and lightweight athletic design, we would have overlooked the Siren 3. But we found these shoes pack a punch for a casual day hiker on a budget. While they aren't our go-to shoe for any comprehensive day hike, they provide decent traction and support for shorter trips on the trail.
Comfort is one of the categories where the Siren calls to us. Initially, we found it to be somewhat poorly fitted, but after a little sweat and a couple of miles, this athletically styled hiker became noticeably comfy — at least for testers with a narrow-to-average foot structure. A reasonably wide toe box, moldable and snug midsole, deep heel cup, and a soft, form-fitting tongue lead to an overall plush feel.
It's important to note that the Siren Edge 3 comes in two widths, and we only tested the medium. So, while some testers found the toe box uncomfortable — not quite wide enough to allow toes to splay and avoid hot spots and blistering, but not so narrow as to rule out the shoe entirely — the wider option could be a great choice to achieve a perfect fit.
We appreciate the flat laces on the Siren and how easy they are to snug up, though the tongue is a bit thin to protect the tops of the feet if you like them tight. The insoles are rather flimsy, and on a longer day, one tester developed a hot spot midfoot under her arch by the end of the hike. There's not quite enough padding to secure and cushion the foot over many miles. We recommend using an aftermarket insole for more support in your footbed. Depending on the terrain, one tester also found the ankle collar dug in somewhat. So if you have bony ankles, watch out for this.
After a thorough evaluation and significant road testing, the Siren Edge 3 proved sufficiently supportive on shorter (5-10 mile) hikes but not so rigid or supportive as higher-end models in our test collection.
What does this lack of stiffness and structure mean for you? Ultimately it translates into less support on the trail. The more rigidity, the less likely the shoe will be the reason you roll your ankle. The more flex under the balls of your feet, the more tired your feet may become on long days or with the weight of a pack. Some folks argue that too much rigidity in your shoes can actually make your ankles or feet weaker and more prone to rolling. While this may be true, we found our ankles rolled more in the Siren Edge 3 than nearly any other shoe in our lineup.
As long as you don't expect the Siren to perform like an approach shoe (a shoe with sticky rubber for light climbing), it has great traction on trail and low-angle slabs.
We were impressed by the grippiness of this shoe once the tread broke in a little. With a more flexible sole and soft tread, the Siren did well on rocky trails and during light scrambling. On steep, rocky terrain, we still prefer shoes with stickier rubber and/or variable lug heights, but these shoes handled moderately difficult terrain without complaint. If your hiking plans involve non-technical mountains or less demanding terrain, these shoes should be able to keep up with your adventures.
The Siren scored poorly in this category because it isn't waterproof or even very water-resistant. However, not all shoes are designed to be waterproof, nor does every hiker need this feature. The Siren Edge is available in a waterproof version for those who love the fit but need extra protection.
To evaluate each shoe for water resistance, we submerged it for 5 minutes in 4 inches of water while wearing fresh socks. We also checked its weight at the beginning and end of the test to determine how much water is absorbed. Unsurprisingly, the Siren soaked through in seconds, absorbing 8 ounces of water over the course of our short test period. Fortunately, in the field, we had no catastrophic failures to mud or moisture. But if stream crossings, snow, or rain are in your hiking future, you should expect to get wet. In good news, the Siren also dries the fastest of all non-waterproof shoes in the group, making the problem slightly less inconvenient.
The Siren Edge 3 is among the lightest shoes we weighed during our review process. In a women's size 10 US, it weighs 1.4 pounds for the pair. Most of the other shoes in our lineup are heavier, even in a smaller size. So this is an impressive number. A lightweight pair of hiking shoes is a particular boon for anyone who plans to stash them in their luggage for an upcoming vacation.
If there has ever been a general law of outdoor gear, it is: the lighter the weight, the lower the durability. The Siren is no exception to this rule.
It can be challenging to evaluate the durability of hiking shoes when our testing period is only a few months long. However, we know what to clue in to, and within our short review cycle, we noticed some durability issues with the Siren. Namely, there was some scuffing and wear to the front end of the shoe. This is likely due to wearing the shoes up and down granite and wedging the shoes in cracks. Maybe you'll be less hard on your shoes than we are, but this was a notable weakness.
We also noticed some wear to the tread after our review period. The lugs are much softer on the Siren than on other shoes we tested. This results in great traction in the short term but less durability over time.
If you're looking for a light hiking shoe that requires minimal break-in time for day hiking in dry weather, the Siren Edge 3 could be a good option. This shoe is lightweight, decently roomy, and breathable, while also demonstrating good traction and navigating mixed terrain well. Is it the most durable shoe in the review? No. Is it the most waterproof? Also, no. But the Siren is one of the least expensive quality hiking shoes we've found, and, for just a bit more, they do come in a waterproof version.
