Merrell's roots are on the trail with a rich history of backpacking with boots like the Wilderness. But things have changed in the last 41 years and that's what prompted them to create the new Rogue Hiker. They set out to create the best hiking shoe in the world that has three key elements: lightness, traction and durability. Because when carrying a heavy backpack, it's not just about stability and directional stability, but also every single gram. The market is full of robust, heavy backpacking boots, so Merrell took a unique approach to the design.