There are no brands doing footwear quite like Merrell 1TRL right now. Their creations are weird and wonderful, but somehow still extremely wearable. It’s like they’ve managed to bottle that same formula that Nike ACG had in the late ’90s – you know the one that makes your footwear desired by runway models and backpacking granddads alike.
It really is one of our favourite footwear names on the market, and whenever Merrell 1TRL’s name flies into our inbox, we collectively stand to attention, waiting in anticipation as Dropbox zips and downloads the file at a painstakingly slow pace. And this morning, exactly that happened.
The reason for Merrell 1TRL’s arrival this time around is AW25, and, as you would expect, it looks very, very good.
This season Merrell 1TRL aren’t after reinventing the wheel – or the boot – but building and morphing on what they’ve already got, with more intent, more richness, and arguably more weirdness. The colour palette looks like it has stepped out of the ether, with emerald and ruby hues adorning certain silhouettes, while brown, tans, and off-whites form the backbone of the rest. They’ve utilised the types of colours responsible for filling your camera roll with blurry photos of your pretty trainers that will inevitably sit there for eternity.
For materials, Merrell 1TRL has opted for full-grain hides, soft suedes, brushed finishes – all chosen not just for their durability, but for that crafted, premium feel that Merrell 1TRL has been quietly perfecting for some time now.
The star of this chapter this time around is the Moab 2 Remix, a reimagining of one of the most iconic shoes in Merrell’s archive. Here, the asymmetric upper has been dressed in premium leather and suede, bringing a fresh perspective to a true stalwart of outdoor footwear.
Accompanying the remastered Moab is the Jungle Moc Twist, which does exactly what it says on the tin: fusing DNA from two firm favourites – the Jungle Moc and the Mangrove Moc – into one harmoniously weird and wonderful slip-on. The Mangrove’s webbing-like upper has been pulled into the Jungle Moc build, making for something unmistakably Merrell.
Recent fan favourites are back too, namely the Cham Redux, decorated this time in plush leather with sturdy mesh contrasts, available in three mega colourways – Beige, Hunter & Dark Cherry – the latter two looking like a pair of wild berries that you’re definitely not meant to consume.
It’s a big selection for a big season, and we didn’t expect anything less.
The first drop of AW25 lands Friday 15th August at merrell.com.
