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Naturally, I began crafting western boots for folks here in northeastern Utah.
But, I had another boot-related interest -- I was, and continue to be, an avid backpacker. Thirty years ago hiking and backpacking were
relatively young sports in the U.S. Practically all of the footwear worn for these uses came from Europe where they had been "trekking"
for hundreds of years. Their mountains and traditions differ radically from ours. I couldn't understand why their boots were so heavy and
stiff. I started making boots for mountain and canyon use in North America. Within a few years I was able to design a boot that still stands
the test of time -- a design that became the foundation of the Merrell Boot Company (TM).
Merrell Footwear (TM), began when John Schweizer and Clark Matis approached me about the unique design of my hiking/backpacking boot. As we
explored the idea of mass production, I was intrigued by the possibilities and agreed to partner with them.
After five years I found that the corporate world required sacrifices, especially when it came to time with my family, that I could no longer make.
During my time with Merrell Boot, I had some wonderful experiences, worked with some terrific people in Europe (Alfons Meindl, Tony Vello,
Piero Martimbianco), and experienced some training that could never be purchased. However, it was great to get back to meeting my client's needs
one on one and cutting leather by hand. Good move. You can read the history of the company by following the link to
Merrell Footwear (TM). |
