Merrell and Unlikely Hikers Launch Hiking Boot Collaboration Fit for Everyone

January 11, 2021

ROCKFORD, Mich. (January 11, 2021)— Merrell is proud to partner with Jenny Bruso and @UnlikelyHikers for the launch of their new hiking boot collaboration. Seeing a need to have more diversity represented in the outdoors, Jenny set out to build a community of hikers and adventurers of all shapes, sizes, genders, and abilities. Today, with tens of thousands of followers, Unlikely Hikers serves as a unifying source of inspiration and representation for people of all hikes of life.

“At Merrell, we believe in the simple power of getting outside and that the outdoors is for everyone,” said Erika Derylo, Merrell Performance Marketing Manager. “We are thrilled to partner with Jenny Bruso and Unlikely Hikers as thought leaders in this space. Inspired by the wide range of people who love spending time on the trail, this version of our Zion hiker was a lot of fun for the team to design.”

The likely choice for Unlikely Hikers, the Zion Mid Waterproof x Unlikely Hikers wears like a sneaker, functions like a hiker, and is fit for all shapes and sizes. Designed in an eye-catching ungendered colorway and available in wide widths and hard-to-find sizes, this collab further welcomes the underrepresented outdoorsperson to explore confidently.

“Whether you’re climbing mountains or exploring your neighborhood, your adventure is valid,” said Jenny Bruso. “The new Unlikely Hikers shoe, in collaboration with Merrell, blends all the function of a traditional hiking boot with the unique style so often missing because fitting in isn’t the point. The outdoors welcomes all of us as we are. I created the hashtag #mybodytookmehere to honor this and shed light on the unrepresented diversity of bodies in the most diverse space there is: nature.”

Download Merrell Zion x Unlikely Hikers Fact Sheet

Download Hi-Res Product Images

MEDIA CONTACT

Jamie.Leach@Merrell.com

ABOUT MERRELL

Merrell® exists to share the simple power of being outside. As the global leader in outdoor active footwear with the Moab hiking boot and Jungle Moc, Merrell is focused on merging performance, styling, and comfort to empower all people to confidently explore the outdoors. Merrell is celebrating its 40^th birthday in 2021 with a mission to build an inclusive and sustainable outside environment for future generations to enjoy. Visit Merrell.com, the Merrell Newsroom, or follow us on social @Merrell. Merrell® is a division of Wolverine World Wide (NYSE: WWW), one of the world’s leading marketers and licensors of brandned casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children’s and uniform footwear and apparel.

ABOUT UNLIKELY HIKERS

Unlikely Hikers is a diverse, anti-racist, body-liberating outdoor community featuring the underrepresented outdoorsperson. We’re an Instagram community, a nationwide hiking group and a podcast! The outdoor industry and media has, for too long, displayed a very narrow definition of who is “outdoorsy” that isn’t representative of most of us. We are people of size, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, queer, trans and non-binary. We are people with disabilities and people who utilize the outdoors to aid our mental health. We talk about access, politics and conservation while we honor the land and its Indigenous stewards. We don’t conflate these experiences, we explore and build community at their intersections. We all have a story! If you see yourself as an Unlikely Hiker, then you are.