Merrell leather boot questions

[DanJuans]

Just restored these thrift store merrell leather boots using nicwax's leather product and very pleased with how they ski. A couple of questions:
1. I'm trying to find info on year and product. They were made in Italy and from what I found on the merrell wiki page, it looks like they were bought out by Karhu in 1986 and the factory moved to China. So, I'm guessing mid 80s, the cuff is pretty high and stiff so I can tell it was not a cross country boit and specifically made for downhill/mountaineering.
2. My least favorite part is the velcro straps. Has anybody just used a strong pair of laces with better results. I can tell how little these were used because they are in such good condition. In my experience, velcro straps like these disintegrate when exposed to the elements and I just want to remove them and put them in a safe spot to keep the boot authentic if I ever resale (even though I know there is an extremely small chance of that ever happening).
3. The left boot has a bit of damage to the rubber surrounding the pin holes. I was thinking of applying shoe goo then spreading it with a metal scraper to prevent it from taking further damage.

[Frania331]

Just restored these thrift store merrell leather boots using nicwax's leather product and very pleased with how they ski. A couple of questions:
1. I'm trying to find info on year and product. They were made in Italy and from what I found on the merrell wiki page, it looks like they were bought out by Karhu in 1986 and the factory moved to China. So, I'm guessing mid 80s, the cuff is pretty high and stiff so I can tell it was not a cross country boit and specifically made for downhill/mountaineering.
2. My least favorite part is the velcro straps. Has anybody just used a strong pair of laces with better results. I can tell how little these were used because they are in such good condition. In my experience, velcro straps like these disintegrate when exposed to the elements and I just want to remove them and put them in a safe spot to keep the boot authentic if I ever resale (even though I know there is an extremely small chance of that ever happening).
3. The left boot has a bit of damage to the rubber surrounding the pin holes. I was thinking of applying shoe goo then spreading it with a metal scraper to prevent it from taking further damage.

Nice work on the boots! Mid-80s sounds about right. I’ve swapped velcro for laces before, works great. Shoe Goo should do the trick for the damage. How are they skiing feeling comfy or still stiff?

[phoenix]

I’d guess late 80’s or early 90’s; I’m surprised I don’t recall seeing that model as I was quite actively selling and skiing tele stuff those years, and Merrell’s were hugely popular. You could also replace the velcro with Voile straps, probably a little better performing than laces, if a bit funny looking.

[greatgt]

Waxed up a pair this year with no straps. Decent turning boots and they really spark up my light gear. TM

[lowangle al]

I bought a pair of Merrills with velcro straps in 85'. Never saw them offered after that.

[DanJuans]

Just restored these thrift store merrell leather boots using nicwax's leather product and very pleased with how they ski. A couple of questions:
1. I'm trying to find info on year and product. They were made in Italy and from what I found on the merrell wiki page, it looks like they were bought out by Karhu in 1986 and the factory moved to China. So, I'm guessing mid 80s, the cuff is pretty high and stiff so I can tell it was not a cross country boit and specifically made for downhill/mountaineering.
2. My least favorite part is the velcro straps. Has anybody just used a strong pair of laces with better results. I can tell how little these were used because they are in such good condition. In my experience, velcro straps like these disintegrate when exposed to the elements and I just want to remove them and put them in a safe spot to keep the boot authentic if I ever resale (even though I know there is an extremely small chance of that ever happening).
3. The left boot has a bit of damage to the rubber surrounding the pin holes. I was thinking of applying shoe goo then spreading it with a metal scraper to prevent it from taking further damage.

Nice work on the boots! Mid-80s sounds about right. I’ve swapped velcro for laces before, works great. Shoe Goo should do the trick for the damage. How are they skiing feeling comfy or still stiff?

This is my first go around with leather. To test them out. I took them on a groomed blue run that was very icy that I can normally blast through with plastic boots without hesitation and immediately noticed the difference. I then fiddled around tightening this and that and found a good comfort zone. Definitely was a good day for improving telemark technique. Went out with a plastic boot the next day after about 5 inches of fresh and was skiing better than ever. Plan on doing a tour with rolling terrain today on some waxless skis (kom) and voile hardwire binding. Trying to get a no transition xcd setup for when I just want to go solo and avalanche risk is anything above green (live in sw colorado, tons of great skiing options on all of the >10,000 ft passes) but still want some downhill performance for the 20-30 degree slopes. put some boot laces on and a voile strap for the top loop. Put about 3 layers of shoe goo on duckbill using the apply wait 24 hours, sand down, and reapply method that I have developed over the years.

[fgd135]

That appears to be a pair of Merrell double leather tele boots with a Nordica or similar downhill boot liner inserted in place of the regular Merrell lower cut inner boots. I could be mistaken, but I also was selling beaucoup leather tele boots in the 80's and 90's, in Colorado, by the hundreds, and don't remember seeing a boot with that liner.
It was a common practice to replace the liners of leather double boots with higher liners from ~usually discarded~ alpine boots to give at least the illusion of more control, for your Asolos, Merrells, Kastingers, Fabianos, etc. Some tele skiers even attached the cuffs from downhill boots using T nuts, which eventually was copied by Merrell to create the XCD Comp.
Otoh, if those boot has liners were made by Merrell, the boots have to be some very early pre-Comp transitional model. Given the condition, I's guess that boot might've been a one-off or salesman's sample, etc.
I'd replace the velcro with Voile straps; the velcro straps also tell me that's an early 1980's boot, as Merrell transitioned pretty quickly to their version of Voile straps in all their tele boots, as indeed, the velcro straps really sucked for skiing, even if they work for toddler's sneakers.

[DanJuans]

That appears to be a pair of Merrell double leather tele boots with a Nordica or similar downhill boot liner inserted in place of the regular Merrell lower cut inner boots. I could be mistaken, but I also was selling beaucoup leather tele boots in the 80's and 90's, in Colorado, by the hundreds, and don't remember seeing a boot with that liner.
It was a common practice to replace the liners of leather double boots with higher liners from ~usually discarded~ alpine boots to give at least the illusion of more control, for your Asolos, Merrells, Kastingers, Fabianos, etc. Some tele skiers even attached the cuffs from downhill boots using T nuts, which eventually was copied by Merrell to create the XCD Comp.
Otoh, if those boot has liners were made by Merrell, the boots have to be some very early pre-Comp transitional model. Given the condition, I's guess that boot might've been a one-off or salesman's sample, etc.
I'd replace the velcro with Voile straps; the velcro straps also tell me that's an early 1980's boot, as Merrell transitioned pretty quickly to their version of Voile straps in all their tele boots, as indeed, the velcro straps really sucked for skiing, even if they work for toddler's sneakers.

It's a merrell liner. Took them out when I first got them and makes an amazing leather slipper that look brand new. Pain in the ass to get back in though. Tongue is stiffer than any liner I've ever used which ive discovered is crucial to the downhill performance.

[Lhartley]

Just restored these thrift store merrell leather boots using nicwax's leather product and very pleased with how they ski. A couple of questions:
1. I'm trying to find info on year and product. They were made in Italy and from what I found on the merrell wiki page, it looks like they were bought out by Karhu in 1986 and the factory moved to China. So, I'm guessing mid 80s, the cuff is pretty high and stiff so I can tell it was not a cross country boit and specifically made for downhill/mountaineering.
2. My least favorite part is the velcro straps. Has anybody just used a strong pair of laces with better results. I can tell how little these were used because they are in such good condition. In my experience, velcro straps like these disintegrate when exposed to the elements and I just want to remove them and put them in a safe spot to keep the boot authentic if I ever resale (even though I know there is an extremely small chance of that ever happening).
3. The left boot has a bit of damage to the rubber surrounding the pin holes. I was thinking of applying shoe goo then spreading it with a metal scraper to prevent it from taking further damage.

Nice work on the boots! Mid-80s sounds about right. I’ve swapped velcro for laces before, works great. Shoe Goo should do the trick for the damage. How are they skiing feeling comfy or still stiff?

This is my first go around with leather. To test them out. I took them on a groomed blue run that was very icy that I can normally blast through with plastic boots without hesitation and immediately noticed the difference. I then fiddled around tightening this and that and found a good comfort zone. Definitely was a good day for improving telemark technique. Went out with a plastic boot the next day after about 5 inches of fresh and was skiing better than ever. Plan on doing a tour with rolling terrain today on some waxless skis (kom) and voile hardwire binding. Trying to get a no transition xcd setup for when I just want to go solo and avalanche risk is anything above green (live in sw colorado, tons of great skiing options on all of the >10,000 ft passes) but still want some downhill performance for the 20-30 degree slopes. put some boot laces on and a voile strap for the top loop. Put about 3 layers of shoe goo on duckbill using the apply wait 24 hours, sand down, and reapply method that I have developed over the years.

Skiing on lighter gear made you ski "better than ever"? That's amazing, thanks for sharing your experience

[DanJuans]

That appears to be a pair of Merrell double leather tele boots with a Nordica or similar downhill boot liner inserted in place of the regular Merrell lower cut inner boots. I could be mistaken, but I also was selling beaucoup leather tele boots in the 80's and 90's, in Colorado, by the hundreds, and don't remember seeing a boot with that liner.
It was a common practice to replace the liners of leather double boots with higher liners from ~usually discarded~ alpine boots to give at least the illusion of more control, for your Asolos, Merrells, Kastingers, Fabianos, etc. Some tele skiers even attached the cuffs from downhill boots using T nuts, which eventually was copied by Merrell to create the XCD Comp.
Otoh, if those boot has liners were made by Merrell, the boots have to be some very early pre-Comp transitional model. Given the condition, I's guess that boot might've been a one-off or salesman's sample, etc.
I'd replace the velcro with Voile straps; the velcro straps also tell me that's an early 1980's boot, as Merrell transitioned pretty quickly to their version of Voile straps in all their tele boots, as indeed, the velcro straps really sucked for skiing, even if they work for toddler's sneakers.

For the sake of discussion I took out the liner just to show what it looks like. To me, this is more than a liner and can kind of be worn on its own but not really familiar with boots of this era.