I’m sad to hear my recent bad Merrills we’re not a one-off. I know people who swear by Keen, but I can’t stand the toe box. Might have to try to get used to it for the next pair.
I bought a pair of Keen's after I quit Merrill. They lasted a long time, close to two years of pretty heavy use and gripped very well, but they needed an aftermarket insole right out of the box and cost about $140 or more. They were good shoes but were never close to as comfortable as the old Merrills.