I have a couple of pairs of Merrell walking/hiking shoes plus a pair of sandals. I highly recommend them -- they hold up for years, look nice and are very comfortable and supportive. (We have a Merrell outlet store 15 minutes from here.)
I walk our dogs at least 1-2 miles every day and the Merrell shoes are well used. I've had the shoes for 4 and 8 years and the sandals for 1 or 2 years. I won't be discarding any of them anytime soon.
Merrell's have been around for at least 8 years since my first pair was bought back in 2004. No holes, look decent, people still comment that they're attractive, and when I went to the store to ask how long they'll last, the clerk said she didn't think the support really wears out. Well made!