I used to work at REI, and I can speak to the quality of their customer service as well as the quality of Merrell shoes: both are great. Something else you may not know is that Merrell makes the shoes that REI puts their label on. I've got a pair of $120 REI hiking boots that are working great for me, though I probably wouldn't wear something that heavy on the dg course. When you're trying to decide what model you want to buy, make sure to try them on in the store and walk around in them before you decide. Even within a brand, different shoes will fit different feet differently. Go for the model that's most comfortable on your
own feet.