I bought these boots about two years ago when they first came out... that was a mistake as far as price goes; the price has dropped alot. The boots are fitted with a Vibram Chameleon sole which will keep you stuck to the trail in most cases. The boot is also fitted with Merrell's air sole (grade 6); A very stiff boot that took probably a good month to fully break in. I've really put the miles on these and the sole and the boot have held up great, so durability gets five stars. The laces are far to long, but then again I have a narrow foot. The boots are not Gore-Tex and I have only applied a silicone boot dressing once, yet they are water-tight. The Merrell's also have provided excellent ankle support so far with the rear rubber-plastic mold on the back and deep heel cup (no blisters!). I would recommend this boot to anyone looking for a cheaper off-trail boot with a pack over 30lbs. on rough terrian. If your doing anything else I would recommend a softer boot. My only complaints so far would be that they don't breathe well, but then again they are all leather, and most all leather boots don't: and the leather seems to soften after a year of use or so to the point where I've worn through the black leather on the toes so that now it's more dark brown (also I admit they aren't the greatest looking).

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

These are my first serious backpacking boots, my review is compared to my father's boots: Vasque Merrell Mine: Nike