Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Merrell Waterpro Ultrasport > Arron Robinson > Field Report

Field Report - Merrell Waterpro Ultra-Sport shoes

Reviewer Info:[back to top]

Name: Arron Robinson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9.5" (1.77 m)
Weight: 230 lb (104.3 kg)
Email address: mouserar-at-gmail-dot-com
City, State, Country: Dallas, Georgia, USA
Date: 30 December 2005

Product information:

Reviewer Info | Product Description | Field Conditions
Field Information | Test Notes | Impressions After Field Testing 

Product Description:[back to top] 

The Merrell Waterpro Ultra-Sports are a lightweight multi-purpose outdoor shoe. It has many features that are specifically designed for use in water or wet conditions. They feature a mesh upper supported by synthetic leather for structure. Along the perimeter of the body of the shoe is a zig-zagging length of 1/4 inch (6 mm) webbing, which supports the laces and can be adjusted by a buckle at the heel of the shoe. The webbing floats freely through a series of channels in the "leather" supports, allowing for the laces to be adjusted for tension. The laces are quite thin, perhaps a little thicker than 1/16th of an inch (2 mm) which seem to be able to hold a knot quite well while wet.

Along with this interesting upper and lacing system is the Vibram® sole, which seems to have a slightly deeper profile than I have seen in other Merrell shoes in the past. A look at the foot bed while backlit shows that it is perforated with a grid of drainage holes which should allow the shoes to drain quickly.

Field Conditions:[back to top]

The Merrells were tested on a number of day hikes as well as two 4-day camping trips. While wearing the Merrells on these trips I wore polypro liners under wool/Lycra socks. The weather on these trips has been steadily dropping, providing a wide range in testing, with temperatures ranging from 70 F (21 C) to 25 F (-4 C) and precipitation consisting of a fair amount of rain on two of these outings. Morning dew provided a large amount of cold dampness on the other trips.

Field Information:[back to top]

Test Notes:[back to top]

1. Comfort: This is where it all comes down. If your feet are not comfortable it will ruin a trip fast. Do the shoes stay comfortable when they are wet? Yes, they breathe very will and since the material is light, they do not get overly heavy. Do they change greatly in size? Not that I can tell. Do they drain well and quickly? Yes, they seem to, my socks stay squishy for a while, but they dry out rather well
2. Adaptability: Is the foot bed comfortable for longer hiking? Yes. No problems yet. Do the shoes perform well as general hiking shoes? At this point in testing, that is all I have used them for. They work really well for this. Do they maintain footing underwater on varying terrain? I have not checked this out yet. An upcoming trip should provide insight into this. Do the stabilization systems keep my feet in place? Not been a problem up to this point. Does the lacing system allow for the shoes to be adjusted throughout the day as my feet change? Yes.
3. Durability: Good shoes will generally be able to take some punishment. Shoes built with water in mind have to be able to take even more. Will these shoes last a season of hard use? So far, so good. Does the fabric crack and dry out? Not yet. Does the sole hold up? Yes, so far.
4. Overall Design: OK, so I'm vain. Does the shoe look good, or will people assume that I'm wearing clown shoes? They look good and I have received a few comments on my cool shoes.  From the website, they look like a lot of other trail runners. Do these perform as advertised? So far. I am looking to do some in-depth water testing in the coming months.

Impressions After Field Testing:[back to top]

Thanks to Backpackgeartest.org and Merrell for the opportunity to share my experiences!

Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Merrell Waterpro Ultrasport > Arron Robinson > Field Report