User Review: Merrell Switchback

Merrell Switchback
Above: The current Switchback, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed April 13, 2007 by Hannah A

Rating:
Materials: leather/ synthetic
Use: intense buckwhacking and backpacking
Break-in Period: very short
Price Paid: $99

This boot is wonderful. This pair lasted about 1000 miles or so hiking in northern Wyoming and southern Montana last summer. I bushwhacked miles and miles everyday following mustangs around for a government project. these boots were comfortable and quite waterproof (I did not have the gore-tex model). The cushion was firm and the soles showed little wear even after all the miles. Vibram soles are great, very sticky, crossed boulder fields in the rain with no problem.

My one complaint - the stitching between the rubber and leather on the back of the boot eventually split (on both boots) which allowed water to leak in. It probably could have been repaired but i returned them in exchange for a pair of Salomons.

The take home - great midweight boot, typical Merrell comfort, but with a design flaw. Would I pay full price for it? Probably not. I did however just buy a second pair off of Sierra Trading Post for 64 bucks. If I'm willing to buy it a second time it says something. If you get a deal on them, it's worth it. I'm sure they would stand up much longer with traditional trail hiking.