When hiking boots and trail runners merge, you have a cross-breed of rugged soles and stability combined with feather weights and comfort. A plethora of these Frankenstein hikers have been unleased onto the feet of mountain denizens, such as the new Merrell Verterra. I’ve been testing the Sport Verterra version (not waterproof) in the Central Wasatch on fall hikes, including an ascent of Sunset Peak at Alta. So how do these Verterra shoes stack up when faced against the mountains?
First, the details. The Merrell Verterra feature:
- Stratafuse upper
- M-Select Fresh odor control
- Omni-Fit lacing system
- Removable EVA footbed
- M Bound midsole with arch shank
- M-Select Grip sole (4mm lug depth)
Out of the box, I found the Verterra to fit quite well. They are true to size and I was immediately struck at the way the Stratafuse™ upper wraps around the top of the foot. Also, the cushion is very plush with a much more trail running shoe feel than a hiking shoe. Clearly, there is no break-in needed here. Regardless, I wore them to work and around town a few times before hitting the trails.
On the trail, comfort and stability are excellent. Despite looking like a pair of sneakers, the Verterra are, well, sneaky. Underneath that plush exterior is what Merrell calls an “M Bound midsole.” It’s designed to respond to rough terrain immediately, and it has a unique effect. In addition, underneath the toe box, the insole feels thinner, which allows great ground feel – more like a minimalist shoe. I could literally feel the rock and roots through the shoes, but it was never too exaggerated or painful. I really liked the effect of feeling the ground pass by underneath my feet. Meanwhile, the heels are beefy and stable, with good squish and rebound.
On well maintained trails, the Verterra are great, but I also found them to be very fun while rock hopping and even scrambling. Traction is average to excellent on dirt and rock, though on a snowy section on the north side of Sunset Peak I felt unwanted slippage over exposure. My guess is that these are not meant for winter weather. Speaking of winter, these shoes BREATHE! The uppers are so ventilated I could literally feel air moving through them… but that also means my feet got chilly on cold-weather hikes.
One minus I found is that the Verterra do not handle sand very well… at all. There is a short section of trail on Sunset Peak that consists of fine sand. It’s only about 30-yards long. But in that short time, fine particulates strained through the upper mesh and into the shoes. I had to stop on both the up and down to pour sand out and wipe those rough grains out from between my toes. So if you plan on hiking in the deserts of Southern Utah in the Verterra, be warned! However, I only tested the regular version; Merrell also offers a waterproof version, which may be a better choice if you spend most of your walkabout time in red rock country.
After all steep hikes in the Wasatch on the Merrell Verterra, I was very impressed with how they handle descents. I dread toe-bang on steep downhills, where the toes are jammed into the front of the boot with every step. I felt no such thing here.The stiffer and cushioned heels, combined with good ground feel under the toes, makes for probably the best experience descending steep terrain I’ve ever had in a pair of hiking shoes. Perhaps it’s the way the uppers fit like a glove around the foot, essentially becoming one with your foot, instead of your foot being this detached member sliding around inside, getting all blistered and blackened. Comfort is king in the Verterra!
The Good: Average to excellent traction, great ground feel, uppers that fit like a glove, doubles as trail runners, breathes heavy as a 300-pound marathon runner.
The Bad: Not the best choice for sandy hikes.
Final Word: The Merrell Verterra are a classic hybrid of burly hiker and minimalist mountain shoe. They are light, stable, breathe almost too well, and provide enough traction to get you to your destination. They may look like sneakers, but the Verterra are macho hiking shoes in disguise.