I was in desperate need of a pair of light, day-hikers for a two-week trip to Ireland, and having been impressed with the Wolverine Pulsar, The Paddle Junkie thought the Terrain II were definitely worth a try. We had plans to put countless miles on our feet, and I couldn't afford to have my footwear fail me on the other side of the Atlantic.
The first thing I noticed was how light they were, but without sacrificing support. They're made for an average mid-level arch, and of course, have the slick little ICS (Individual Comfort System) dial inside that allows you to adjust the firmness of the heel (and pronation). There is nothing quite like on-the-fly stability and firmness adjustment, allowing you to tailor your footwear to your needs literally at the trailhead. Traction was solid and they felt great on my feet right out of the box.
However, I must say I did encounter a couple drawbacks. First, they started to wear at the glued seams between the sole and the fabric of the shoe within the first week of wear. More importantly they are marketed as being waterproof up to the top of the foot, but on a very very rainy hike through the low hills of Dingle, they became completely saturated. Perhaps they were designed to stomp through an occasional puddle but not a downpour, fair enough. I just expected more.
That said, for an MSRP of $142, if you're looking for a pair of uber-light, versatile, mid-level hiking boots, I would definitely recommend them. I just wish they would have held up to the abuse a little better.
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