text: Wouldn't recommend for environments with mud or water, does not seal water out as advertised at all. The shoe itself is actually comfortable, but the marketing claims are disappointing. I would not have purchased this shoe had I known how it performed in wet environments. One of my primary reasons for purchase of this particular shoe was for water resistance claims and breathable as I was doing backpacking in a hot and humid environment. I did not submerge this shoe, but even just walking in shallow puddles, water just poured in, it ended up making this particular hiking experience annoying at best. I didn't need waterproof for the terrain I was hiking, but I expected at least some water resistance. Needless to say, I won't be using these again since even a little rain could ruin your hiking experience due to soaked feet. I normally like Merrell products, so I am disappointed I can't recommend this shoe to my backpacking friends.