Merrell Overdrive II Trail Running Shoe - Men's - 2008 BCS

I had a pair of the first Overdrives. I loved them. They are very lightweight for a trail shoe, and had a nice fit through the arch/instep area. I didn't like the lacing system, and ended up cutting off the quick lace and replacing with traditional laces.

They dry out well after getting wet, and have nice ventilation. My only complaint, which has since been solved with the Overdrive II is the design of the sole, which delaminated on the heel. My wife has the OD II, and I can see where they fixed the problem so this won't occur.

Very good trail shoe, I'd buy and wear again in the future.

I've only had a chance to run trails a few weekends so far, but overall first impressions are good. The flap to cover the shoe sting cinch was welcome news to prevent the string from flopping around during a run. Well, didn't work as well as I'd hoped, the cloth sewn to the tongue to hook it too is inaccessible once I tighten the strings, I have a narrow foot. I did attempt to hook it to the strings themselves, but with limited success. Good idea, but not completely thought out. The comfort on rocks is great, with only a small hotspot on the ball of my foot during extended runs. This could probably be relieved by a better insert. Loved my Merrell Overdrives, and love the Merrell Overdrive II just as much. Great traction on mud, dirt and rocks in either dry or wet conditions. Great ventilation and easily cleaned up.