Merrell Terran 4 Backstrap Women’s Sandal – Reviewed & Tested

Merell’s Terran 4 Backstrap women’s sandals are equally stylish and functional, allowing you to seamlessly transition from the trail to the streets without looking back. But one crucial issue means they’re not as adventure-ready as they seem.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

As a resident of Darwin, I spend my days either barefoot or in sandals. There are very few places I wouldn’t wear a pair of sandals, in fact I’ve worn them clubbing (sorry, not sorry). This means I also do A LOT of hiking in sandals – clambering over rocks, crossing slippery creeks, climbing in and out of watercraft – and I’ve tramped all around the NT with them.

I’ve worn through two pairs of Tevas in the last few years and was keen to branch out and see if its competitors could keep up. 

See, I told you | @renaesaxby

Quick Specs

Weight: 410g
Colourway: Sea
Closure: Hook and Loop
Materials: Full grain leather, recycled microfibre, Floatmax™ Foam, Super Rebound Compound, Recycled TPR
RRP: $149.99

Performance

In truth, although I’ve worn the Merrell Terran 4 Backstrap sandals a lot, most of the adventures they’ve been on with me have been outside of the Territory. From my go-to camp shoe on the Overland Track (with socks of course), to sand-filled beach days on the NSW South Coast, and a paddling trip on the Kangaroo River, these sandals have seen their fair share of environments so far.

Read more: Kangaroo River Kayaking

One of the greatest tests of an adventure sandal is its grip and steadiness when climbing in and out of a watercraft (of course, much of this comes down to the paddler as well). I’ve worn the Terran 4s while clambering into and out of wobbly sit-on kayaks and deep double canoes without so much as a slip or slide from my foot or the shoe.

Although I’m yet to put the sandals through a long-distance hike, from what I’ve seen and felt so far, these sandals are more grippy and supportive in and out of the water than my Tevas were.

And they leave a pretty funky shoeprint

I’ve not questioned the shoe’s ability to get me over a wet rock or muddy trail, and I think that’s just about the highest praise. Oh and they’re light enough to float on a lily pad – a very scientific measurement.

A neat feature of the sandals is the use of Cleansport NXT™, a pro-biotic technology that provides natural odour control, meaning no matter how much my feet sweat, my shoes won’t carry the smell around with them. A very handy feature for those of us hiking in humid conditions… hey that’s me!

Comfort

From the very second I slipped my foot into these sandals (feeling an awful lot like Cinderella and her glass slippers) I was in awe at how soft and silky the footbed is and how comfortably they hugged my foot.

I often find it quite jarring putting on a shoe with the same purpose but different design to the ones I’ve moulded to my feet (please don’t ask me to put on Birkenstocks, I might fall over). But moving from my trusty Tevas to the Merrell Terran 4s was a seamless transition – in fact I thought I would’ve missed my Tevas more, but I’ve barely thought about them at all.

The generous rubber outsole combined with the plush footbed foam ensures my feet feel supported and steadied, but lovingly caressed – kinda like the perfect hug.

The Terran 4s have quickly become my go to shoe for, well, everything.

The velcro straps are lined with full grain leather (more on that later) meaning they’re incredibly soft to touch and there hasn’t even been a suggestion of rubbing or a blister.

Read more: Hiker’s Guide to Blister Treatment & Prevention Products

Design

Bright and bold shoes are very fashionable at the moment, and considering my last pair of Tevas were mauve and white, I didn’t want to shy away from another colour moment.

The different shades of blue across the sandal compliment each other well and I’ve had several comments praising the style of the Terran 4s. The multi-coloured strap that whips across the top of the foot is purely stylistic (it barely touches my foot most of the time), but I think without it, the shoes wouldn’t be as eye-catching.

One design feature I’ve grabbled with is the choice to include full grain leather across the three major straps. It’s incredibly soft to touch and adds an element of sophistication to the shoe, allowing the Terran 4s to slip more seamlessly into everyday wear than other competitors more adventure-ready styles – not to mention the lifespan of leather.

However, this is also my biggest qualm with the shoe, because untreated full grain leather isn’t waterproof, and yet Merrell states that the Terran 4s are ‘perfect for your everyday summer adventures’.

Summer? Adventure? Sandal? That shoe’s gonna see some water.

Yes, it’s possible to treat the leather with waterproofing yourself, however Merrell doesn’t make mention of this on its website. And guess what happens when you wear the sandals in water without waterproofing them? They turn your foot blue (except if you bought the black or silver colourway, that’d be very odd). I’ll save you from the sight of my wrinkly, blue feet.

Whether the occasional bath will affect the durability and function of the leather is still to be seen, but I won’t be avoiding it, so I’ll find out eventually!

Something to consider adding to the product page perhaps.

Sustainability

It’s easy to find some top level info on Merrell’s moves to tackle sustainability, but there’s not much further to dig. The US version of the Merrell website states the brand’s 2025 sustainability goals, including:

• For 100% of Merrell products to contain either organic, recycled, or renewable materials
• Reduce shoe and apparel products by 50%
• Reduce plastic packaging
• Reduce water waste by 180 million litres
• Complete 10,000 volunteer hours
• Save 300,000 shoes from ending up in landfill

These all sound great, however there’s no further detail provided about how they’re being worked on, what stage they’re at, or what these goals might look like in action.

Additionally, a prompt about Merrell Retread, touted as ‘Merrell’s dedicated recycle and resell program’ links to an empty page. Lots of questions, very few answers!

The Merrell Terran 4 Backstrap product page sheds some light on the sustainability of the sandals, including that they consist of:

• A 70% recycled textile upper
• 100% recycled webbing
• 60% recycled microfiber lining
• 60% recycled microfiber wrapped insole
• 30% recycled TPR outsole

So it’s comforting to know many of the sandal’s materials aren’t brand new. But I’m not sure Merrell could say the same for the full grain leather used in the upper.

Price

Coming in at $150, the Merrell Terran 4 Backstrap women’s sandals are pretty bang on average for a brand name adventure sandal. The comparable Teva Hurricane XT is the same price, while Zorali’s Trailblazers are $30 cheaper.

The price is incredibly fair for a well-made, supportive, comfortable, and stylish pair of sandals that now see me from the supermarket to the swimming hole.

Final Thoughts

Merrell’s Terran 4 Backstrap women’s sandals have unquestionably replaced my Tevas as my go-to shoe for everyday wear and adventures – so long as I can put up with blue feet for a few days after wearing them in water.

Merrell Terran 4 Backstrap Women’s Sandals FAQs

How much do the Terran 4 Backstrap sandals cost?

The Merrel Terran 4 Backstrap sandals cost $149.99.

How much do the Terran 4 Backstrap sandals weigh?

The Merrel Terran 4 Backstrap sandals weigh 410g total.

Do the Terran 4 Backstrap sandals come in a men’s version?

Unfortunately not! The sandals Merrell makes for men come in different styles.

Looking for a new pair of shoes?

• Teva Women’s Grandview GTX Low
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• Hoka Anacapa Low GTX
• Arc’teryx Norvan LD3 Trail Runner