Review on Merrell J000796 District Muri Lattice Women's Athletic Shoes by Amanda Quinn

I bought a blue Merrell Terran Lattice II sandal and a brown Merrell District Muri Lattice sandal. They are both very similar. The rear is the biggest difference, along with the strap pattern and trim at the bottom of the sole. Terran straps are adjustable with Velcro. They are quite loose but the velcro is too short. I didn't like the additional strap and the look of the Velcro fasteners. I couldn't unbuckle the strap and I'm not sure if the buckle is supposed to be like that. They DO NOT NEED a buckle, it is not adjustable, instead there is a velcro strap. But I'm not sure why the buckle is even needed. The back is a bit scratchy due to the Velcro area, but it's loose enough that it doesn't really bother. The shoes fit as expected, I usually buy a size 9 more than any other brand size and a size 9 was perfect for this shoe. The grip underneath was great. The Muri straps are more symmetrical/centered, the buckle is a big upgrade. It works and is the only adjustable part of the shoe. In my opinion the back looks much cleaner without the velcro straps. The straps in these sandals also dangle, but it's not so bad that they fly off your feet. I'm sure I'll appreciate the place after a long day of hiking. The grip on the bottom is cloth covered and quite slippery on tile (I nearly died) BUT I think this cloth cover is not uncommon in new shoes and will probably be a lot better after a full day of use. Both sandals are perfect for my expected/usual size. Terrans have a "funnier" strap pattern, Muri's are more symmetrical. Mouri wins Best Back Strap, Best Buckle. Terran has better outsole/traction. Overall I'm returning the Terran and keeping the Muri simply because of the back of the shoe.