Merrell Women's Capra Hiking Shoes - Lightweight & Waterproof for Outdoor Adventures, Trail Running & Backpacking

More like 4.5 stars which I suppose should be rounded up the five so let's make it a 4.3...great, true to size fit and did a 6.6 mile hike wearing these right out of the box without a single rub, blister, or sore spot. I have VERY sensitive feet and toes and even legs due to medical issues so I am impressed with the overall performance of this shoe. I am used to wearing a very cushioned running shoe (neutral pronation) and although these are stiffer, still no pains. The grip was phenomenal from the gravel covered asphalt at the trail head, to the crumbling sandstone along the rocky trail. However, I ended up having to wade through three knee deep, fairly strong current creek crossings. The grip was amazing and my feet were very well protected. At 5'2" and 110 lbs. I was more surefooted than almost everyone around me despite the strength and height of the water.The downside, these were not the right shoe to be wearing on this particular day because of these very unexpected wet spots that were encountered. I live in Southern California where we have been in a drought for more than a decade so water on trails is not something I expected therefore, if I were making my purchase again, I would steer toward a shoe that would provide coverage for as many possible hiking scenarios that could occur (such as a water shoe) instead. Nothing is perfect, I get that but had I not thought that I would never be submerging my feet, I would have been just that much more comfortable overall. I hope that they dry out well, as they still at least look pretty new. And, even compared to others in my group who were wearing either a fashion sneaker or running shoe, I was not pouring water literally a small puddles of water out like they were since these do have a nice toe cap and fit very snug but not in a constrictive manner all around the top of the shoe/ankle, therefore, the water although it did penetrate, did not just pour in either.Also, my soggy-ish toes and feet are very clean...I want to say like three specks of sand on each foot and that could have even come from the outside of the shoe or my pants when I removed the shoe coming in the door at home so they definitely keep your feet clean but not dry (nor do they claim to do so...this was my mistake, not the shoe). Well made, comfortable, great gripping, pretty good looking hiker but given the knowledge I have now, go with something that is going to drain that water out fast, even if you think you're not going to need it, as clearly, you just never know!