Never wear waterproof boots in the Jungle….
The name of a book I should write.
Merrell Chameleon shoes.
I have been wearing this particular brand and model for probably going on 10 years. I have put countless miles in numerous countries with them. This is the one thing that I never leave home with when going on a trip. Matter of fact, I am wearing them now.
This will not be a review of the inner workings, but more of a real-world assessment of the product and its different versions.
I first came across this manufacturer when shopping for a trip to Colorado years ago. I was intrigued by the laces, on how its really a slip on that has both arch and top of the foot support. Footwear is subjective to the size and shape of one’s foot, so what is good for me may not be good for another as my feet are completely flat with no arch whatsoever. These shoes cater very well to my situation. I have never had them roll or slip on my heel in any situation, from motorcycling to hiking or inner-city travels. I have had both the waterproof and standard versions. Each style has its place, and really the non-waterproof version is the most versatile of the lineup. Although in cold climates with simple rain or water situations the waterproof version is a warmer shoe. Recently on a charity motorcycle trip from the US to Honduras I wore the waterproof version I had purchased for the trip specifically. I chose poorly. As the rain came down in torrents on the first minutes of the first day we took off, my shoes were soaked. They continued to stay damp for probably the next 5 days, and would not dry out overnight as the humidity was overwhelming. 3 days in I developed, for lack of better term, Toe Jam, and had to do something to relieve this. I took my multitool and removed all the canvas sections to let the shoes breath and vent while riding down the road. Moral to the story is never wear waterproof boots in the Jungle. The model has taken on a few changes over the years and the Chameleon II was the style I had multiple pairs of with a narrow part of the sole rising up over the toe. The Chameleon 7 changed that style and had a rubberized section around the front of the shoe with a separate part in the center rising over the toe. I spoke with Merrell at the Outdoor Retailer Show about this, as I was disappointed in the wear of this as it came loose and started to peel out sooner than I would have thought this shoe should have and much sooner than the standard Chameleon II. Merrell really declined to give me any reason for the change, but the new Chameleon 8 looks to be in the same stye as the Chameleon II. I am guessing there were more folks than me that brought up the older style as being more comfortable and durable. The heel does break down if you just try to jamb your foot into it in a hurry and not use a spoon or your fingers to pull the back out when inserting your foot. They come in a multitude of colors and leather options. I have multiple Merrell styles of footwear, and use them occasionally as they are more condition specific, but the Chameleon is and has been my go-to shoe for any situation I have needed them for.
Below is from Merrells page on the Chameleon:
Merrell is an American manufacturing company of footwear products. It was founded by Clark Matis, Randy Merrell, and John Schweizer in 1981 as a maker of high-performance hiking boots. Since 1997, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of shoe industry giant Wolverine World Wide.
Chameleon:
FEATURES
• Nubuck leather and mesh upper
• Elastic cord and lock lacing system for quick secure fit
• Bellows tongue keeps debris out
• TPU molded heel counter for security
• Kinetic Fit™ BASE removable contoured insole for flexible support
• Merrell Air Cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability
• EVA foam midsole for stability and comfort
• Vibram® XS Trek Evo
• 5mm lug depth
• Weight: 1lbs14oz / 860g
I contacted Merrell directly as the country of origin is not that easy to identify for each shoe, and was informed that most are made in China, Bangladesh or Vietnam.