HI everyone, just about to pick up my first pair of walking shoes and was interested in the Merrell Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR Shoes. I will mainly be using the shoes for commuting round the city on foot, and for occasional weekend treks (not intense terrain or longer than 5miles).
I am a bit confused by the reviews though. Nearly all the websites seem to be full of glowing praise except outdoors magic! Here, everyone is saying the shoes have no grip whatsoever, whilst on the US websites, people claim to have trekked in ALL climates including wet (and presumably slippery).
I would really appreciate some advice as to whether or not this is true or not. I do tend to run up and down wet stairs living in London so don't want to risk a fall. However, I never had one wearing my Saucany (sp?) running shoes.
Many thanks for any information/advice
edit:
could the conflicting reviews be because the I am looking at the "wrap" version whilst the negative reviews on this site were for this version:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/review/reviewproduct/mps/RPN/3074/prod/Merrell-Chameleon-Gore-Tex-XCR/RCN/7/rgn/5/v/3/sp/
which is "non slam" version!
the other review about the bad grip was:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/review/reviewproduct/mps/RPN/24910/prod/Merrell-Chameleon-2-GTX-XCR/RCN/7/rgn/5/v/3/sp/
again non slam, but now a "chameleon 2" version.
conversely, here are some positive reviews which are specifically for the wrap gtx version I am interested in:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/merrell/chameleon-wrap-gore-tex-xcr/#reviews
and:
http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/26624/#readreviews
here's one quote:
"hey have been great on river rocks wet or not and stick like glue to the dry surface."
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| Edited: 18/07/07 18:16 |
 They are sliipy...try walking through a town shopping centre when its been rainng......book a bed in A and E before hand....fine on dry rock though
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thanks for the advice. I am now leaning towards the North Face Hedgehog XCR or maybe the 103 ultras. So far, I have seen a couple of negative reviews on their durability, but in the main, it's all glowing praise. I also perused the previous posts on these forums on TNF hedgehogs, and can see little to deter me from these.
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 the old octogrip sole was lethal in the wet.
they reformulated it by mixing the same old sole with some softer "grippier" around the outside. which i would assume wouldn't help at all. the middle sole part would still be like walking on ice.
they were excellent in the dry but on anything without a good textured surface in the wet....
i had two paies, low and mid, and threw both away after falling twice in the street in madrid. i was only grateful it wasn't somewhere where it could have been really dangerous.
if you have not had goretex lined footwear before think this first - do your feet get very hot in normal footwear. if so they will roast in goretex.
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Hello Parky
Thanks for the advice. I have never worn any goretex lined shoes before, and will definitely be sure to ask the salesperson about the overheating issue. My feet don't tend to get hot unless I power/speed-walk. Also, I am a pretty slim person and don't sweat much in general so hopefully this will not be an issue.
by the way, anyone heard of these before?:
Brasher Mens Ngolo XCR:
http://www.brasher.co.uk/classic/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.detail&categoryid=26&startrow=7
At the moment, I am trying to research each and every applicable shoe which my "local" dealer stocks (via his website) in preparation for the visit tomorrow. So far, I am leaning towards the Hedgehogs still :) but just in case the fit isn't right...
Also, if goretex is too hot for me then I will just have to buy a second pair of shoes just for summer. However, I am hoping the heat will not be an issue based on my previous experience (only limited to trainers though!).
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 I don't find hot feet an issue with Goretex (or other) linings - more that they are permanently damp particularly when (as it always does) water leaks in. If it doesn't come over the top of the shoes it's so easy to samage the lining - stones, grit, toenails, wear and tear will eventually puncture the lining!
The sole unit on the Chameleon, old or new, is definitely VERY slippery when wet!
The best soles I've found for grip on wet ROCK is on FiveTen Guide shoes. They're rubbish on wet grass though!
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my sister was just telling me that she took a fall with her chameleons so I think the consensus is that they aren't all that stable in the wet.
I don't necessarily need rock grip, just general, as I will more be jumping/climbing walls, railings etc as I am an urbanite mainly.
However, I am hoping to apply for an trainee scheme in conservation, and hence I will be outdoors in parks etc a bit more in the next few months..hence the need for a decent pair of boots/shoes I can stay on my feet all day whether commuting round London on foot, or working in an office, or been at my other job on my feet all day, or volunteering in a park/in the countryside for my conservation career development.
Anyone got any take on the Brasher Ngolo? It doesn't even seem to use a brand name sole, but something called "AT20 rubber" which is meant to be a "Rugged rubber outsole offering good grip". I just liked the look of it as it looked smartish yet claims to be rugged enough for my light needs (like i said, I would never trek more than 10miles in one go..but more need it to commute around London on foot, and work in jobs where I will be on my feet a lot of the time, plus with the aim of them being good enough for working outdoors in parks, riverlands etc).
thanks for all the posts :)
edit:
I am still also considering the North Face Ultra 103s as well as the Hedgehogs.
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| Edited: 19/07/07 00:16 |
I recently bought some Hedgehogs. Took them on a trip to China. There's a lot of tiles in Chinese streets, and when walking on tiles in Hedgehogs in the wet you may as well be on roller skates.
In addition, the heel cup is too big for my foot, the tongue in not as comfortable as it should be, and I had to return my first pair as they leaked.
My local Blacks has them on sale for £45, though.
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 Nikhil, If you are worried about overheating or getting damp in goretex-lined shoes, then find a pair without that fit you well (with a little bit of spare space) and have a quick-drying upper. Then you can get yourself a pair of Gore-Tex socks (Porelle dry socks or Sealskinz get some votes...?) to wear whenever the weather is bleak. There are several advantages (and a few disadvantages) of this approach. Firstly, your shoe will be much more comfortable for the majority of the time (and lighter too). Secondly, you'll only be wearing the Gore-Tex when it is doing you some good, so are less likely to puncture or degrade the membrane over time. Thirdly, when a Gore-Tex lined shoe gets wet, it takes a long time to dry as the membrane stops effective airflow - a removable sock will dry much faster after use. Fourthly, if the shoes outlast the socks, you can replace one and not the other (or vice versa). The only disadvantage is that membrane socks are not very stretchy, so getting a good fit is difficult, whereas a Gore-Tex lining in shoes is custom shaped. Most army surplus stores sell Gore-Tex socks for £10-15 - the typical price differential between a lined and unlined model of the same shoe. As for the grip issue, if your journeys really are limited to 5-10 miles and you want something for the urban playing field, I'd check out The North Face Buildering shoes. They are a bit warm thanks to the rubber rand, but have sticky soles, very adjustable fit and are pretty 'casual looking' for town use. As you say you don't overheat much, they could suit your foot. They have a reassuring stiffness and I have used them for access to climbing routes and for climbing easy grades to set up top-ropes for beginners, as well as trail walks and around town.
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john speaks wise words.
goretex linings and the like don't seem to affect some people or they just don't notice. personal preference.
as in all things, find a pair of shoes that fit you properly
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I had to post about my experience with Merrell Chameleon 2 Gore-tex XCR. I have to disagree entirely with any negative comments on their grip. I can't have had the only good pair. I've worn these basically non-stop for two years now. I've been all over the place in the Lake District, Peak District, Snowdonia, Exmoor, on beaches, out on farmland with our horse almost every weekend for a year - all this in every season - and commuting to and living in London for the rest of the time. Not once have I had an issue with the grip. I was muttering thanks to myself for buying these shoes when scrambling down Striding Edge in icy wind, and at other times when I was hanging off my fingertips or clinging to almost vertical slopes. The comments against the more recent Merrell models' grip must be a leftover from the first generation of the shoes. All in all, I would highly recommend the Merrells. The waterproofing is excellent, but has worn off, now that I've thoroughly cleaned them 2-3 times. I'll add that I "run hot" but it's never been much of a problem. A few times the feet got a bit sweaty but my Allstars fare worse than the Merrels! I absolutely love the versatility of my shoes and am going to buy the Gore-tex Wrap model.
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 I can only reinforce what has been said by others about these shoes on wet surfaces - p*ss-poor, and dangerous.
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 I have recently purchased a pair of the Chameleon wrap leather shoes, and have to agree with everyone else - the grip on wet rock is very poor. I don't know if it improves once the soles have some wear and roughen a little (I live in hope). The grip on wet grassy hillsides is excellent though. It is a pity since these shoes fit my feet better than any others I have used - wide forefoot giving plenty of space for the toes.
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hi are you talking about this sole pictured on this link below? http://www.merrell.co.uk/en-GB/Shop/Enlarge.aspx?AltNavID=MAF-G-HIK&SID=30010 i am looking to buy a pair of these boots but if the grip is p+ss poor than i will stay away. i'm going to use them for work and walk around on different surfaces all day. my Karrimor KSB Arran's have served me well with no grip issues at all. i would really appreciate a reply many thanks.
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I was asking about Merrels in the Cotswold shop (Covent Garden) on Friday and was told the soles are slippery on wet concrete. A pity as the shoes were one of the few that seemed to fit across the toes, can anyone suggest another make that has a similar sized of toe box? Many thanks, Mark
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the light grey bits are a slightly softer compound from the old all black. so changed to try to address the falling on your arse at unexpected moments syndrome. the black bits are just as slippery as before. simply put, you pays yer money and takes yer choice. i wouldn't touch any merrell shoes with the "octogrip" pattern. great sole in the dry though, very good indeed. shame it gets rather wet in this country.
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Mark, try meindl,they're usually built to quite a high volume last-other than that just keep trying different makes and models.
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thanks for the advice guys. any one recomend a light weight boot with gore tex, very breathable.. oh.. and grip in the wet??? i like the synthetic, codura, teflon etc boots once again thanks for your help.
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boots will be any brand that fit properly.
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