 Car being serviced yesterday and 4 hours to kill in CAERDIFF. Now if ever there was a city with completely useless shops, that is it. Anyway, Trekitt closed last month leaving only Milletts in the city centre. I have ALWAYS gone for ankle boot style footwear in both leather and fabric in the past as I like the support in the ankle region. However, looking at a pair of Solomons and Merrells shoe styles in Milletts, I was pursuaded that both these "shoes" have very good ankle suport even though the side support is of the "cutaway" type. I would have gone for the Solomons, but guess what, didn't have them in my size. Instead I bought a pair of Merrell Chameleons with Vibram air cushioned soles and fully breathable and waterproof. Anyone use these, any opinions?
|
 |
 why have you capitalised Caerdiff?
|
|
 ...Now if ever there was a city with completely useless shops, that is it. Anyway, Trekitt closed last month leaving only Milletts in the city centre.
And Kudos, and Blacks. Neither particularly brilliant, in fact Kudos is crap, but Blacks isn't too bad - certainly better than Millets. Up & Under is a wee bit outside the city centre, but brilliant, & Hike Kit (Cathays) is very good. You just need to catch a bus or walk a bit 
|
|
.jpg) I bought a pair of Chameleons about 18 months ago. I took them back after about 2 months. They leaked like a sieve and some parts took forever to dry. The outer came away from the lining too. Maybe I had a bad pair. I have another pair of Merrell shoes and they are really good.
|
|
I didn't capitalise CARRDIFF Glyn, the Welsh Office did that in the 1950s! (I did mean to put two Rs and not the E however to take the pizz out of the way the "locals" say it!) Gee thanks Paul, I hope your last sentence is the truer one!
|
| Edited: 23/02/08 12:28 |
Having dropped the car off in Hadfield road I caught the train from Grangetown to Queen Street and then walked all the way back, hence not being "en-route" for Canton and "Up and Under!"
|
|
I didn't capitalise CARRDIFF Glyn, the Welsh Office did that in the 1950s! (I did mean to put two Rs and not the E however to take the pizz out of the way the "locals" say it!)
rightio, just wondered
|
|
 I've had some Chemeleons for about 2 years now. Excellent shoe! I use em every day in normal life and also use them for the approach to a climb when I'm out. They've also got handy loops on the back which mean I can clip them into a 'biner and carry them on my harness ready to wear for the walk down from the climb. They've never let me down!
|
| Edited: 23/02/08 15:18 |
 Very comfortable but can be lethal in the wet seems to be the general synopis. My missus has two pairs and loves them but agrees about the slippiness.
|
|
I walked across Cardiff in my Chameleons today, a bargin £35 from Blacks at xmas 3rd pair of merrells ive had and they have lasted years, ended up with some karrimors recently and they were terrible, v v uncomfy! not a patch on the Merrells
|
|
 I've got the all-leather version of the Chameleons and I like them, with one reservation. As Zubald mentioned, they are frightening on wet rock (I even nearly slipped over in my kitchen when there was some water on the tiled floor)
|
|
 I've been wearing a pair of Merrel Chameleon boots with the cutaway style ankle for about 5 or 6 years. They are some of the most comfortable boots that I have owned and the style of anke support makes them slightly less restrictive for walking than others. It's even possible to do break into the occasional jog or run where necessary and remain comfortable. The only problems I have found are that the chameleon style sole pattern clogs up easily and doesn't shed mud like more straightforward sole units (Brasher or Berghaus), and that the lack of any good edges makes them useless for higher grade scrambling. Mine have seen some extensive abuse and worn pretty well. They're still waterproof which I tested today on the submreged stepping stones in Dovedale. They can get a bit hot, but that is the same for any GTX lined boot. The only caveat on the water resistance is that you have to be aware of the cutaway back when you're wading. I've been caught out when the water level is below the front of the ankle support, but above the back.
|
|
 I'd like to add my voice to the "deadly in the wet" brigade. Why anyone would want to buy outdoor footwear that are lethal when it is wet puzzles me somewhat. Incidentally i have a pait of "Casual" Merrells which are even worse. Makes wet paving slabs seem like an ice rink.
|
|
 Hi cysgod-du. I agree with zubald, RobP and Eddie Williams above - I don't know how they've done the sole but it is (in my experience) ludicrously slippery on any wet surface (including mud and grass) and I would not wear them for walking. Warm, sturdy and comfortable around town however.
|
|
 I've had two pairs of Chameleon Stretch. The first generation of Chameleons had amazing soles! I could quite happily stay upright on a sloping wet mossy pavement with them. Then they changed the sole to something resembling Teflon. Only ever used them in an urban environment. I did find them incredibly comfortable though, enough to offset the sole. Almost like slippers!
|
|
 > I agree with zubald, RobP and Eddie Williams above - I don't know how they've done the sole but it is (in my experience) ludicrously slippery on any wet surface Same is true of the Reactor Ventilator II I picked up cheaply in TKM; nearly gone A-over-T a number of times walking around town in the wet. And yet mud seems to stick to the sole like sh*t to an army blanket...
|
|
 Another here with a pair of slippery when wet Merrells (Moab Ventillators). Very disappointing considering the Vibram sole, which looks like it would stick like the preverbial to a blanket.
|
|
Looks like I must have bought mine before they changed the sole material, although mine does have a vibram unit of some type. I'll think twice before buying another pair as friction on wet rock is difficult to judge in the store.
|
|
