A new Merrell footwear range joins the successful Sirens, and it's another one for the gals.
It's now a full season since Merrell launched the women's Siren footwear range - how time flies - and apparently it's been racing off the shelves. So, hot on its heels - Merrell's pun not ours - there's another women's footwear range set to hit the shops this autumn and it's called the Women's Chameleon Arc.
The range includes three models: the Chameleon Arc Gore Tex® XCR® (£90), the Chameleon Arc Stretch (£70) and the Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof (£85). They're aimed at day hikers who want to wear trekking shoes rather than a full length boot, although the Mid acts as a compromise somewhere between the two. You also get full waterproofing in the XCR and Mid versions.
If weight - or lack of it - is what you're looking for, above ruggedness, then that's where the Chameleon Arc Stretch comes into its own. It's the lightweight member of the family, checking in at about 700g - that's 150g lighter than the XCR and 235g lighter than the Mid.
The Technology
The most distinctive technical feature of all the new Chameleon Arcs is that they use Merrell's Q-Form system, which is built specifically for the female foot.
If you're wondering why gender makes a difference in the footwear department, other than the fact that women tend to need smaller sizes, it's worth noting that women tend to pronate more when they walk, rocking over on the insides of their feet, and potentially causing damage in the long run.
The Q-Form system deals with this by using a triple density midsole which varies in stiffness across the boot, to help centre the weight and correct pronation.
Other technical features include the Vibram® Chameleon Arc™ Sole on all three models, a suede/leather upper, and a protective rubber rand and toe bumper in the Mid and XCR versions.
What and when?
The Chameleon Arcs belong to the autumn/winter range so they should be in the shops any day now - if they aren't there already - so look out for them next time you're on a footwear-buying mission.
For full specs, and the rest of Merrell's range, see their website.
