Merrell Women's Chameleon Arc XCR Tested

Merrell Women’s Chameleon Arc XCR Tested

Merrell’s Chameleon footwear range will do for most things bar winter mountaineering – summer strolls along the river or rough trekking on higher ground, the Chameleons have got it covered. The Chameleon Arc XCR lives towards the rough trekking end of this spectrum.

It’s not the most highly ventilated summer shoe, nor is it the lightest trail shoe on the market (although it’s by no means heavy). But if you’re looking for a hardy shoe that’s really guaranteed not to give you soggy socks, the Chameleon XCR should fit the bill.

There’s multiple techiness involved here – some of it is Merrell’s own invention and some of the technologies you’ll find elsewhere. The Vibram soles belong in the latter category – in this case, it’s the Trek and TC5+ variety we’re looking at. They’re made of a compound of materials but all you really need to know is that they’ve been rigorously tested for grip on dry or wet ground and resistance to both heat and cold. Find out below whether we thought they passed on all four counts.

As for Merrell’s own technologies, these are interesting because a lot of thought has gone into the needs of women’s feet as distinct from men’s. All Merrell shoes are made from a male- or female-specific last, with the women’s last being narrower in the ball and heel, longer in the toe, and higher in the arch. Of course, that doesn’t make them ideal for all women’s feet, but it means they’ll fit the majority of women better than trail shoes made with a men’s, or unisex, last.

The Women’s Chameleon Arcs also incorporate Merrell’s Q-form technology, which is another female-specific affair. It basically consists of a varying level of support and resistance across the sole of the shoe, with the maximum support falling at the inside of the foot. This is because women are more likely to promote when they’re walking and the Q-form sole counteracts this effect.

So much for the technology; how did they fare on the job? Well, we gave the Chameleon Arcs something of a baptism of fire – or perhaps we should say, a baptism of good old British bog. In fact, we stomped around Mull in them for a week in December, clambering over rocks on coastal paths and trawling through decidedly mushy ground higher up, which is a good range of terrains. The shoes passed the test with flying colours.

Despite getting wet just about everywhere else, our feet never got the slightest bit soggy so we’re completely happy that these shoes really are 100% waterproof. That’s what you’d expect from an XCR lining of course, but we also found the shoes really sturdy and up to the job on tough terrain, whether damp or rocky. The grip was good, there was no sliding around, and our feet felt well supported even with the extra weight of a Christmas dinner pressing down on them.

It’s not all about staying upright though; feeling comfortable is also part of the equation. This too was a test that the Arc XCRs passed with ease. The Q-form technology on the inside of the foot is noticeable – in a supportive way rather than an intrusive way – and although it’s hard to measure pronation we can at least say that they were very comfortable to wear.

And what about in warmer weather? Well, as we said, we’ve mostly given these shoes a Scottish December test, rather than a Dorset summer test, so we can vouch more for the ruggedness than the coolness. Looking at the design, there are better ventilated shoes on the market, and lighter shoes too, so if we were out walking in fine weather and the terrain wasn’t too awkward, we’d probably pick a different pair.

That said, on rougher terrain, or less generous conditions, we haven’t found anything that does a better job than the Chameleon Arcs. We’re still wearing them and what better way is there of complimenting a trail shoe?:-)

We’ve taken them through top quality bogs without getting our feet damp and we’ve also found them grippy on rocky or grassy terrain. There’s good protection around the foot, from the toe bumper at the front to the Vibram sole and sturdy suede upper, and there’s good support inside too, with the female-specific Q-form technology.

One of the real strengths of the shoe is that Merrell have thought hard about how women’s feet work, as distinct from men’s, but haven’t lost sight of the important elements of weight, waterproofing, grip, and the like. The result is pair of trail shoes that are both comfy and reliable – as reliable as meeting a sheep in the Dales, we would say, and how much more trustworthy can you get?:-)

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