merrell chameleon wrap slam 1
Fri, Jul 16, 2010
I’ve been recruited by Fitness Footwear to review a pair of Merrell Chameleon Wrap Slam shoes which have just arrived a couple of days after I had a chat with them. Normally I don’t have much interest in gear reviews but it happens that I’m looking for a new pair of shoes and the timing worked out perfectly with an email from Stef at BG! with the news that Fitness Footwear were looking for testers so I plumped for it and the shoes have arrived. I was a bit worried as I’ve heard that Merrell shoes can be on the small size but I’ve tried them on in the house and they seem to be fine.
The shoes feel well made and sturdy, perhaps not the lightest but certainly not heavy, which bodes well for their first mountain outing in the Cuillin, hopefully over the weekend. The lacing system is good and pulls the shoe tight on the foot and I didn’t notice any heel lift on the quick test I did in the house. The sole is interesting and feels sticky and I’ll be testing this on scrambling ground in the Cuillin over the summer, or what’s left of it at this rate.
The forecast for tomorrow is foul so I may just go for a bimble along the Camasunary track to get used to the feel of the shoes and get the lacing just right. This is the most important part of getting new footwear. A couple of winters ago I got a new pair of La Sportiva Nepal winter mountaineering boots and they almost crippled me on the first day out despite very deep and soft snow. I just hadn’t sorted the lacing properly and they now fit me like a glove. So I’ll be paying much attention to detail for these shoes to get the lacing right.
They’re also a natural progression in my footwear history, as I’ve moved from big boots down to lightweight shoes over the years. I’m hoping these boots will complement my KSB Dartmoor Event shoes which have a goretex lining. The Merrells don’t so it’ll be interesting to see what the difference is in terms of comfort and breathability.
Looking forward to putting the Merrells through their paces.