Merrell Chameleon II Ventilator

These are another of the reasons why Merrells are about to leave my list of "to buys". They look nice, they feel nice, but they hardly stand up to "work", let alone any serious hinking.

That, and they suffer from what I can only describe as the "Merrell stink". My feet never have a problem stinking...that is, until I don a pair of Merrels, either shoes, boots or sandals.

I gave all three the benefit of the doubt, but I have had it with them.

I used to long for a pair of "wilderness" boots years ago, but now, I can't imagine I'd ever buy them.

These are a microcosm of the obvious problems with "outsourcing" in the world today. They may have been "engineered" well, but by the time they get to the manufacturing plant in the "yangste valley", or wherever they are made, all hell breaks lose.

I think we shoul all commit to using localized manufacturing folks. And that doesn't limit this discussion to hiking gear.

This mother-f'in world is going down the shiiter faster than we can all collectively blink, and we are buying, selling, trading it as fast as we can say "sale".

I'd give these away, but I'd feel even worse than for buying them...to the trash they go, and no more Merrels.