User Review: Merrell Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR
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Rating: 
Materials: leather, gore-tex, XCR
Use: day hikes, rough trail w/ no pack, rough trail w/ heavy pack, climbing, daily wear
Break-in Period: 10-20 miles
Weight: 2lbs. 2oz.
Price Paid: $90
I’ve had these shoes for two months now and have put them through two overnighters with a 30-pound backpack (everything but the kitchen sink!), a few day hikes, a rock climbing adventure, multiple stream crossings, and daily wear.
The tread is super sticky and mega grippy. The heavy reinforced soles eat up the rough uneven terrain I encounter on the AT here in PA, where the trail tends to be more of a sharp stoned minefield than a foot path. The leather has been scratched and the toe rands have been scraped, and while the shoes have been abused by these pointy shoe killers, my feet never have.
The Merrells are comfy right out of the box, and only get more so as the miles go by and the uppers wear in.
The XCR works as advertised though it tends (as any Gore-Tex shoe I’ve ever worn does) to get hot.
If you were to wear the Merrells for backpacking, as I have, I have no doubt they would work great in the right environment. The soles are stiff enough and supportive enough to take any weight pack you happen to be toting. They also give fantastic feedback as to what you’re planting your foot on. But because they are low tops you have to be extra aware of ankle rolls, and in the places I go hiking this is a constant danger. I can only imagine that the mid top versions of these shoes are the perfect light hikers.
I can also imagine that these shoes would work very well as trail runners IF you ran on the kind of terrain I just described. If, however, the terrain were flat and even the soles would more than likely be too stiff. But of course these shoes were never meant to be trail runners.
The only problem I’ve really had with them was when the insole of my right shoe wandered almost out of the shoe once while I was backpacking. Again, the combination of terrain and extra weight may have been too much. A small piece of emergency duct tape slid under it kept it in place for the duration of my hike.
Overall I am extremely happy with my Merrells. They work great, they look like they’re going to last forever, and my girl claims they look cool.
Where to Buy
Buy Online We found the Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR at 7 online stores:
| Store | Product Description | Price |
 Moosejaw 2 purchase options: | Men's Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR Shoe (Spring 2008) | $120.00 | Buy Now |
| Women's Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR Boot (Spring 2007) | $120.00 | Buy Now |
 Backcountry.com | Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe - Men's | $119.95 | Buy Now |
 Altrec Outdoors 2 purchase options: | Men's Chameleon Wrap Gore-Texreg; XCRreg; | $119.95 | Buy Now |
| Women's Chameleon Wrap Gore-Texreg; XCRreg; | $119.95 | Buy Now |
 REI 2 purchase options: | Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR Cross-Training Shoes - Women's - '07 Closeout | $59.93 | Buy Now |
| Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR Cross-Training Shoes - Men's | $120.00 | Buy Now |
 Massey's 2 purchase options: | Mens Merrell Chameleon Wrap XCR - Brown / Orange | $119.49 | Buy Now |
| Womens Merrell Chameleon Wrap XCR - Pewter | $119.49 | Buy Now |
 EMS 2 purchase options: | Chameleon Wrap XCR Hiking Shoes, Gray/Red, Men's | $120.00 | Buy Now |
| Chameleon Wrap XCR Hiking Shoes, Pewter, Women's | $120.00 | Buy Now |
 US Outdoor Store 2 purchase options: | Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex® XCR® - Women's | $83.95 | Buy Now |
| Chameleon Wrap Gore Tex® XCR® | $120.00 | Buy Now |
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