My previous pairs, Chameleon XCR, were Gore Tex. Great shoes, and lasted almost two years per pair with everyday use. I bought three pairs of them on sale, and I just started wearing the third and last. Since Chameleon has been end-of-lifed, I needed to find a replacement. Moab is the closest thing currently on offer from Merrell.
The Moab used to have a Gore Tex bathtub for waterproofing, as well as a water-resistant leather upper. I made the foolish mistake of thinking these would have a Gore Tex lining, as I had seen in stores up until recently, and as shown by the badge in the product photos. The pair I received are not the Gore Tex version.
What has happened is Merrell has decided to "increase profits" by replacing Gore Tex with some other undisclosed "waterproof" material that has a lower (or no) licensing cost. Thus the "Waterproof" badge on these, not a Gore Tex badge. Sneakily, Merrell hasn't changed the name of the shoe, or the appearance. This is a dirty trick at best as far as I'm concerned. At worst, "bait and switch" if you are a long-time Merrell XCR customer like me.
If you have had bad experiences with Gore Tex imitations like I have, the last thing you want is to pay top dollar for a product you use every day that relies on one. And that is exactly what Merrell has decided it has to force on us. Don't get me started on North Face's HyVent, the worst offender I have encountered in this category. Nothing is as breathable and simultaneously waterproof while durable as Gore Tex. Most of the time, Gore Tex alternatives flake off the host material (usually nylon) shortly after they see regular use. By comparison, I have old Gore Tex products, INCLUDING worn-out Merrell shoes, that are still just as waterproof as they were when brand new.
Beyond the cost cutting in the Gore Tex bathtub lining, Merrel has also reduced the amount of leather in the Moab upper to virtually none as compared to the excellent Reactor and Chameleon XCR shoes. The leather has been replaced with a mesh, which is far less durable. The toe is not injection molded and part of the outsole, as on the Chameleon XCR. It is a material which has been stitched to the front of the upper. Also, the lining of the inside of the shoe is some felt-like material, as opposed to the extremely durable inside of the Chameleon XCR. Finally, the rear end of the Moab lacks the impact resistant plastic of the Chameleons. Instead, its leather and the same soft material as found on the toe.
I should note that the fit seems OK, just trying them on, but without breaking them in. I will most likely return them, as I feel the price I paid is far too much. I got those Chameleon XCR's for $50 a pair on sale in 2009. I should have bought 10 pair at that price. These Moab cost twice as much at full price. In terms of quality, Moab should be two thirds the price of Chameleon either way: on sale or full price.
If these shoes were less money than the Chameleon XCR, or Moab XCR for that matter, and EVER went on sale (which they don't), I wouldn't be writing this review. However, I feel I have been cheated by a company I have trusted for a decade and a half. And for what? If they think their customers can't tell the difference between past products and current, they are mistaken. Even worse, if they think their customers haven't noticed how good their products WERE, then Merrell should be firing a lot of people and doing everything they can to save their brand. Good reputations take forever to build, but can take only one or two missteps to destroy.
UPDATE July 2013:
I made the unfortunate decision to keep these. After a week of wearing them, I sincerely regret not returning this pair.
Simply put, my feet were baking and started to hurt by the end of the week. These shoes are simply unacceptable. They are far too hot and sweaty to wear in the summer, and the toe box is cramped compared to Chameleon XCR at the same size. I also found that folds had developed in the insole within a couple of days use. I had to take these shoes off in public on a number of occasions to fix the folds. Not only that, but on the right shoe, a fold or crease had developed somewhere in the vamp which I cannot manage to completely get rid of.
It says a lot that my feet are far more comfortable in a heavily worm pair of Chameleon XCR from two years ago. Never before has a brand new pair of Merrells been a downgrade from a heavily worn pair.
I'm back to wearing my previous pair of Chameleon XCR until I find another shoe to replace them. Thankfully I kept all my old Chameleon XCRs except for one pair. Looks like I will be needing them.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
These shoes appeared to be great for the first 2 weeks or so. Then began to tear and leak at the toes. For this much money they are NOT worth it!
0 comments:
Post a Comment