Merrell Chameleon Arc Review – Best Merrell boots for women

Merrell are widely regarded as one of the top providers of outdoor footwear for women, due to the incredibly comfortable and supportive fit, tailored to the exact needs of women’s feet. Their range of off-road shoes is extensive, offering sandals, shoes and mid boots, each catering to a particular outdoor niche whilst giving great cross-surface traction for maximum versatility. The majority of Merrell shoes are constructed in trainer styles for the exceptional comfort offered, with comfort straight out of the box without the need to wear them in to achieve a comfortable fit.

The Merrell Chameleon is one of the most popular designs, providing excellent off-road traction, maximum support and is constructed with great outdoor style.  Whilst the rugged styling in the men’s range is highly popular, for women, the womens Merrell Chameleon has feminine touches, with pastel shades and attractive upper designs making them one of the most attractive off-road footwear designs on the market, none more so than the Merrell Chameleon Arc. Whilst attractive looks make them appealing, Merrell back it up with an incredibly high performance across the full range of surfaces.

The Merrell Chameleon Arc uses similar styling to the men’s range, however as with all womens Merrell shoes, it is customised to provide maximum support and comfort for women’s feet. The design starts with the last, or the template used to create the main structure of the shoes. Merrell use a female specific last to ensure a great fit, with a QForm fit perfectly matching the anatomy of the female foot. Narrower in the heel and shorter in the toe, the Merrell Chameleon Arc gives maximum support to women’s feet, preventing slippage in the shoe for long term comfort.

Under the foot a Merrell Air cushion runs the length of the midsole, cushioning the heel strike and taking the sting out of uneven and rocky terrain. An anatomically moulded insole adds a further 4.5mm of cushioning for softness underfoot, whilst a rigid moulded Nylon arch shank helps keep the arches up for great support on long and arduous hikes.

Whilst the Chameleon Arc boots have taken their style and design from trainers, Merrell add more than just a cuff to keep the ankles protected. To ensure the boots are up to the rigours of hiking, extra support is added with a heel counter and strong instep stability arm to reduce lateral movement for a smooth heel to toe transition.

The shoes offer exceptional off road grip thanks to a sticky Vibram rubber outsole, with innovatively placed lugs to give great bite in soft ground, whilst being highly durable for walking on rock and hard urban surfaces.  The shoes are kept lightweight and are highly breathable with mesh uppers promoting the escape of moisture to keep the feet perfectly dry and comfortable.

The boots are perfect for all hiking, trekking and walking in the great outdoors and are highly comfortable on urban surfaces. If you are thinking of backpacking, you may prefer a little greater cushioning to help with the additional weight, however for all other outdoor pursuits the Merrell Chameleon Arc comes highly recommended. You won’t find a better fitting lightweight and stylish hiking boot anywhere.