I had every intention of writing a stellar, raving review for the Merrell Marauder sneaker, now called Chameleon stretch, all pros and NO cons. I STILL have my original pair from circa Y2K, 11 years later!!! While the inner linings of both heels are worn thru from thousands of on/offs, they still offer a moderate amount of support after a decade of treading, and tree climbing! (I am an arborist. I wear these sneakers during recreational climbs, and climbs where spikes are not appropriate.) Their grip and support, expecially when new, was among the best I have experienced. And like most active people, I am into sneakers, and in the past have owned New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Asics, Airwalk, Puma, and Sketchers... so many. I'm sure I'm missing some.

I now have three pair of Merrells. My original, which I wear in the dirtiest conditions.  A newer Chameleon pair, purchased perhaps 3 years ago, that is my everyday good looking sneaker and workhorse, and a brand new pair I purchased last year in summer 2010 which I have not even worn once yet.

Sure enough, I have to agree with the negative review I read here on Amazon:  the pair I purchased 3 years ago, while standing up very well to the rigors of daily use, did separate at the toe last summer to a significant degree. I had to glue the rubber back onto the shoe with Goop. My original 11 yr old Merrells have shown very little sign of exterior breakdown. The sole in front, where it wraps up and around the toe, is lifting maybe a 1/4", if that, after all this time. But let me say this about the three year old pair: a few days ago I sprayed them with auto upholstery cleaner foam, brushed them gently with a damp soft bristle brush and gently dried them in a warm room. And they look brand f__kin' new. Unbelievable. I even washed the bottoms and I'm wearing them all thru the house now like a deluxe pair of slippers. One thing about Merrells, if you've never worn them, you don't know... your feet feel better with them on then off, a lot of times.

Now, unless the manufacture of the shoe has changed drastically in the last year, I must say that my most recent unworn pair of Chameleons purchased in 2010 is exactly the same shoe as the original Marauders that were a Christmas gift around 2000. Inspected closely and under magnification, everything is identical from a quality standpoint. Now I'm no shoemaker, so I cannot attest to the physical composition of the rubber, thread or other materials. But with the exception of a slight design change in the shape of the breathable net and suede patch material, every single seam, cusion, padding etc. is of the exact same standard of luxury as the old shoe. And when you look closely, it truly is a gloriously well crafted shoe.

So while yes, I did need to repair the 3 year old pair with a little glue, I don't mind. They are still the most convenient and comfortable shoe I have ever worn. I am not a runner anymore, so I can't recommend them for hyperactive sports like track, tennis, etc. But for sure, the elasticized bands that make up the "laces" are THEE MOST welcome innovation. I use a shoe horn mostly to put them on, and that minimizes the wear to the inside when slipping them on.  (I keep shoe horns handy at every door.) The finger loops, while a bit small to get your finger in if in a hurry, work well when a shoe horn isn't handy.

The Merrell Marauder. Seen first in Herrington catalogs, now on Amazon. Just buy a pair and see for yourself.