Initial Report

Merrell
Chameleon Kids Hiker
October 7, 2005

Personal Information:
Parent:
Leesa Joiner
leesaj@...
Southwestern Maine
44 years old
Female
5'7" (1.7 m)
160 lb. (73 kg)

Child:
Mariah Joiner
mariah@...
Southwestern Maine
10 years old
Female
4' 8" ( 1.2 m)
72 lb (30 kg)
Shoe Size: 6 kids
Color preference: Lt Gray/Pink if available

Product Information:
Year Manufactured: 2005
Manufacturer's URL: http://www.merrell.com
Size: 6
Color: Kangaroo/Boa Gray
MSRP: $50.00 US
No Weight available on website
Weight as Delivered:
Left Shoe:   9.7 oz (274 g)
Right Shoe: 9.7 oz (274 g)
Both Shoes: 1 lb 3 oz (549 g)

First Impressions:
    The Merrell Kid's Chameleon Hiker's arrived in good condition, as pictured on the website. After a quick inspection, Mariah tried them on and announced they fit great and looked good too! We took the dogs for a walk and when we returned she said they were comfortable and there were no spots that rubbed on her feet. She had plenty of toe space also. She found it very easy to slide the hikers on and off. She uses one hand on the cord and the other to pull the hiker off by the ankle. Mariah was able to wear the hikers while hiking in Vermont the day after she got them. She hiked about 5 miles, and then went shopping in them. In all, she wore them about 10 hours and still found them comfortable when she got home. She did mention her feet needed to 'air out' after that. Her socks were slightly damp, but not overly so, considering the length of time and temperature (about 80 F (31 C)).

Mom's Background:
    My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying in
length from one day hikes to two-week trips. My experience hiking began with my father when I was about six years old. We hiked along the river pathways in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. While enjoying the outdoors with my Girl Scout troop, friends and family, I spend time hiking,geocaching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and camping. Although I am not
a lightweight backpacker, I am trying to 'lighten up' and primarily use a hammock for sleeping.

Mariah's Background:
    Mariah's outdoor adventures began early - as the youngest, she was often in a baby carrier, going along on day hikes and overnight camping trips from a very early age. She has always tried to keep up with her brothers, and has learned that if she wants to tag along, she better not whine! She just finished up a week at Maine Conservation School and has spent the summer
hiking, swimming, geocaching (she is great at finding those that are hidden under things!) Going into her second year of Girl Scouts, she participates in troop and council outings every month, along with family hikes. Mariah carries her own pack, and likes to use a hiking pole when going long distances.

Test Locations:
    During the fall we will be hiking in western Maine and central New Hampshire, with our family, scouts and with a group of friends. We typically either set up camp and hike out from the base camp, or we backpack in to a camping area. We are fortunate to live in an area where we can drive just a short distance and take advantage of some great hiking. Our Girl Scout troop is made up of young girls who are just getting their first experience with being outdoors for extended periods. We do at least one full day hike a month, and an over night trip every other month. This allows me time to hike with my other children and a group of friends. Most backpacking trips will be of a mostly spontaneous nature - day hikes and geocaching, along with fishing in the Saco River. We fish frequently both locally in fresh water lakes, and in the Atlantic Ocean which is only about a 45 minute drive from our house.

Test Plan:
Our test plan for the Merrell Chameleon Kids Hiker is fairly straight forward - Mariah is looking at comfort and how they look, and I will look at how well they are constructed, and how they hold up to use. As with most kids, she won't end up wearing anything for long if it isn't comfortable - so that part should be pretty straight forward. At her age, she is able to verbalize what, if anything, is uncomfortable. After looking at the picture, she was curious as to whether the cord lacing and cordlock would keep the shoes snug while climbing and if she could easily tighten them without slowing down too much.

I will take on looking at how the advertised features perform.
* Do all the layers stay attached to each other?
* Do the materials provide ventilation?
* Does the mesh lining remain intact?
* How strong is the elastic cord lacing and friction cord lock?
* What is the 'Perfed' EVA footbed? Does removing it help to reduce odors by
   allowing it to dry out? Only testing will tell...

Test Conditions:

The majority of our testing will be done in northern New England, where the current temperature is 62 degrees F (22 C) and winter temperatures are often below the 0 - 32 F ( -14 - 0 C ) range. Over the next four months temperatures will drop and we typically have a rainy early fall. It is not unusual to have snow on the ground by November. Most of our hiking is done below 3000 ft (914 m). There is a wide range of types of terrain on these hikes - everything from well maintained trails to hiking through heavily wooded areas. Some trips involve backpacking into campsites and at other times I set up camp and hike out from there. Mariah is a climber, so if there is a rock to climb, or a stone wall she is the first to attack it.

Read more reviews of Merrell gear
Read more gear reviews by Leesa Joiner

Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Merrel Chameleon Kids Regular > Leesa Joiner > Initial Report

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