Merrell’s Cult-Favorite Sneaker Gets a Warm-Weather Remix
The hiking brand’s archival sneaker fuses the worlds of the street and the trail better than ever before. Merrell If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more For nearly four decades, Merrell didn’t concern itself with fashi…
The hiking brand’s archival sneaker fuses the worlds of the street and the trail better than ever before.
Merrell
If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more
For nearly four decades, Merrell didn’t concern itself with fashion.
That all changed when the folks at the Michigan-based hiking firm decided to lean into the rise of gorpcore. It debuted the experimental 1TRL line (pronounced “one trail”) which fused the always-utilitarian approach Merrell was known for with a streetwear edge.
Merrell’s streetwear-friendly 1TRL Cham Redux just got remixed as a closed-toe sandal.Merrell
But now, its latest offering may have combined the worlds of practical and stylish more than ever.
Taking it to the streets
Last year, 1TRL launched a revival of sorts, bringing back the legendary Chameleon shoe from 2001, but with a twist.
For this variant, cutouts on the side of the tongue help cool your feet and provide water drainage.Merrell
The shoe is available in all black or Grey Cloud (shown).Merrell
This time around, the all-terrain low-top hiker got updated as the Cham Redux. It preserved the overall spirit of its progenitor but gave it a cleaner look. It also added elements like a FloatMax foam midsole, quick-toggle lacing system and modernized outsole geometry, while also increasing the breathability in the mesh upper.
Well, the Cham Redux is back again for another season, this time bringing a brand-new spin-off along with it.
Rather than quick-toggle laces, the Sieve uses Velcro straps to lock in your foot.Merrell
Cut it out
Joining the likes of the All Out Blaze Sieve and the 1TRL Moab Flight Sieve, the Cham Redux now gets the cut-out treatment.
You still get the reptilian motif on the upper’s cutouts, nodding to the original Chameleon from 2001.Merrell
Available in all-black and Grey Cloud, the Cham Redux Sieve sticks with the streetwear-friendly aesthetic of the standard shoe but simply makes it more equipped for warm weather or wet conditions.
Keeping the same midsole, mudguard and outsole design, the shoe is closer to an open-toe sandal than your standard hiking shoe, but not quite. The only openings are on the left and right of the tongue. However, the leather material on the upper has been paired with a neoprene-looking synthetic material where the mesh should be.
These also sport a more simplified look than their progenitor.MerrellMade for most terrain, the rubber outsoles underneath are still just as grippy as your standard Merrell hiking shoe.Merrell
The shape of those cutouts have also been revised a bit, although it still features the same reptilian pattern as your standard Cham Redux.
These don’t look like your standard Keen Newports; there’s some serious styling going on. Instead of bungee laces, the shoe gets locked in via a pair of stylish leather straps with Velcro closures. Likewise, the tongue design is more simplified, especially without any laces covering it up.
Availability and pricing
Priced at $160, the 1TRL Cham Redux Sieve joins the new Cham Redux colorways on Merrell’s website. They’re available now.
About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.
Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
