There’s one thing you should know about me: I’m a Chaco hiker. Doesn’t matter the terrain or conditions. I like to feel the breeze—and dust, muck, and snow—between my toes. Why? To avoid the dreaded blisters that inevitably come with breaking in a new pair of hiking kicks. So when I signed on for a Merrell trip to test the Chameleon 7 ($170) by tromping 18 miles through the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness area over three days, I was convinced my feet would be hamburger by the end. Not so.

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