I ordered Merrell Cham 5 GTX shoes on New Years day to take advantage of the discount on offer and they arrived via standard delivery on 5 Jan. In Merrell shoes (including 'Refuge-Pro' that are slightly more flexible) I always take one full size larger (9) than my normal size (8) so be-aware of their relatively small sizing if you are purchasing for the first time. This is my 4th pair of Merrells of a similar design because 1. the design fits my particular feet well 2. they provide a very stable & supportive footbed for a multi-purpose walking shoe - especially for my knees and hips after years of sports wear & tear. In almost continuous varied & daily use, including hill (not mountain - use boots for ankle support) walking a pair lasts me about 18-24 months after I've noticed water can start to penetrate and they get relegated to garden use. Depending on the materials used on a particular design be careful when using on a bike where the soft woven material on the inside heal-side entry can be snagged/cut by the chainwheel. Overall a very good shoe for me.