Customer Reviews Merrell Encore Q2 Breeze

I love the fit of this shoe. I'm flat footed but supinate vs. pronate so it's impossible to find shoes that feel even slightly comfortable and I also have a number of other issues which make finding shoes that are comfortable even more of an issue. So, the fit of this shoe is great. But, as others have commented, the shoe stinks. Someone said rubber tire and that's a good description. The smell doesn't go away as it seems to get stronger. Also, my feet stink when wearing these shoes. it appears to be the insole. At age 60, this is the only pair of shoes that I have ever had with this problem . I've been using them at home as slippers. Just bought a second pair to wear outside of the home. I thought maybe the smell issue just related to the first pair. Wrong. This pair smells like rubber tires. And after only wearing the shoes about 10 minutes, my feet and shoes stink. It sounds like you have changed the shoes from the original version which prevented the odor issues. I will be returning this second pair of shoes. I've had other Merrill shoes and have never had the odor issue as is the problem with this shoe. Please consider correcting this issue.

So, all the reviews about how these are different from the previous version are correct. The insoles are hard, they are longer and more narrow, the arch support has essentially disappeared and there is a smell. I am SO very disappointed with these shoes. I absolutely LOVED my Encore Breeze shoes and had them forever. I was expecting to do the same with these. Unfortunately, I will not. I just bought these a few weeks ago and am already looking for a new set of shoes. To Merrell: whatever you did, whoever you outsourced your design to, whoever you outsourced your manufacturing to, please undo it. You had the specs on shoes that were universally loved. You made changes and now they are not. Let me know when you change it back and I'll be back.