It's essentially the RAV4 of the hiking shoes. It's a shoe that is not necessarily the best in each category (like you said, there are others with better traction or comfort). But it is a solid and proven shoe with the right features. You get a lot of shoe for a reasonable price.
A long time ago I read a head to head test of a number of large capacity motorcycles. It was so long ago that they were mostly what I call "normal" bikes rather than the modern fetish for "adventure" bikes or pseudo-racers. They - a magazine - scored all the bikes on a series of different tests and totted up at the end to see what was best overall. What surprised even the testers was that it was the BMW that won. I don't now recall if it was best at anything, but it was 2nd best at everything - handling, speed, finish, comfort, suitability for long distances etc. The Japanese bikes were fastest in a straight line but didn't (then) handle well. The Italian bikes handled well but had poor finish and electrics. And so on ... And yes, my beat-up old Merrells are at the side of my desk right now, relegated to MTB riding, walking when full boots aren't needed and even to mowing the lawns.
On deployment heaps of Australian SAS were wearing the MOAB boots and I went, well if these guys are wearing them in a literal life and death situation they must be good. So I bought a pair of MOAB 2 and I have never looked back, the absolute best hiking shoe I have ever worn and I’ve taken them every where; Casual, around town, gardening/landscaping, backpacking, trails, up mountains, down valleys, through water and they are still going, still comfortable. No blisters, no sore feet, works well with my narrow feet and the support is unparalleled. I don’t need to look for another shoe because there isn’t a boot that can do any better to what my feet get from these.
Huge Merrell Moab fan - it is the only hiking shoe /boot I can take out of the box and go for a 10km hike with no worries, on my 3rd pair now with a couple of reserves in the cupboard 👍 often use Smartwool socks for complete comfort 😁
I used my moab 2 mid for about a year while serving with a conservation corps in colorado. I absolutely beat the crap out of them, in four season weather. Anything from chainsawing in the snow to spraying herbicide on cliffsides in the middle of summer. They performed beautifully in all these conditions. They are still my favorite boots.
Mine too. I had 3 pair fail. I even took 2 pair to a local boot repair shop to add extra stitching. They would fail to the left and right of the toe cap. The new stitches held up, rest of the boot failed
Yeah. I now have 5 pairs of Merrell shoes over 10 years of wearing them. I recently moved to the Moab Mid height to give me more support there. The Merrell store always is running a by one get two half off sale.
Back in the early 90s Merrell products arrived in the UK and I had quite a bit of contact with the footwear Guru, Gary Richter; then Merrell’s Minister Of Culture. At the time there were no Vibram soles on any of their hiking shoes, instead they used their own branded ones. The problem with these soles was they retained a coating of the mould-release compound which made the sole almost useless in wet conditions, thus earning them the unfortunate name of “Perrells”. One afternoon I received a call from Gary who was very concerned about the drop in sales here in the UK. I suggested it was due to the sole units and that UK customers only had faith in Vibram and Skywalk soles, with a preference for Vibram. I doubt I was the only one to tell him this, but without the switch to Vibram I can’t imagine these shoes would have attained the sales and status they have.
And so it continues, most boots and shoes do not cope with wet smooth stone surfaces which are common here in Cornwall. Modern Vibram soles are pretty bad. Strangely, generic 'desert boot' footwear soles seem to have the best wet grip, but are far from ideal. It is as if the 'outdoor boot & shoe' market is aimed at people who only go out in dry weather onto sandy paths. And the Merrel footwear decided to go a half size narrrow back in about 2005, which was very poor. My only pair of Merrel shoes from the late 90's had Vibram soles, were wide enough but the padded interiors disintegrated after a week's brisk walking on the coast path.
@@etherealbolweevil6268 It’s totally baffled me why there are so many different rubber compounds carrying the Vibram name. Originally that gold logo signified the “Mountain Gold Block” sole where the tread pattern differed, but not the compound. Due to this it was possible to have some consistency and faith in its durability, but that’s long gone. The only lightweight boot that I’m aware of that still uses this Vibram compound is AKU’s UK Military boot, of which I have first hand experience. However, it’s still not great on wet rock, which is the trade-off of that durability and shallow lug design.
On my 2nd pair of Moabs. I have done 3 backpack trips in these in the Grand Canyon. I didnt have any issues with my feet and my feet actually feel good coming out of the Canyon every time.
For me, thing that makes them really great is that a) they fit me and b) I've been able to buy the same shoe year after year after year. Before I found the Merrill Moab, I would find a shoe that I liked but when I went back several months later, that model was no longer available, replaced by something completely different leaving me to have to find another shoe that fits.
yes we all have Merrell Moab's, I do and like and wear them often. I have been trying another similar hiking shoe and think I like them more. Try Keen Targee's, I like the big toe box that lets my toes spread out. The Moab vents I like for warm weather hiking.
In 1991 I bought Merrell leather mountaineering sandals (with metal protector around heels) and believe or not, with some minor repairs they are still going strong.
I’ve worn out 3 pair and my oldest pair now is my lawn mowing pair. I have two pair for casual walking and hiking. But the real winner is I can wear them all day and my feet do not hurt. So I’ve had 7 pair, 2 defunct, 2 work and 3 casual and hiking. When I wear them, I’m good for an hour or 12 hours of walking. Their size 10 and the last is perfect for my foot. Oh, I I wore them in Moab!
lol. My oldest Merrills always end up being my lawn mowing pair. 😊 I always have multiple pairs in different age ranges for various activities from gardening to dog walking and errands to hiking.
I have both Low and Mid Moab 1 & 2’s, just bought some 3’s, all non-waterproof. They have been the only wide hiking shoe that is comfortable right out of the box and on to the trail. The 1’s have now been regulated to being my gardening and choring shoes, it’s gonna take several more years of lawn cutting to finally kill them(at which time they will live out their lives up in my Shoetree). The Low-2’s are black, and discreet enough to pass as “not a hiking shoe” in a dark restaurant when traveling. The Mid-3’s kids will be my Outback hiking shoe on my coming up trip to Queensland. Now if they only made them snakeproof….🥾🐍
I really like both the Merrell shoes and the boots. As a hiker of a "certain age" I have put a LOT of miles on my feet and in some cases done damage by using the wrong shoe for the conditions. These protect the soles of my feet from injury, they feel good all day, I appreciate the Vibram grip and they hang in there with a long trek or many months of hiking in all conditions where my old trail runners just fell apart. A win.
I bought a pair of gray/blue Merrell boots in the mid-90's and used them thoroughly in the mountains of Colorado. The sole at the heel later started letting go, was glued back on with Shoe-Goo, as did the other sole of the other shoe. Beat and battered, they became my mowing/work on house boots. Then my son took them on his first hiking trips and loved them- much more so than newer Columbia's I got for him. They have a place of honor now, l use them to this day- 35 years- in my work painting and cleaning up- all original. I have waterproof Moabs now as my adventure hiker.
Also because it’s one of the only models available that isn’t waterproof for people who actually understand how bad waterproof boots can be in many situations.
@@weetzybat because you spend far more time needing your sweaty feet to simply breathe than you do keeping them dry from the OUTSIDE. Gore-tex and other membranes do not breathe at a sufficient rate to actually keep your feet dry from the INSIDE and they actually contribute to your foot being hotter.
@@zeck8541 - Yeah, I have the waterproof mid version of this shoes and can confirm, my feet get extremely hot in them, which I chalked up to the Goretex. I only use them in rainy/wet weather now.
@@zeck8541 Correct. The same goes for 'Gortex / Equivalent' Jackets and such. When active .. really active, one has a choice .. get wet from outside or inside.
I've been wearing my Moab rovers for more than 6 years now. they are durable and comfortable. However, the glue they used got weak after 2 years - I had the boots stitched up and it's been indestructible ever since.
i like merrell because they put hiking sole in their sneaker line. this fits my life style very well. i probably will never buy a single pair of hiking shoes from merrell but i'd definitely come back for their all terrain sneakers every two or three years. i wish more brands would adopt this idea.
I bought my first pair of Moab Boots years back because they offered a non-gortex model at a time when many other boots only came with goretex liners. Goretex boots are just too hot for summer hiking for me. Comfort and fit is relative because everyone's foot is different. These fit my foot well.
I have pretty complicated feet apparently, and just discovered pretty recently while looking for a hiking boot. So I went into amazon ordered some 10 pairs, from keen, to adidas to salewa and nothing felt good. Went into shops and tried more adidas, more salewas, timberlands, anything i could get my feet on and nothing fit. Loosing hope, ordered more keen's thargee 3 and they felt good, except my heel just would not stay in place, and rumors tell, they tend to self destruct quickly, but on the last batch of boots there came the moab 3 I ordered just to fill the box and was planing to just return them, until I put them on, and instantly they felt dreamy and fit perfectly. The moab 3 low are now my everyday shoe while looking to still buy that hiking boot, it will probably end up being a moab 3 gtx for winter...
I walked the Camino in mine. I walk 3-5 miles in Tucson desert conditions everday. Only on the Scottish West Highland Way, which is super rocky, did they come apart. Great shoes.
I own a pair of Moab mid GTX since 2012, I wear them all the time, all the time and since day one is like having a fluffy cloud beneath my feet. I rarely use anything else because I feel my feet are well protected. Only about one year ago did the black part at the front started deteriorating (on one shoe) and I want to buy a new pair, even the laces are still pristine. Best thing I ever bought.
I have 4 pair. One totally raunched out and used for dirty yard work. Then two pair for daily wear to work, hiking, walking daily. One is getting closer to yard work, but is still looking good. They wear like iron. One pair for new jeans, clean shirt, running out to listen to live music. The number one thing is, they fit my foot. Weak spot early on was the lace, but newer ones seems to have a better lace that looks just like the older lace, only holds a knot, does wear through as my first pair did years before the material showed signs of breaking down.
I was working in a very busy and dirty wearhouse for 3 years. I wore these shoes everyday summer, fall and winter and they kept my feet cool during the summer, warm and breathable in the winter and cozy in the fall. I LOVE these shoes. They also kept my feet safe from sharp objects I’ve brushed up against like wood chips and nails sticking out.
That's my favorite shoe, when I first purchased it, the sale people were saying they were selling these mostly to roofers, as they found the shoe did a fantastic job of gripping surfaces on the job sites.
I love the MOABs, I have the waterproof versions in low and high top. I also have their other designs with the same long wearing sole that are lighter. But the most important reason I am a loyal customer is because they have wide widths available in all their designs!!
I have Merrell Moab first generation since 2008, just the next year of their production. They are still alive. Good fit with medium and heavy socks for me. The width of their last allows to wear different kind of socks. Have many other pairs of hiking and hunting boots, so wearing them all and properly care you can keep them in line for a very long time. Decents boots for outdoor activity almost all time and season.
Back in 2011 I sustained a turf toe injury and needed something to walk in with a stiff enough sole to keep my big toe from bending. That was my first Moabs. I got my second pair five years ago and they're still going strong. They're durable and comfortable--with no funky lumps on the inner sole that irritate my feet. Why mess with success?
I've been through several pairs of these so I know a lot about them. I end up having ones for daily wear, ones for lawn mowing, ones for digging and getting muddy. I just bought yet another pair. If you need truly waterproof ones, get the Gore-Tex ones. I put them to a real test recently when mowing my ditch. It was filled with a few inches of water and even after the shoes being a year old no water got in. The "Waterproof" ones are barely water resistant. Other than mowing my ditch, I find having the Gore-Tex ones great because I often start mowing my 2 acre property in the morning before the dew is gone by trimming and edging where having wet grass doesn't matter so much. The Gore-Tex ones keep my feet dry. These shoes are fine for hiking and walking on pavement as well. (I'm "old" now, so I'm talking going a few miles; upwards of 6 miles.) The only real problem is that where I encounter a restaurant with a smooth and damp floor they are terribly slippy; like dangerously slippy. I suppose it is due to the hard (yet durable) soles.
I wouldn't use hiking shoes for mountain biking, I don't know why people keep suggesting this. They won't grip a flat pedal like a proper MTB shoe or even a skate shoe, but the pedal will still shred the sole (and your shins). A proper flat pedal MTB shoe has a flat sole with very grippy rubber, basically the same type of rubber as climbing or approach shoes but also very stiff support for a solid pedaling platform, skate shoes are also commonly used as they have the flat, sticky sole just without the pedal support.
I switch between the Merrell MOAB 2 and the Danner Mountain 600. The MOAB 2 has a wider toebox and doesn't rub on my little toes but its sole is a bit harder. The Danner has a more comfortable sole, but has a bit narrower toebox. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
I kept my Merrel approach shoes for five years and it broke my heart putting them in the bin... they were so comfortable and could be worn in any moderate, dry conditions (I used Karrimor GTX 100 for wet and rocky conditions). Time for a new pair 🥾
Do they still make the Moab Ventilators? I wore those for years. A few years ago I switched to a similar shoe under the brand Oboz, because they fit my foot shape a little better.
I´ve owned several of the Merrell MOAB 2 & agree...they are very comfortable....no break in period. However, i´ve for the last few years had Lowa Zephyr GTX & prefer them every day of the week due to beeing more rigid giving you more support & they also hold up/last longer.
And before the Moabs everyone was told that boots were the only options for hiking. While I can’t hike as I once did, sadly I was a boot hiker unless the last couple years of hiking. I wish I had known! They would have saved me many blisters and sore feet. Oh well, I still enjoy walking in them 🙂
I've owned some of them and I liked them. They fit well and felt good, and gave good traction. I didn't think they lasted as long as they should have, and I didn't think the pricing was all that good. There are other brands that I like as well and a brand that I think is better in every way, what I'm wearing now.
I have been using my only pair for 3-4 years from casual, to airsoft, to school, hiking, cycling, motorcycling, running, through mud, dirt, rain or shine. They Iook old now but it has never been touched by a shoe repair until this day. Perfect for everyday use.
I use to have those and accidentally bought the water proof model. Do not recommend for summer use! But they definitely kept my feet warm in the winter.
He's not wrong about the shoe being multi-use. I started wearing a version of them in the 90s (from merrell) and went with the moabs not long after they came out and still wear them. More comfortable than any others I have worn. The only thing that has changed as I get older is I usually replaced the insole after a few months in a thicker one, as the one they have eventually compresses. Great shoe. Damn.. I just remembered how long ago the 90's is and how many pairs I must have bought over the years.... Also, as someone else mentioned, they come in wide, so they actually fit my foot at the right size, instead of having to buy a longer shoe with the arch in the wrong spot.
I have a pair in my closet right now, and they are the third pair I've had. I have found that Merrell fit my feet the say no other shoe I've tried. For the first time though, the sole started to separate from the uppers. An application of Shoe Goo fixed the problem, but it is unfortunate. Still, I love them.
Had a pair about a decade ago, they were fine for day hiking on smooth~ish trails, grip wasn't great when scrambling and they weren't that protective on rocky trail. For me personally the Keen Targhees have been a better fit, more protective, a bit more grip, just as comfortable. I also tried a pair of Oboz hiking shoes, they had incredible grip and good support, but were pretty uncomfortable on anything more than a short hike, they were also quite heavy.
I have 3 pairs of Merrells, without a doubt the best shoe I’ve ever owned…I have 3 pairs, the oldest is 17 years old and I still wear that pair today! Ergonomics are brilliant, material is fantastic and durability, unsurpassed! 💪🇿🇦
have 2 pair of Moab 2 Ventilator mids...great boots. My first pair have to be 6 years old with many hundreds if not thousands of miles on them. My latest pair were the last of the MOAB 2s bought on Black Friday last year for $50. That pair has a few hundred miles imcluding a 50 mile Badlands and Custer hike over 3 days.
I've had a pair of Yakota 2's for a few years . I've literally washed them so many times and waterproofed them twice. The reason I love Merrell is the way they cup my heel. Yes the toe pad is flat that's just the way they are BUT once my feet got used to them I cannot wear other shoes. My Yakotas are USED bigtime and the padding has totally collapsed yet I wear them still . So I just now bought the Crosslander series which has the same foot design platform. The croaslander has more sued and less mesh which is the thing I disliked the most with the yakota 2s design. I don't care for the look of the Moabs but I might buy a pair next time around .
Great video. Thanks. I bought one pair and loved it so much, I bought an identical second pair. Just in case it was discontinued. I guess my fears were misplaced. I do agree that they don’t have the best wet traction. They do not grip well on the wet/damp cobblestones of Portugal. I do love them just the same!
I’ve had a pair of these hiking shoes for the last 6 years (foot doctor recommended them) and they are still in good condition, I wear them everyday 9 months of the year (not in the summer unless hiking) My stepson has been through several pairs during the same time period, although he is overweight which makes a big difference in shoe wear!
I have been wearing Merrill Moab’s for decades. We hike an average of 7 miles a day (obviously retired) on the trails in the foothills above our home. They wear like iron and fit like a glove.
I love these shoes and use Moab 2 and 3 mostly for work where I am always on my feet and they are wet for most of the day. I burn through a pair about every 10-12 months of daily use and what usually fails is an eventual crack in the inside area near by big toe, don't know why that's the spot. No other part of the shoe has ever come apart for me. For the price and the abuse I put them through, no comparison on value. I also use Moab 3's for general walking and normal use and have for many years. I will admit that when hiking with a pack I use Solomon's as my feet feel a lot better at the end of the day. The foot bed just feels more secure when under load. Anyway, superb value for Merrell.
The only thing I hate about them is how easily I slip sometimes in them. Fell right down a half flight of wooden stairs on my ass once because there was a small amount of snow melt and have felt them slipping several times in other situations on and off the trail.
Less inclined to turn my big toe at a 45° angle. Big toes generally don't naturally angle toward the centre of your foot like most shoes attempt to achieve.
80% of my footwear is Merrell brand. They are comfortable, they last and they look great. There are sneakers, work shoes and boots and casual everyday shoes. They also offer wide widths which actually fit my feet.
I use Merrell Moabs at work standing on concrete floors all day with added Spenco ground control high arch insoles, it proves to be an unbeatable combination. My Moabs are also for hiking as the same pair can endure work and play without a hitch. Yet at one time I swore by Nike ACG Mountain shoes were the best for me. But once they started falling apart prematurely with the soles coming off due to poor glue I was finished purchasing them for good.
Great review, and I concur with your assessment of the Moab (2). I've had the 2's for a few years, and as you stated, they perform adequately. My current favorite shoe is the Oboz Bridger Low B-Dry hiking shoe. Super robust and supportive, with a rugged outsole, solid midsole and nubuck uppers with good foot protection all around. Any experience with that brand? Thanks, and enjoy a great 2024!
100 percent my experience as well. Oboz Bridger mids were my selection after wearing pair of Merrells over 10 years. Sadly those Oboz Bridgers were stolen. I replaced with the Oboz Bridger Low. Oboz seems to provide an even better fit than Merrell.
All that padding will likely absorb lots of water, so they're really just for the occasional rain, not in situations where rain and water crossings are rather the norm than the exception, like e.g. in the Swedish mountains. I'd prefer hiking rubber boots (Aigle Parcours, Viking Trophy, Muck ...) for that scenario. It all depends on the conditions. What we can agree on: GoreTex shoes are garbage for hiking.
Yeah, they are leagues above anything else. I wore only the waterproof version for years and on multiple hikes before I had to buy another pair of shoes. Now, I just walk in the store, buy one more and that's it. I'm on my third pair and still as happy
Great hiking boots, wore the Merrell from the mid 90's until I switched to Solomon around 2016. I still recommend Merrell to people who are just getting into hiking as the price point is good and the shoes look good with jeans and chinos. And I know a lot of people who don't hike but bought them to look outdoorsy.
✨ The Ultimate Dad shoe appears ✨ It truly is the best all around for the price. I’ve had 3 pairs of the Moab 2 and currently have 2 pairs of the Moab 3’s. Recommend the wide and the updated grip is really tough and great for hikes and martial arts training.
The first non-hiking shoes I wore after ditching the heavy leather Vibram-soled monsters? Nike Air Tailwind, the shoe before Nike visible Air was available in 1978. Great for PCT and desert hiking.
i've had two pairs of them. my 2nd pair is now primarily relegated for the monsoon season. it's not moab though. its adhesive holding the sole to the uppers has now gone sideways but i just brought it the neighborhood cobbler and had them stitched and they're as good as new.
I planned to buy Moab’s but the fit was so wide and clunky. So instead, I bought a pair of Merrell MQM Flex 2 GTX. They were lighter and more narrow and felt fantastic at first (comfort, breathable, dry in rain) but they slip badly on wet surfaces - even before the colored lugs pealed off the soles. It will be a long time before I buy another pair of Merrell’s again
I loved the feel of the MQM flex 2 as well. I wore mine out completely. I did not have the broken lug problem though. But they did wear down pretty quickly. That is the problem with soft soles.
I always thought Moab referred to Moab, Utah where Arches National Park is. My memories of this place feature some intense desert hiking and very long inclines.
I wish they'd trim down the weight some. After wearing some Brooks running shoes, its almost impossible to wear the moabs without the weight being a constant awareness. Also, Merrell needs to do something about their laces... I can't be the only one that has a problem keeping them tied - they're too slippery somehow.
The first edition Moab 1 is way better than the more current ones, when they dropped the extra eyelets at the top for the shoelaces. Without the extra eyelet pair, the heals tend to slide up and down more when walking. I still have a stockpile of Moab 1's hoping they bring back the extra eyelet pair someday.
The most comfortable hiking boots I had were Merrell. The most comfortable sandals were Merrell. I would buy these in a flash if I were still in that market and would wear them for any activity.
I've owned two pairs of Moabs, and I would characterize them as the "New Balance" of hiking shoes. The first pair were good. The second pair were never comfortable. I tried aftermarket inserts which did not help. They felt bulkier and more "clunky" than the first pair. Just switched over to Salomon Genesis which were nearly a pound lighter than the Moabs and broken in/ready to go straight from the box. I'll never go back to Merrell, but if they work for you, great.
MOABs from the sale rack... Never worn, perfect size... Wore them as "everyday" shoes, never did any "serious" hikes in them. 5 month later the sole started to pull away from the materials at the toe, won't get moabs again. I've had the Chameleons before and I think they wear better, and they certainly fit better. Did the Adidas hikers too, they literally fell apart in 4 months of routine (non-trail) use. So while I'm still looking for a decent summer shoe. I'll stick with my Asolo Fugitive GTXs.. They're heavy but I've had em for 7 years and they still look and wear like they're brand new.
You hit the nail on the head. Value, with no negatives. That puts it in a class by itself. I will add one more metric: they come in at least three height options in the same model range, so you can have coverage from short to well over the ankle, as the activity dictates, with a shoe that you know and love. The also have many color options for the fashion minded among us.
Wearing a pair right now. Been wearing them since the original version. I think I have four pair. So far, none have failed early. It's not a boot. It is either a lightweight hiking shoe, or a heavy athletic shoe. Gardening, dog walking, fishing, etc. It does what I need and they fit. The fit and price make them a "go to" shoe for me. If I need a boot, I'll wear a real PNW boot.
I had a pair of Moabs ten years ago and they were lousy. They leaked on rainy days, the footbed was concave and uncomfortable. I don’t know why I bought another pair a couple years ago but they are remarkably better. Feels like an entirely different shoe. They are my go to hiking shoe.
I definitely like the Moab 3s better than the Moab 2s. Back to back, they are significantly better cushioned. And you're right - the SRP of the Moab is reasonable to begin with and the huge production volumes annually lead to massive discounting at retail. I retired a pair of Moab 2 low non-WPs for Moab 3 non-WP mids, for weekend hikes in the Mayacamas between Napa and Sonoma counties. I have a rambling trip (multi-day long distance walking via rights of way) in the UK in August '24, and for that trip bought a pair of the Moab 3 GoreTex lows (as it will rain, inevitably). For the basic non-WP, non-GoreTex Moab 3 mids I paid just $86, new ($130 SRP). For the GoreTex (not WP - three levels of waterproofness for Moab models: non, generic WP, and branded Gore Tex) Moab 3 lows, I paid $99, new, though they retail (SRP) for $170. Shop around. Totally agree that these are adequate+ in each material aspect, but not great in any respect, other than value (bang for the buck). I go through a few pairs of trail shoes each year as I hike at least 7-8 miles each day, and generally do at least one 20+ mile days on weekends. I can use up 2-3 pairs of Merrells per single pair of anything fancier I could buy instead. Volksboots.
I have heard customers have a wide variety of uses for the Moabs for sure at the Merrell outlet where I work. Everything from hiking, to a scientist who said he wore them to stand in the lab all day, to a guy that pumps gas and wears them at work all day (they pump your gas for you in NJ lol I live in PA but near the border)
Funny. I was born and raised in NJ, and I have no idea why they don't allow anyone to pump their own gas. Nothing I like better that handing my credit card to an attendant so he can take my info, along with the card's security code.
@@photog1529I agree and would much rather pump it myself. Like I said I live in PA so have only got gas in NJ a handful of times in my life but I’d rather pump it and handle my own card
I use the mid-height Moab 3 and love its light weight. It’s easily the second best shoe/boot for non-winter use that I’ve used(and the best, the original Brasher boot from 1982) is no longer made… But my UK boots don’t have that vibram sole and I really wish they did. The mixed sole I have is proving too soft and is wearing out quickly.
Merrell's are ubiquitous in the Military contractor world. They are available at many retail stores, they are comfortable and fairly inexpensive. If I caught the Moabs on sale I would get 2 pair. Changing shoes every day to allow them to dry is important. Most Military posts in deployed environments are covered in gravel and river rocks to cut down on slugging through the mud or cut down on dust. The Merrell's were perfect for this environment, but firm enough to stand up to the uneven footing and comfortable for long shifts on a hot flight line. The Chameleon was a great shoe but the last pair I bought are noisy and have weird Hotspot. I think Salomon's are lighter and way more comfortable but they are very expensive. I bought a pair on sale and wish I could have bought a couple pair.
If you have plantar fasciitis as I do, this shoe is fantastic. Got me back in the woods!
Traction is great for me, I will stick with the Moab.
It's essentially the RAV4 of the hiking shoes. It's a shoe that is not necessarily the best in each category (like you said, there are others with better traction or comfort). But it is a solid and proven shoe with the right features. You get a lot of shoe for a reasonable price.
I wonder what the 4Runner or Tacoma is . I want that one
A long time ago I read a head to head test of a number of large capacity motorcycles. It was so long ago that they were mostly what I call "normal" bikes rather than the modern fetish for "adventure" bikes or pseudo-racers.
They - a magazine - scored all the bikes on a series of different tests and totted up at the end to see what was best overall. What surprised even the testers was that it was the BMW that won. I don't now recall if it was best at anything, but it was 2nd best at everything - handling, speed, finish, comfort, suitability for long distances etc. The Japanese bikes were fastest in a straight line but didn't (then) handle well. The Italian bikes handled well but had poor finish and electrics. And so on ...
And yes, my beat-up old Merrells are at the side of my desk right now, relegated to MTB riding, walking when full boots aren't needed and even to mowing the lawns.
On deployment heaps of Australian SAS were wearing the MOAB boots and I went, well if these guys are wearing them in a literal life and death situation they must be good. So I bought a pair of MOAB 2 and I have never looked back, the absolute best hiking shoe I have ever worn and I’ve taken them every where; Casual, around town, gardening/landscaping, backpacking, trails, up mountains, down valleys, through water and they are still going, still comfortable. No blisters, no sore feet, works well with my narrow feet and the support is unparalleled.
I don’t need to look for another shoe because there isn’t a boot that can do any better to what my feet get from these.
So are they the same ones the SASR used to kick rural peasants off cliffs, or did they use Keens for that?
@@GLEN1061 although I have a lot to say on the topic, this isn’t the place to talk about it.
Huge Merrell Moab fan - it is the only hiking shoe /boot I can take out of the box and go for a 10km hike with no worries, on my 3rd pair now with a couple of reserves in the cupboard 👍 often use Smartwool socks for complete comfort 😁
I used my moab 2 mid for about a year while serving with a conservation corps in colorado. I absolutely beat the crap out of them, in four season weather. Anything from chainsawing in the snow to spraying herbicide on cliffsides in the middle of summer. They performed beautifully in all these conditions. They are still my favorite boots.
You were chainsawing without PPE?
That's my go-to shoe when I head underground. The environment down there is brutal, and my feet are always comfortable.
Love my mid Moab hiker’s. 1000 miles on my first pair and on to my second. Durable, comfortable and very reasonably priced.
The last few Merrells that my family purchased came apart prematurely
Me too, my first Merrell, too. They were casual pull-ons with extra ice traction soles.
had two pairs fail within 4 months , one pair refunded right away ... no more
Mine too. I had 3 pair fail. I even took 2 pair to a local boot repair shop to add extra stitching. They would fail to the left and right of the toe cap. The new stitches held up, rest of the boot failed
Mine has too. My old one lasted years.
I was really happy with mine but it also came apart.
Yeah. I now have 5 pairs of Merrell shoes over 10 years of wearing them. I recently moved to the Moab Mid height to give me more support there. The Merrell store always is running a by one get two half off sale.
I’ve used their Trail glove the last 10 years as running shoes, love them. Just ordered Moab 3, looking forward to trying them out.
Back in the early 90s Merrell products arrived in the UK and I had quite a bit of contact with the footwear Guru, Gary Richter; then Merrell’s Minister Of Culture. At the time there were no Vibram soles on any of their hiking shoes, instead they used their own branded ones. The problem with these soles was they retained a coating of the mould-release compound which made the sole almost useless in wet conditions, thus earning them the unfortunate name of “Perrells”.
One afternoon I received a call from Gary who was very concerned about the drop in sales here in the UK. I suggested it was due to the sole units and that UK customers only had faith in Vibram and Skywalk soles, with a preference for Vibram. I doubt I was the only one to tell him this, but without the switch to Vibram I can’t imagine these shoes would have attained the sales and status they have.
And so it continues, most boots and shoes do not cope with wet smooth stone surfaces which are common here in Cornwall. Modern Vibram soles are pretty bad. Strangely, generic 'desert boot' footwear soles seem to have the best wet grip, but are far from ideal. It is as if the 'outdoor boot & shoe' market is aimed at people who only go out in dry weather onto sandy paths. And the Merrel footwear decided to go a half size narrrow back in about 2005, which was very poor. My only pair of Merrel shoes from the late 90's had Vibram soles, were wide enough but the padded interiors disintegrated after a week's brisk walking on the coast path.
@@etherealbolweevil6268 It’s totally baffled me why there are so many different rubber compounds carrying the Vibram name. Originally that gold logo signified the “Mountain Gold Block” sole where the tread pattern differed, but not the compound. Due to this it was possible to have some consistency and faith in its durability, but that’s long gone.
The only lightweight boot that I’m aware of that still uses this Vibram compound is AKU’s UK Military boot, of which I have first hand experience. However, it’s still not great on wet rock, which is the trade-off of that durability and shallow lug design.
Yes they are that good. I climbed the mountain route on Mt. Whitney with those and have been wearing them ever since. Great grip and durable.
On my 2nd pair of Moabs. I have done 3 backpack trips in these in the Grand Canyon. I didnt have any issues with my feet and my feet actually feel good coming out of the Canyon every time.
For me, thing that makes them really great is that a) they fit me and b) I've been able to buy the same shoe year after year after year. Before I found the Merrill Moab, I would find a shoe that I liked but when I went back several months later, that model was no longer available, replaced by something completely different leaving me to have to find another shoe that fits.
yes we all have Merrell Moab's, I do and like and wear them often. I have been trying another similar hiking shoe and think I like them more. Try Keen Targee's, I like the big toe box that lets my toes spread out. The Moab vents I like for warm weather hiking.
I was a Moab fan but quality now seems more variable and I’ve found the Keens far more durable.
In 1991 I bought Merrell leather mountaineering sandals (with metal protector around heels) and believe or not, with some minor repairs they are still going strong.
I’ve worn out 3 pair and my oldest pair now is my lawn mowing pair. I have two pair for casual walking and hiking. But the real winner is I can wear them all day and my feet do not hurt. So I’ve had 7 pair, 2 defunct, 2 work and 3 casual and hiking. When I wear them, I’m good for an hour or 12 hours of walking. Their size 10 and the last is perfect for my foot. Oh, I I wore them in Moab!
lol. My oldest Merrills always end up being my lawn mowing pair. 😊 I always have multiple pairs in different age ranges for various activities from gardening to dog walking and errands to hiking.
I have those, and it's the only shoe I can hike 10 miles without my feet hurting
I brought a pair of them a month ago and have clocked 250km in them. I love them and am buying another pair as soon as I can.
I have both Low and Mid Moab 1 & 2’s, just bought some 3’s, all non-waterproof. They have been the only wide hiking shoe that is comfortable right out of the box and on to the trail. The 1’s have now been regulated to being my gardening and choring shoes, it’s gonna take several more years of lawn cutting to finally kill them(at which time they will live out their lives up in my Shoetree). The Low-2’s are black, and discreet enough to pass as “not a hiking shoe” in a dark restaurant when traveling. The Mid-3’s kids will be my Outback hiking shoe on my coming up trip to Queensland. Now if they only made them snakeproof….🥾🐍
I really like both the Merrell shoes and the boots. As a hiker of a "certain age" I have put a LOT of miles on my feet and in some cases done damage by using the wrong shoe for the conditions. These protect the soles of my feet from injury, they feel good all day, I appreciate the Vibram grip and they hang in there with a long trek or many months of hiking in all conditions where my old trail runners just fell apart. A win.
I bought a pair of gray/blue Merrell boots in the mid-90's and used them thoroughly in the mountains of Colorado. The sole at the heel later started letting go, was glued back on with Shoe-Goo, as did the other sole of the other shoe. Beat and battered, they became my mowing/work on house boots. Then my son took them on his first hiking trips and loved them- much more so than newer Columbia's I got for him. They have a place of honor now, l use them to this day- 35 years- in my work painting and cleaning up- all original. I have waterproof Moabs now as my adventure hiker.
Also because it’s one of the only models available that isn’t waterproof for people who actually understand how bad waterproof boots can be in many situations.
Why is it bad
@@weetzybat because you spend far more time needing your sweaty feet to simply breathe than you do keeping them dry from the OUTSIDE. Gore-tex and other membranes do not breathe at a sufficient rate to actually keep your feet dry from the INSIDE and they actually contribute to your foot being hotter.
@@zeck8541 - Yeah, I have the waterproof mid version of this shoes and can confirm, my feet get extremely hot in them, which I chalked up to the Goretex. I only use them in rainy/wet weather now.
👍 Amen to that.
@@zeck8541 Correct. The same goes for 'Gortex / Equivalent' Jackets and such.
When active .. really active, one has a choice .. get wet from outside or inside.
I've been wearing my Moab rovers for more than 6 years now. they are durable and comfortable. However, the glue they used got weak after 2 years - I had the boots stitched up and it's been indestructible ever since.
i like merrell because they put hiking sole in their sneaker line. this fits my life style very well. i probably will never buy a single pair of hiking shoes from merrell but i'd definitely come back for their all terrain sneakers every two or three years. i wish more brands would adopt this idea.
I bought my first pair of Moab Boots years back because they offered a non-gortex model at a time when many other boots only came with goretex liners. Goretex boots are just too hot for summer hiking for me. Comfort and fit is relative because everyone's foot is different. These fit my foot well.
I have pretty complicated feet apparently, and just discovered pretty recently while looking for a hiking boot. So I went into amazon ordered some 10 pairs, from keen, to adidas to salewa and nothing felt good. Went into shops and tried more adidas, more salewas, timberlands, anything i could get my feet on and nothing fit. Loosing hope, ordered more keen's thargee 3 and they felt good, except my heel just would not stay in place, and rumors tell, they tend to self destruct quickly, but on the last batch of boots there came the moab 3 I ordered just to fill the box and was planing to just return them, until I put them on, and instantly they felt dreamy and fit perfectly. The moab 3 low are now my everyday shoe while looking to still buy that hiking boot, it will probably end up being a moab 3 gtx for winter...
Awesome! I hiked in mine today and they felt great.
My first pair of Merrells I just recently got are the Vapor Glove 6 and I'm pretty happy with them actually.
I walked the Camino in mine. I walk 3-5 miles in Tucson desert conditions everday. Only on the Scottish West Highland Way, which is super rocky, did they come apart. Great shoes.
I own a pair of Moab mid GTX since 2012, I wear them all the time, all the time and since day one is like having a fluffy cloud beneath my feet. I rarely use anything else because I feel my feet are well protected. Only about one year ago did the black part at the front started deteriorating (on one shoe) and I want to buy a new pair, even the laces are still pristine. Best thing I ever bought.
I have 4 pair. One totally raunched out and used for dirty yard work. Then two pair for daily wear to work, hiking, walking daily. One is getting closer to yard work, but is still looking good. They wear like iron. One pair for new jeans, clean shirt, running out to listen to live music. The number one thing is, they fit my foot. Weak spot early on was the lace, but newer ones seems to have a better lace that looks just like the older lace, only holds a knot, does wear through as my first pair did years before the material showed signs of breaking down.
Thank you for this video. I have owned several pairs of Merrells over the years. They have never let me down.
I purchased a pair of Merrells 7 years ago. The shoe laces are starting to get frayed, but it is still pretty good.
They've obviously let you down because you've had MANY of them. Good shoes, boots last. My Danner boots from 1973 lasted 40 years.
I was working in a very busy and dirty wearhouse for 3 years. I wore these shoes everyday summer, fall and winter and they kept my feet cool during the summer, warm and breathable in the winter and cozy in the fall. I LOVE these shoes. They also kept my feet safe from sharp objects I’ve brushed up against like wood chips and nails sticking out.
That's my favorite shoe, when I first purchased it, the sale people were saying they were selling these mostly to roofers, as they found the shoe did a fantastic job of gripping surfaces on the job sites.
It has a good price point. It has wide distribution. But they are not robust enough for extensive scrambling in rock gardens.
I love the MOABs, I have the waterproof versions in low and high top. I also have their other designs with the same long wearing sole that are lighter. But the most important reason I am a loyal customer is because they have wide widths available in all their designs!!
I have Merrell Moab first generation since 2008, just the next year of their production. They are still alive. Good fit with medium and heavy socks for me. The width of their last allows to wear different kind of socks. Have many other pairs of hiking and hunting boots, so wearing them all and properly care you can keep them in line for a very long time. Decents boots for outdoor activity almost all time and season.
Awesome!
Back in 2011 I sustained a turf toe injury and needed something to walk in with a stiff enough sole to keep my big toe from bending. That was my first Moabs. I got my second pair five years ago and they're still going strong. They're durable and comfortable--with no funky lumps on the inner sole that irritate my feet. Why mess with success?
I've been through several pairs of these so I know a lot about them. I end up having ones for daily wear, ones for lawn mowing, ones for digging and getting muddy. I just bought yet another pair. If you need truly waterproof ones, get the Gore-Tex ones. I put them to a real test recently when mowing my ditch. It was filled with a few inches of water and even after the shoes being a year old no water got in. The "Waterproof" ones are barely water resistant. Other than mowing my ditch, I find having the Gore-Tex ones great because I often start mowing my 2 acre property in the morning before the dew is gone by trimming and edging where having wet grass doesn't matter so much. The Gore-Tex ones keep my feet dry. These shoes are fine for hiking and walking on pavement as well. (I'm "old" now, so I'm talking going a few miles; upwards of 6 miles.) The only real problem is that where I encounter a restaurant with a smooth and damp floor they are terribly slippy; like dangerously slippy. I suppose it is due to the hard (yet durable) soles.
I must add that their customer service is second to none. I called on a Saturday and actually got a person within a couple minutes.
I have had several pairs over the years and love them. Great for most hiking scenarios and look cool just strooling around.
I wouldn't use hiking shoes for mountain biking, I don't know why people keep suggesting this. They won't grip a flat pedal like a proper MTB shoe or even a skate shoe, but the pedal will still shred the sole (and your shins). A proper flat pedal MTB shoe has a flat sole with very grippy rubber, basically the same type of rubber as climbing or approach shoes but also very stiff support for a solid pedaling platform, skate shoes are also commonly used as they have the flat, sticky sole just without the pedal support.
I switch between the Merrell MOAB 2 and the Danner Mountain 600. The MOAB 2 has a wider toebox and doesn't rub on my little toes but its sole is a bit harder. The Danner has a more comfortable sole, but has a bit narrower toebox. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
I kept my Merrel approach shoes for five years and it broke my heart putting them in the bin... they were so comfortable and could be worn in any moderate, dry conditions (I used Karrimor GTX 100 for wet and rocky conditions).
Time for a new pair 🥾
Do they still make the Moab Ventilators? I wore those for years. A few years ago I switched to a similar shoe under the brand Oboz, because they fit my foot shape a little better.
I´ve owned several of the Merrell MOAB 2 & agree...they are very comfortable....no break in period.
However, i´ve for the last few years had Lowa Zephyr GTX & prefer them every day of the week due to beeing more rigid giving you more support & they also hold up/last longer.
And before the Moabs everyone was told that boots were the only options for hiking. While I can’t hike as I once did, sadly I was a boot hiker unless the last couple years of hiking. I wish I had known! They would have saved me many blisters and sore feet. Oh well, I still enjoy walking in them 🙂
Of these 25M sold, possibly a few thousands use it for hiking. I use it for everyday use ... very comfy.
I've owned some of them and I liked them. They fit well and felt good, and gave good traction. I didn't think they lasted as long as they should have, and I didn't think the pricing was all that good. There are other brands that I like as well and a brand that I think is better in every way, what I'm wearing now.
I have been using my only pair for 3-4 years from casual, to airsoft, to school, hiking, cycling, motorcycling, running, through mud, dirt, rain or shine. They Iook old now but it has never been touched by a shoe repair until this day. Perfect for everyday use.
I have wearing Merrels here in Vermont since the 90’s. It really is the shoe for everything and I love them.
Comfortable out of the box. Good price, although like everything else, it's going up. For hiking rougher terrain, prefer to add a stiff sole insert.
I use to have those and accidentally bought the water proof model. Do not recommend for summer use! But they definitely kept my feet warm in the winter.
Have had about 4 pairs of MOABs. Hiked all the NH 4000 footers in them . Just bought a new pair to hike Mt Washington Tuesday.
I had a Moab pair. They are really good hiking shoes. I will get another pair for the summer.
I have a pair of Moabs from 2008 that’s still going. I’ve re-soled them a few times.
He's not wrong about the shoe being multi-use. I started wearing a version of them in the 90s (from merrell) and went with the moabs not long after they came out and still wear them. More comfortable than any others I have worn. The only thing that has changed as I get older is I usually replaced the insole after a few months in a thicker one, as the one they have eventually compresses. Great shoe. Damn.. I just remembered how long ago the 90's is and how many pairs I must have bought over the years....
Also, as someone else mentioned, they come in wide, so they actually fit my foot at the right size, instead of having to buy a longer shoe with the arch in the wrong spot.
BTW, I still have two pars of Merrell Switchback GTX boots. They continue to rock and roll. Still waterproof. Still providing great ankle support.
I have a pair in my closet right now, and they are the third pair I've had. I have found that Merrell fit my feet the say no other shoe I've tried. For the first time though, the sole started to separate from the uppers. An application of Shoe Goo fixed the problem, but it is unfortunate. Still, I love them.
Had a pair about a decade ago, they were fine for day hiking on smooth~ish trails, grip wasn't great when scrambling and they weren't that protective on rocky trail. For me personally the Keen Targhees have been a better fit, more protective, a bit more grip, just as comfortable. I also tried a pair of Oboz hiking shoes, they had incredible grip and good support, but were pretty uncomfortable on anything more than a short hike, they were also quite heavy.
I have 3 pairs of Merrells, without a doubt the best shoe I’ve ever owned…I have 3 pairs, the oldest is 17 years old and I still wear that pair today! Ergonomics are brilliant, material is fantastic and durability, unsurpassed! 💪🇿🇦
have 2 pair of Moab 2 Ventilator mids...great boots. My first pair have to be 6 years old with many hundreds if not thousands of miles on them. My latest pair were the last of the MOAB 2s bought on Black Friday last year for $50. That pair has a few hundred miles imcluding a 50 mile Badlands and Custer hike over 3 days.
I've had a pair of Yakota 2's for a few years . I've literally washed them so many times and waterproofed them twice. The reason I love Merrell is the way they cup my heel. Yes the toe pad is flat that's just the way they are BUT once my feet got used to them I cannot wear other shoes.
My Yakotas are USED bigtime and the padding has totally collapsed yet I wear them still .
So I just now bought the Crosslander series which has the same foot design platform.
The croaslander has more sued and less mesh which is the thing I disliked the most with the yakota 2s design.
I don't care for the look of the Moabs but I might buy a pair next time around .
Great video. Thanks. I bought one pair and loved it so much, I bought an identical second pair. Just in case it was discontinued. I guess my fears were misplaced. I do agree that they don’t have the best wet traction. They do not grip well on the wet/damp cobblestones of Portugal. I do love them just the same!
I’ve had a pair of these hiking shoes for the last 6 years (foot doctor recommended them) and they are still in good condition, I wear them everyday 9 months of the year (not in the summer unless hiking)
My stepson has been through several pairs during the same time period, although he is overweight which makes a big difference in shoe wear!
I have been wearing Merrill Moab’s for decades. We hike an average of 7 miles a day (obviously retired) on the trails in the foothills above our home. They wear like iron and fit like a glove.
I love these shoes and use Moab 2 and 3 mostly for work where I am always on my feet and they are wet for most of the day. I burn through a pair about every 10-12 months of daily use and what usually fails is an eventual crack in the inside area near by big toe, don't know why that's the spot. No other part of the shoe has ever come apart for me. For the price and the abuse I put them through, no comparison on value. I also use Moab 3's for general walking and normal use and have for many years.
I will admit that when hiking with a pack I use Solomon's as my feet feel a lot better at the end of the day. The foot bed just feels more secure when under load. Anyway, superb value for Merrell.
The only thing I hate about them is how easily I slip sometimes in them. Fell right down a half flight of wooden stairs on my ass once because there was a small amount of snow melt and have felt them slipping several times in other situations on and off the trail.
Less inclined to turn my big toe at a 45° angle. Big toes generally don't naturally angle toward the centre of your foot like most shoes attempt to achieve.
80% of my footwear is Merrell brand. They are comfortable, they last and they look great. There are sneakers, work shoes and boots and casual everyday shoes. They also offer wide widths which actually fit my feet.
I use Merrell Moabs at work standing on concrete floors all day with added Spenco ground control high arch insoles, it proves to be an unbeatable combination. My Moabs are also for hiking as the same pair can endure work and play without a hitch.
Yet at one time I swore by Nike ACG Mountain shoes were the best for me. But once they started falling apart prematurely with the soles coming off due to poor glue I was finished purchasing them for good.
Love my MOAB’s… wore them a lot on my OPS in Africa and walking around on a day to day.
Been wearing them for years specifically the Moab as they come in a wide. Doesn’t need a break in period👍👍
Great review, and I concur with your assessment of the Moab (2). I've had the 2's for a few years, and as you stated, they perform adequately. My current favorite shoe is the Oboz Bridger Low B-Dry hiking shoe. Super robust and supportive, with a rugged outsole, solid midsole and nubuck uppers with good foot protection all around. Any experience with that brand? Thanks, and enjoy a great 2024!
100 percent my experience as well. Oboz Bridger mids were my selection after wearing pair of Merrells over 10 years. Sadly those Oboz Bridgers were stolen. I replaced with the Oboz Bridger Low. Oboz seems to provide an even better fit than Merrell.
All that padding will likely absorb lots of water, so they're really just for the occasional rain, not in situations where rain and water crossings are rather the norm than the exception, like e.g. in the Swedish mountains. I'd prefer hiking rubber boots (Aigle Parcours, Viking Trophy, Muck ...) for that scenario. It all depends on the conditions. What we can agree on: GoreTex shoes are garbage for hiking.
I picked these up today for landscaping , I walk a lot. Hopefully they work well. Didn’t even know they were hiking shoes lol
Yeah, they are leagues above anything else. I wore only the waterproof version for years and on multiple hikes before I had to buy another pair of shoes. Now, I just walk in the store, buy one more and that's it. I'm on my third pair and still as happy
Try the Salomon's. I doubt that after you try them you will say that the Moab's are "leagues above anything else" because they certainly are not.
Great hiking boots, wore the Merrell from the mid 90's until I switched to Solomon around 2016. I still recommend Merrell to people who are just getting into hiking as the price point is good and the shoes look good with jeans and chinos. And I know a lot of people who don't hike but bought them to look outdoorsy.
✨ The Ultimate Dad shoe appears ✨
It truly is the best all around for the price. I’ve had 3 pairs of the Moab 2 and currently have 2 pairs of the Moab 3’s.
Recommend the wide and the updated grip is really tough and great for hikes and martial arts training.
The first non-hiking shoes I wore after ditching the heavy leather Vibram-soled monsters? Nike Air Tailwind, the shoe before Nike visible Air was available in 1978. Great for PCT and desert hiking.
Great video. A correction for you - There's 26 million pairs of feet in Australia, not 50 million :)
i've had two pairs of them. my 2nd pair is now primarily relegated for the monsoon season. it's not moab though. its adhesive holding the sole to the uppers has now gone sideways but i just brought it the neighborhood cobbler and had them stitched and they're as good as new.
I planned to buy Moab’s but the fit was so wide and clunky. So instead, I bought a pair of Merrell MQM Flex 2 GTX. They were lighter and more narrow and felt fantastic at first (comfort, breathable, dry in rain) but they slip badly on wet surfaces - even before the colored lugs pealed off the soles. It will be a long time before I buy another pair of Merrell’s again
I loved the feel of the MQM flex 2 as well. I wore mine out completely. I did not have the broken lug problem though. But they did wear down pretty quickly. That is the problem with soft soles.
I always thought Moab referred to Moab, Utah where Arches National Park is. My memories of this place feature some intense desert hiking and very long inclines.
I wish they'd trim down the weight some. After wearing some Brooks running shoes, its almost impossible to wear the moabs without the weight being a constant awareness. Also, Merrell needs to do something about their laces... I can't be the only one that has a problem keeping them tied - they're too slippery somehow.
The first edition Moab 1 is way better than the more current ones, when they dropped the extra eyelets at the top for the shoelaces. Without the extra eyelet pair, the heals tend to slide up and down more when walking. I still have a stockpile of Moab 1's hoping they bring back the extra eyelet pair someday.
On my second pair (Moab 2s now Moab 3), and my first pair lasted 4 years or daily wear. Love me some Moabs!
The most comfortable hiking boots I had were Merrell. The most comfortable sandals were Merrell. I would buy these in a flash if I were still in that market and would wear them for any activity.
I've owned two pairs of Moabs, and I would characterize them as the "New Balance" of hiking shoes. The first pair were good. The second pair were never comfortable. I tried aftermarket inserts which did not help. They felt bulkier and more "clunky" than the first pair. Just switched over to Salomon Genesis which were nearly a pound lighter than the Moabs and broken in/ready to go straight from the box. I'll never go back to Merrell, but if they work for you, great.
MOABs from the sale rack... Never worn, perfect size...
Wore them as "everyday" shoes, never did any "serious" hikes in them. 5 month later the sole started to pull away from the materials at the toe, won't get moabs again. I've had the Chameleons before and I think they wear better, and they certainly fit better. Did the Adidas hikers too, they literally fell apart in 4 months of routine (non-trail) use. So while I'm still looking for a decent summer shoe. I'll stick with my Asolo Fugitive GTXs.. They're heavy but I've had em for 7 years and they still look and wear like they're brand new.
You hit the nail on the head. Value, with no negatives. That puts it in a class by itself.
I will add one more metric: they come in at least three height options in the same model range, so you can have coverage from short to well over the ankle, as the activity dictates, with a shoe that you know and love. The also have many color options for the fashion minded among us.
Wearing a pair right now. Been wearing them since the original version. I think I have four pair.
So far, none have failed early.
It's not a boot. It is either a lightweight hiking shoe, or a heavy athletic shoe. Gardening, dog walking, fishing, etc. It does what I need and they fit. The fit and price make them a "go to" shoe for me.
If I need a boot, I'll wear a real PNW boot.
I had a pair of Moabs ten years ago and they were lousy. They leaked on rainy days, the footbed was concave and uncomfortable. I don’t know why I bought another pair a couple years ago but they are remarkably better. Feels like an entirely different shoe. They are my go to hiking shoe.
the soles don't fall off like most shoes. footbed is little hard on my 70 year old feet, so i switched to Merrell bare foot shoes and love them.
The best I ever had...I found mine to be too warm but comfort wise exceptional.
I definitely like the Moab 3s better than the Moab 2s. Back to back, they are significantly better cushioned.
And you're right - the SRP of the Moab is reasonable to begin with and the huge production volumes annually lead to massive discounting at retail. I retired a pair of Moab 2 low non-WPs for Moab 3 non-WP mids, for weekend hikes in the Mayacamas between Napa and Sonoma counties. I have a rambling trip (multi-day long distance walking via rights of way) in the UK in August '24, and for that trip bought a pair of the Moab 3 GoreTex lows (as it will rain, inevitably).
For the basic non-WP, non-GoreTex Moab 3 mids I paid just $86, new ($130 SRP). For the GoreTex (not WP - three levels of waterproofness for Moab models: non, generic WP, and branded Gore Tex) Moab 3 lows, I paid $99, new, though they retail (SRP) for $170. Shop around.
Totally agree that these are adequate+ in each material aspect, but not great in any respect, other than value (bang for the buck). I go through a few pairs of trail shoes each year as I hike at least 7-8 miles each day, and generally do at least one 20+ mile days on weekends. I can use up 2-3 pairs of Merrells per single pair of anything fancier I could buy instead. Volksboots.
Merrell footwear fits my feet. They wear well and I’ve been wearing them since the ‘80s.
I have heard customers have a wide variety of uses for the Moabs for sure at the Merrell outlet where I work. Everything from hiking, to a scientist who said he wore them to stand in the lab all day, to a guy that pumps gas and wears them at work all day (they pump your gas for you in NJ lol I live in PA but near the border)
Funny. I was born and raised in NJ, and I have no idea why they don't allow anyone to pump their own gas. Nothing I like better that handing my credit card to an attendant so he can take my info, along with the card's security code.
@@photog1529I agree and would much rather pump it myself. Like I said I live in PA so have only got gas in NJ a handful of times in my life but I’d rather pump it and handle my own card
The confidence I have on ice with vibram soles or even wet surfaces to be amazing
I use the mid-height Moab 3 and love its light weight. It’s easily the second best shoe/boot for non-winter use that I’ve used(and the best, the original Brasher boot from 1982) is no longer made… But my UK boots don’t have that vibram sole and I really wish they did. The mixed sole I have is proving too soft and is wearing out quickly.
Merrell's are ubiquitous in the Military contractor world. They are available at many retail stores, they are comfortable and fairly inexpensive. If I caught the Moabs on sale I would get 2 pair. Changing shoes every day to allow them to dry is important. Most Military posts in deployed environments are covered in gravel and river rocks to cut down on slugging through the mud or cut down on dust. The Merrell's were perfect for this environment, but firm enough to stand up to the uneven footing and comfortable for long shifts on a hot flight line. The Chameleon was a great shoe but the last pair I bought are noisy and have weird Hotspot. I think Salomon's are lighter and way more comfortable but they are very expensive. I bought a pair on sale and wish I could have bought a couple pair.
Always have 3 pair MOAB’s on the go:
Nice pair
Ok pair for hiking, dog walking
Junk pair for yard work, grass cutting, car washing.
Cycle continues…..
Same. I think I have cycled through at least 14 -15 pairs since they came out.