MerrellMen's Moab 3 GTX Hiking Shoe

When you find a shoe that just works you stick with them as often as possible. That is certainly the case with these. Having had the previous version over the years I really love the fit and durability, they do exactly as they’re meant to and I wear them pretty much every day.Fit is just as stated on the box, they keep your feet dry in damp ground conditions - they’re not wellies so don’t expect miracles but are backed by gore tex guarantee - and are super grippy on prey much all surfaces where other shoes might lose traction.They are however very expensive, I had been needing a new pair after mine slowly started to wear out, so when this one came up on a deal (~50%) I bought 2 pairs with the belief they’ll be just as hard wearing and great as the ones I’ve had in the past and I won’t need to order more for another 4 years!

Merrell Moab shoes and boots are an ideal fit for me, this results in them being extremely comfortable, probably the most wearable ‘all day’ footwear I own. The best walking shoes/boots are the ones that fit you correctly, so if the Merrell fit suits you, they may be the only shoes you want to wear. I have had problems with plantar fasciitis for years and Merrell Moab boots have enabled me to continue doing long distance walks without the foot pain taking over.The rule of thumb for Merrell, as mentioned by many others is to go up half a size from your normal size. They tend to be a touch short in length but have a fairly roomy, round toe box, which helps with comfort on long hikes. The insoles are fairly good too, quite thin but they do have a reasonable level of heel stability and arch support. To help with plantar fasciitis I do replace the insoles with some that provide a greater amount of arch support.The GTX waterproof lining works very well, only on extremely wet and muddy hikes have I ever had the slightest amount of water find its way past the gore-tex barrier. Even when the boots are worn well past their best the waterproofing still holds up. Overall the Merrell Moab 3 are robust, very hard wearing, supportive and supremely comfortable.No break in period is required, they do soften and mould to your feet over time, but also feel great straight out of the box.Where’s the catch? For me there is just one thing that lets them down and that is grip. Certain conditions can prove challenging for the Moab 3, the redesigned tread pattern is generally better than that of the Moab 2, but unfortunately they are not at their best on very muddy inclines, snow and to some extent wet rocks. It is quite common to find the grip giving way in these conditions, necessitating a careful choice of route through tricky terrain.I personally accept the limitations in grip for the superior level of comfort, a trade off that may or may not work for everyone.

Not cheap but you get what you pay for. I am a big fan of Merrill hiking trainers, they usually last about 2 years & are really comfortable - money well spent.

I'm a UK10 and ordered 10.5 and they fit perfectly, I got them as I do a lot of walking as a wildlife photographer and needed something lighter than my mid boots, so glad I tried these they are great, they have Goretex so stay dry inside, the grip is great in all conditions and they are very kind on my heels which is something I suffer from, overall 10/10.

Having had a pair of Solomon for the last 18 years I wanted to replace them with the same make, they were absolutely brilliant having covered hundreds of miles in them. However the ones I ordered were just not as comfortable as my old pair. Someone suggested I tried a pair of Merrell, a name I must admit to being unfamiliar with. So I ordered these and they are brilliant. Tried them out a few weeks ago for 20 miles or so and they are nice and lightweight and very comfortable. I did however remove the insoles and put in some memory foam ones. Hope they last as long as my others!

Good quality shoe. Feels quite hard when worn for the first few walks.Vibram sole gives poor grip on wet rocks and damp tarmac (under trees).Waterproof. Breathe well. Decent quality thick laces. Hopefully newer design does not split at the toe bend like previous versions. If bought at full rrp they are too expensive.Previous shoes lasted well in terms of sole wear, but the uppers not so well.