Merrell Moab 3 Black/ Night - 11

I'm on my third pair of these hiking shoes, which tells you something about their appeal, and also something about their relative lack of durability. I find these wear out within 12-16 months. The soles themselves are sturdy enough and hold up reasonably well for what is essentially a clunky running shoe with a Vibram sole. In my experience the first thing to wear out is the fabric lining of the shoe, particularly around the heel cup, followed some months later by the nylon uppers at the flex point.On my feet, the Moabs are very comfortable and lightweight compared to some other hiking/access shoes I have owned. They are also relatively inexpensive. However, when you consider the much longer life-span of welted leather boots which can be resoled numerous times, ... MoreI'm on my third pair of these hiking shoes, which tells you something about their appeal, and also something about their relative lack of durability. I find these wear out within 12-16 months. The soles themselves are sturdy enough and hold up reasonably well for what is essentially a clunky running shoe with a Vibram sole. In my experience the first thing to wear out is the fabric lining of the shoe, particularly around the heel cup, followed some months later by the nylon uppers at the flex point.On my feet, the Moabs are very comfortable and lightweight compared to some other hiking/access shoes I have owned. They are also relatively inexpensive. However, when you consider the much longer life-span of welted leather boots which can be resoled numerous times, it's best to remember the old adage: "You get what you pay for." My leather hiking boots are over 20 years old and have been resoled 3 times. They are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Well worth the money if you expect to be hiking on rough ground, over talus blocks or down scree slopes. Still, I must admit, the Moabs are nearly perfect for smooth, dry trails in the summertime.

I tried these on in the store first and they felt fine. I purchased them online and have very regrettably found out that these shoes are poorly designed.The insoles are worthless. They provide zero cushioning and the absolute minimum of support. I endured pain (that I've never felt before in my life) in three different points on my foot. I attempted my favorite Oboz insoles which removed two of the pain points, but the bottom of the heel pain remained and the heel slippage that already existed got worse (which is just a blister in the making). So then I tried my other favorite Superfeet insoles (the berry colored ones) because the cup of their heels are more form fitting. It helped decrease the heel slippage but the heel pain increased tremendously, and I was left ... MoreI tried these on in the store first and they felt fine. I purchased them online and have very regrettably found out that these shoes are poorly designed.The insoles are worthless. They provide zero cushioning and the absolute minimum of support. I endured pain (that I've never felt before in my life) in three different points on my foot. I attempted my favorite Oboz insoles which removed two of the pain points, but the bottom of the heel pain remained and the heel slippage that already existed got worse (which is just a blister in the making). So then I tried my other favorite Superfeet insoles (the berry colored ones) because the cup of their heels are more form fitting. It helped decrease the heel slippage but the heel pain increased tremendously, and I was left limping even on the following day.The insoles I used are excellent in other shoes; I don't know why I couldn't make them work in Moab 3. When I tried these on in the store they felt fine, but after my first three miles I realized what a mistake I had made. I should have just returned them then.Merrell: make a narrower heel and/or provide a heel lock as well as more cushioning/support. The somewhat roomy toebox in the "wide" version is nice, but these are a fail overall.

I typically only wear shoes for their specifically intended purpose. Since I have not been hiking lately, I only walked in the shoes for 1 day to get a feel for them in the ~1 month since purchase. When I ordered them I also ordered a pair of the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Men's Beluga shoe. These are my first two pairs of Merrell shoes. Both for hiking. Initial thoughts. Well designed. Seem durable. Stable. Comfortable. Nice subdued or understated look. I have New Balance training shoes and like them because their Vibram soles grip better than most other shoes. The same grippy Vibram sole with a different tread pattern is also on the Moab 3. I especially like this feature. This Moab 3 is not waterproof. I believe I like it a little more than the Merrell Moab 3 ... MoreI typically only wear shoes for their specifically intended purpose. Since I have not been hiking lately, I only walked in the shoes for 1 day to get a feel for them in the ~1 month since purchase. When I ordered them I also ordered a pair of the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Men's Beluga shoe. These are my first two pairs of Merrell shoes. Both for hiking. Initial thoughts. Well designed. Seem durable. Stable. Comfortable. Nice subdued or understated look. I have New Balance training shoes and like them because their Vibram soles grip better than most other shoes. The same grippy Vibram sole with a different tread pattern is also on the Moab 3. I especially like this feature. This Moab 3 is not waterproof. I believe I like it a little more than the Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof variant because of breathability and comfort. This is especially important to me in the hot climate of the Mojave Desert where I live. I'll reserve the waterproof pair for winter hiking in the mountains and believe they will be well suited for that purpose. Final point. I ordered size 12 and was somewhat concerned they might not fit since my New Balance size is 12.5. However, the Merrell size 12 is a great fit. I have high hopes for these shoes. Final note directly to Merrell; if you're reading this, you did very well with the styling of this shoe. Seems like many other competitors are going overboard with trying to be flashy with lots of bright colors. I much prefer your far more subtly and tastefully stated look. Please do not change.