Good Value Boot
I am a long time fan of Merrell footwear. For the last several years I have been hiking in the low-cut version of their Moab Ventilator. I have found these to be comfortable and durable with good grip on most surfaces. They are also efficient walkers as evidenced by the fact that my walking pace is one minute per mile quicker in the Moabs than in any other shoe I own. So, when it came time to buy a higher boot for cold weather hiking, I decided to stay with the Moab. I bought the Gore-Tex version hoping it would provide some protection on muddy trails. That’s all I expect of them. I don’t expect them to protect me from a river crossing and probably will never test them in this way. If you’re looking for that kind of protection, you may want to look elsewhere. I haven’t had much opportunity to put them to the test yet, but I did take them on a four mile hike straight out of the box and they were perfect - no rubs or other issues. Generally, I recommend Merrell footwear. They are consistent in fit and quality and are, in my opinion, good value - especially if you can find them on sale. Negatives? Two that I can think of. They don’t have a lot of arch support. This is not a problem for me but, if you need this, you may have to change the insole. Also, despite having fairly thick soles, you can feel rocks and roots through them. They’re not bad in this regard, but it can be tiresome on a long hike. That’s it. They do what I need them to do!
✔ Verified Purchase
E
Elliott T Retkowski
January 31, 2018
Outstanding hiking shoes. Waterproof and very comfortable.
I purchased my first pair of Merrells a few years ago and instantly feel in love with the quality of the brand. They are comfortable, durable and the vibram sole is great for keeping sure footing when hiking and in the outdoors.That being said, the last model of Merrells has a few design flaws that left them a little wanting. They were not waterproof past a few weeks of owning them and even then they only kept dry if you got them a little damp or briefly stepped in a puddle. For the majority of the time I owned them, though, they soaked through easily in wet conditions. The inside of the heel also wore through rather quickly and the seam along the outsole began to part after a few months of moderate to heavy use. I wouldn't consider the latter two issues so bad considering that they happen to most shoes after prolonged use. The biggest problem was the poor waterproofing.I can say, however, that Merrell has addressed all of these issues with the new model of Moab hiking shoes, particularly in the waterproofing department with these Goretex ones. The heel is made of tougher but just as soft material that wont wear as quickly and the seam along the outsole is tighter and better secured than before. Most importantly, my feet stay dry no matter how much water I walk through or even stand in. You can tell that the shoes do take in a bit of water if you completely submerge them repeatedly but the layers of moisture wicking material in the mesh fabric parts of the shoe keep any moisture from getting too your feet. I have taken these Merrells hiking in rain and heavy snow, walked through half frozen creeks and along the frozen shores of Lake Erie. They stay bone dry and even keep my feet reasonably warm in freezing temps as long as I wear thick socks. Additionally, Merrell has slightly improved upon the design of the treads. I have gone up steep snowy forest trails and climbed rock formations and the vibram soles grip better than my last pair. On a looks note, the new Merrells look sleeker and the smooth Goretex material looks quite nice in my opinion.All in all, the Merrell Moab 2 GTX is a well made, quality, waterproof hiking shoe that is worth the price. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. I can't say if the non Goretex Moab 2 hiking shoes are as waterproof but they are likely just as well made and at the very least very water resistant. If you're looking for the quality but at a lower price, they would be a good bet.
✔ Verified Purchase
Great boot for the money and really comfortable.
I work a trade and I’m very hard on boots. I wear these while I’m working and I wear them for hiking. Needless to say they get a lot of use. With extreme abuse, they last me about eight months. Granted by the eighth month there is no tread left on the bottom. Considering that I’ve paid way more money for boots that have lasted way less time that’s pretty good. They are really comfortable and lightweight. They are good quality. Up until the very end of their life they are pretty waterproof. These are a really good value for the price. The most recent pair I’ve had for about a year and I will enclose a picture.
✔ Verified Purchase
