My favorite hikers for many years!
I've owned many pairs of Merrell's over the decades, for everything from hunting to walking to hiking. I'm currently on my 3rd or 4th pair of Maob 3's (I lose count - but I DO know I'm 73) that I wear hiking. The Moabs will not wear out, as the pics show, despite daily 3 mile hikes on the rocky, steep trails behind my house here in the Santa Rosa San Jacinto mountains.Hiking can be hot here in the desert, and the Moabs breath well. My wife had been hiking with me in a pair of high-end leather hiking boots, and when I convinced her to try these, she was amazed at the difference. I occasionally refer to her as 'my Imelda Marcos' due to her extreme obsession with shoes. She spent a lot of her time on her feet in business and was constantly on the hunt for something presentable and comfortable, as a closet full of purchases can attest. And while these Moabs won't work for even business casual, on the trails she says they're the best she's had.I can attest that they're comfortable from day one if sized correctly, as I just returned from my first hike in this new pair. My feet are a mess due to osteoarthritis, with crooked toes and other issues, and I wear an 11 W with the broad toe box providing excellent comfort despite the physiological problems. Uphill sections are a breeze, and while downhill sections require more focus and care, especially at my age with two artificial knees, I still pass others who are experiencing worse traction than these Moabs provide. Don't get me wrong, I'm still careful, but the traction is excellent even in scree with proper precaution.I'm attaching pics of the previous 2 pairs along with the new pair. The old ones will become work shoes around the yard - there's nothing wrong with them other than I wear the tread off on the abrasive terrain the dog and I cover. The shoes don't break down, lose stitches, or otherwise degrade appreciably - I just have to renew them every year or two for fresh tread compound. I bought this pair last week and the price just went up - I should've bought two pairs! Oh well...