My Merrell Moab 3 review gives you my first-hand take on the world's most popular—yet polarizing— hiking shoe. On one hand, the Moab is "the world's best-selling hiker" (according to Merrell), and hordes of hikers post "I love my Merrills" [sic] every time somebody asks for hiking shoe recommendations online. On the other hand, the Moab is a hiking shoe that outdoor industry professionals love to hate. Truthfully, none of my co-workers in the outdoor industry actually hike in Merrells. And most won't recommend the Moab to their customers —much less their friends and family members. But I'm open-minded. So I personally tested and reviewed the Moab 3 hiking shoe after Merrell updated it in 2022.
I have also updated this review in 2026 to account for steep price increases for the Merrell Moab 3 that have now priced it above the budget price point.
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Review: Merrell Moab 3 Low
The Merrell Moab 3 Low is the latest version of the "Mother Of All Boots" ("M.O.A.B."). I sold millions of Moabs when I worked at Appalachian Outdoors and Backcountry, but I was never tempted to try them. However, when Merrell released version 3 of the Moab in Summer 2022, I picked up a discounted pair to test and review on Hiking Feet. I gauged my shoes' support on rocky stretches of Pennsylvania's Mid-State trail, tested their traction on short-but-steep trails with loose rock and scree, and also wore them casually since many people wear Moabs as everyday shoes.
Based on my first-hand experience, I can see why Merrell's many fans—and detractors—have legimate points. Here's my honest take on the Merrell Moab after a half dozen easy-to-moderate test hikes:
Support
One reason why many outdoor industry pros hate on the Moab is its mediocre support. Like most Merrells, it's more of a hiking shoe-casual shoe hybrid than a true hiking shoe.
Many beginners and casual hikers like that "out of the box comfort" (which is a classic marketing term for crappy support). On the flip side, many serious hikers and outdoor industry professionals consider the Moab to be little more than a sneaker in the support department.
That said, the Moab 3 felt more substantial than I remembered the Moab 2 feeling when I sold it at Appalachian Outdoors. My pair flexed at the ball of the foot—average—not at the midfoot (like I remembered it). Overall, the Moab 3 is less supportive than many people assume, but it should be supportive enough for the average day hiker.
Weight
My pair of men's Moab 3 Low (non-waterproof) hiking shoes tipped the scales at 2 pounds 4 ounces (size 12 - wide). That's heavier than most hiking shoes I've tested and reviewed.
This shoe's weight to support ratio isn't great: You get slightly below average support at a slightly heavier-than-average weight. That's one of the tradeoffs for choosing a budget brand like Merrell over better brands like Salomon or La Sportiva.
For a lighter Merrell, you might try the Merrell Moab Speed 2 —another sniker (sneaker-hiker hybrid) that's less clunky than the Moab.
Fit
One of the best reasons to buy the Merrell Moab 3 is fit—if you have wide feet. I ordered the Moab 3 Low in wide since I need wide sizes in most brands. However, Merrell's wide surprisingly was too big for me?! My everyday shoe size is 11.5, and the 12 regular is my best fit in this shoe.
With Merrell's regular size being as wide or wider than many brands' wides, the Moab may be a good call for hikers with really wide feet. If you have narrower feet (or even standard-sized feet), you should target another brand or browse the best hiking shoes for narrow feet. (Pro Tip: Heel slippage is a common issue in the Moab, especially if you don't have wide feet.)
Comfort
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, personal preference, and matching your shoe to your hiking style. Many of my old customers at Appalachian Outdoors swore by Merrell's cushioning, roomy fit, and "out of the box comfort." If you mostly hike easy to moderate trails (and have wide feet), this shoe's build could be comfortable for you. It's more approachable than many serious hiking shoes, so the Moab often appeals to beginners, too.
However, my feet never quite gelled with the Moab—even on easier trails than I normally hike. I like the feel of Merrell's premium hiking boot, the Rogue Hiker. But in the Moab, my heel sat awkwardly on top of a block that wasn't completely connected to the rest of the shoe. Perhaps it's made for people with higher arches than me?
If you're a fan of "low drop" footwear, know that the Moab has one of the highest heel-to-toe drops on the market at 11.5mm. Fast-and-light hikers should deep in mind this shoe is somewhat heavy and clunky for moving quickly, especially over rocky terrain. (To be fair, mine might have felt a little better had I not ordered a wide.)
That said, my feet aren't your feet. Most Merrell lovers keep buying Moab after Moab because of the shoe's comfort.
Weather Protection
For waterproofing, Merrell offers the Moab in its proprietary waterproof membrane or in more reliable and breathable GORE-TEX (which is more expensive). By design, I picked the non-waterproof Moab 3 Low since I know that Merrell's proprietary waterproofing doesn't have a strong reputation in the outdoor industry. The Moab 3 is one of the few hiking shoes available in a non-waterproof style—a potential selling point if you mostly hike in hot and dry environments (like me).
My regular (non-waterproof) Moabs obviously didn't keep out the rain or snow, but they potentially make sense for fair-weather hikers. Having lived in Arizona and now in New Mexico, I can recommend the non-waterproof Merrell Moab 3 for desert day hikes. It wears a little cooler than most waterproof hiking shoes while providing enough protection against cacti and desert vegetation.
If you're looking for waterproof protection, I'm not confident in Merrell's proprietary waterproofing. The Moab 3 GTX upgrades its waterproofing to GORE-TEX but also boosts the price up to $180—which is more than I'd spend on a Merrell hiking shoe.
Traction
Merrell has sourced Vibram outsoles for its Moab series. Vibram rubber is a big plus at this price point. At the same time, the tread on the Moab 3 is more "multi-surface" or "work" tread than a true "trail" tread. This makes sense since many people wear Moabs as general outdoor shoes or trail-to-town shoes—not just for hiking.
When I scrambled up Shingletown Gap, I was only partially confident in the Moab's rock traction. On Mt Nittany, I slipped around a bit on steep, gravelly descents that I can fly down in other boots and shoes. My customers at Appalachian Outdoors complained about the Moab's traction on muddy PA trails like the Allegheny Front Trail. The moderate lugs perform better on well-defined trails than on steep trails, loose surfaces, snow, or mud.
Vibram outsoles on the Merrell Moab 3 are a plus at this price point
Value
Many review sites recommend the Merrell Moab as a "best value" or "budget buy"— in spite of its average-at-best performance and history of durability issues. However, its price shot up $30 late in 2025 (perhaps due to Trump's tariffs). With this recent price increase, Merrell eliminated the main reason to buy the Merrell Moab: its price.
I was lukewarm on the Moab when it cost $100-120 (USD) but could see why budget-strapped hikers bought it. Now that it costs $160 (waterproof) and $140 (non-waterproof), the Moab only costs a few dollars less than some of the best hiking shoes. I've removed it from my list of the best budget hiking shoes.
Men's Merrell Moab 3 Low
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Women's Merrell Moab 3 Low
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Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoe: Pros vs. Cons
The Merrell Moab 3 Low is not as good of a hiking shoe as most Facebook users probably believe—and probably not quite as bad as many outdoor industry pros assume. Here's my first-hand take on this shoe's specific pros and cons after 1-2 months of testing:
Should you buy the Merrell Moab 3?
Even though outdoor industry pros aren't big fans, the Merrell Moab 3 should be enough shoe for the average day hiker. Plus, Merrell may have the widest fit in hiking footwear—and offers the Moab in wide sizes—so it's a good option for hikers with wide feet. However, it's no longer a good buy for budget-oriented hikers due to sharp price increases in 2025-2026. It's also not the best choice for hikers who value support or weight savings more than price—or for hikers with narrower feet. In my experience, the Moab most appeals to casual hikers (who can't spell Merrell) and to people who mostly wear their hiking shoes as everyday shoes. I also recommend the non-waterproof Moab 3 as a desert hiking shoe.
Where to buy the Merrell Moab 3
Long-time Merrell fans will experience sticker stock in 2026. For a better budget buy, I recommend the adidas TERREX Skychaser AX5 (unless you have wide feet).
Even better, I recommend looking for closeout prices on much better hiking shoes at REI Outlet or (my favorite) Steep & Cheap. If you shop closeouts (past years' models and colors), you can often buy the best hiking shoes cheaper than budget hiking shoes like the Moab.
If you DO want to join the 25 million people who've bought Merrell Moabs, please consider purchasing them through the buttons in this post. That doesn't cost you anything, but that helps keep this site afloat, helps me buy boots and shoes to review, and gives me a little bit back for all the unpaid hours I've poured in this website.
Men's Merrell Moab 3 Low
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Women's Merrell Moab 3 Low
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Cheers!
