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 Merills" [sic] every time someone crowd-sources hiking shoe recommendations online. On the other hand, the Moab is a hiking shoe that outdoor industry professionals love to hate. Few of my co-workers in the outdoor industry actually hike in Merrells. And many won't recommend the Moab to their customers —much less their friends and family members. Is the Merrell Moab 3 a good hiking shoe—or one to avoid? My review draws upon my personal and professional experience with the Moab to help you figure out if this best-selling hiking shoe might be a good fit for your feet and a good match for your hikes.
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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 a ton of Moabs when I worked at Appalachian Outdoors, but I was never tempted to try them. However, when Merrell updated the Moab in Summer 2022, I picked up a pair to test and review on Hiking Feet. I gauged their 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 them as everyday shoes. Based on my first-hand experience, I can see why Merrell's fans—and detractors—have legimate points.
My personal review of the Moab 3 Low digs into the support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value of this best-selling hiking shoe.
Support
Much of the debate around the Merrell Moab centers on its (lack of) support. Like most Merrells, it straddles the boundary between a hiking shoe and a casual, everyday shoe. Many beginners and casual hikers like that "out of the box comfort" (which is a classic marketing term for mediocre support). Meanwhile, many serious hikers and outdoor industry professionals consider it little more than a sneaker in the support department.
Mine are thicker in the soles than a sneaker. (Maybe it's me, but the Moab 3 seems slighly beefier than the older Moabs that I sold when I managed footwear at Appalachian Outdoors?!) Still, they flex fairly easily around the mid-foot and don't have a ton of torsional rigidity (resistance to twisting). They're not flimsy—like some lightweight hiking shoes—but they're not as supportive as my Salmon X Ultra 4 or Scarpa Rush 2 hiking shoes, which are significantly lighter. For me, the Moab's just-about-average support is more palatable in the low-cut than the mid-cut boot since most hikers aren't counting on shoes for bomber support.
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 average to slightly heavy for today's hiking shoes. Overall, the Merrell Moab 3's weight to support ratio isn't great—its build profiles best for hikers who prioritize price over support or weight savings. For a lighter option, men and women might try the Merrell Moab Speed or the gender-specific Merrell Antora (women) or Nova (men).
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 other brands' wides, the Moab may be a good call for hikers with really wide feet. If you have narrower feet, you should target another brand. (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 and matching your shoe to your hiking style. My pair may have felt more comfortable had I ordered it in regular, not wide. At the same time, I found the Moab somewhat weird underfoot. It felt like my heel was sitting 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? Whatever the reason, my feet never quite gelled with the Moab—even on easier trails than I normally hike. That's just me, though. Many people love Merrell's generous cushioning, roomy fit, and "out of the box comfort."
Weather Protection
For waterproofing, Merrell offers the Moab in its proprietary waterproof membrane (which isn't great) 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. It's one of the few hiking shoes available in a non-wateproof—a potential selling point if you mostly hike in hot and dry environments.
My regular (non-waterproof) Moabs 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.
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 leans into multi-surface traction more than either rock-oriented tread or mud-oriented tread. 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 often fly down in other boots and shoes. The moderately deep 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
To Merrell's credit, the price on the Moab hasn't skyrocketed with inflation like many other outdoor brands. The non-waterproof low-cut starts at $120, and the waterproof starts at $140 (with optional GORE-TEX waterproofing costing $20 more). That's a below-average price for a shoe that's grades out around average. With KEEN raising its prices, the Moab 3 stands out as one of the best hiking shoes for budget-oriented hikers.
See current size, color, and price options below at leading outdoor specialty retailers:
Merrell Moab 3 Low: Pros vs. Cons
The Merrell Moab 3 Low is a popular hiking shoe that may appeal to hikers who prioritize price over performance. In a nutshell, it offers just-about-average performance at a below average price. Here's my take on the shoe's pros and cons after several day hikes on easy-to-moderate trails in Pennsylvania:
Conclusion:
The Merrell Moab 3 is one of the best hiking shoes for hikers on a budget, and it has one of the widest fits, too. However, it's not the best choice for hikers who value support or weight savings—or for hikers with narrower feet. In my experience, the Moab most appeals to casual hikers, hikers with limited budgets, and people who mostly wear their hiking shoes as everyday shoes. I also like the non-waterproof Moab 3 as a desert hiking shoe.
Are you thinking about joining the 20 million other people who've bought the Merrell Moab? If so, please consider purchasing them through the links above. 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.
Happy hiking!
