Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Review

One of the most underappreciated features of the Moab 3 is its more generous toe box compared to previous versions. Merrell now gives plenty of room for toes without making the boots feel sloppy or making them look too wide. Better yet, the lacing system also let our narrow-footed testers snug the boots to near perfection, making them one of the most versatile-fitting boots we've tested.

Comfort

The Moab 3 Mid Waterproof is remarkably comfortable for its affordable price point. Its comfort comes from a variety of features. First, the leather and mesh upper is built with many sections that allow it to flow and flex over the top of a foot without binding or creasing into or away from your foot. Second, Merrell adds padding to the interior, with extra generous padding in the tongue and collar. Third, the perfectly placed laces snug uniformly with little need for fine-tuning.

But wait, there's more. Merrell's Air Cushion design places an impact absorbing pod underneath the heel inside the midsole. It's also shaped to cushion and support the heel. While it doesn't result in the cushiest feeling compared to some more expensive boots, it absorbs impacts on hard-packed trails and stone. What's also surprising is that the Merrell insole also includes a more supportive heel cup than many more expensive options include in their boots. The regular, medium volume fit is true to size, and Merrell offers a wide version, too.

The leather and mesh upper wrapped our forefeet with comfortable security.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Merrell stuffs the collar and tongue with extra padding.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The sculpted collar and achilles provides comfortable articulation while on the go.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Previous Next

Support

The Moab 3 Mid is a mid-top boot, so the ankle collar wraps just around the ankle. It's not as supportive for weak ankles as high-top boots, but it does offer more support than you get in typical low-top trail shoes. The extra padding in the collar let us lace these boots tightly for additional support without irritating our ankles. The leather upper is built around a series of straps that securely held our feet to the footbed even when we were on steep side hills.

The Air Cushion design also helps channel the heel into the center of the heel pocket, providing a subtle but dependable feel during typical heel-to-toe cruising. Merrell adds in a bit of arch support, just enough to help without annoyance. We could wear these boots all day without feeling the foot fatigue we typically experience with most inexpensive boots. In fact, we were able to carry a fully loaded backpack without worrying about the Moab 3 underfoot.

Traction

The Moab 3 uses a Vibram rubber compound called TC5+ to create the outsole. We found it to be durable and sticky when used primarily on even surfaces like smooth trails and rock slabs. It's slightly soft compared to many tread types, so it can wear out a bit faster. Merrell combats premature wear by grouping the lugs in fairly dense sections along the perimeter.

Unfortunately, the traction is adequate but not stellar. We found the lugs to be a bit too rounded to offer the best bite on loose forest floors, and the soles tended to clog easily with mud. Still, the outsole is super stable and predictable, which makes these boots feel as if they provide better traction than they actually do. Of course, if you plan to explore steep and rugged terrain, there are better options with more aggressive tread patterns that can bite better, but you'll typically have to pay more for it.

Water Resistance

The Moab 3 Mid includes a hidden, unnamed proprietary waterproof, breathable membrane to seal out water and allow water vapor to escape. We trekked through muddy meadows and streams and found the waterproofing to hold up well, though its breathability isn't the best despite the inclusion of meshy sidewalls underneath the leather sections.

Merrell also makes this boot in a Gore-Tex version, which we have not tested. It costs a bit more but likely offers better breathability, which Gore-Tex is known for.

Previous Next

Weight

We weighed the Moab 3 Mid Waterproof on our own scale, and they came in at 2.44 pounds per pair in size 11 US. Our larger most recent tester weighed his size 14 pair in at 2.81 pounds.

This is about average for midweight boots with leather, but they do feel just a bit heavy and clunky for their size. They lack a feeling of nimbleness and agility, partially due to the weight and partially due to the wider sole pattern.

Durability

Multiple testers have worn the Moab 3 over many months, hiking around in the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains and exploring trails in Idaho. During our testing period, we did not experience any major issues. However, there are many sewn seams in the upper, which can give sharp sticks and rocks spots to snag and fray over time. Merrell uses double-row stitching around some spots for extra durability, but some seams use single-row stitching. Compared to boots with smooth, near seamless leather sidewalls, we expect the Moab 3 to wear a bit more quickly if you wear these in rugged terrain.

We love the large, burly metal eye hooks at the top of the ankle, but the nylon lace loops give us pause. We haven't burned through any of the Moab 3 nylon eyelets yet, but we have seen similar loops prematurely fray after a few seasons of use.

Should You Buy the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof?

The Moab 3 is a fantastic value. It's not the best boot in any single metric, but the sum of its parts makes it a versatile hiker that can take you up mountains and back down again. Our experienced hikers appreciate them more than we expected, and the easy fit characteristics make them a great budget buy that requires little to no break-in period.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?