Customer Reviews

Merrell Men's Moab Mid Gore-Tex XCR

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've done a lot of hiking and backpacking, but I've never made an investment in really "good" hiking boots. Finally I decided it was time when I decided to go on a four day backpacking trip on the Appalachian trail last October. I couldn't afford the higher end boots ($160-250), so I settled on these as it was a brand I knew and they were the cheapest I could find with GORE-TEX and Vibram.

Now, EVERYONE, knows that you never, ever, ever go on a backpacking trip with new boots. Ever. I knew this, so I ordered these well in advance. Unfortunately ShoeMall (whom I ordered from) took a really long time to ship them, and they came less than a day before I had to leave. I didn't really have any choice but to wear them, so I splurged on some Smartwool socks (HIGHLY recommended--backpacking with them is a totally new experience) to try to alleviate the blisters.

Well, I never expected what I got. These boots were very, very comfortable. I have high arches and under-pronate--how they would work for people with other types of feet I can't say, but I suspect it wouldn't much matter.

The boots have good ankle support--not super, but good--and that was all I needed. I'm young and have strong ankles, and I'd rather have less weight than more support. I did sort of twist my foot once on the trip, but I was fine. People who need a lot of support might look elsewhere. This isn't a shortcoming of the product--it's just a characteristic.

The grip is excellent. That's to be expected, they have Vibram. I did slip a few times, but it was on really wet rocks, and it may have been, as my friend put it, a user issue.

As for the waterproofing, well, you could spend $300 and you wouldn't find a more waterproof boot. It rained the first and second days, and I never felt the tiniest drop of dampness. At one point I literally submerged my foot in a river to see if any water would get in. Nada.

Overall these boots have everything I want. They may not be perfect for everyone, but if you don't have special needs (like extra support), this is the best bang you'll ever get for your buck. As I said, I took these on a four day backpacking trip on the Appalachian trail without ever wearing them before. I had a 30 pound pack. On the last day I hiked 17 miles--lots of up and down. I didn't get any blisters. None. At the end of the last day I was starting to get a small hotspot on one foot, but that was all. I'm not suggesting you take these backpacking without breaking them in, but these are as comfortable as you'll get. Just make sure you invest in some good wool hiking socks as well.

Update: I've now had the boots for over a year and a half. I've hiked parts of the Appalachian trail, the high country above Zion Canyon, the grabens of Canyonlands NP, and the Grand Canyon. At the Grand Canyon I hiked from the south rim to the river and back in a day. It's a tad under 20 miles, with 5000 vertical feet of descent on the way down, and that same 5000 coming back up. When I got back up to the top my whole body ached--except my feet. These boots are light, supportive, and 100% waterproof. I've hiked hundreds of miles in them and they're still in great shape with no real signs of wear.

I have backpacked all my life. I live in the desert southwest and wear these boots everyday. They are so light and give such great support. I am 66 and have gone through a lot of boots in my time. These are the best ever!

Length:: 1:38 Mins

I went on a five (5) mile hike in Taconic State Park (NY, about four [4] miles from the MA border) most of this hike was up a fairly steep hill (not quite climbing on hands and knees but still pretty steep) through various terrain. There was a lot of mud because it had recently rained and there were also a few streams here and there like in the video. These boots conquered all, they performed marvelously during the whole hike. I really thought I'd have trouble when it came to wet rocks, but they pulled through. The only time I had trouble crossing rocks was when they were covered with algae, because although they gripped to the algae very well, the algae didn't stay on the rock every time.

As far as how they feel, right off the shelf they felt incredible. They've got to be some of the most comfortable things I've ever worn.

I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone really. You don't have to be a hiker to enjoy these.

I used to wear heavy leather hiking boots. Not any more. I always heard that shoe weight was important, but never realized how important until I did my run in heavy boots! It wore me out! So I looked for the lightest goretex boots I could find, and this is the boot I bought. I just got back from hiking the Sierras, including a two day trip to the top of Mount Whitney with a 35 pound pack. The trails are pretty rough, and it rained for a few hours one day. These boots held up well, kept my feet dry, and never once caused a blister or hot spot anywhere on my feet. OK, so these boots are downright ugly. But they are great boots!

You have to know that Merrell is good to begin with or you wouldn't be here.

Unfortunately, I could not find this boot in my size locally to try it on. When I stuffed my foot in a regular (with hiking socks on) I hit the length I needed but just bound the sides of my feet. I ordered these the same size, but in wide. Going by most reviews I have seen that they are true to size, I took a shot. Wellll, they are. The right boot is a touch larger than the left one is on my foot. It's probably me--not the boots.

The Gore-tex at this price is a deal also. I have similar boots in "waterproof" but that is too scary. The waterproof boots my girlfriend has are genuinely that. However, once the water gets in, they are still waterproof, lol. Gore-Tex is the two-way street you need for boots.

The other thing about these boots is the genuine reviews (and hiker site tests) that these boots do not require break in. Although the vendor I got them from drug his feet (no pun) getting them to me, I have still have about 10 days to get them ready. I am looking forward to it.

Con: And this is a general con for ALL boots these days except the $250-300 leather mountaineering boots. Lack of a replaceable Vibram sole. Hiking boots have turned into a disposable product like TVs. Very unfortunate.

I had a pair of this model that lasted more than three years, with much use. I bought the second pair because I am quite satisfied with the product. So I had a guaranteed delivery, made ''the purchase through Amazon.com, which I am a customer for over 5 years.The Men's Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex XCR Boot is comfortable and durable, giving me a sense of security when walking.

Now, I'm no boot or footwear specialist, but these are some good boots. I went on a research expedition to Indonesia and these boots got me through a month of jungle conditions. The conditions were especially wet and muddy because there was an abnormal amount of rain while I was there, but these held up just fine. The boots have pretty good grip and I only rarely had problems with slipping. The Gore-tex on these things works great, too. I crossed plenty of rivers and streams with them, and I couldn't feel any water enter the boot until the water got over the very top of the ankle. Worked absolutely great. The bottoms of these boots sure took some abuse, too. On the island where I was at, there were protrusions of old dead coral reefs jutting out of the jungle floor. These were razor sharp, but these boots held up and didn't get shredded at all; these boots are extremely durable.

Through all of this, the boots were very comfortable. With thick wool socks, they were warm, but not hot, and even though I had little time to break them in before I really started trekking with them, I never got a single blister. Or at least, no blisters bad enough for me to remember. They also breathed quite well. The insides of the boot are padded well and quite comfortable.

I honestly can't think of a single con to list here, so these boots get 5 stars. Get 'em.

I am an avid hiker and use my Merrells nearly every day. While they can be a little slippery on a wet rocky surface, they hold up better than boots priced much higher. The extra $10 for the GORE-TEX is well worth it. I have found them, contrary to other reviews, to be true to size if not slightly more roomy than others.

My only advice, other than to buy this product, is to avoid spraying deet/petrolium based products on them as it can make them wear a little faster than normal.

Excellent shoe!

The ONLY good things about these boots are: they look good and they are comfortable and lightweight. Construction, however, leaves a lot to be desired. I had been wearing these boots for 1-2 months when I noticed that the soles of both boots had begun separating from the uppers. I've read reviews on other websites that indicate this is not an isolated incident. My boots saw nothing wilder than a sidewalk or two. I wore them only to work, and since most of the time I'm in the office, use or abuse is NOT the problem. I wrote to Merrell regarding this problem and did receive a reply. From the tone of the reply it was immediately obvious that nobody had actually read my e-mail because their reply was nothing more than a form letter stating that they are not responsible for damage due to abuse, blah blah blah ad nauseum. So, I again e-mailed Merrell and told them what I thought of their boots and their previous reply. NOW they want to make it right and so forth and so on! I informed Merrell that I would rather spend $5 on ShoeGoo than to have to pay at least twice that amount to ship these boots back to them. So, save up your money and buy a REAL pair of boots, NOT some CRAP made in China! These are about as tough as a pair of little pink bunny house slippers. Seriously, they would be overpriced at $29.95! Zero stars is what they truly deserve. Sidebar..I purchased my boots from a retailer other than Amazon. Same doodoo, different dealer.