Customer Reviews

Merrell Men's Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe - Earth 44.5

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This shoe walks me! I guess that means that most other shoes fight the natural ergonomics of human stride, heel to toe! It is impressive! But beware, Merrell shoes run SMALL! I wear 9 1/2 to 10. This shoe fits me at 11 1/2! I have a very similar Merrell low top hiking shoe; but it is size 11! So for mail order, MAKE SURE RETURN IS FREE! Otherwise you will have to pay as I did to return for correct size. This shoe came as an Amazon purchase from ShoeMall! ShoeMall said I was not their customer so they do not pay for return shipping. Amazon paid what ShoeMall would pay = $7.00, but the cost with FedEx was $15.80 to return. OK! I love the shoe.

I'm primarily a "day hiker", but do some strenuous and rough trail hikes.
I have hiked in Columbia and North Face, they were okay, BUT, when I
purchased these Merrell's, WOW.! They didnt even need any "break-in".
Light weight, comfortable, breathable. I also wear hiking socks.
I have put alot of miles on them, and up/down lots of elevation, and
proud to say No Blisters or Hot Spots. I have recommended these and
the low-cut version to others, and the consesus is "They love 'em, too."
SO, put on a pair of hiking socks and slip into these boots and GO HIKE.!

A prompt delivery to an overseas APO address. Good fit. Comfortable in the heat. So far standing up to the rough terrain and the dry heat of southern Afghanistan. The dust, however, seems to pentrate the weave and enter the shoe. This is a problem peculiar to this region and should be sorted once I'm home

I bought these last spring after a few years of being annoyed with a fine pair of boots which are just too heavy for my kind of backpacking.

I started hiking in the days when the proper pair of boots for trail hiking was something like Riekle (sp?) Rotondos, which weighed five pounds per pair and were as cozy as cast concrete. But they were tough!

After years of cutting the weight of each new pair of hiking boots, and often just wearing running shoes instead of boots, I searched for a high-topped version of running shoes because low top shoes pick up too many little pebbles, sticks, and grit. I tried these over a busy summer of backpacking, and I really like them.

They're extremely comfortable and cushion steps very nicely, even making loose-rock strewn trails tolerable. I also found that they're great for off trail on rock, turf, and dirt of all sorts. Snow isn't a strong point for them, but I carry light, instep crampons for that nasty stuff if it gets steep. On the granitic rock of the Wind River Range, and the slate and rubble of the Olympics, they stick; ascending, descending, and laterally. I didn't get much walking on wet rock this summer, but stream fordings showed that they're nothing special on slick underwater rock, but not bad.

Despite being really out of shape starting a hard Wind River trip, I had no foot problems until my final day of descending 4000' on miserable trails, and I picked up a minor blister on the ball of a foot. A week later I was totally comfortable again in the Olympics (and glad to have some oxygen to breathe for a change).

Concerning Gore-Tex vs. breathables: I've discovered that for me, non-Gore-Tex is best for summer hiking, even in the wet. I learned that just clambering across a stream and letting the water squish out after is quite pleasant. The boots still feel fine, and you've got cool feet on a hot day, too. I used to stop at every ford and change into something for wading every time, like most hikers I've seen, but wading is actually pleasant, and a lot simpler than changing footwear twice within 20', or teetering across rock steps or stray tree trunks. In miserably soggy Olympic Mountain weather, Gore-Tex boots eventually just fill up with water anyway, and are slow to drain.

Gore-Tex is best, I think, for around-town walking in wet weather, or in cold weather hiking. Just my two cents worth ...

This is my second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators.
I hike and work out in one pair and wear the other pair to go around town. I even wear them to work a couple of days a week. They are exceptionally comfortable, and support my aching feet. You can't go wrong with this shoe.

Hands down the most comfortable shoe I own.. I wear them to work at times and I feel the support with every step.

I spent nearly two hours at a large shoe store picking the most comfortable shoe and this was my result.. I will never regret those two hours. I even ran in the store to test them and the other shoes!

If it weren't awkward, I'd give them away as gifts.. they're that wonderful.

I'm an avid hiker and they're definitely slip resistant and you just feel like you're riding a marvelous car.

November 2011 update: I still think it's a great shoe for comfort and hiking however, it can definitely get hot in there even without exercise.. the vents are not very efficient

I've just about worn out a pair of the non-Gore-tex Moab Ventilators. When I head to the door to hike or walk the dogs, they are the ones I always grab. 5 other pairs of hiking shoes, and these always go out the door with me. Heaven knows how many miles they've got on them. Comfortable heading up the mountain trails. Comfortable coming down with no toe rub or hot spots. I have a wide foot and this last in "wide" just fits. Very durable -- very comfortable.

I just bought another pair and tucked them on the top shelf for when my current pair really do wear out. I hope Merrill keeps making these for a LONG time!

The Merrell Moab shoes are very comfortable and durable. My work requires me to stand a lot and walk a lot. I also work occasionally in greenhouses and dirt areas where my shoes get dirty and wet. Additionally, I usually commute by bicycle, so it puts additional pressure on my feet. I can get just about a year of daily use out of them before they are a bit too worn to be comfortable or usable anymore. Every 3 months or so, I change the insoles to maintain padding and foot comfort.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this fits wide feet like mine nicely. I have bought these Merrell shoes year after year, as I'm confident I'll like the look and feel of these shoes.

Awesome! It's my second pair of Merrells. First pair lased 6 years. The Merrell company have greatly improved their product since I first purchased. These are lighter,more comfortable, and cooler.

Purchased a pair of these last year. Great hiker, light weight, good grip sole. Used almost daily for light trails. The only complaint is the material that covers the rear shank,(behind your heal/achilles, has worn through exposing the plastic shank which left the shoes unwearable. This could be solved if bit more padding or double over the material could solve this issue. Would I purchase again, yes.