Merrell MOAB Boot - Review

[The Stig]

About a year ago I took a carbine class and wore my $30 Wall-Mart Brahma work boots. I've worn these frequently to both work in the yard and to several 3 day shooting classes and while not the most comfortable boot in the world they "seemed fine". I also liked the steel toe. I couldn't bring myself to spend big bucks on flippin shoes and silently judged all the guys at class wearing their super Ninja high-speed operator footwear.

Once again I had to learn the lesson that "just as good as" usually never is.

That class it rained one day and the grass had a heavy dew every day. My boots would be soaking wet just by walking from the car to the firing line to haul gear. It was miserable. In addition to being uncomfortable, my feat got horrible blisters from them moving around so much inside the boot. By the end of the first day I could barely walk.

When I got home from the class I immediately ordered the Merrell MOAB shown here:

http://img.wolverineworldwide.com/is/image/WolverineWorldWide/MRL-W87701-07.psd?op_usm=0.5,1&wid=1266&hei=855&qlt=70&fmt=jpg&extend=0,0,0,20

I liked them so much I immediately bought another pair (gray).

After wearing them 80% of the time for nearly a year here are my thoughts....

1) They are awesome. Have worn them to work in the yard, through two shooting classes (one 3 days, on 1 day) and in some torrential downpours. My feet have stayed bone dry, comfortable and never once gotten tired. They feel like they are in a warm cocoon. I know that sounds gay, but it's an accurate description.

2) Much easier to maneuver than the old clunky work boots. I've noticed things like climbing stairs or negotiating tight spots is much easier. In the work boots I'd trip, catch my feet, and sometimes really get hung up. Embarrassing in the yard, very dangerous with a firearm in your hand. The MOAB's are almost tennis shoe like.

3) They stay dry.

4) They look good enough for day to day use. Any more I find myself reaching for these over my tennis shoes.

There are negatives. The laces in the brown pair frayed and had to be replaced. Thought that was odd. No signs of this happening in the gray pair. Also, the tread is so aggressive, I'm constantly picking small pebbles out of them, but that's more of an annoyance than anything.

So overall, I'd recommend the Merrel MOAB boot. More importantly, whether its this boot or another, the important take-away is to take good care of your feet. When they get jacked up it really sucks.

Here's are pictures of the actual boot after regular use:

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/2012-03-29_06-55-08_750.jpg?t=1333022282

Note the black laces. Overall for such heavy usage they don't look too bad. The grey pair look even better.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/2012-03-29_06-55-20_354.jpg?t=1333022239

Aside from the red dirt embedded in the sole, check out how good the tread looks after a year.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/2012-03-29_06-55-41_14.jpg?t=1333022195

Not sure where that scuff came from. The matching portion of the other boot doesn't have it so I must have caught it on something.

[izzyscout21]

Nice review, Stig.

I have the same pair of boots. Going on 2 years of everyday wear now, and mine look as sharp as ever. These are awesome boots for the money.

[IDTANDY]

Great review.As The Stig said.

the important take-away is to take good care of your feet. When they get jacked up it really sucks.

Nothing worse than Paddy foot,old school medics called it trench foot,immersion foot is the modern term.

[bacpacker]

Excellent review Stig. I've never had the Merrill brand myself (Most all my boots are Vasque), but I know several who do have them and have never heard anything bad about them.

Nothing sucks worse than having a shitty pair of boots that trash your feet out when you really need them most. Been there, done that.

[IDTANDY]

Bought the tee shirt and I was the medic.I learned a lesson about foot checks.

[izzyscout21]

proper footwear is a must. Aside from the fact that you wear them every day, come SHTF your feet may be your only mode of transportation. Keep em clean and dry. They will carry you a long way, but only with the proper footwear and treatment.

[Sniper-T]

I have a pair of these:

Merrell Axis 2 Hiking Shoes Mens - SportChek.ca (http://www.sportchek.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=11612973)

about a year old, and even with a life of bushwacking, and field walking, they show no appreciablle signs of wear. Good Solid piece of kit.

I need to replace my hightop hikers this year, and will probably go with what STIG recommended.

Thanks for the reminder about how good they are buddy!

T

[Evolver]

About a year ago I took a carbine class and wore my $30 Wall-Mart Brahma work boots. I've worn these frequently to both work in the yard and to several 3 day shooting classes and while not the most comfortable boot in the world they "seemed fine". I also liked the steel toe. I couldn't bring myself to spend big bucks on flippin shoes and silently judged all the guys at class wearing their super Ninja high-speed operator footwear.

Once again I had to learn the lesson that "just as good as" usually never is.

That class it rained one day and the grass had a heavy dew every day. My boots would be soaking wet just by walking from the car to the firing line to haul gear. It was miserable. In addition to being uncomfortable, my feat got horrible blisters from them moving around so much inside the boot. By the end of the first day I could barely walk.

When I got home from the class I immediately ordered the Merrell MOAB shown here:

http://img.wolverineworldwide.com/is/image/WolverineWorldWide/MRL-W87701-07.psd?op_usm=0.5,1&wid=1266&hei=855&qlt=70&fmt=jpg&extend=0,0,0,20

I liked them so much I immediately bought another pair (gray).

After wearing them 80% of the time for nearly a year here are my thoughts....

1) They are awesome. Have worn them to work in the yard, through two shooting classes (one 3 days, on 1 day) and in some torrential downpours. My feet have stayed bone dry, comfortable and never once gotten tired. They feel like they are in a warm cocoon. I know that sounds gay, but it's an accurate description.

2) Much easier to maneuver than the old clunky work boots. I've noticed things like climbing stairs or negotiating tight spots is much easier. In the work boots I'd trip, catch my feet, and sometimes really get hung up. Embarrassing in the yard, very dangerous with a firearm in your hand. The MOAB's are almost tennis shoe like.

3) They stay dry.

4) They look good enough for day to day use. Any more I find myself reaching for these over my tennis shoes.

There are negatives. The laces in the brown pair frayed and had to be replaced. Thought that was odd. No signs of this happening in the gray pair. Also, the tread is so aggressive, I'm constantly picking small pebbles out of them, but that's more of an annoyance than anything.

So overall, I'd recommend the Merrel MOAB boot. More importantly, whether its this boot or another, the important take-away is to take good care of your feet. When they get jacked up it really sucks.

Here's are pictures of the actual boot after regular use:



Note the black laces. Overall for such heavy usage they don't look too bad. The grey pair look even better.



Aside from the red dirt embedded in the sole, check out how good the tread looks after a year.



Not sure where that scuff came from. The matching portion of the other boot doesn't have it so I must have caught it on something.

Nice review and I too I am a fan of anything Merrell, there a foot tool that you just can't go wrong with.


Excellent review Stig. I've never had the Merrill brand myself (Most all my boots are Vasquez), but I know several who do have them and have never heard anything bad about them.

Nothing sucks worse than having a shitty pair of boots that trash your feet out when you really need them most. Been there, done that.

Vasque summit? :p
http://wherecanbuyf.com/aimg/512bkTu4fQL.jpg

This one "is" the shit for load carrying that has lasted and will last me a life time. :)

[bacpacker]

I have been backpacking for nearly 40 years and for many of those years I just wore what ever boot I had at the time. In the late 1980's I started doing some longer distance trips and 1st time out realized how bad my boot really hurt my feet. during that trip I got to talking with some folks I ran into and a couple of them had these boots and raved on how much better they were than what they had been using.

Vasque - Shoes (http://www.vasque.com/vasque-shoe/7136-vasque/7136-vasque-mens-sundowner-gtx-black)

I got a pair when I got back home. I still have them today almost 30 years later they don't look much worse for wear, other than a little dirt and scuffs. However they are heavier than what I wanted to wear for day hikes and light over nights. After having so much sucsess with Vasque products ( the wife has a pair of sundowners as well, hers are nearly as old as mine) I started looking for some of their newer designs and found these.

Vasque - Shoes (http://www.vasque.com/vasque-shoe/7466-vasque/7466-vasque-mens-breeze-gtx-taupe-burntorange)

I have been using these for the past 4 years almost exclusively. To this point I have zero complaints. These boots hav well over 200 miles on them and are showing no real signs of wear. They are much lighter than the Sundowners and are every bit as comfortable. Both boots have proven totally water proof over the years. The only time my feet have ever gotten wet was while I was fishing a river one day and went out where the water came over the top. I can't bitch about the boots when I'm acting stupid.

[Sniper-T]

when hunting, I fully expect wet feet! and I am ok with that! If Im tailing, or tracking an animal that crosses a stream, so do I. up to my shins, thighs, waist, chest, or swim. This is why waterproofing bags/gear is so important to me.

I have had problems with leather boots before though, although I have never tried Vasque's. once saturated, they take FOREVER to dry, and if they are not on your feet, they dry in whatever shape they're kicked off in. also, the leather gets soft, and tears easily on sticks, branches, barbed wire, etc...

B and E: Have you really punished these in and out of water, truly soaked?

[bacpacker]

I've worn mine for a week straight and most of that week was either raining, sleeting, or snowing. We waded several creeks and in many places were walking thru water running down the trail. I can't say I had any issue with them. Most every trip with take I will get in any creek or river and fart around a little while just to see if any leaks occur. Never found one yet. After close to 30 years and as many miles as I've put on them, I can say they have been punished and keep on ticking.

I will say I do like the Breeze boots for a quick drying boot.

[Evolver]

when hunting, I fully expect wet feet! and I am ok with that! If Im tailing, or tracking an animal that crosses a stream, so do I. up to my shins, thighs, waist, chest, or swim. This is why waterproofing bags/gear is so important to me.

I have had problems with leather boots before though, although I have never tried Vasque's. once saturated, they take FOREVER to dry, and if they are not on your feet, they dry in whatever shape they're kicked off in. also, the leather gets soft, and tears easily on sticks, branches, barbed wire, etc...

B and E: Have you really punished these in and out of water, truly soaked?

Sounds like hight top with a Gore-Tex insert is in order. :) To keep the water out 100% you need to go with a high top so it forms a gasket around your ankle but also allows you feet to breath. Like a Danner or a Rocky.

[realist]

I had a pair of Vasque boots that I purchased about 30+ years ago too. I think each one weighed about 20 pounds. They never looked like they were used much even thought I beat the crap out of them backpacking around the Sierras. However now that I am old and tired that extra weight has now been shed to allow more to be carried on my back.

That said Stig it is people like you that prey on people like me by posting threads like this. It is bad enough that I had to buy a pair for myself today but I brought my 21 year old son too. So $230 latter I exited the store with two new pair. I would appreciate it if you would stop posting positive reviews about STUFF that way my wife would not get pissed at me for bring home the aforementioned stuff.........

To add to you review I was incredibly impressed by the comfort of the shoes, I tried on the low tops first. The guy who helped me said that I would be disappointed with the high tops. He was, they did not feel as comfortable, so we got the low tops for now. I will be trying others in the future but I am now short on cash (thanks Stig). So what do you do when you get new shoes, you take them out and rub them on the lawn so your friends don't know you got new shoes. We did a modification of this......... Since it was raining my son and I decided to go to a friends to shoot. So we picked my daughter up from school and for the next four hours we went shooting out at his range that was located in a cow pasture. When we were done my socks were not even damp, they are great. This is the first pair of shoes that have been truly been water proof out of the box. They really are a great product.

[Sniper-T]

^
Really? If I am in water up to my thighs... my feet are going to stay dry? really??

[realist]

If I'm in that much water I want shoes that drain well. My old jungle boots used to do a good job of that. Until I bought the Merrill's all my other boots (ya they are cheap Big 5 specials) would just wick up the water to ensure my feet stayed wet even in wet grass. I bought these for lite use and will be getting some others with high tops for better support in the future.

[bacpacker]

Sniper sounds like you need waders instead of boots. Chest high at that.
In your case in that deep of water, I would go with a good draining boot as well. Other than waders, nothing much else will work that I know of.

[Sniper-T]

That's why I've been gravitating away from leather boots, as they just stay wet forever. After crossing a stream or a swamp, I can pull off my little shoes, shake em out, put on a dry pair of socks and carry on. Particularly when hog hunting, them buggers will take you through the nastiest terrain they can before presenting themselves. It really doesn't matter what footwear you have, if they are hightops, then the water will be to your shins, if you have rubber boots, the water will be over your knees, thigh highs, then to the waist, etc.

Murphys law! lol

[Taz Baby]

OK had to come into this. These are not as fancy or as expensive as you guy's shoe's, BUT, :D I like them. Had these a year now and trekkin over mountain terrain, creeks, rocks, MUD, they work well for a everyday boot Brahma steel toed, waterproof,oil-resistant skid resistant,. The only thing that happened was, it was the last pair in my size on sale and no more coming in. I got them home, went straight to the creek to check out how waterproof they were, and one oiled right up and no water stayed on it, dry. The other one turned dark, got wet outside, not in side and stayed wet. Took them back the next day and they said they have no more, can't get more and nothing can be done. So I got a canof weather proof and sprayed the heck out of them and let dry. I now have 2 different color boots, one dark brown and 1 a little lighter, but you really can't tell it. they are not heavy on the feet, support the ankles and I do not get tired of wearing them.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/RARE-WOMENS-BRAHMA-TAN-SUEDE-BOOTS-SIZE-6W-STEEL-TOED-WATER-OIL-RESISITANT-EXC-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqZHJC4E8+y0NY!ZBPU-,3duPg~~60_57.JPG