Back in September of 2012 I wrote a post which detailed the necessity of having sturdy clothing, even if it meant just having a set in the trunk in case of a worst case scenario while at work. In the post I described a new pair of hiking shoes I had just purchased, the Merrell Moab Ventilators. It’s been almost a year and a half since I purchased those shoes and have definitely had a chance to put them through the paces, whether it be daily wear or hiking through the mud with a heavy pack on my back. What follows are some of general impressions I have of the shoe in no particular order.
Price: It’s been a while but I want to say that I paid around $90 for my pair of shoes, not the cheapest ever but more reasonable than my pair of Keens which came in around $120. I’d say for what they have been, an all around super versatile shoe, they are well worth the asking price.
Fit / Comfort: It’s very important that you try these shoes on prior to purchasing them. I wear a size 11.5 to 12 in a running shoe and a 13 in the Merrell’s. Once fitted the shoe was immediately comfortable and required no break in, great for walking around the urban jungle on a daily basis. To date there has been no noticeable decrease in comfort, even after 1.5 years.
Ankle Support: I have the low cut version so as you can imagine the ankle support, while better than a pair of flip flops, really is non-existent. It’s a shortcoming I’m willing to deal with as I have dedicated boots for more hardcore applications.
Laces: I wanted to include this category as laces are an important consideration when purchasing a hiking shoe/boot. Laces need to be sturdy and more importantly be able to NOT come untied on their own, that’s really a pet peeve of mine. I’ve accepted the fact that I need to double knot my laces with the Merrill shoes or they will come untied after half a day of walking around. In contrast the material on my Keen laces is such that a single knot will hold without issue.
Traction: As I stated in the intro I’ve hiked with these shoes on, more than once in some pretty thick mud, with a heavy pack on my back. Traction was pretty exceptional considering they aren’t full blown “winter tires.” The slipping and sliding was pretty minimal in the muck which was really quite nice, nobody likes to fall down in the woods with a pack on.
Wet Weather Performance: If you are hoping that your feet will stay dry in these shoes, fugghetaboutit. Just the other day I was out shooting in the snow and my feet were soaked (the ground was wet too) within 20 minutes which made for an awesome afternoon. I guess the good news is the mesh material dries out rather quickly, making them wearable the next day.
Sturdiness: The shoes have held up very well over the 1.5 years which I have been putting them to use. Hiking and navigating the urban jungle haven’t really had that much of an adverse impact on the shoe, with comfort levels and traction still being at acceptable levels.
Overall: This will not be my last pair of Merrell hiking shoes, I really enjoy my Moab Ventilators and will probably purchase another pair here in the near future. I cannot do anything but highly recommend them to anyone who might be in the market for a nice looking daily shoe capable of still getting the job done on the trail. I still wear my Merrell’s to the range but have moved on to a pair of Keen Voyageurs so that I can provide an update on them in the near future.
2 comments
If you want good ankle support, you definitely do not want to purchase low cut version shoes, that’s for sure.
As far as sizing is concerned, yes you have rightly said that one must needs to wear the shoes before you buy them.
But this one from Merrel is marvelous shoe which in my opinion is really supportive for people with flat feet. I am definitely rating it as 4.5 out of 5 due to its overall quality and comfort and support.
Anyways thanks for your detailed review.
Regards
Vishal
I have to buy a new pair of Merrells about every year, mostly because I wear the sole out while waling between buildings at work. I have the mid-height versions that offer maybe a little more ankle support. I do wear them for hiking/camping through the year as well. After I get a new pair, the old pair becomes my around-the-house work shoe and then they give me another year of use for yard work, home maintenance, etc.
Usually they are pretty comfy, but the last two pairs have not been so. In fact, this last pair seems to be about a half-size too short. They are really bothering the joint where my pinkie-toe meets my foot. In fact, as I write this from my office, my feet are just hurting. I have been taking them off while sitting to ease my feet.
Two pairs of shoes ago I got a set of Garmonts. Now those were comfy. They were at least as durable and a bit more water-resistant than the Merrells and maybe $10 more. Unfortunately the local outfitting store no longer carries them and I am hesitant to purchase any shoe over the internet.
So for now I am putting up with these shoes. I might try one more set just because I don’t want to spend more money on shoes.
In the future, if you get a chance, check out the mid-height Garmonts in a similar price range. They have several variations with varying prices.