Merrell Updates Its Flagship Moab Boot With New Materials, Keeps the Ride

The latest Merrell Moab maintains the hiking boot’s emphasis on cushion and support. Fans of the brand’s bestseller may find it handles greater weights too.

The new Moab 3s are made from more recycled materials and bump up the boot’s load capacity. New soles and liners represent the biggest changes while keeping the Moab’s focus on providing support right out of the box.

Like Merrell’s earlier Moab boots, these are intended for hiking a variety of trails and keeping up in rugged conditions. The goal is to make hiking feel like a stroll around the neighborhood — all day long.

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two people walking through the desert in Merrel Moab 3s — (Photo/Merrell)

Moab Tradition

For over 15 years, the Merrell Moab has been the top choice of hikers, making it the bestselling hiker in the world, according to the brand. During that time, it gained a reputation for comfort, durability, and all-purpose versatility.

The Moab 2 made our list of the best hiking boots for its support, comfort, and budget-friendly performance. Last year, Merrell riffed on its Moab chassis for its sportier Speed and Flight shoes. The Moab 3 is the brand’s next step in hiking prowess.

What’s New?

For the Moab 3 Mid, Merrell uses a new insole that promises greater support as well as a more cushioned midsole. Like the 2, this boot has arch support and a shank. Of course, the soles should combine to protect against rocks and sharp terrain too.

There’s also a new Vibram outsole on the bottom. The Vibram TC5+ outsole is made from a technical compound geared toward grip, traction, and durability over a range of terrain. It’s also flexible, according to the brand, keeping it in line with the boots’ multisport ethos.

This latest iteration also sports more recycled materials than previous models.

group of hikers sitting in the forest wearing Merrell Moab 3s while on a hike — (Photo/Merrell)

Moab 3 Mid

We touched on the updated boots’ emphasis on comfort and support above. This includes a Kinetic Fit ADVANCED contoured footbed, which it rates as medium support. Similarly, the brand’s Air Cushion in the heel is there to absorb shock and add stability. There’s also a Super Rebound Compound in the heel for more cushion and stability by reducing torque so footsteps roll forward in a smoother motion.

The upper is made from full-grain pig suede and a breathable mesh liner made from 100% recycled materials.

Hiking-minded touches include the protective toe cap and the molded nylon arch shank. The Moab 3 also has a bellows tongue to help keep out debris.

The Moab 3 is available in ankle-showing regular models or in mid heights as well as wide sizes. Additionally, Merrell offers other models: the Waterproof Mid 3 and the Moab 3 Smooth GORE-TEX.