Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Boot

I’m deeply disappointed with the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof boots. These are advertised as hiking boots suited for rugged terrain, but after wearing them on a multi-day backpacking trip through the Dolomites, I could not disagree more. These boots may be fine for softer trails or casual day hikes, but I would absolutely not recommend them for multi-day backpacking or rough, rocky terrain. I could feel practically every rock underneath my feet. By the end of each day, it genuinely felt like I had been walking barefoot over rocks for miles. There was nowhere near enough cushioning, protection, or support for the terrain, especially while carrying a loaded pack and hiking significant mileage each day. The pain became so severe that I later learned I had a stress fracture in my right foot. While I can’t say the boots alone caused the injury, spending day after day hiking rocky terrain in them certainly did not provide the protection or support I expected from a boot marketed for rugged hiking. The Dolomites were absolutely incredible, and I had an amazing trip. The one major downside was having to endure immense foot pain every day because I was stuck wearing these boots for the duration of the trek. For casual trails, they may be perfectly adequate. But if you’re buying these for serious backpacking, high mileage, carrying a pack, or rocky alpine terrain, I would look elsewhere. I trusted these boots for a major trip based on how they were marketed, and I deeply regret that choice.