User Review: Merrell Men's Moab Gore-Tex XCR

A great lightweight hiking/trail shoe. these replaced a somewhat heavier and sturdier Merrell gore-tex shoe, the Chameleon, which were very worn from years of use. i use these primarily for walking and training with no pack or a light pack; i would recommend a sturdier, more substantial shoe for training or hiking with a heavy pack.

these are low-cut, no ankle support; firm, supportive sole and midsole with deep treads; mostly nylon upper with gore-tex; laces run through fabric loops, a lightweight speed-lacing solution. the shoes do not appear to have much of a shank, so feet may be vulnerable to bruising on very rocky trails - so far, i have not experienced any problems, though.

Fit is average to slightly wide (they work with E-width feet and have space for orthotics). the gore-tex works, breathes quite well, with the caveat that this is a low shoe, so they are not suited for deep puddles or bogs.

after a month or two of hiking on rocky trails, walking the dog, and training, in wet weather and dry, the shoes have performed well and show no visible signs of wear. no blown seams, no delaminated soles, and very comfortable for all-day wear with a pair of good wool socks.

Update: November 21, 2009

This is a follow up to my earlier review, to point out a few significant observations based on significantly more use.

On the positive side, the soles, lacing, and shoe materials are physically intact for the most part and have worn well for the most part. The shoes still fit well after a lot of mileage, and they still feel very comfortable.

On the negative side, a few parts of the fuzzy lining have been worn and pulled away, especially in one heel. It hasn't affected performance. Much more disturbingly, the waterproof gore tex sock has failed. This first cropped up about ten months after I bought the shoes, but it is consistent - these are not nearly as pleasant to use in the rain as they were before.