My twin brother and I spent years growing up trying to highlight our differences and personalities. That meant avoiding twin stereotypes, including wearing matching outfits. We’ve carried this shared dedication to individuality into adulthood, and we still don’t typically gravitate toward similar styles. That is, until one of us discovers a new travel brand we love enough to share with the other.
Just take Merrell, for example: This outdoor footwear brand has been my go-to for comfortable hiking shoes for quite some time. While I’ve run through a few different Merrell hiking shoes over the years, the Women’s Moab 3 style, which is currently on sale at Amazon, remains in high rotation in my current travel wardrobe. I always reach for them when I know I’m about to be a little harder on my feet than usual, or need an outdoorsy shoe that can stand up to dirt. In fact, I’m such a big fan of Merrell that I raved about the brand to my twin brother when he needed hiking shoes five years ago, and now, he shares my love for the brand.
Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoe
Amazon
Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Jason picked out the Moab Flight—an older style that’s similar to the men’s Moab 3 shoes—and has been wearing them ever since. Fast-forward to this year, we visited the Galapagos together, which meant plenty of discussions on what we should pack. As we debated the best sun protection creams and bug sprays to bring on our cruise with Ecoventura, we both agreed on one thing: We’d definitely be packing our Merrell hiking shoes.
These Merrell hiking shoes are designed to tackle trails with heavy debris, making them perfect for the Galapagos’ varying landscape. During the trip, we hiked on rocky terrains, but perhaps our most challenging trek was on dried lava. If you’ve never encountered this surface before, it tends to be jagged and a bit unpredictable. I pride myself on my balance and endurance, and still almost tripped a few times. Our Moab shoes kept us comfortable and stable during the hike due to their ankle support, which helped with stability and protected us from obstacles. The sturdy outsoles, with strong traction, kept us afoot on uneven and slippery terrain.
Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Mid Hiking Shoes
Amazon
My brother and I both found ourselves reaching for our hiking shoes throughout the trip, and no matter what our trek entailed, these Merrell Moab 3 hiking shoes kept our feet pain-free. “They were good for hiking, beach walks, walking on lava, and through mud,” my brother agreed, adding that his feet stayed dry and comfortable the entire trip thanks to the built-in cushioning and shock absorption.
Plus, they’re waterproof, making them perfect for destinations with unpredictable weather. When I got hit by a rogue wave during what was supposed to be a dry landing, I feared I’d be walking on squishy, wet shoes the entire day—instead, these shoes shielded my hiking socks from water and dried quickly in the Ecuadorian heat.
If you, like me, can’t help but judge a hiking shoe by its cover, I’m happy to report that these shoes are as cute as they are comfortable. I have the white/soft coral style, which looks more like a light pink in person. They added just the right amount of color and femininity to my otherwise earthy, neutral hiking outfits. The women’s Moab 3 comes in 12 colorways, and the men’s version comes in 14 colorways (I’m thinking my brother should get the Adobe Rose colorway next so our footwear can truly twin).
The Merrell Moab 3 also comes in a mid-height variation with extra ankle coverage, and is available in wide widths; however, it’s worth noting that there are fewer color options available in this style. I’m generally between a size 6 and 6.5 in shoes, and found that the 6.5 fit me perfectly. If you’ve shopped Merrell shoes before, I’d say that this shoe runs consistent with the rest of the brand’s sizing. I also appreciate that they were designed to be durable and eco-friendly, and are constructed with recycled materials and leather.
Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Mid Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Unsurprisingly, my brother and I aren’t the only fans of these hiking shoes. Both the women’s and men’s versions of the Merrell Moab 3 have thousands of five-star reviews. On the Merrell website, one shopper shared that they hiked for 30 miles while these shoes were “brand new out of the box” and ended up with zero blisters. Another reviewer agreed, writing that they were comfortable “right out of the box” with “no break-in required.”
Another traveler even wore them to climb to the summit of Mount Le Conte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, reporting that the “shoes were very comfortable and I didn’t slide on the slippery, wet rocks at all.” A third reviewer who wears them to walk three miles daily with her Siberian Husky wrote, “I particularly like the roomy toe box and the deep lugs on the soles.”
Whether you’re looking for extra support for your daily walks or need a sturdy sneaker to hit the trails in, you can’t go wrong with the Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoes. And while the shoes are on sale at Amazon, it’s the perfect time to grab a pair for your fellow hiking buddy, too.
Looking for more options? Read on for five similarly popular hiking shoes that will help you tackle any type of terrain, starting at $45.
More Hiking Shoes to Shop at Amazon
Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Hiking Boots
Amazon
Nortiv 8 Women’s Lightweight Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Keen Women’s Whisper Hiking Sandals
Amazon
Saucony Men’s Excursion Tr16 Hiking Shoes
Amazon
Keen Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Amazon
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