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MERRELL MOAB VENTILATOR
BY EMILY BENNETT
OR
May 20, 2015
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: Emily Bennett
EMAIL: [email protected]
AGE: 28
LOCATION: Muscatine, IA, USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 4" (1.63 m)
WEIGHT: 215 lb (97.50 kg)
I've done a little bit of everything , and not a whole lot of any particular thing. Mostly, I do weekend trips and day hikes, with a week-long trip thrown in when I have the money and time. I started out backpacking in the middle of the Minnesota winter with no lightweight gear, but since then I have come to appreciate the 'fast and light' philosophy.
I recently added a 45-lb (20.41 Kg) dog as my trail buddy. We are anticipating beginning to backpack Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail in sections this summer.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Merrell
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.merrell.com/US/en/moab-ventilator-wide-width/16220M.html?dwvar_16220M_color=J86595W#cgid=men-footwear-hiking&start=1" LINK TEXT = "www.merrell.com">>
MSRP: US $90.00
Listed Weight: 1 lb 13 oz (819 g)
Measured Weight: Unknown (shoes wore out and have not yet been replaced)
Size: Wide width, Men's size 7
Other details: (from product webpage)
UPPER/LINING
Dura leather and mesh upper
Bellows tongue keeps debris out
Synthetic leather toe cap and heel counter
Breathable mesh lining treated with Aegis™ antimicrobial solution
Ortholite™ anatomical footbed
MIDSOLE/OUTSOLE
Molded nylon arch shank
Compression molded EVA footframe provides cushioning
Merrell QForm™ Comfort midsole provides women’s specific stride-sequenced cushioning
Merrell air cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability
5mm sole lug depth
Vibram™ Multi-Sport Sole/TC5+ Rubber
COLORS (women's sizes)
Boulder/Blush
Taupe
Smoke
Aluminum/Marlin
Beluga/Lilac
Drizzle/Mint
COLORS (wide width, men's size)
Walnut
Merrell Moab Ventilator hiking shoes are lightweight, breathable hiking shoes with a lattice of leather and mesh vents in the outer, and durable rubber soles as well as rubber over the toe. The loop on the back of the shoe is nice for putting the shoes on or taking them off, or can be used to hang the shoes, for instance if they are wet or muddy.
I have wide feet, and often even shoes that fit well have a tight area around the widest part of my foot. These shoes are available in wide width in men's sizes, and they fit perfectly!
FIELD USE
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Image from Merrell.com" IMAGE CAPTION = "Image from merrell.com">>
I first bought these shoes when I was planning a trip to Ecuador. I knew I needed shoes that would withstand all kinds of terrain and weather. Originally, I was looking for something waterproof, and I think the sales person meant to show me the waterproof version of this shoe, but I ended up with the Ventilator version. In Ecuador, this was actually an advantage because we often ended up in mud or water deeper than the shoes, and the Ventilators drain out pretty well even while they are being worn.
The major selling points when I first tried the shoes on were how light and comfortable they were. They weren't cute or colorful (I've had two pairs, both were Walnut), but given that I intended to make them my 'jungle shoes,' that was ideal.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Image from Merrell.com" IMAGE CAPTION = "Image from merrell.com">>
They didn't need any breaking in, but I wore them almost every day anyway. I'd worn them for about a month before we headed down to Ecuador. Over the course of three weeks, they were my primary footwear. We explored several cities and hiked in the Andes, the Amazon, and the Galapagos. They were subjected to mud, rocks, sand, concrete, and wooden planks, as well as both fresh and salt water. Terrain varied from completely flat, to steep enough that we were scrambling on all fours.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Image from Merrell.com" IMAGE CAPTION = "Image from merrell.com">>
I brought them home and continued to wear them until I'd worn most of the tread off. And then I bought a second pair.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 4" IMAGE CAPTION = "Alaska Coast">>
The second pair were my lightweight shoes for Alaska. I spent a summer as a cave guide in Southeast Alaska. Some days, I needed something with more ankle support, but the boots that I had lacked any flexibility and were very slippery on wet surfaces. The Moab Ventilators had just enough flexibility in the sole that I was able to get a better grip on the large, damp rocks that made up a large portion of the tour path through the cave.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 5" IMAGE CAPTION = "Alaska Cave">>
The lack of waterproofing was an issue because the region is a temperate rain forest. These shoes dry out pretty quickly, but if it was raining in the morning and my shoes got wet at the start of a tour, I would be stuck with wet, cold feet until I could change.
They were also my preferred field shoes for a semester in Australia the following spring, where I lived in a semi-arid area with occasional tropical storms. I was in a biology class that did a lot of off-trail work, so again I needed shoes that were lightweight but secure, with quick drying as a major bonus.
My second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators died that fall, also with very little tread left, although what finally forced me to get rid of them was putting a hole through the side of the shoe. I haven't replaced them yet. Each pair of shoes lasted through a little over a year of use.
Sand does get through the mesh fabric, but it's easy to dump out once you're out of the sandy area. Mud likewise soaks through, and many times I'd end a day with a mud pattern on my socks matching the shape of the vents on the shoes, but they can be washed and dried and worn again.
They developed cosmetic wear at about the same rate as other shoes that I have owned, but I found that the structural components (interior components of the sole; parts that make the heel rigid/supportive, etc.) lasted for at least a couple of months longer. I did have to replace the shoelaces on my first pair, but these were the toughest shoes I've owned thus far.
SUMMARY
I love these shoes.
They're incredibly wearable. They're lightweight enough that I was comfortable hanging them off my pack with a carabiner. They're comfortable enough that they were my favorite shoes to wear on airplanes. They're tough enough to survive every environment I've subjected them to, and adaptable enough to be my go-to shoes for pretty much any conditions except a combination of both cool and wet. Water and mud don't phase them - just hose them off and hang them up to dry.
THINGS I LIKE
Cool, lightweight, comfortable
Quick drying
Great for hot climates
Solid tread with enough flexibility to provide a good grip on the roughest terrain, while still being stable and supportive
Durable
Wide width available
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Limited color choices in wide sizes (but many options in regular sizes)
SIGNATURE
Emily Bennett