Quick verdict
The Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX is the best-value waterproof walking shoe in the UK because it is comfortable from the first step and needs no breaking in. It pairs a GORE-TEX membrane with a grippy Vibram TC5+ outsole (5mm lugs), an 11.5mm drop and Merrell's Air Cushion heel over a pig suede and mesh upper, weighing around 460g per shoe. The fit runs roomy, so it suits wider feet and long days on chalk downland, coast paths and muddy bridleways. At £145 it is the sensible pick for hikers who want dependable comfort over low weight.
Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX: 4.8/5
GORE-TEX waterproofing, Vibram TC5+ grip and a famously roomy, no-break-in fit for £145. The value all-rounder that suits almost everyone.
The full review is below.
The Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX is the shoe I hand people when they ask what to buy first. It is not the lightest, the fastest or the most technical waterproof trainer on the shelf, but it is the one that fits the most feet, comes good straight out of the box and asks for nothing in return. Moab stands for "mother of all boots", and after three generations Merrell has the recipe down to muscle memory.
The case for it is simple. You get a proper GORE-TEX membrane, a grippy Vibram outsole and Merrell's roomy last, all for £145. That is less than you will pay for most of its rivals, and the comfort is the kind that usually costs more. If you want one waterproof shoe for British walking and you do not want to gamble on fit or break-in, this is the safe answer.
Who the Moab 3 is for
This is a shoe for the walker who values comfort over grams. If your typical outing is a half-day on the South Downs, a loop of the Purbeck cliffs or a muddy woodland circuit in the New Forest, the Moab 3 has more than enough shoe under you and no penalty in fit.
It particularly suits wider feet. Merrell cuts the Moab last generously through the forefoot, so if you find shoes like the Salomon range pinch across the toes, this is the obvious fix. There is also a dedicated wide-fit version if you need even more room.
It is less the shoe for you if you count every gram or move fast over rough ground. For that, look at something lighter and lower-profile like the Merrell Speed Strike 2 GORE-TEX. The Moab trades a little agility for a lot of stability and cushioning, and most people are happy with that deal.
Waterproofing: a real GORE-TEX membrane
The Moab 3 GORE-TEX uses a genuine GORE-TEX membrane rather than an in-house lining, which is worth paying for. It keeps the wet out reliably while letting enough water vapour escape that your feet do not cook on a mild day. Through morning dew, chalk puddles and the shallow bog you get on downland after rain, my feet stayed dry.
The honest limit is the same for every low-cut waterproof shoe: the membrane only protects up to the ankle collar. Step into water deeper than the shoe is tall, or spend a full day in ankle-deep peat, and it comes in over the top. That is physics, not a fault. For genuinely wet, boggy ground you want a mid boot. For everything short of that, this membrane earns its place across the wet British half of the year. There is more on this trade-off in our best waterproof trainers roundup.
Grip and outsole
The outsole is a Vibram TC5+ compound with 5mm lugs, formulated for Merrell. It is a sensible middle-of-the-road tread: aggressive enough to bite into mud and grass, not so blocky that it clatters on pavement or hard trail. On wet chalk, which is the banana skin of the Jurassic Coast, it holds better than most all-rounders, though nothing short of studs is truly confident on greasy chalk.
Where the Vibram earns its keep is durability and consistency. It grips wet rock and root well, sheds mud reasonably on the flat, and the rubber wears slowly. For mixed British terrain, going from tarmac lane to muddy field to stony bridleway in a single walk, this is exactly the sort of do-everything outsole you want.
Cushioning and fit
Comfort is the whole point of the Moab, and the cushioning is why. Underfoot you get Merrell's Air Cushion in the heel for shock absorption plus a Super Rebound Compound midsole, sitting on an 11.5mm drop. That is a moderate, traditional drop that feels natural to most walkers and puts a bit of protective stack between your heel and the ground.
The Moab 3 footbed is contoured and supportive out of the box, and the molded nylon arch shank adds torsional stability so the shoe does not twist under you on cambered ground. The result is a shoe you can put on new and walk 15km in the same day without a hot spot.
On fit: it runs roomy, especially in the forefoot. If you are between sizes or have a narrow foot, size down or lace snug through the midfoot. Wider feet should take their normal size and enjoy the space. The suede and mesh upper is supportive without being stiff, and the bellows tongue keeps grit out on dusty summer trails.
Colours
Buy the Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX (Grey) at Tiso
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Membrane | GORE-TEX waterproof |
| Outsole | Vibram TC5+, 5mm lugs |
| Drop / cushion | 11.5mm drop, Air Cushion heel, Super Rebound midsole |
| Weight | Approx. 460g per shoe |
| Upper | Pig suede leather and breathable mesh |
| Price | £145.00 |
| Best for | Value, comfort, wider feet, all-round British walking |
Pros and cons
- Comfortable out of the box with no break-in
- Roomy last that suits wider feet
- Genuine GORE-TEX membrane, not an in-house lining
- Durable Vibram TC5+ outsole with balanced grip
- Strong value at £145
- Dedicated wide-fit version available
- Heavier and less agile than lightweight rivals
- Low cut lets water in over the collar in deep bog
- Roomy fit means narrow feet need to size down
Verdict
The Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX earns 4.8 out of 5 and remains the value benchmark every other waterproof trainer gets measured against. It is not the shoe for gram-counters or fast movers over technical ground, but for the vast majority of British walking, from coast path to downland to forest track, it does everything well and nothing badly, for less money than most rivals.
Buy it if you want dependable comfort, a proper GORE-TEX membrane and a fit that welcomes a wider foot. It is the first shoe I would recommend to anyone building their kit. If you want to compare it against the field, our waterproof trainers hub lines up every pick, and value-focused walkers should also weigh the Mammut Sertig III Low GTX and the cheaper Merrell Accentor Sport 3 GORE-TEX.
Buy the Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX at Tiso Or the Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX on Amazon
