Customer Reviews Merrell Moab Ventilator

I'm sorry to say these are the most uncomfortable, stiff hiking shoes. I bought them because I have the same style in Merrill hiking boots. My hiking boots were great out of the box, no breaking in, just comfortable from the get go. I have hiked a few hundred miles in them with no problem. The same cannot be said for these shoes. They were stiff and uncomfortable from the beginning. It feels as if there is absolutely zero padding in the insole. I tried to remedy this by adding cushioned insoles, no luck. There is just no give to these shoes. Although I purchased them in the exact same size as my hiking boots the shoes seem to run a big big. While going downhill my toes constantly slam into the front of the shoe. These shoes also cause me severe lower back pain. I am unable to wear them. I'm baffled as to how the Merrell Moab Ventilator hiking boot can be so comfortable and the hiking shoe so extremely uncomfortable. I would think the same brand/style would be consistent. I'm very disappointed in these shoes and makes me question if I will purchase another pair of Merrell hiking boots.

I ordered the Merrell Moab Ventilators for a hiking trip a week later. I thought I would break them in the week before and on my flights to Denver. However, after wearing them a couple of hours, I got the absolute worst foot cramps of my life. I had to take Ubers everywhere for the rest of the day because I couldnt walk the few short blocks that I needed to. I stopped wearing them for the rest of the week and was sure to stretch my legs and feet everyday to get the cramping to stop. I picked up some expensive shoe inserts and tried them again 4 days later, only to have my foot start cramping again within 2 hours! Its something with the shoes as I bought a cheap pair of sneakers from Payless and my feet were absolutely fine.

I wanted to love these shoes. They looked nice out of the box--the blue and gray color would look nice with jeans, as others have posted. I was prepared for my usual size 7 medium to be a little small, so also ordered the 7 1/2 medium. It also seemed small--fit perfectly without socks, but would not have worked for me with socks. The shoes seemed very supportive and well-made--almost too supportive for me--I don't have any foot problems, and usually wear "minimal" or "barefoot" styles in these types of shoes. The Moab Ventilator felt like I was encasing my feet in very comfortable, but very thick, concrete. That wasn't even the real reason I am sending both pairs back. OMG, do these shoes ever squeak! On the hardwood, on the tile, on the carpet--loud squeaking from the soles of both pairs. I would be embarrassed to wear them. So for all the above reasons, I'm returning them, and continuing to look for a good basic pair of trail shoes for heavy walking, both in the local Metropark with my dog, and also for travel further afield.

I hate to give a negative review since everyone else seemed to love it, but this is the worst walking/fitness type shoe I've ever purchased. It felt OK taking short walks here and there but then I wore them to Disney World (I got them because other reviewers said it was great on their trip) and I was MISERABLE, even at the end of the week. They hurt my heels and balls of my feet ao badly I was constantly taking tylenol in order to even get up in the morning. I guess the arch support was too much for me too because my arches hurt as well, a problem I've never had with even cheap tennis shoes. I've had them for almost a year now and they are still not broken in/super uncomfortable. I guess I just have to resign myself to the fact that they won't work for me. I'm so disappointed because I have pair of Merrell high top hiking boots that are amazingly comfortable and had hoped these would be the same.

not comfortable. shoes was not soft to walk with.

Something has changed with this style of Merrell. I kept trying to make the shoes work for me. All I did was cause pain in my feet and legs. Length and width were fine. Will not purchase another Merrell shoe. I tried wearing this shoe with my shoe inserts and the ones that came in the shoe. No luck. I am unable to return the shoes as I wore them outside. They are now packed back in the box and stored under my bed. I hope I find someone that will be able to wear them. Money down the tubes.

I'm sorry, but I'm very unhappy with these shoes. I've never had a Merrell shoe that was so STIFF. Very uncomfortable. Didn't keep my box/return label or I'd send them back. Wish I could get something different since I paid so much.

I have been buying Merrell shoes for years for myself, my husband, daughter and other family as gifts; and my bias toward Merrell is well known by the family! So naturally my husband did not hesitate to buy me these hiking shoes as a birthday gift after seeing the reviews on Zappos, etc. He got my usual size 10, which I felt was a bit snugger than the other size 10 Merrell Jungle mocs I was wearing and so I immediately exchanged them for a size 10.5. It seemed as though there was enough room, but after each short tryout, my toes felt crushed and twisted...I literally couldn't figure out if this was a width or length issue! Then I thought that's since it's too late to return them, I'll get them stretched at the cobbler's. Only a tad roomier as a result. Then I bet everything on the Merrell name and took them to Yellowstone this month. I hiked them dry and wet(as recommended by some sites to stretch out hiking shoes); I hiked short and long in them, and by the final 10-mile hike was literally cursing from pain. Now my right second toenail is edged with purple, and looks dead. The only thing that saved my feet were the new Keen sandals (Rose) I had purchased as a 'dressier' evening alternative. They gave my feet a break from the hiking shoes, especially my toes which seemed to stay out of contact with the end of the shoe thanks to a fixed ankle strap. I don't know what Merrell did to their lasts, but I'm going to have to start shopping for a new brand of hiking shoe. So disappointed at these expensive failures!

I was very surprised to end up with aches arches and feet once I started wearing these regularly. They were extremely comfortable when I tried them on and tested them out at home. I can no longer wear them and hope to find an inexpensive insert that will allow me to wear them without pain. I don't recommend these shoes. I wish I could return them but they already got muddied on a hike.

I bought the hiking shoes, Moab Ventilator J57758 for a trip to Colombia where I would be doing some hiking. I had read good reviews about them and they were at the price point I wanted to spend. I wore them hiking for 4 hours and came back with a huge blister on both heels on the lower inside of the heel as well as a huge blister on each little toe. Inside the shoe is a little wedge on the inside of the heel which caused the heel blisters. I wore appropriate hiking socks. I don't think I will be able to wear these shoes again. Also, I had to buy 1 1/2 sizes up from my usual size 9 in order for my big toe to fit without being pushed against the end of the shoe - size 10.5, which seems extremely off size. I am very disappointed.

I bought the same shoes exactly one year ago and they were fabulous-wore them every day! I just replaced them with the SAME shoe and without even putting them on I realized that Merrell's quality has went downhill. They have no arch support, and poor liner. So sad that my old Merrell's are still more comfortable than the new ones. Quality is obviously not a high standard for Merrell anymore-even with zero price changes.

I ordered these based on some reviews. I do not think you can get a true feel for how shoes fits/feels by wearing them in the house to protect the sole from looking worn. I wore them outside for a short walk and the first thing I noticed was the lack of arch support. I have high arches and even after a short while I had a lot of discomfort due to lack of support. I ordered the same size I always wear, but with these my toes bump against the toe of the shoe. Because the shoes laces all the way to the toe joints, the laces sit right where the toes need to bend to walk, and the toe box is not as high as on my Columbias. You should never have to break in a pair of shoes and I never had to with my Columbias (I have had two pairs), but these Merrells hurt my feet so much that I dread putting them on. What a waste of money. I also think that because the Merrell change the way you walk (pronate or supinate) it puts stress on ligaments and tendons. Making changes when young may work, but as an older female, it just causes discomfort. I will stick to my Columbias for future purchases.

A few months ago I bought this shoe-my fourth pair of this exact style and size. WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT!!!!! I loved my last three pairs. Excellent fit, comfort right out of the box, great performance. But this las t pair I feel like I have the "Pay less Shoes" version. Cheap, bad fit, stiff, hard soles, about the most uncomfortable shoe I've ever worn. I even bought expensive padded insoles and they are still simply unwearable. Merrell must have cheaper out in their manufacture. I won't be wearing these anymore.

I bought these shoes because they were GORE-TEX (aka waterproof). I have other Merrell GORE-TEX shoes that work amazingly well in water, but I might as well have had on canvas shoes for the benefits these provided. My feet were soaked through and squishing around in the water logged shoes at a medium pace of rain. I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am in these shoes.