Merrell Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP 400g Insulated Boots Review

Merrell’s Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP winter boots are insulated with 400g Primaloft Gold Eco Series artificial insulation making them appropriate for cold-weather climbing. While Merrell doesn’t cite a temperature ranking, these boots are similar to different 400g insulated boots in the marketplace which have a ranking of -40F. Despite their identify, these boots are usually not notably “tall” and solely measure 7.5 inches in peak from the underside of the only to the highest of the laces, making them really feel extra like common climbing boots and never the actually tall insulated winter boots supplied by different producers. There are benefits and downsides to that peak distinction as I clarify under.

Specs at a Glance

• Type: insulated boots (sole to cuff peak 7.5″)
• Gender: males’s (girls’s sizes are NOT accessible)
• Insulation: 400g Primaloft Gold Eco artificial insulation
• Outsole: Vibram IceTrek soles
• Waterproof/Breathable: Yes
• Wide Sizes: Not accessible in a Wide
• Material: Leather and textile
• Drop: 11.5 mm
• Lug Depth: 5.0 mm

Not that Tall at All

Most 400g insulated winter climbing boots are tall reaching properly up the calf to seize extra physique warmth in an effort to hold your toes hotter. Not so with the Merrell Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP. At 7.5″ in peak from the heel to the highest of the laces, these boots are usually not notably tall and are sized extra like common climbing boots. That’s advantageous as a result of  you don’t have to vary your stride as you do with taller winter boots which have much less vary of movement within the ankles. This makes climbing and snowshoeing with them extra pure than a taller boot and places loads much less stress in your hip flexors. But as some extent of comparability, the 200g insulated Merrell Moab Speed Thermo Mid that I reviewed just lately is simply a half-inch shorter in peak, so at 7.5″ the Moab 3 Thermo isn’t actually tall at a all.

Waterproofing

The Moab 3 Thermo is made with a water-resistant/breathable membrane to stop water from seeping by the leather-based and textile exterior. As far as breathability goes, don’t get your hopes up. Foot sweat makes my socks damp once I’ve go winter climbing with these boots. That’s not stunning. I’ve by no means owned a pair of waterproof/breathable winter climbing boots the place that wasn’t the case.

Construction

These boots have a textile and leather-based higher with good entrance toe-kick safety. But the highest of the toe field behind the entrance kick is a bit gentle and does compress in the event you placed on microspikes which have a good elastomer harness. The toe field match additionally runs slender so chances are you’ll expertise some lack of room relying on how a lot toe field width you like. I discover it cramped.

The tongue is closely padded and lined in fleece for added consolation and heat. There is a gaiter ring on the base of the tongue to hook your gaiters too and the tongue is bellowed alongside the edges to stop moisture from leaking inside. The prime cuff is fleece lined with a inflexible leather-based heel counter for stability and safety. There is NOT a ridge on the again of the heel to stop a rear snowshoe strap from slipping off, nevertheless, which is kind of a pleasant characteristic on some 400g insulated boots together with the Oboz Bridger 10″/9″.

The Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP has a nylon arch shank which may be very light-weight however supporting. It’s helpful on a softer sole boot like this as a result of it stiffens the only and diminishes the load on you arches, calves, and knees. These boots embody a reasonably first rate wool lined insole with a safe heel cup and further cushioning beneath the heel and ball of the foot as properly.

Vibram IceTrek Outsoles

The Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP has Vibram IceTrek outsoles with actually beefy 5 mm lugs.  The outsoles are gentle and grippy with a definite arch which is sweet to seize a gaiter strap.  They’re made with a rubber compound designed for low to medium temperatures with multidirectional lugs which might be designed to offer traction when climbing throughout ice or snow-covered terrain.

Vibram IceTrek soles are engineered to offer additional grip and traction on icy surfaces, or that’s what Vibram’s advertising claims. I haven’t discovered that to be the case as a result of I slide round anyway once I hit icy patches in these boots, or every other boots for that matter  It’s a moot level anyway as a result of hikers put on microspikes or crampons once they want additional traction on icy terrain and the soles by no means contact the bottom.

Recommended winter climbing boots

Recommendation

Merrell’s Moab 3 Thermo Tall WP winter boots are insulated with 400g Primaloft Gold Eco Series artificial insulation making them appropriate for cold-weather climbing all the way down to -40F levels. They’re heat and waterproof however match extra like common climbing boots and never the taller calf-high 400g insulated winter climbing boots bought by different manufacturers. Made with a mixture of leather-based and textile, they’re lined with a water-resistant/breathable membrane to maintain your toes dry with a gentle fleece ankle cuff and tongue that makes them very comfy to put on. While they’re wearable out of the field with out breaking them in, the sizing does run noticeably slender and extensive sizes are usually not accessible. If that’s not a problem, they’re a good selection if you would like higher calf air flow and a boot that gives extra ankle vary of movement.

Disclosure: The writer owns these sneakers.

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