I don’t think I have ever NOT owned a pair of Merrill MOAB’s. They are widely worn and used in the military. The entire military, not just in SOF. It’s like Merrill means boot in operatoreese (SOF operator language). They’re available everywhere. The Merrill MOAB is a dominant force in the shelves of most shoe stores that sell hiking boots. I am unable to say outright – these are bad boots. At the same time, I can’t say these are the best boots you can get your hands on. They’re affordable, dependable, won’t break down on your right away, offer a short break in period if one at all, and can do just about whatever you need to do.

You know how the Toyota Hilux is the preferred terrorist vehicle. The Merrell MOAB Ventilator is the default Special Operator boot. Overall, they’re an incredibly reliable boot. So, whenever you hear “boots on the ground” do what I do, envision a Merrill MOAB walking around wherever they’re saying there aren’t boots. Even dogs endorse these boots (see below).

Image courtesy of Backpacking Culture.

As you can see in the photos posted throughout the article, the Merrell MOAB Ventilators are used by military service members in the field and at war. However, I do have some complaints with the boot. Some features hindered my performance over the long haul in usage. Here it is – the tongue is large and long. It runs all the way up the boot and is very thick. My feet are like bananas – if there are other banana footers out there, you know what I mean.

They’re long and slender. That means I have to lace up my shoes very tight. Because of the large tongue and the uninterrupted lace design that goes up the boot, it can become tight on the front of your ankle. When you’re traveling distance and especially if you’re running, it’s painful. I can wear these boots for daily activity. But whenever I put weight on my back, I avoid wearing these boots. But, this might be unique to me and my banana feet. Although, it’s important to note that these boots show up relatively slender. They have a thin sole similar to Nike running shoes.