Merrell Moab Polar Waterproof

Midweight winter hiking boots. Insulated, easy to clamp on crampons, MicroSpikes, or snowshoes. Less expensive and easier on your feet than technical mountaineering boots such as Koflach or Salewa.

Merrell Moab Polar Waterproof Boots fit in NEOS overboots.

Provides a winter camping / expedition solution that is lighter and more versatile than Mickey Mouse boots or Kamiks or Koflachs.

The Merrell boots have a D-Ring on the front to attach your gaiters.

The rear heel has a shelf to keep your snowshoe strap on when going downhill.

The entire bottom is sealed. The treads are supposed to work on ice.

I like the warmth and overall design of these boots. They are much firmer and easier to hike in than my Kamik Nationwide boots. I think they are good looking too. I have used them on day hikes — climb to summit of Cannon mountain in the White mountains for example. I have also worn them in Buffalo, NY, Bloomington, MN, and Fargo, ND, in February when it's a balmy -10° F outside.

I gave them four stars because they could use more padding around the ankle. Used with gaiters, they work in snow up to 8-12 inches. Sometimes, I feel rocks protruding through the sole into the ball of my foot. I wish they were a little more insulated from the ground. Decidedly not for long periods of inactivity on ice like ice fishing. I have narrow feet so wearing a liner sock and a wool hiking sock works good.

These boots are not ventilated, so when you hike in, your feet will perspire. That moisture requires that you change into dry socks before you get wet.

On my last winter hike,  a woman had these exact same boots in women's (they were the zip-up model, I think.) and she loved them — her feet were nice and toasty. She kept them inside a stuff sack turned inside out inside her tent so they would not freeze overnight. Great tip. I do this now also.

I still use NEOS overboots along with these boots for deep snow or weekend or longer winter camping. The removable insole pad works OK. Using the optional insulated pad inserts under these boots inside of NEOS with would be OK for real cold conditions.