Merrell Moab 3 vs Moab 3 Waterproof: Which Fixes Wet Feet Better?

What actually differs between them

These are the same shoe built on the same last: identical pig suede and mesh upper, the same Vibram TC5+ outsole with 5 mm lugs, the same 11.5 mm drop, and the same Medium and Wide width options for men. Merrell's pages also list the same Air Cushion heel and molded nylon arch shank on both versions, so the underfoot feel and arch support should be the same between them. The one published difference is the membrane. The standard Moab 3 uses a breathable mesh lining with no membrane; the Moab 3 Waterproof adds Merrell's own in-house waterproof membrane, which the brand does not name (it is not branded GORE-TEX, so don't assume the two terms mean the same product here).

The membrane trade-off

Waterproof-breathable footwear membranes generally work by using pores far smaller than a raindrop but far larger than a molecule of water vapor, which is how GORE-TEX (the best-documented example of this technology) explains its own membrane (GORE-TEX: The GORE-TEX Membrane). Merrell doesn't publish the same level of detail about its own unnamed membrane, but the trade-off is the same in kind: a sealed membrane blocks water from getting in, and it also reduces how much the shoe can vent, so it runs warmer and dries slower once it does get wet inside. Long, wet exposure in a low-cut shoe also matters more in cold weather: the CDC notes that wet feet lose heat roughly 25 times faster than dry ones (CDC: Cold Stress, Trench Foot), which is one reason a low-cut shoe, waterproof or not, isn't the pick for cold, wet, or snowy trails; see our winter hiking boots roundup for that job instead.

For the general version of this question across brands and cut heights, see our pillar guide, waterproof vs non-waterproof hiking boots.

Weight and fit

The waterproof version weighs 1 lb 0.92 oz (480 g) per shoe, half a pair, against 1 lb 0.22 oz (460 g) for the non-waterproof Moab 3, a 20 g difference per shoe that most hikers won't notice on the trail. Both are sold in men's Medium and Wide, though the Wide is a separate product listing for the waterproof version. Neither brand page we checked verified women's width options, so if you need a confirmed wide width in a women's size, check Merrell's own size chart before ordering, or see our KEEN Targhee vs Merrell Moab comparison for how the Moab's wide sizing stacks up against a direct competitor.

Durability: what's shared, what isn't

Because the upper materials, outsole compound and construction are otherwise identical, wear on the sole, lugs and stitching should hold up the same on both versions. The membrane itself is the one part that doesn't show up in the shared spec sheet: neither Merrell page we checked publishes a lifespan or a membrane-specific warranty for either shoe, so treat any claim that the waterproofing itself outlasts (or wears out faster than) the rest of the shoe as unverified. Judge the two on what's actually published: identical construction, and one membrane versus none.

Who should skip both

If you need ankle support on rough terrain, neither of these low-cut shoes adds that; see the mid-cut Merrell Moab vs Salomon X Ultra comparison instead. And if you'd rather see both of these ranked against other waterproof low shoes side by side, our best waterproof hiking shoes roundup carries both.