For most beginners, the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof is the first boot to try on. Merrell describes a mid-height design that protects your ankles and a waterproof membrane that seals out water and lets moisture escape, on a Vibram TC5+ outsole. It comes in medium and wide widths, which gives more feet a chance at a good fit.
Choose the KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof if your toes feel cramped in most boots; KEEN says its Original Fit has generous space across the forefoot. Choose the low Merrell Moab 3 for warm, dry, maintained trails, where a breathable shoe is often all you need. Choose the Altra Lone Peak 9+ if you want a light trail runner with a 0 mm drop and Altra’s roomiest toe box. Whatever you choose, fit decides more than the brand, so treat these as the shortlist to try on.
| Shoe | Type and waterproofing | Heel-to-toe drop | Maker-listed weight | Widths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search Amazon for Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof | Mid boot, waterproof membrane | 11.5 mm | 495 g (1 lb 1.45 oz) per shoe | Medium, Wide |
| Search Amazon for KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof | Mid boot, KEEN.DRY membrane | 12 mm | 570 g (20.11 oz); basis not stated | Regular, Wide |
| Search Amazon for Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoe | Low shoe, breathable mesh, not waterproof | 11.5 mm | 460 g (1 lb 0.22 oz) per shoe | Medium, Wide |
| Search Amazon for Altra Lone Peak 9+ | Trail runner, ripstop mesh, not waterproof | 0 mm | 327.4 g (11.55 oz); basis not stated | Regular, Wide |
Weights are the men’s figures each maker publishes. Merrell gives a half-pair (one shoe) weight; KEEN and Altra do not say which size or whether the figure is for one shoe, so treat close comparisons with care.
Boots, hiking shoes or trail runners?
Start with your trails, not the shoe wall.
- Mid boots suit wet, rocky or loose ground and hikers who want coverage around the ankle. Both mid boots here are waterproof. They are the heaviest option.
- Low hiking shoes suit maintained trails in dry or warm weather. The standard Moab 3 shares the Mid’s outsole, drop and footbed design but sits below the ankle and uses a breathable mesh lining without a waterproof membrane.
- Trail runners suit hikers who want the lightest footwear on drier, smoother trails. The Lone Peak 9+ is the lightest pick here by maker-listed weight, and the standard version has no waterproof membrane; Altra sells a separate Lone Peak 9+ GTX.
A waterproof membrane keeps water out only below the collar. Water from deep puddles and stream crossings can still come in over the top. If your hikes are mostly warm and dry, waterproofing is not a requirement for a first pair.
How to choose your first pair
- Fit first. Try shoes on with the socks you plan to hike in. The heel should stay put when you walk up a slope, and your toes should not hit the front when you walk down one. If a pair fails either check, it is the wrong pair no matter how good the specs look.
- Check the toe room. If your feet are wide at the toes, the KEEN and the Altra are the two picks whose makers specifically describe extra forefoot room, and all four come in a wide version.
- Match waterproofing to your weather. Wet, muddy or cold trails favor a membrane; hot, dry trails favor mesh.
- Understand drop. Altra defines heel-to-toe drop as the height difference between the heel and the forefoot. Moving from a typical 11.5 to 12 mm hiking boot to a 0 mm shoe is a big change in how the shoe sits, so if you are curious about zero drop, try it on short hikes first.
- Buy the exact model. Each of these shoes has close relatives with different features: Mid versus low, Waterproof versus GORE-TEX, Lone Peak 9 versus 9+. Check the full name on the listing.
1. Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof: best first boot for most beginners
Merrell lists a pig suede leather and breathable mesh upper, a waterproof membrane, a molded nylon arch shank, Merrell Air Cushion in the heel and a rubber heel and toe cap. The Vibram TC5+ outsole has 5 mm lugs, and the drop is 11.5 mm. The men’s half-pair weight is 495 g (1 lb 1.45 oz).
Variant pitfalls: Merrell sells the Moab 3 Mid in waterproof, GORE-TEX and non-waterproof versions, and tactical Moab 3 work boots also turn up in Amazon search results. Confirm “Moab 3 Mid Waterproof” and choose Wide in the size selector if you need it.
Buy it if you want one boot for mixed conditions and value a wide-width option.
Skip it if your trails are hot and dry; the low Moab 3 below shares much of the same design with more breathability.
2. KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof: best for a roomy forefoot
KEEN describes the Targhee IV’s Original Fit as having generous space across the forefoot for toes to splay. The boot pairs a leather upper with a KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane, and KEEN lists a 12 mm heel-to-toe drop, a 5.12 in (130 mm) shaft height and a weight of 20.11 oz (570 g). KEEN says its KEEN.FUSION bonded construction won’t delaminate, meaning the upper won’t separate from the sole, and that it guarantees this. KEEN also says the KEEN.RUGGED outsole is twice as abrasion-resistant as rubber.
Variant pitfalls: KEEN sells several Targhee models, including the Targhee Apex Waterproof, and a separate wide version of the Targhee IV Mid Waterproof. The site’s Targhee IV Mid Waterproof review explains how the versions differ.
Buy it if your toes feel squeezed in most boots, or durability of the sole bond matters to you.
Skip it if you want the lightest boot; it has the highest listed weight here, although KEEN does not state the size or basis.
3. Merrell Moab 3: best low shoe for warm, dry trails
The standard Moab 3 is the low version of the same design: pig suede leather and breathable mesh upper, a breathable mesh lining, a bellows tongue that keeps out debris, the Vibram TC5+ outsole with 5 mm lugs and an 11.5 mm drop. Merrell lists a half-pair weight of 460 g (1 lb 0.22 oz). It has no waterproof membrane, which is the point: it is built to breathe.
For how this shoe compares with a lighter waterproof low shoe, see the site’s Merrell Moab 3 versus Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX comparison .
Buy it if most of your hikes are on maintained trails in warm or dry weather.
Skip it if you hike through mud and wet grass often; a waterproof mid keeps your feet drier there.
4. Altra Lone Peak 9+: best trail runner for hiking
The Lone Peak 9+ is a trail running shoe that Altra also tags for hiking and thru-hiking. Altra lists a 0 mm heel-to-toe drop, a 25 mm stack height, a men’s weight of 11.55 oz (327.4 g), a Vibram Megagrip outsole and a recycled ripstop mesh upper. Altra calls its toe box its roomiest and adds GaiterTrap, a hook-and-loop tab for attaching a gaiter without straps.
Variant pitfalls: The Lone Peak 9+, Lone Peak 9 and Lone Peak 9+ GTX are separate listings. Confirm the exact name and choose Wide if you need it.
Buy it if you want light footwear for dry, smooth trails and like the idea of a wide, flat platform.
Skip it if you have only hiked in conventional shoes and do not want to adjust to a 0 mm drop, or your trails are wet and cold.
Before your first long hike
Wear new shoes on a few short walks before a long one, and use the socks you plan to hike in. If a spot rubs, deal with it early: the site’s guide to blister care items for your first aid kit covers what to carry. If you plan steep climbs and descents, the site’s trekking poles for beginners shows how to size a first pair.
Sources consulted
- Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
- Merrell Men’s Moab 3
- KEEN Men’s Targhee IV Mid Waterproof
- Altra Men’s Lone Peak 9+
Specifications are the men’s figures on the makers’ pages, checked October 5, 2026; women’s versions can have different figures, so confirm the exact model, size and width on the listing. This is researched buyer analysis without hands-on testing.
FAQ
Do beginners need hiking boots or are hiking shoes enough?
Hiking shoes are enough for many maintained, dry trails. A mid boot makes more sense on wet, rocky or loose ground, or when you want the ankle-height coverage Merrell and KEEN describe for their mid boots. Fit matters more than height.
Should my first hiking boots be waterproof?
Choose waterproof if your trails are often wet or muddy. On warm, dry trails a breathable non-waterproof shoe such as the standard Moab 3 is a reasonable choice. A waterproof membrane does not stop water that comes in over the collar.
What does heel-to-toe drop mean?
It is the height difference between the heel and the forefoot of the shoe. Altra builds all its shoes at 0 mm or 4 mm; the Merrell and KEEN boots here list 11.5 mm and 12 mm.
Can I hike in trail running shoes?
Yes. Altra lists hiking and thru-hiking among the Lone Peak 9+’s uses. It is lighter than the boots here and, in the standard version, has no waterproof membrane, so it suits drier, smoother trails best.