Montrail Moraine AT Review

"Spent days looking for good 3/4 season boots capable of taking crampons.
Got these discount cos' no-one liked them bcos of the Integrafit last.

HaHa! On them. These boots are xcellent straight from the box, stood in bogs, pools, walked fire roads, mountain trails, moorland and they give you support where you need it.

AT Hiker's remarks don't match up to my experience. Of course some breaking is required but these were good after 2-3 weekends.

Don't forget the Nikwax tho'."

"I've had this boot about 3 months now and I'm very happy with it. It does need some break in time to conform to your foot, but is pretty comfortable right out of the box. This is a work horse bomb proof boot, good strong support, stiff full length shank, tall upper for ankle support, fully water proof all leather. I've used this boot with my snow shoes, post holeing in the snow, in water crossings, and ankle deep mud and it never gives up! A great boot for heavy hiking with a heavy pack. It may be a little heavy, but I like the support and confidence that goes with that weight."

"Awesome, this boot is quite simply the best boot I've ever put on my feet. I've been in the military, lived/hiked in Europe, and tried other boots that simply cannot hold up but these darn things are unbeatable. You have to hand it to those people at Montrail, they know their buisness."

"Very good pair of boots even though they are quite expensive. But if you have severe heel problems like I do and want to make your backpacking trips as enjoyable as possible, you will want to spend 100$ extra to get the absolute best. I find that they are very stiff and wide which lets my little toe breath...It has a great ankle support with a double tongue to allow a better adjustment. It is also, by far, the best waterproof boots I have used yet! Got to by these if you spend a lot of time on the trails. (excellent for aggressive approaches)"

"These are some great boots for when your carrying a heavy load (more than 50 pounds) on a multi-day backpacking trip, especially on rugged and rocky terrain.

I've used them on long trips with a heavy pack in the Sierras and the North Cascades of Washington state, both of which have steep trails and snow at higher elevations.

They worked great with my crampons for glacier hiking and also with snowshoes going over deep-snow on winter trails. Excellent, stiff ankle support and tough Vibram soles feel secure on trails with loose rocks, steep inclines or both.

The leather uppers are top quality stuff- no compromises here, and the stitching and lace hardware are bulletproof.

Breaking them in wasn't an ordeal like with other boots I've owned, but a lot of that depends on an individual person's particular foot problems anyway. Just wear good cushion socks like trekking or mountaineering weight wool/synthetic blend (I prefer Swartwool brand) with liner socks.

Lastly, they look good- all black, no goofy "day-glow" trim except for the bright blue laces which you can easily change anyway.

Bottom line: If you need some serious boots for serious backpacking, off-trail scrambling & non-technical mountaineering, the Moraine AT deserves serious consideration."

"Do yourself a favor and don't even think of buying these boots. I wish I had received such a warning before committing so much money on such a *terrible* pair of boots. As a backpacker who likes to seek out rocky, often snowy routes in the West, I was impressed by the sturdy tough look of the Montrails. I expected to break these boots in gradually over time; that's to be expected with chunky boots like these. However, after having tried to do so for over a year now, the only thing I have managed to do is break in my feet. The heel lock designed to keep your heel in place is particularly dreadful. Every time I wear them, my heel is torn to shredded wheat. Needless to say, I feel like a heel for having first shelled out $220 and also for putting myself through a backpacking nightmare for the last year. Blisters continue to crop up on the sides and top of my feet as well. I, having "tough" feet, and having used many boots including heavy-weights have never had trouble with blisters before. In addition, the weight of these boots is not well balanced. I often feel a lot of strain in my calves as though I am hauling around cinderblocks. On a positive note, writing this has inspired me to take my beef to the store that sold me these monstrosities and hopefully return them. Also, I hopefully have helped someone else avoid a similar mistake."

"My first pair of Moraines just gave out where I started with them: Olympic National Park, WA. They served me beautifully for twelve years. Thousands of miles of switchbacks, glacier traverses, and river crossings. It was sad to see them go. =( I am about to buy the next generation of Moraine, and expect another twelve years out of em.

To those who weren't pleased: you bought them in too small of a size. This kind of boot needs to be loose on your foot as you hike. It is not a tennis shoe, or a sandle! And it's not going to break in the same way light trail boots will. Buy them a half size bigger, and fill the space with some thick socks.

Or, stick to the tennis courts."

"These boots are great for rough terrain and extended backcountry trips. As for weekend trips on the AT, make sure you have something lighter. It took me almost a year of serious hiking to wear them in, so be prepared for some work. But once you've broken these boots in, you'll never want to give them up. I recommend using Nickwax or a waterproof treatment on them to soften the leather."

"bought a pair a few years back and found that the midsoles are made from a spongy material that crumbles with time and not use. merrell is an unreliable boot company and you should not waste your money."

"I bought these boots about six months ago to help train for a trip up Mt. Rainier. They are absolutely the best piece of equipment I own. Yes, they are a heavier boot, and are not built for those little one hour jaunts on paved trails. However, if you want to go rocky, rigid, or away from society's beaten path, they are absolutely perfect. In just a few months, I have already covered literally hundreds of miles in them. They still look new. They are absolutely flawless in quality and design. I have hiked up 40 degree inclines without weight, and with a 60 pound pack. No problem (for the boots). I would, and have, recommend them to anyone seriously looking into hiking or backpacking."

"Best-fitting boot I've ever owned. Very comfortable but provides lots of protection. Really solid when I'm scrambling. In these boots I've done a 5-day trip on the Northern Loop Trail near Rainier, hiked a couple of smaller peaks in the cascades, and spent a few days in snow (hiking/snowshoeing). They're a pleasure to wear. Totally waterproof but breathable."

"i purchased these boots at rei in eugene Oregon paid 225.00
The quality of these boots speak for them selfs. After a year of breaking them in they are very good boots. I have had merell and vasques. The moraines are by far the best. The soles are very stiff, with the great resoling aspect. The one piece construction keep your feet dry, having my feet submerged in water and still comming out dry. I highly recommend these boots to anyone that wishes to have a nice boot for many years to come. I would have to say the only negative thing i can say about them is, a few times while driving to a trail sight they hurt the front of my right foot. This being due to holding my foot for the gas pedal. Which i do not beleive was ever meant to be a design feature.
Not having these boots in the forest of the pacific norhtwest. Is like leaving the Mountain Hardware Goretex home in a typical Oregon winter."

"I have used these boots with great success for about seven years. They took a long time to break in, 50 miles before I noticed them conforming to my feet. I bought them for off trail and mountaineering which is what they are designed for. They are not hiking boots, they are heavy backpacking or mountaineering boots. With a backpack and at my weight they carry a load of upwards of 290 pounds off trail. I would not recommend them for the casual hiker or light people who don't need the support these boots provide. I have used them with crampons, climbed California 14ers, 11 days on the trail at Philmont, they excel at that sort of use."

"I work in the steep terrain of the Sierra Nevada and most of my job requires off-trail hiking and scaling some pretty tough ridges. I used the Moraine AT for two seasons and unfortunately I accidentally left them in the woods and lost them. I won't even consider buying a different brand to replace them. I hiked safely and confidently with them, and never really had a blister problem except when first breaking them in. They're not just for the once-in-awhile backpacker but are also the best boots for the 40-hour week professional off-trail hiker."

"Excellent fit right out of the box-- good heel lock, excellent medial support, roomy toe box. Nary a blister with heavy socks. Very stiff, but with break-in (a few days of wearing them to work) they began to flex just behind the toes, in the right spot, just enough so that I wasn't walking like Frankenstein. Bombproof construction, excellent protection and support. No cons except of course that they would be too heavy for light strolling on paved paths. Expect them to last for years."

"I have had a pair of these boots now for 6 years and they are the best around. I use them for anything from hunting to mountaineering to everyday use. They are the best boots I have found. Thanks Montrail for making a boot that lasts."

"I bought these boots to replace a pair of Lowa's, after my right toe blew out. (see Lowa Renegade).
Excellent quality boots. Seemed to take 'forever' to break in, but worth it."

"These are old-fashioned mountain boots with high-tech features. They are heavy and stiff because they're designed for serious use in rugged conditions. If you're not carrying big loads, or going off-trail, or using crampons occaisionally, consider a pair of Asolo GTX instead. But these boots, fitted properly, will give you stability, protection and comfort for years to come. I actually like to use them even on tough day hikes because I never have to worry about twisting my ankle or slipping on tricky descents. These are top-grade boots. Buy them before they disappear."