I posted this over at TOS, but it can't hurt to post it here too...

I love the comfort and feel of these boots. No complaints about the fit and it's nice to be able to get a pair in a wide fit. But I feel that need to add a caution as well.This is actually my second pair of Moab Mids and this particular pair was a warrenty replacement.

The issue that I have experienced with this model and the original pair that they replaced is that the leather rips at the point that the lacing eyelet is sewn in. This is exactly what happened to the first pair after I had had them for just three months, and this replacement pair I have had for exactly 2 years with only moderate use. 

I am waiting to hear back from Merrell whether they will replace these boots as well. Sadly though, even if they are replaced, after the second exact failure, I do not think I would have much confidence in these to use them on the trail again -- or any sewn in web lacing loops. Its back to actual eyelets for me.

It was my intention to buy a pair of Chameleon Prime Stretch for my Christmas present. Now I do not really trust the construction of Merrells and am looking at the Oboz Firebrand II bdry.



That point of a boot is of course a natual stress point. But I will go with the issue being the materials and the construction of the boots, for $200 Alex...

The "leather" is branded as Dura Leather, which is a nice sounding commercial name for bonded leather -- en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonded_leather . Pretty piss poor stuff.

In addition to being a bonded leather, that particular lacing loop is assembled by cutting through the material, inserting, the webbing and then stitching with two rows of sitching that are 3/8" wide and then each row is 1/8" apart. That is a lot of stress then on a very small area with stitching going through a bonded leather (clearly a second rate material).