Merrell · Hiking Shoes & Trail Runners
Merrell Women's Moab 3
Popular hiking shoe; no PFAS disclosure from Merrell
Merrell does not publicly disclose PFAS-free status or testing for Moab 3. The waterproof treatment on this hiking shoe likely contains water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating), which historically used PFAS compounds.
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Material
Mesh textile upper, rubber sole, likely water-repellent coating-treated
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Moab 3 upper is mesh textile (likely polyester/nylon blend) bonded to a rubber outsole, with suede/synthetic leather overlays for structure. The mesh is almost certainly treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating, which in budget-to-mid-range hiking shoes is commonly fluorocarbon-based (PFAS-containing) rather than fluorine-free. No published material safety data sheet from Merrell specifies the water-repellent coating chemistry. The rubber sole is likely standard vulcanized rubber without added hazardous flame retardants or heavy metal accelerators, though independent verification is unavailable.
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrell (owned by Wolverine World Wide) has not made public commitments to PFAS phase-out or fluorine-free water-repellent coating adoption for footwear, unlike some competitors. The brand provides no material transparency portal or chemical inventory disclosures on product pages. Wolverine faced litigation over per-and-polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination from foam manufacturing facilities but has not extended transparency to finished footwear labeling. No major product recalls or formaldehyde/azo dye violations are documented for the Moab line.
How it compares in its category
The Moab 3 is a mid-tier hiking shoe. Competitors like Salomon and La Sportiva similarly do not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry on retail listings; high-end brands such as Arc'teryx and some Salewa models have begun specifying PFAS-free treatments. Entry-level brands rarely publish any transparency. The Moab 3 sits in the transparency vacuum typical of mainstream athletic footwear, with no better or worse chemical disclosure than comparable price-point alternatives.
If you buy it
Wash the shoes in cool water (below 40°C) to avoid potential accelerated breakdown of water-repellent coating and adhesives. Avoid machine drying or direct heat; air-dry at room temperature. water-repellent coating treatments typically last 40-80 wears before hydrophobic performance drops; reapplication with commercial water-repellent coating sprays (check the product's own PFAS status) extends life. Inspect adhesive seams annually for peeling, a common failure point in this model that can be sealed with flexible outdoor shoe glue.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry - PFAS likely but unconfirmed
The mesh upper on the Moab 3 requires water-repellent coating treatment for function. Merrell does not disclose whether the treatment is fluorocarbon-based (PFAS-containing) or fluorine-free. Given the brand's lack of public PFAS commitments and the prevalence of legacy fluorocarbon water-repellent coating in mid-range footwear, PFAS-containing treatment is probable but not independently verified for this specific model.
Formaldehyde resins in textile finishes
No formaldehyde-releasing finishes (wrinkle resistance, sizing) are standard in modern athletic mesh uppers. Merrell's manufacturing standards appear consistent with industry practice, which avoids high-formaldehyde textile resins. No recalls or testing data suggest a problem with this product line.
Azo dyes in mesh and overlay materials
The Moab 3 is available in multiple colors (grey, brown, teal, etc.). Synthetic dyes in low-cost mesh can include azo compounds restricted under REACH, though major footwear brands typically comply with EU/California restrictions. Merrell's compliance audits are not public, leaving this as an unverified but standard category risk.
Adhesive off-gassing and polyurethane breakdown
The shoe's mesh-to-midsole and overlay bonds likely use polyurethane adhesives. New shoes may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the first few wears; this is typical and diminishes rapidly with air exposure. No evidence of excessive off-gassing in user reports, but individual sensitivity varies.
Rubber sole degradation and leachables
Vulcanized rubber soles in the Moab 3 do not typically leach heavy metals or hazardous additives at typical use temperatures. No published data or recalls indicate contamination from sole materials.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
More hiking shoes & trail runners grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.