Hoka Kaha 3 vs Merrell Moab 3 | Which Is Better In 2025?
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Hoka Kaha 3 vs Merrell Moab 3 comparison in detail after personally owning and testing both hiking boots.
I purchased both hiking boots with my own money and tested them extensively over hundreds of miles across mixed terrain from wet granite to desert dust so you can trust this comparison is based on real experience, not marketing.
I’ll be comparing these two head-to-head in categories like price, comfort, traction, overall protection, fit, breathability, and durability. The Kaha 3 was just released in 2025 this year and has been getting excellent reviews from hikers all around, the Moab 3 is a staple boot that has been top of the line for years now.
At the end, I’ll share which product offers the best overall value for the money and provide my overall recommendation for which you should buy.
Also, if you’re interested in learning more, I have tested each product individually in my Hoka Kaha 3 Review and Merrell Moab 3 Review.
Moab 3 vs Kaha 3 Price Comparison
At the time of this writing, the Moab 3 is $110 less than the Kaha 3, depending on which model you choose.
Moab 3 Price : $120
Hoka Kaha 3 Price: $240
| Comparision | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall Hiking Boot  | 9.2 | Check Lowest PriceRead Review | |
 | 8.8 | Check Lowest PriceRead Review |
From time to time, my affiliate link unlocks exclusive discounts—worth clicking to see if one’s live right now.
We independently purchase and test every product; we may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Comfort
Both the Kaha 3 and Merrell Moab 3 are very comfortable hiking boots. Currently the Kaha 3 is rated as our #2 most comfortable hiking boot of this year.
The Kaha 3 has a compression molded- EVA midsole. This is very inviting and comforting. My toes sink slightly into the insole without any overcompression issues.
The Moab 3 overall is a decently comfortable boot, the midsole has nice weight distribution and good shock absorption. The kinetic fit outsole contours to the shape of your foot with nice adequate padding.
Shock absorption is excellent with the Kaha 3’s, I was able to go backpacking without any issues, these really save my joints in the long term.
The PU sockliner is a nice addition to the Kaha 3, which didn’t have a sockliner at all with the previous iteration.
Both boots have moderately sized toe boxes. The Moab 3’s toe box initially felt slightly cramped, causing some numbness that disappeared after a 15-mile break-in.
Moving towards the heel, the Kaha 3 is missing some padding that the Moab 3 really makes up for. The Moab has superior padding all along the posterior heel that allows a nice plush pushback while on steep trails. The Kaha 3 is missing this feature which didn’t carry over from the previous model.
Both boots are nice and voluminous. The Kaha 3 is missing a wide fitting model, some users have complained about the narrowness of the boot, during my testing the volume wasn’t an issue. The Moab 3 has slightly less volume than the Kaha 3, however it is more expandable and accommodating.
The Kaha 3 features the Meta Rocker, which is a subtle curvature in the sole of the shoe which allows a better toe off. This allows more ground to contact in a more efficient stride saving your energy return. The Moab does not feature a rockered sole, the energy return is not as efficient as the Kaha.
Overall, Both boots are very comfortable with their flaws. However, the Kaha 3 takes the crown here for the superior cushioning.
Hoka Kaha 3 Comfort: 5 out of 5
Merrell Moab 3 Comfort: 4 out of 5
Winner: Kaha 3
Traction
The Merrell Moab 3 features the Vibram TC5 + outsole, while the Hoka Kaha 3 has the Vibram Megagrip outsole.
The Hoka Kaha 3 features lug depth at 4mm, which was perfect for tackling easy trails to technical trails.
During my test of the Kaha 3, there was nothing that the Hoka Kaha 3 could not handle. It easily took down technical trails as well as wet sandstone, limestone, slate, gravel, dirtpack trails, anything you could think of.
The outsole of the Hoka Kaha 3 may be very large, however it is nice and stiff. This allows you to tackle rough terrain without any slipping or overcompression of the outsole. The grip is strong and robust, one of the best on the market we have tested to date.
So compare this to the Merrell Moab 3 which has the Vibram TC5+ outsole, (which is slightly more soft when you compare it to the Vibram Megagrip). The Merrell Moab 3 was able to tackle just as many rough trails as the Kaha 3, and the grip is nice and stable.
One area where I struggled slightly with the Merrell Moab 3 when compared to the Kaha 3 is wet trails. There was mild slipping as well as issues with grip on technical trails that were wet.
One area that users forget about when comparing the Moab 3 to the Kaha 3 is price. The Moab 3 is able to incorporate the Vibram TC5+ outsole, which is a premium outsole, for a budget price, whereas the Kaha 3 is at a much higher price point.
Based on all of my objective tests, you can guarantee that both these boots have excellent traction and you can use them from daily light trail hikes to technical trails with dependable traction.
Hoka Kaha 3 Traction: 5 out of 5
Merrell Moab 3 Traction: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Kaha 3
Overall Protection
Both hiking boots score very well when it comes to overall protection.
When it comes to ankle protection, the Hoka Kaha 3 offers one of the most solid ankle support systems. The height at the ankle cuff is 7.5 inches, which is extremely high. The only other higher ankle cuff than this is the Lowa Renegade as well as the Salomon Quest 4.
The ankle cuff of the Merrell Moab 3 is much lower when you compare it to the Kaha 3. This is one of my gripes with this hiking boot.
As it is considered a hiking boot, the ankle cuff does not fully cover your ankle bones (malleoli).
Hoka Kaha 3 uses thick, durable nubuck leather which gives you solid protection along these sides as well as a nice thick durable toe cap to prevent any damage against root kicks or scrapes on the trails. There is a plastic overlay in addition to the toe cap giving further extension of coverage.
The Merrell Moab 3 does have thick leather throughout the entire boot, however it does have air mesh pockets throughout this leather as well as a rubber toe cap.
Both boots have solid overall protection. However, the Hoka Kaha 3 really stepped up its game with this iteration.
Hoka Kaha 3 Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Merrell Moab 3 Overall Protection: 4 out of 5
Winner: Kaha 3
Moab 3 Vs Kaha 3 | Which Fits Better?
I tested both hiking boots and a size 10 and a half, both normal width (neither come in a wide size). Didn’t have any issues with fit regarding both boots, however, the Merrell Moab was slightly more accommodating than the Kaha 3.
When lacing up both hiking boots, the angle of the eyelets of the Kaha 3 is just not right. I felt the laces kept slipping before I could lock in my knot.
There’s not an issue like this with the Moab 3, which gives a nice solid lock down with one eyelet at the top of the ankle.
During my objective testing the Hoka Kaha 3 didn’t reveal any issues with volume of the boot. My feet were able to swell in the summer hiking routes without any issues as well as the Merrell Moab 3.
Both hiking boots fit very well, I do not recommend sizing up or down in either model.
Hoka Kaha 3 Fit : 5 out of 5
Merrell Moab 3 Fit : 5 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Breathability
For consistency, I tested the GTX version of both boots.
Breathability is where both of these hiking boots really differentiate from each other. As said before, the Merrell Moab 3 has ventilation pockets throughout the leather in this boot.
The Kaha 3 doesn’t feature any sort of ventilation pockets other than the air mesh and the tongue of the boot. While it’s still good to go on summer hiking with the Kaha 3, the Merrell Moab 3 overall is just more breathable.
For context, the Hoka Kaha 3 has the new Invisible Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. This definitely adds a little bit more breathability than the previous iteration.
However, the Merrell Moab 3 does feature a waterproof membrane, but those added ventilation pockets throughout the boot really enhance the breathability when compared directly to the Kaha 3.
Overall, the Moab 3 is more breathable.
Kaha 3 Breathability : 3.5 out of 5
Moab 3 Breathability : 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Moab 3
Durability
Both boots are crafted with quality materials. Both feature traditionally stitched leather, which is a premium feature many boots on the market don’t offer nowadays.
A lot of boots are welded which really kills the durability, thankfully both these models don’t feature any welding.
I’ve personally tested both models over 100 miles now, and I can say they don’t have any issues when it comes to durability or breakdown of the outsole.
The Kaha 3 has an extremely thick outsole which can tend to over compress over time and flatten out. This is not the case because they were able to craft this outsole in a hardshell manner, which really aids in the durability overall.
On the other side, I was able to hike over 100 miles with the Merrell Moab 3 and also use it as an everyday winter boot. This really speaks to the durability of this model as I haven’t noticed any breakdown of the outsole, grip, or changes to the leather outer shell.
Overall, both hiking boots have a top 3 durability score out of all the 50 hiking boots we have tested for years.
I’ll continue testing both models and update this section if any long-term durability changes occur.
Going with either of these boots when it comes to wanting a long-lasting, durable boot is an easy choice to make.
Kaha 3 Durability : 5 out of 5
Moab 3 Durability : 5 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Kaha 3 Overall Rating: 9.3
- Comfort: 5 out of 5
- Traction: 5 out of 5
- Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
- Fit: 5 out of 5
- Breathability: 3.5 out of 5
- Durability: 5 out of 5
Total: 28/30
Merrell Moab 3 Overall Rating: 9.0
- Comfort: 4 out of 5
- Traction: 4.5 out of 5
- Fit: 5 out of 5
- Overall Protection: 4 out of 5
- Breathability: 4.5 out of 5
- Durability: 5 out of 5
Total: 27/30
Moab 3 vs Kaha 3 Which One Is Better Overall?
First off, both of these boots are made with extremely high-quality materials that will outlast any boots on the market.
The Merrell Moab 3 comes in as a great choice for hikers looking for a great budget hiking boot as well as a boot you can use throughout the day, not just for hiking.
The Kaha 3 is one of our best-rated hiking boots of this year, it has the best traction, comfort, and performance on the trail.
If you are looking for an extremely premium hiking boot that can withstand any element and surpass any boot on the trail, the Kaha 3 is the way to go.
Who Should Buy Which?
The downside to the Kaha 3’s price at $240, it is a big option hikers must consider as they’re putting quite the investment in their hiking boots. However, after testing these for over 100 miles now, the durability is more than up to par and is worth every penny.
Consider the Merrell Moab 3 if you’re looking for more of a budget-level hiking boot with a high performance score.
Check Price – Lowest Deal Available Today
| Comparision | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall Hiking Boot | 9.2 | Check Lowest PriceRead Review | |
| 8.8 | Check Lowest PriceRead Review |
(Do NOT pay retail):
Currently at the time of this writing, the Moab 3 price is anywhere from $100-120. The Kaha 3 is priced at $240.
We ensure to update our links to give you the lowest possible price on the market.
How We Tested Our Methodology
I personally tested the Merrell Moab 3 and Kaha 3 for over two years with the sole intent of giving you the most unbiased review possible. Mountaineer Journey is a 100% independent publisher with years of testing and reviewing outdoor equipment.
Over the past decade, I have logged over 2,000 hiking miles across diverse terrains, from the rugged Appalachian Trail to the challenging Rocky Mountains. Extensive experience allows me to directly compare both hiking boots in an objective manner while keeping any bias out of the picture.
We currently pay for the products we test ourselves; no company or manufacturer pays us to sway our opinions or decisions.
Hoka Mafate 5 vs Mafate X
Our Founder Tyler has over 15+ years of experience in the outdoors, including Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering, Survival Skills, and much more. Tyler also serves as a Mountain Guide.
