20 Best Shoes For Slippery Rocks (2023 Updated)

I bought these to wear as an alternative to my Merrell Moab hiking shoes (so comfortable) when walking the dog during the warmer summer months. We take an hour-long walk after work during the week and then more on the weekends along a paved nature trail behind our subdivision.

My first impression when I tried them on was ‘wow, these are comfortable right out of the box’. And they are. The heel cup fits well and is supportive and provides good shock absorption. Where I find that they lack is in the support/cushion under the ball of the foot.

My feet hurt at the end of a one-hour walk. The only other criticism that I have relates to the material that the sole of the shoe is made of. My intent was to wear these shoes without socks, however, I find the material to be abrasive, causing the soles of my feet to feel like they’re burning due to the friction against the material.

A perforated, non-woven material would be better IMO. So, for now I wear them with a thin cotton sock and hope that the sole will soften/wear a little over time so that I can go without them.

I bought the black Pandis in a size 7. 5 (I wear a size 8) from a seller on eBay. I’d read all the reviews so I knew to size down. I also noted that other reviewers stated that the interior of the shoe was rough.

When I got the shoes, they were a perfect fit sized a half size down and they definitely were rough inside. I was concerned about the roughness but decided to wear them kayaking with neoprene socks the next day.

I must say they were excellent! They were comfortable inside the kayak, super grippy on the steep, muddy bank, and bonus didn’t slip off in the sticky mud. They also rinsed clean when swished in the water.

After the paddle, I took the neoprene socks off and wore them barefoot. For some reason, they had softened up and were comfortable without socks so I wore them the rest of the day. I am very pleased!.

I love these shoes, but I wish I had been able to get it in a smaller size. My foot size is a flexible up to a half size larger, but I understood from the reviews that I should go with my true size. Unfortunately, that size was out of stock for all three colors that it came in.

I bought these a half size up, hoping they wouldn’t be as roomy as other reviewers had noted. I was wrong. They’re very cute and very practical, but also very roomy. I can walk for more than hour in them, but it’s not a secure fit (even when my foot swells slightly after all that walking).

As long as I don’t run in them, I’m fine. Why didn’t I just return them when I first got them and tried them? Merrell doesn’t have a local store and I needed these shoes faster than an online return/exchange.

Besides, there was no point wasting more time or energy waiting on the possibility that there would be a restock in my true size.

It took a bit longer than normal to arrive but cannot be more happy with it. I thought they will squeak and they kind of did the first day but that was it. They are as comfortable as any Nike, if not more …and they seem to be very durable.

I’ve been using them for a month now and apart from the normal spilt here and there they look and feel as new. I’m certainly gonna repurchase when the time comes, cause I love them! Now even thinking of trying different models.

Great shoes They really are slip resistant and this is the second pair Im getting. The first pair lasted me almost a year, of wearing them to work every day and washing them once a month or more. Before buying this, it was saying theres only 1 pair left and a second after purchasing, it says theres 3 pairs left So the stock isnt as low as they make it look.

Purchased at a SW retail outlet, not online. PROS: – As others have noted, the boots look like the photos however the color of the sueded is actually much darker on all boots I tried on at the store.

– Extremely comfortable for light hiking however when the traversing off-camber grades the boot slips/turns no matter how tight I lace up. I have replaced the insole and that has helped some but I think the overall issue is the “slick” material of the boot liner itself.

Not recommended for advanced trails with off camber grades. – Best traction of loose soil, decomposed rock that I have ever experienced. can confidently climb the steepest grade of loose composition.

I believe that this is a factor of a great tread design and VERY soft rubber composite sole (this is also a “con”, see below). CONS: – NOT true to size! I had to try 5 different pairs ranging from my typical size 11 through 12.

5 to finally find a pair of size 12 that fit properly. The size 11. 5 that I tried on were larger, even visibly longer when compared side-by-side that the size 12 that I purchased. -The laces refuse to stay tied, even when double knotted.

I have changed to a pair of Kevlar laces that do not even require double knotting. A small, annoying issue but worth noting nonetheless. plan on buying “good” laces with these boots. – Now the biggie (for me at least), the soles on these boots do not last! I bought these in December, have less than 200 miles of 90% dirt trail hiking and the soles are wearing through.

BOTTOM LINE: I agree with others that noted “If you need more technical boots, serious hikers, go up the list of Merrell models. ” If you are someone that just needs a pair of boots for the rare “off highway” event, these are comfortable right off the shelf.

as with any walk shoe/boot, just make sure you try them on with the socks you plan to wear. If you do a lot of walking in the concrete jungle these will NOT last, I guarantee. Even at there very affordable price, I would have to buy 3-4 pairs per year and for that money I can get some GREAT boots.

Firstly although I was sceptical buying from Sports Direct with a delivery charge and a charge to return if not satisfied with the purchase, I went ahead. To my surprise the delivery was quick. Now for the shoes – what a good buy they are.

Extremely comfortable and a perfect fit. I now look forward to my walks so I can wear them. I’ve not had the chance to test how waterproof they are as I’ve not had the opportunity to go out in the wet.

But I can say that my feet are nice and dry even after a long walk, proving that Goretex really does allow the feet not to get sweaty. The shoes look well constructed and the design is quite nice too.

I can see them lasting me a while.

These seemed to fit well in the store, but not once I wore them for a day. They sit differently on the foot framework than other shoes, which I thought was a good thing, but today my feet are sore. I should mention I have a low arch, and Merrell tends to run large on me.

Usually I have to wear double socks so they don’t slip. Well on these, some areas were loose (even with double socks), and others were too tight. Adjusted the straps so many times today. Just not a good fit for those with slightly narrower/lower arch feet.

I’ll have to return them. Kinda bumed, they were so cute.

Wearing Merrells’ for decades. This shoe is “sloppy” with no lateral ankle support, no matter how tight you lace them. Anterior/posterior is also unstable. Your heel will POP OUT of these on steep vertical terrain and climbing over rocks.

Why? Because the design has been compromised. They cut away vertical material height at the heel, changed the rake/slope by elevating the rear bed so all the weight is on the ball of your foot and eliminated an eyelet! This shoe is an accident waiting to happen.

You will roll right out of them with aggressive lateral movement. (Does anybody change left to right direction while running?). AND THEY”RE NOT WATERPROOF!! In the words of the Pythons, RUNAWAY!! RUNAWAY!! Not in them, from them.

This is the third pair of Merrell Moabs and the second pari of the waterproof version I have purchased. (The first was not waterproof. ) My wife and I are section hiking the AT. As school teachers, we are unable to thru hike it.

Each spring since getting my first pair of Merrell Moab hike shoes, I purchase a new pair for the next section. The last section was Waynesboro, VA to Wawayanda State Park, NJ (500 miles), much of it in wet, rainy conditions.

The Moab held up, kept my feet as dry as possible, given my socks would get rained on (no rain pants). No blisters, no cramped toes from insufficient toe room. I absolutely love how the Merrell Moab performs and definitely recommend them.

Shopping for light trail shoes (running), ended up buying these Moab 2 hiking shoes (in addition to trail running shoes) because they fit so well, felt great and still do (after moderate, short break-in).

Normally with China and Vietnam mfg, I require wide (EE or even wider), however, not with these Merrill Moab 2s. Again, considering the ongoing strife (coup d’etats, quasi-civilian gov’t, coup d’etat) these tough Burmans have experienced over the decades, the quality workmanship and outstanding fit with these Merrills amazes me.

Note to Merrill: if mfg costs are too prohibitive in the West (West Europe, UK, USA, North/South America, etc. ) stay with Myanmar. They get it (large, wide western feet. gunboats!). Highly recommended for wide, hard to fit feet.

There are two basic parts of a shoe that make it comfortable: the top and the bottom. The top of this shoe was stupendous. My toes had plenty off room and the length and width were great. Unfortunately, both the insole and outsole were not satisfactory.

There was little arch support, or, if there was, it didn’t line up with arches of mt feet. And, despite the manufacturer’s claims, the bottom of the shoe was too thin. I walked around for a few hours and my feet were very tired.

Returned to the store the next day.

Bought these shoes because this was the only pair of work shoes that actually had the arch in the right place. The shoes are quite narrow for being wide & there is no room on top. My feet felt great after the first day wearing them for 8 hours.

However, after wearing for 3-4 weeks, side blisters are now forming on the side of the foot, which might be due to the shoe strings coming loose due to fraying. I’ve worn sneakers for 30 years & only had to replace shoe strings once & that is because they were way too long for my liking when I bought them.

After 3 weeks, needed to put in a heel insert for extra comfort; however, because there is no added room on top, the insert made the shoe fit tighter & insert couldn’t be used. Most likely will purchase again, however, will go with 1-2 sizes larger.

This shoe was very expensive and not very comfortable. It feels very hard in the sole and lacks proper cushioning for someone working on their feet all day. I work in the veterinary medical field and needed something comfortable because I work 8-12 hour shifts with only one break where I can give my feet a break.

I can manage with this sho until it wears out, but probably won’t buy again. One thing I do love is that it is breathable and doesn’t absorb odors. If you sweat in your shoes 8-12 hours a day you’ll know what I mean! They are non-slip which is another plus on the job! Don’t know about stain resistant though.

I’ve had to scrub them down with a damp wash cloth to remove stains. The material on them is similar to suede I think and stuff kinda clings to it.

I used these out of the box on a four-day backpack trip that covered about 30 miles and 6500 feet up and down on some pretty rough trails. They worked great. No pressure points. No hot spots or blisters.

Very comfortable. I bought a half size up from my street shoe size which I do for hiking boots and the fit is very good. The soles give decent traction on dry rock, but not quite as good as the Vibram soles with the classic lug design.

Haven’t tested traction on wet rock yet. I dunked one boot almost up to the top for several seconds in a stream crossing and no water came through. Not a hard test, but suggests they may keep water out under rainy conditions.

I cross-shopped these with the new Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX boots. I really wanted to like the Salomons because they are several ounces lighter, but after a few minutes walking around in them, I felt pressure points and they felt relatively flimsy which made me wonder about how well they would hold up.

The Moabs were much more comfortable and felt more solid so I went with them. Two concerns: – The boots are pretty warm so not well suited to hiking in higher temperatures (80+) for me at least. Would be an advantage in cold temperatures though.

– After the four-day hike, there is already a tear in the soft spongy material that runs all the way around the boot right above the outsole. Makes me wonder about how that is going to hold up with more hikes on rough rock surfaces which I do a lot of.

Overall, I’m happy with the purchase so far. I look forward to using them more.

I really wanted to like these shoes but found they’re just not for me, for a few reasons. First off, the soles wouldn’t really stay on. I used these for a 100 mile through hike and the soles were peeling off on the toe on both shoes (a bit on one and a lot on the other) as well as peeling from the side of one of the shoes as well.

The terrain was relatively normal hiking terrain (a mix of mud, dirt, roots, rocks, and a little bit of pavement/gravel), and I would expect the sole to far outlast 100 miles. Secondly, I wouldn’t go so far as to call these shoes water “proof”.

Water resistant, sure. But definitely not waterproof. Both rainy conditions and stepping in puddles seemed to let a good amount of moisture in. My feet never felt like they were swamped with water, but they were hardly dry either.

Finally, they’re a fairly bulky shoe— not so much that they feel like clown shoes, but they seem a bit bigger than average which is a little less than ideal. I know these are super popular shoes and know some folks who swear by them, but they just didn’t hit the mark for me.

I just returned from a 12 day Philmont hiking trip *south* ( 12-5 trek) and was wearing men Merrell Moab hiking boots with Vibram sole and raised ankle support all through. It was a fantastic experience overall.

The trek it was very strenuous and lot of tough terrain -. with rocky trails , very hot days hiking, muddy slush trails due to rains, trails with several tree crossings, river stream crossing, elevation hikes, down hill hikes etc.

Yes it was a very rough trails for sure but the boots were very good. Good water proof support, excellent under sole support for my foot, very good grip in the trails and good support for my ankles. I also wore liner socks along with darn tough wool socks.

I applied Vaseline on my feet ( heals and sides for blister prevention). So net results -> I had a great trip with no injury or falls or blisters etc,, I’m 53, 5-11 tall and 170 lbs weight , My shoe size was 9.

I did see many hikers wearing Merrell Moab boots in Philmont base camp.

After 400 Km on the Camino’s hills I saw plenty, plenty of blisters but for me, not even a hint of one. I think part of the reason is the shoes felt a little narrow which kept my feet from sliding around.

I am glad not to have gotten a wider shoe to accommodate swelling feet (often suggested). The toe box was generous, so no squeezing there and the top was tight enough to keep out stones but not rub anything the wrong way.

The venting material kept my feet dry though were not tested against rain. I could feel the stones through the flex sole but not in a bad way. As for the grippers on the bottom they were very satisfactory, though again not tested on wet rocks.

They are on the soft rubber side so they do wear, though. The rock and gravel of the Camino is probably as rough a surface shoes will find and it is rough the Flex’s grippers too, taking them down quite a bit.

Mine could have made one full Camino but no more. So if that’s all you’re going to do, I strongly recommend the Merrell Flex.

I do a lot of hiking and trail-running. A problem with Raynaud syndrome has forced me to wear two pairs of socks even in warmer weather, so I always go up at least a half size in my running/hiking shoes and look for a roomy toe-box.

Reviews of these shoes suggested they would meet my needs, and for the most part they have. Initially the shoes felt rather clunky, and they seemed too loose in the heel. But after restringing the laces, using the uppermost eyelets to create loops for cinching, I was able to mitigate the looseness, and after several hikes, I was able to “break in” the shoes so they felt less clunky.

They’re certainly sturdy, and the tread provides excellent grip. However, they’re definitely better for hiking than for running. I just wish they came in more interesting color options. I had to settle for ho-hum black.

Absolutely the worst shoe I have worn in my life. Reminds me of the time my feet would hurt when wearing football cleats. This coming from a long time collection of Merrell products. I have dumped hundreds of dollars trying to make these comfortable with various insoles and nothing works.

I so badly wanted these to be good everyday shoes. Not the company it once was 10-15 years ago when the original Moab was released. Company is cutting corners on their materials and craftsmanship while resorting to China doll foot modeling (all run small like every other common name brand).

Bottom line if you want 10 year boots, hiking boots choose Lowa. 5. 11 for training- and casual. I usually never comment on these things just hoping to save others the hassle and wake them up. Those consumers new to the brand won’t know the difference and I suppose the company is banking on that.

I loved the look of these! I was extremely disappointed that these boots didn’t end up working for me. I tried them on at the store in my true size (7. 5) but since I was wearing thick socks I wanted to test them again with thinner socks.

When I got home, no matter which socks I tried or how many adjustments made to the laces, there was nothing I could to do. There’s this weird pinch at the top of the toe crease and the flexband material that holds the tongue to the shoe kept rubbing my foot.

I knew there was no way I could do a longer hike in these beauties. I have an average foot size, not wide and not narrow. I’m usually a Merrell girl through and through. These have good toebox room but seem too narrow and that pinching/rubbing is unbearable.

Great sneakers if you are on your feet all day! This my second pair. I wore the tread off the first pair and got a whole near the toe solely from wearing them every single day. Even just going to the store, so easy to slip on!.

I love love love these shoes! I’ve looked for comfortable walking shoes for YEARS. I didn’t even need “break in time” with these! I would highly recommend spraying protection on the pink ones, but other than that, they’re the most amazing shoes ever.

I get compliments not only from adults, but from my high school kids on them!.

Ok, let’s start with the fact that I almost didn’t buy this shoe because of some people complained about them not having an insert, and that the mesh was uncomfortable or just plain weird. First let’s look at why I bought them, I needed a shoe that could handle water and dry land every day.

these fit that bill to a tee, so most water shoes have that annoying insert that retains water and squishes out water everytime you take a step, these don’t do that, no insert=no squish. how many times have you worn flip flops that once they get wet you slip and slide right out, one major reason people buy water shoes, that have the same problem, your foot slides around in the water shoes.

I’ve found that the mesh interior sole keeps your foot from sliding around, a little odd at first but the theory is very sound and works very well at draining water away from your feet and drying quickly.

They are as good, if not slightly better than the HUK shoes I have. I would recommend these to anyone who is around water, boating, fishing, or any kind of activity that includes water. they are the fastest draining, drying shoe Ive found that are slip free, both internally and externally.

Bought these shoes and a pair for my partner to take to Karijini National Park- lots of gorge walking, scrambling and swimming. The shoes were perfect and exceeded my expectations. They have good grip and were dry by the next day.

I didn’t wear socks and they were comfortable from the get go with no blisters. They are really lightweight so could go from swimming to walking seamlessly. They also looked great and lots of strangers complimented our shoe choice! Would highly recommend for these types of activities.

They really helped make our experience more enjoyable and safe.

Bought these higher end water shoes for my stepdaughter, and she loves them so much they’ve become her new “go to” summer sneakers! The collapsible heal is perfect for this girl who regularly ruins other shoes by briefly but frequently slipping them partly on and crushing the heals by being too lazy to untie and retie the laces to wear them properly.

Anyway, the girl likes the look, comfort, and flexibility of these (more-than-just) water shoes. Now my only concern is that she might wear them out quickly by wearing them all the time, rather than also wearing her other sneakers, biking shoes, hiking boots, etc.

! Highly recommended, and seem true to size.

My husband works 8 hrs a day as manager of a large grocery store, he said these shoes are the most comfortable he’s had in 45 years of working! No longer has neck and back issues either. Awesome shoes!.

My husband has flat feet and problems with his ankles. I wear skechers and suggested he try them. He really likes them. They are comfortable yet gives him the support he needs. Because they are completely black, he can wear them casually or for some dress occasions.

Really happy with these shoes. Very comfortable for naked feet, and don’t rub anywhere. Worn a few times whilst walking the dog now, as my better weather alternative to my hiking boots, and I am loving them.

Look good too!.

It is very comfortable and stylish. I have been wearing barefoot shoes for 7 years, so I am used to even less cushioning. I would like to be able to feel the ground a bit more. The good thing, though is that it will be great for running trails with a rocky terrain, as with very minimal style shoes little pebbles can be painful.

Very dissappointed with the customer service. Bought 7 pairs of shoes, one pair has a factory mistake and I reached out to customer support via the website contact form and chat option. 3 days have passed, no reply.

The company seem to be eager to take your money but once the order is paid they no longer care to respond to customers. In general, shoes are very good value for money, if you are lucky enough to get the pair without factory mistakes.

Usually I don’t leave reviews but am very disappointed with this situation, especially since I liked the shoes initially very much. Will update the review if I hear back from customer support anytime soon.

the air bag seemed like a good idea; so, i bought the pair. and, very comfortable; yet, stable. glad to see half sizes available. wondering about extra wide widths availability. the “toe box” is roomy and comfortable (unlike some athletic shoes).

an important feature for slip resistant shoes. also, really like the monochrome black.

Comfortable shoe, sturdy and I have owned just over a month now and no issues. I walk a lot with these for work and outside of work. Shoes costing 3 times the price have let me down in a month where these have been great so far no complaints.

Would buy again!!.

My Husband says he likes them a lot for work, comfortable and not pinching toes. He said to order another pair, so when he’s worn through these he has another. I had picked up a different style and said it pinched his toes so I went to get a wide in that style, they didn’t have any in stock so I picked up this style and it was a winner.

I bought these to wear for my water aerobics class, and they were perfect. Light weight and no slipping on the deck. My friends in class thought they were very cute.

When I first purchased these – I was hesitant due to some of the reviews here but after two years of wear + tear in every condition imaginable: 14,000 foot mountains, snowshoeing, ski resorts, fly fishing and even walking down the streets of NYC.

I can now say, I not only fully disagree with many of the negative reviews, I actually 100% endorse these boots and will be purchasing another pair. I’ve had ZERO (and I don’t say that lightly) issues with these boots in any single situation.

My feet have never gotten wet including standing in near boot high water while fly fishing nor ever gotten cold snowshoeing through deep Colorado powder. They have climbed the highest peaks in Colorado without hesitation, and not once bothered my feet.

To each their own, but in my case, I am a huge fan.

I live in Minnesota and we have lots of ice and snow. Shoes like this are my daily choice all winter from mid November into April. I had been wearing Keens before but they have been discontinued and I got these.

I like the fit, I like how the top is essentially sealed against snow intrusion with the cuff at the top. I like the waterproofed shoe upper and they are comfortable. That said, the “Arctic Grip” is a joke.

It’s marginally better on ice than standard Vibram soles which are terrible because of the deep tread with less surface area and hard rubber. These are better than that but I’d say they are no more than 5 to a max of 10% better than others winter shoes on ice.

This sole is not worth the extra $40 over the non Arctic Grip sole. I actually have a very hard time writing “Arctic Grip” without rolling my eyes. The thing is a joke and LL Bean ought to get at most $5 extra for it or just keep the regular shoe.

Watch for this to go away in the future. So I went outside with this today. We had a freezing rain so I have a 20’ patch of smooth ice on my concrete driveway. Took a bit of a running start and did the two footed slide thing for a good 10’ or so – just like with regular boots.

I don’t think I have seen anything hyped so much that provided so little benefit in a long time. This Arctic Grip thing (eyes just rolled) is pretty much snake oil. Buy the regular version of these shoes.

They’re nice and should serve you well. This? It’s nonsense.

I love these shoes! I wanted a well-made, anti-slip, waterproof shoe for walking my dog in the winter. I also wanted a slip-on shoe so I wouldn’t have to hassle with ties that come undone. The Storm Chaser meets all of my needs.

The fit is true to size (I don’t like to wear heavy socks) and they sure are anti-slip! I could walk around my icy back yard/woods without any slipping this winter – no need for cleats! Fantastic! For those who commented the shoes are hard to slip on because they are stiff and the hole is small: I solved that problem by using a long-handled shoe horn (I learned that trick from a commenter on a previous brand I bought).

I have no problem quickly slipping the shoes on with that, and there is no need to bend over. They have been very comfortable for the multiple daily walks with my dog. Thanks, LLBean!.

I’m a 68 year old male break dancing phenom in Georgia. Let me explain. First I must tell you I’m not an intentional break dancer and I’m definitely not a skilled one and I have absolutely no idea as to when these skills decide to put themselves on display.

I know that my most memorable display was a trip to a local department store when my skills put three racks of dresses and a table full of women’s underwear on me and the floor and anyone who happened to be within pitching distance of me.

And, no I wasn’t there to try on women’s dresses or underwear. I was merely passing by when all heck cut loose. The funny thing is I was seated in my power chair as I cannot walk any distance due to my balance issues.

But never fear I can break dance sitting or standing. When you’ve got skills like I do sometimes they just have to get out and show themselves whether I want them too or not. Let me explain further,I have two little four legged fur babies and I take them out for bathroom breaks about every four to five hours of each and everyday.

Rain, shine, sleet or snow out we go into the great outdoors. After two strokes I’m not as steady as I used to be and I need all the help I can get to maintain as much stability as possible. I purchased these awesome boots too give me some stability and help me become more sure footed when I’m outside with the little ones.

They arrived yesterday and I’ve worn them outside every time I go out and they appear to be giving me exactly what I had hoped they would. I only wish I’d found these earlier maybe they could have saved me a few bruises and broken bones that I’ve acquired over the years with my break dancing skills or shall I say my lack of skills.

I bought these to help me with my walking when I can and when I can’t. I also felt like they’d be great for messy weather and for taking my children out for their strolls through the woods. With all of the recent rain they will help keep my feed dry and toasty.

Thanks LLBean for always maintaining that high standard and the very best quality in your products. Thank you! Thank you!.