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Merrell Moab 3 GTX vs Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC is the lighter option — 319 g lighter than the Merrell Moab 3 GTX (35% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Merrell Moab 3 GTX Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC
Weight 900 g · 0.900 kg · 1.98 lb 581 g · 0.581 kg · 1.28 lb
Brand Merrell Vivobarefoot
Category Footwear Footwear
Merrell Moab 3 GTX
900 g

Iconic waterproof hiking shoe with Vibram outsole.

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Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC
581 g

Minimal hiking shoe pair at 2 lb 9 oz (581g) with zero-drop platform and barefoot-style ground feel for natural movement.

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Merrell Moab 3 GTX vs Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC wins — at 581 g it is 319 g (35%) lighter than the Merrell Moab 3 GTX (900 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest footwear page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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