Updated on Sep. 24, 2024
Merrell and Parks Project believe protecting the great outdoors is important, so they teamed up to launch a line made with a mushroom-based plastic alternative.
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If you enjoy hiking, chances are you probably want to protect the great outdoors. That’s Parks Project’s mission: To help preserve parklands for future generations.
Parks Project is a lifestyle brand passionate about park conservationism. They teamed up with Merrell, one of our favorite hiking shoe brands, to develop a new line of eco-friendly, plant-inspired outdoor gear, including shoes, socks and sweatshirts. The new, limited-edition Moab 3 x Parks Project is our favorite in the lineup.
“Our innovative collaboration with Parks Project symbolizes our dedication to sustainability, environmental stewardship and revolutionizing what is considered outdoor fashion,” says Merrell Chief Marketing Officer Pallav Tamaskar. While outdoor gear like camping storage boxes and headlamps aren’t typically designed to be fashionable, the new collaboration between Merrell and Parks Project is.
We snagged a pair of the new Moab 3 x Parks Project to see how they perform and look in person. Read on for details.
A new, eco-friendly edition of Merrell's classic Moab 3.
The Merrell x Parks Project Moab 3 is made from mushroom biobased material, which serves as a plastic alternative. It is 100% biobased and biodegradable. National parks’ vibrant colors and tones inspire the shoe’s look. The goal is to encourage advocates to protect natural landscapes.
We’ve tested our share of Merrell hiking shoes at Family Handyman, and Merrell has collaborated numerous times with big brands. (Peep the Merrell x Jeep collab here.) Let me tell you: These are the most visually stunning pair of Merrell Moab hiking shoes we’ve seen to date. I was skeptical of how the bright hues would translate in person, but the boots are even prettier in person than they appear online.
The shoes have a tan and cream-colored base with blueish-green detailing. The sole is light turquoise on the bottom and forest green on top. Smaller color details around the lacing include a neon green and bright purple-pink hue. The shoe has two lace options: a bright orange and tan set of laces.
The shoe’s base is made of raw, undyed regenerative mushroom material designed for rugged terrain, while its body is made with recycled canvas and pineapple yarn. Even the laces, webbing and mesh lining are 100% recycled, making the shoe Merrell’s most eco-friendly Moab yet.
If you’re thinking, so the new kicks look great, but how’s the quality? The Merrell Moab 3 ranked on our list of the best hiking shoes!
An all-new edition of the Merrell Moab 3, inspired by the beauty of national parks.
To shop the Merrell x Parks Project collection, visit the collaboration’s landing page on Merrell’s website. Items from the collection range in price from $30 to $155, with the new Moabs coming in at $155.
The new Moab 3 x Parks Project comes in one plant-inspired print and unisex sizing, but sizes extend to a women’s size 16.5 (men’s 15)! They’re the perfect gift for any outdoors lover who has difficulty finding extended hiking shoe sizes.
In addition to the new hiking shoes, the collab features a botanical crew-neck sweatshirt and hiking socks. You can also find other items from the line elsewhere, like this long-sleeve shrooms t-shirt at REI and these shroom shorts at Backcountry. Urban Outfitters still has several items from the collection, like the Parks Project x Merrell Bucket Hat, but you’ll want to act fast as items from the collection are in high demand.
