There’s a trail behind my home that punches straight up past Doc Holliday’s grave, 4.2 miles, and 1,824 feet, to an overlook of Mount Sopris. I climb it a couple of times a week. Often, I try to run as much of it as possible — though, on the uphill, you might classify my pace more accurately as “speed hiking” (especially during Colorado’s ungodly hot summer days).
It also serves as a proving ground for much of the footwear I test — and there has been plenty! But I had yet to wear a hiker on one of my jaunts up there that felt as qualified for the moderately steep and rocky trail as the Merrell Moab Speed 2.
The shoe debuted this summer and is the latest iteration of the brand’s bestselling hiker. Merrell said it packs all the benefits of a hiking boot into a shoe — 30% more cushion, a full-length flex plate for stability, and a lighter and more nimble feeling. On top of all that, Merrell made the Moab Speed 2 almost entirely from recycled materials.
It was a pretty big makeover for what an already very popular shoe, which could backfire if you’re fixing something that ain’t broke. But if my experience with the Moab Speed 2 is anything to judge by, I’d say it might have set a new high watermark for Merrell.
In short: Merrell kept all of the design features that made the Moab Speed hiker so popular, and refined everything else for the Moab Speed 2 ($140). It offers a softer feeling underfoot, has more support than a typical trail runner, breathes well, and is made mostly from recycled and vegan-friendly materials. It’s a comfortable hiking shoe and a capable trail running shoe.
Merrell Moab Speed 2
Specs
- Claimed weight per shoe 12.34 oz.
- Drop 10mm
- Lug 4mm Vibram traction
- Stack height 34-24mm
- Midsole FloatPro
- Outsole Vibram TC5+
Pros
- Bellows tongue keeps shoes debris-free
- Comfortable and breathable
- Light on the feet
- Feels very stable with Lightweight Flexplate tech
Cons
- Pull tabs could be slightly larger
- Some complaints of sizing issues (try them on first!)
Merrel Moab Speed 2 Hiking Shoe Review
The Moab debuted 17 years ago in 2007 and became the brand’s most successful shoe to date. According to Merrell, it is the number one “most commercially successful hiking footwear line in the world.”
Indeed, the Merrell Moab 3 made it onto GearJunkie’s Best Hiking Shoes, Best Hiking Boots, and Best Hiking Shoes for Women roundups. In 2021, Merrell unveiled a more aggressive iteration with the launch of the Moab Speed line.
Materials & Design
All of the materials on the Merrell Moab Speed 2 are vegan-friendly. The upper is made from nylon ripstop and TPU, which is light and breathes very well. The rest of the shoe, from the laces to the mesh lining, footbed cover, and EVA foam footbed are all made from 100% recycled materials. The original Moab Speed only had recycled laces and lining and a 50% recycled insole top sheet.
With a 34-24mm heel-toe stack, this shoe has enough cushion to easily traverse rocky terrain or gravel without feeling every sharp edge. Merrell said it added 30% more cushion to the Moab Speed 2 to make long days on the trail more comfortable and for a more agile-feeling shoe.
One of the bigger upgrades in the Moab Speed 2 is a full-length lightweight FlexPlate, which the previous version did not have. It adds stability and prevents torsion when moving over uneven ground.
The dual heel and tongue loops make getting the shoe on and off relatively easy — although they could be slightly larger. My post-hike swollen fingers struggled to fit into them.
Other notable aspects of the Moab Speed 2 include an attached “bellows tongue” that helps keep sand and rocks out of your shoes, Vibram TC5+ outsole and traction lugs for grip, protective heel and toecaps, and a padded collar around the ankle. It also has an odor-control treatment.
Fit & Feel
My wide (and mangled) size 10.5 feet slipped into the Merrell Moab Speed 2 like they were glass slippers. Some of the reviews on the Merrell site complain of inaccurate sizing and implore people to try them on in a store before purchasing. I didn’t have that experience. They felt like a normal 10.5 shoe to me. After some finagling with the laces, they were snug, secure, and fit great.
I noticed pretty quickly how light these felt on my feet as I hiked and ran in them. At 12.34 ounces per shoe, these are some of the lightest hikers I own. However, compared to other options on GearJunkie’s Best Hiking Shoes roundup, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 falls near the mid-range, just over the median weight.
In the Field
Though I hadn’t hiked in the original Moab Speed shoes, the “extra” 30% cushion provided solid energy return. I felt good and could comfortably navigate obstacles, stepping on rocks and through gravel sections of the trail. These aren’t minimalist shoes, but they don’t feel as cushioned as, say, a Hoka.
The breathability of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 surprised me. My feet tend to overheat pretty easily — especially when I’m running downhill. Adding to that, my lunch break hikes typically take place during the hottest part of the day. But my feet stayed notably cooler in these shoes than they normally would.
The 4mm Vibram lugs provided more than adequate traction for the trails I wore these on. Most of the terrain was rocky, gravel, and/or loose dirt. I also wore them while walking along the Colorado River on wet stones without slipping or losing my footing.
Merrell says the Moab Speed 2 provides “the benefits of a boot in the form of a lightweight, breathable hiking sneaker.”
I only kind of agree with that. It does feel like a very stable, light hiker for its weight. But it doesn’t offer the ankle support of a mid or a true hiking boot, like the Meindl MFS-Vakuum Hiker or even the SCARPA Moraine. It also doesn’t offer the same level of protection in its upper as a more substantial shoe or boot.
The tradeoff is that the Moab Speed 2 is lighter, faster, and generally more approachable for the majority of hikers. That’s what’s made Merrell’s Moab line such a success in the first place.
Merrell Moab Speed 2: Who Is It For?
If you’re a speed hiker, long-distance hiker, or just someone who likes hiking shoes that offer stability and comfort, I’d point you toward the Merrell Moab Speed 2. For an all-around daily driver that can tackle most trails, paces, and terrain, this shoe is hard to beat. They are very capable for light and fast hiking over longer distances and moderately variable terrain.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for backpackers who will be carrying a lot of weight. Maybe it’s just my bias toward more traditional hiking boots, but I don’t think this shoe can be used as a substitute for a pair of more robust and stability-focused hikers.
Merrell knows what has made this wildly popular line of hiking shoes. It seems like it’s preserving that and refining the rest, polishing the design, and finding new ways to make this fan favorite hiking shoe more sustainable over time.
