Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX Review: Still, The Moab Endures

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX

SAM: Back when I worked selling outdoor gear in the midst of the job desert that followed the 2008 recession, there was one hiking boot that beat all others in popularity: the Merrell Moab Mid. Casual hikers were entranced by its cushy, flexible midsole and comfy upper, which still suggested rugged durability.

To be honest, that shoe wasn’t the first choice of any of us salespeople. We were, to a person, high on the kind of certainty only made in the cauldron of your 20s — a wicked concoction of piles of gear, free time, employee discounts, and unused college degrees. We aimed to push these listless customers towards the boots that appealed to the gearhead bug we had all caught: the Salomons, Asolos, and Vasques that rode high on that final wave of popularity for true hiking boots.

Still, those customers returned again and again to the Merrell Moab. In hindsight, I can see this as the preamble to the rise of the trail runner. Go into any REI now and boots are little more than an afterthought on a shoe wall filled with casual shoes and trail runners. The friendliness of the Moab that we derided was really just appealing to a footwear constant: people like comfortable and light shoes. Traditional hiking boots often aren’t either of those things.

Twelve years later, the Moab is still basking in its popularity, and the Moab Speed 2, the Moab’s fashion-forward, non-leather cousin, has found crossover success in the sports style market. This review concerns a recent Speed 2 release: The Merrell Moab Speed 2 Reflective GTX. Befitting both its pedigree and its appeal to gorpcore fashion, the Speed 2 Reflective GTX is packed with some of the best in outdoor footwear technology, put together in a way that looks appealing on city streets.

Also, you can treat this as a review of both the Moab Speed 2 Reflective GTX and the Moab Speed 2 GTX because the only real difference is in the glowing cross-stitches.

What we like about the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX

SAM: There are many Gore-Tex hiking shoes on the market, but the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Reflective GTX has a particular visual appeal. In black with silver reflective cross-hatching, this thing looks great. The reflective details are cool and very visible, with the hatched print accompanied by reflective threading in the laces, eyelets, and overlays.

Beneath the visuals, this is a tough hiking shoe and surprisingly runs closer to a traditional boot than the Moab I remember. It has a protective and durable midsole made of Floatpro Foam and an outsole made of Vibram TC5+, a Merrell exclusive rubber formulation. Between the midsole and outsole is a full-length rock plate. This combination is stiff and keeps your feet very safe from any sharp rocks that could mean you harm.

The upper is sturdy, and the Gore-Tex liner is more breathable than I expected, but it still gets pretty warm. There’s ample lockdown, and because of that, the midsole’s structure results in a stable, confident performance.

Merrell also touts how much of this shoe is made from recycled materials, and it’s respectable. The mesh liner and top sheet of the footbed are 100% recycled, the laces and webbing are 90% recycled, and the footbed itself is 50% recycled. Sure, together, these aren’t a huge portion of the shoe, but sustainability is always to be praised.

What we don’t like about the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX

SAM: The Merrell Speed 2 GTX is pretty specifically a hiking shoe and closer to a boot than a trail runner. It’s very heavy, stiff underfoot, and has a narrow, boot-like fit through the midfoot and toe. The Gore-Tex liner also means this shoe is meant for a specific use case: hiking in the dark when it’s wet or snowy. I’m not opposed to shoes with specific uses, but this particular one is too heavy and stiff to run in, so keep it to walking paces on trails and sidewalks.

Like a boot, I found that this shoe has a longer break-in period than most trail runners and light hikers. The Gore-Tex-lined upper requires a little extra walking to feel natural on your foot, and the midsole underfoot is hard, clompy, and unpliable until you work at least 20-30 miles into it.

Even after the break-in, I struggled a little with locking in my heel unless I was really cinching down the laces. The fit through the heel is just a little on the wide side, even with thicker socks.

Final thoughts on the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX

SAM: I’m keen on this shoe, both for hiking and casual wear. It’s confident in all conditions on trails and looks good on the sidewalk if the sports-style look is your thing. There are potentially some issues with the heel, but I’d wager that most people are buying this shoe for how it looks and considering its hiking ability and waterproofing as extra bonuses. If you spend time in dark and wet conditions — in the woods or in the city — this is a great option to keep you dry and look good at the same time.

You can pick up the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX for $170 from Merrell by using the buttons below.