Paul’s Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX review looks at a new versatile shoe inspired by Merrell’s best-selling Moab boot. We really hope you find it useful.
introduce
Merrell is a very popular American outdoor and casual footwear brand. The company was founded in 1981 when Clark Matis and John Schweizer, two executives of Rossignol Ski Company, decided to launch a new brand of hiking boots. Since 1997, the company has been wholly owned by footwear giant Wolverine World Wide. Merrell has always focused on producing high-performance outdoor and casual footwear, with a wide range of products including boots, shoes, sandals and water shoes.
The Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX is a brand new model that belongs to Moab The Moab Collection covers a wide range of styles and has been around for 15 years. It includes everything from hiking boots to lifestyle and thermal options, and features the advanced materials and construction methods we have all come to expect from high-end footwear.
I’m excited to test a pre-release version of this new shoe and share my findings. I’ve only had a short time to test this product, and I’ll update the review with any relevant information as I use it more. Even so, I feel confident enough to comment on many aspects of this shoe. Read my Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX review to learn more.
feature
Moab Mountains
Merrell says the Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX combines the experience of its best-selling Moab hiking boot with the popular trend of multi-sport hiking shoes. There are many styles in the series.
Upper material
The shoe features a nylon ripstop and TPU upper with a hard-wearing synthetic heel and toe. The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane provides a breathable waterproof barrier, and the padded ankle collar offers comfort and support. The bellows padded tongue provides weather protection and keeps debris out, and the shoe secures with laces that pass through recycled webbing loops.
Sole unit
The sole unit combines Merrell’s FloatPro Foam midsole with a Vibram TC5+ outsole. This lug-patterned sole unit, created exclusively for Merrell, is designed to provide the broad traction needed for a variety of movements.
The lightweight FlexPlate provides underfoot support and protection, as well as what Merrell calls torsional stiffness, lateral stability, and forefoot flexibility. Literature says they offer 30 percent more underfoot foam than other speed models. These shoes are treated with Cleansport NXT for natural odor control
Lacing and Statistics
The shoe features dual heel and tongue loops for easy on and off, while also offering carry and clip-in options. The Speed 2 Mids have a 10mm drop and 4mm lugs. The stack height is 34-24mm. Merrell describes its fit width as medium.
Additional details
The colour provided for review is orange, called Clay. There are also brown, called Rye, grey (Pitch) and black available. The shoe is suitable for vegetarians, and a half pair weighs 400g (no information is provided on which size this is related to either). Retail price is £155.
In use
Eye-Catching Design
The design of the Speed 2 Mid is eye-catching, especially in the orange (clay) model. This is not a criticism, I really like this model. I think if you choose them, you will like it too. If you don’t like orange, there are more subdued gray (asphalt) or black options. Merrell did a great job of combining the main body with the black toe/heel cup and midsole. There is also a touch of yellow on the arch of the sole.
Light
The next thing you’ll notice when you pick them up is how light they are. They look fairly sturdy, but feel featherlight in your hands. Still, they look rugged enough for a tough adventure. The toe box is well protected, and the sole looks like it will handle rough terrain well.
Comfort
Like many modern shoes, the Speed 2 felt very comfortable when first worn. I went for a normal size 42 (UK 8) and they fit just right with regular socks. They fit snugly but have room in the toe box to keep my toes from banging on the descents. I have a medium-width foot and the shoe is wide enough without being too loose. I also really like the heel and tongue loops for easy entry.
Lace-up
The tongue is well padded and the lacing is simple. They have low-profile fabric loops to secure the laces around your foot. Then, there is another recessed fabric loop sewn into the heel to help lock your foot securely. Finally, a final row of metal hooks secure the shoe at the ankle. It’s a fairly traditional setup, but that’s by no means a criticism. Manufacturers have been using this system for years because it works so well. I didn’t feel the heel being lifted when lacing.
I’ve tested these shoes on a variety of surfaces, and the combination of the insole, midsole, and outsole provide excellent underfoot comfort. They feel springy when trail running, but I mean that in a positive way. Merrell has a long history of producing trail running shoes, so it’s no surprise that these shoes feel supportive and ready to absorb the shock of a long trek. I’ve also tested them on slopes, and they provide very good lateral support. The benefit of the mid-height cuff is increased ankle support, which you can feel when using them.
Traction
The Vibram TC5+ outsole has very good grip on all surfaces I have tried it on. This includes wet rock, grass, mud and loose stone surfaces. The aggressive tread pattern combines well with the 4mm lugs to give you confidence when going off-road. I really like the pronounced heel edge on UK terrain. The Speed 2 does not have this design, but has a stepped groove which works well.
There are a few other comfort and support aspects worth noting. The padded ankle cuff provides a very comfortable ride. Merrell struck just the right balance here. They also struck the perfect balance with the amount of padding on the tongue.
Weatherproof
To test the waterproofing, I took the Speed 2 out for a paddle on Loch Morlich (near Aviemore). Water beaded up on the nylon ripstop upper. If water does get through, the addition of a GoreTex membrane should easily keep the moisture out. Over time, a durable water repellent (DWR) finish will inevitably lose its effectiveness, but as with any synthetic fabric, it’s important to reapply the proper treatment regularly. We use Nikwax Fabric and Leather Proof for this type of product. Details below here.
Sustainability
Merrell has a detailed plan to improve the sustainability of their products. Their website details this hereThe Speed 2 Mids feature a variety of recycled materials. Merrell lists them as 100% recycled laces and webbing, 100% recycled breathable mesh lining, 100% recycled mesh insole cover, and 50% recycled removable EVA foam insole.
Summary
Our Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX review shares my initial impressions of the shape, fit, and performance of this new product. I was impressed by every aspect. Merrell has produced a unique and powerful shoe with a variety of uses. If your adventures require multiple directions, this shoe will be a great choice for you.
I can’t say too much about the durability of the Speed 2 at the moment. I fully expect it to perform to that level as well, but I’ll definitely report back further after using it more in the upcoming spring and summer. Priced at £155, I think Merrell is offering good value for money. For full details on this shoe and all of the Merrell range, visit their website here.
This Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX review is the first Merrell product we have tested for our website, although we have used other Merrell products in the past. We look forward to trying other products in the future. However, we have many other product reviews, all of which can be found on our reviews page hereOur blog section also contains many advice and inspiration articles that we hope you will find interesting. You can find all of these articles here.
