Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid Leather Hiking Boots – Reviewed & Tested

After months of testing across muddy river crossings, snowy trails, and classic Aussie bush bashing, Julia has put the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid Leather Hiking Boots through their paces to see how they stack up as an all-rounder for longer hikes.

 

For the last few years, I’d been rocking a relatively heavy-duty pair of hiking boots that served me well across longer adventures like the O Circuit in Patagonia and shorter hikes around Sydney. I’d laced them up for yet another ascent – this time the Castle in Budawang NP – when the sole gave way mid-climb. I completed the remainder of the ascent to summit Hobbit-style, made the descent with a heavily duct-taped boot, and said farewell to my old faithfuls.

Since then, I’ve been lacing up the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Leather Hiking Boots, and I don’t think I’ll be shopping for a new boot any time soon. After a solid walloping on many a trail, these are safely my new go-to for longer hikes – just with a few caveats. 

Lessgo!

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I’m no stranger to a good hike, and over a lifetime of getting out there I’ve put foot to trail in a broad array of shoes – Tevas, running shoes, new lightweight tech, old school leather hiking boots. I’ve always liked having a sleeker pair for casual hikes and something more solid for rougher conditions and overnighters – so when my last pair of heavy-duty stompers bit the bullet, it was time for me to put a new pair to the test.

Love getting myself in situations

Quick Specifications

Weight: 370g per shoe
Stack Height: 34-24mm
Drop: 10mm
RRP: $279.99

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Pretty snazzy

Competitors We’ve Reviewed

• Women’s KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot – Reviewed & Tested
• Salomon Outpulse GTX Hiking Boots – Reviewed & Tested
• Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX – Reviewed & Tested

Performance

I admittedly wasn’t a huge fan when I first set out in the Moab Speed 2 hiking boots. Maybe it was the switch from a very well-worn pair of boots to a fresh set, but I was dubious if these were the boots for me on the first trail or two – the comfort wasn’t quite there (yet) and I was spending more time thinking about how they felt than the actual hike. Now, after plenty more time getting acquainted, I’m extremely glad that I gave them time to grow on me.

While the Moab Speed 2s don’t need an intensive wearing in, they definitely do need some time for the materials to relax a little. Like many hiking boots, these aren’t at their best straight out of the box, but rather once they’ve had a little love and a good coating of dirt.

Since being worn in, I’ve been pretty stoked with the performance of the Merrell boots. The mid height has been a great level of ankle support, not rising so high that they become a beast of a boot, but still keeping things secure during slippery, twisty-ankle moments on the trail.

The Moab Speed 2s are marketed as a reliable boot for outdoor enthusiasts across a variety of terrains and I’ve certainly found this to be the case. I’ve now given them a red-hot crack in dry Aussie bush, rock hopping along riverside trails, trudging through ankle-deep mud, and trekking through snow. They’ve kept my feet comfy and mostly dry throughout, and even on longer and more technical hikes I’ve finished each day without overly-sore feet.

The mid height offers increased support and waterproofing without the bulk

Grip

One factor worth mentioning is how they do on slippery surfaces. I’d heard on the grapevine that these boots weren’t the best for slippery conditions (wet rocks in particular), however I’ve only found this to be partially true – so only a half caveat here.

The Moab Speed 2s come equipped with a Vibram TC5+ outsole, which is a rubber compound used across most Merrell products, designed for a balance of grip and traction on a mix of wet and dry surfaces.

The grip on dry surfaces is great – but I’ve had a few slips on wet surfaces, especially flat, wet rocks. That being said, this seems to be more of an issue when the boots are new, and I’ve noticed a pretty decent improvement in the grip since I first hit the trails. My latest hike featured many more slippery rocks than the first time I tested them out, yet I had far fewer slips.

Waterproofing

For this boot, I was looking for a bit of an all-rounder for tougher conditions, and wanted something relatively weatherproof. I was drawn to the mixed material outer of the Moab Speed 2 Mid Leather – which is crafted with a combination of a waterproof membrane which sits inside a waterproof moulded leather, synthetic, and textile upper. The construction is designed to seal water out while letting moisture escape, so that the dogs don’t overheat too much.

This is one feature I’ve really put to the test – these boots have seen a decent chunk of rain, deep muddy puddles, snow, and even full submersion in a river on a recent hike (after one too many river crossings, I simply couldn’t be arsed to pop them off and on any more).

While they didn’t remain bone dry when completely submerged (understandable), I’m happy to say that all the waterproofing tech works as it should. Overall my feet have remained pretty darn dry across a broad range of hikes, and I’ve noticed it takes a pretty solid amount of rain or repeated splashing through puddles before I start to notice any dampness inside.

The Moab Speed 2s are also surprisingly fine to walk in while completely saturated. Even when I’ve ended up with very wet feet, I’m able to continue hiking for many kilometres without issue. This likely comes down to a combination of the boot and choice of hiking sock (Darn Tough stan until the day I die) but it’s been a pleasant surprise.

Durability

So far, so good – the Moab Speed 2s have had a very decent flogging and they’re holding up well. This has been great to see even after many rounds of saturation and drying out (including via heater at a hut mid-hike, which can sometimes be a culprit for the breakdown of glue on hiking boots). I’m seeing a very slight bit of the rubber at the front of the toe starting to come away from the boot, however this feels appropriate for the level of use and is an easy fix.

I’ve also noticed some relaxing of the shoe, however as mentioned – this is working in favour of comfort, and is an overall wearing in of the shoe rather than a breakdown of necessary structure. My feet tend to roll inwards and normally the inside tread and outer are the first things I see deteriorate on a shoe, so it’s been great to see the Moab Speed 2s holding up so well.

Design

Overall, there’s plenty to like about the Moab Speed 2s design. The waterproofing clearly does its job, and there are some nice smaller design features like the metallic hardware on the hooks for the laces and the leather heel tab for easy on and off (which both feel handy as well as durable).

A key feature of these boots (and Merrell boots in general) is the Vibram traction lugs. Lugs, (for those who spend more time on the trail than reading through product descriptions in detail), are the nobbly little bits, or chunky-looking patterns on the bottom of the sole. These are what provide the majority of traction, grip, and stability, especially when walking on uneven surfaces. What differentiates the Vibram from other lugs is the shape, which is said to increase traction and shed trail debris more effectively.

Being honest, I didn’t notice much of a difference between the tread on this boot and others I’ve worn. The grip is definitely doing its job for the most part (especially on drier surfaces) and I don’t tend to get heaps of debris caked in the shoe which is great, however it’s all been fairly par for the course for a hiking boot of this calibre.

Vibram grip is secure on uneven surfaces, but a bit slippery in the wet when new!

Laces

Merrell, I’ve got a bone to pick – why are the laces on this boot so dang slippery? The laces on the Moab Speed 2s are made with 100% recycled materials, which is cool to see, but the result is a rather flat set of laces that seem to slide loose no matter how tight you tie them up.

The frustrating thing about this is that I either tie my laces overly tight at the start of the hike and risk foot cramps, or tie them to a comfortable point and have them loosen throughout the day. When the latter happens, this means a looser boot around the ankle which also negates the benefits and support of the mid-height boot.

I’m pretty much at the point of just replacing the laces – which is honestly a fairly easy fix in the scheme of things – but it’d be great to have a grippier set from the get-go.

Comfort

It’s no secret that a good hiking shoe makes a world of difference. There’s nothing worse than being in the midst of a multi-day (or frankly, even a single day) hike with aching feet, pinched toes, blisters, or hot spots. Happy to report I’ve experienced none of the above with the Moab Speed 2s.

I don’t think I truly realised how comfy these boots had become with repeated use until I headed away on an overnighter, only to realise I’d left my boots at home. Luckily (or so I thought), I had an old pair of backup boots fangin’ around in the back of my car so popped them on instead, and ended up spending the entire weekend missing my Moabs.

The inner sole of the shoe is crafted with a combination of FloatPro™ Foam midsole and lightweight FlexPlate™ tech. Both of these are Merrell-specific proprietary tech, with the FlexPlate providing a flexible yet stable plate for the foot to push off of, and the FloatPro Foam providing cushioning and comfort. I can confirm that the comfort on these boots is pretty exceptional, and only seems to get better with every wear.

My editor is mad it me for this photo

Sustainability

The Moab Speed 2s feature a few elements made of 100% recycled materials, including the laces, a breathable mesh lining, and a mesh footbed cover. There’s also a 50% recycled removable EVA foam footbed. All good things to see.

However, it’s pretty hard to find any further sustainability info on the Merrell site. There doesn’t appear to be a clear page or space on site to speak to sustainability goals or efforts, and sustainability doesn’t cop much of a mention anywhere in the info about the brand.

I did manage to find this page with a bit of Googling, which speaks to goals across use of renewable/recycled materials, reducing shoe and apparel samples, reducing plastic packaging, reducing water waste, and saving shoes from landfill – but the page doesn’t seem to be linked anywhere for easy access by consumers. Would love to see more here!

Bare minimum sustainability goals aren’t enough for us at WAE

Price

The Moab Speed 2s originally retailed at $279.99, however can now be found on sale for around $149.99. The full price feels very reasonable for what’s looking to be a lasting boot, and the sale price even more so!

Final Thoughts

After plenty of time on the trail, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid Leather Hiking Boots have proven themselves to be a comfortable, reliable, and versatile option for longer hikes, especially once worn in. These are boots that quietly get better the more you use them, with the reward for a little patience being all-day comfort and confidence on the trail.