I used to hate mid-height boots, but the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid changed my mind

I’ve never been completely sold on the mid-high boot trend. To me, they offer the worst bits of both walking shoes and more rugged hiking boots, with a cuff that doesn't offer much support but sits at an uncomfortable height just above the ankle.

Pulling the Merrell Moab Speed 2 boots from the box, my heart sank a bit, but forcing myself to wear them over my trusty Danner Mountain Evo 600 Evo, I began to understand their place in the hiking footwear lineup.

Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid review

Price and availability

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid Gore-Tex is available now directly from Merrell UK, Merrell US and Merrell AU for a recommended retail price of £160/ $180/ AU$299.99. It's available in both women's and men's versions in a number of colourways.

Specifications

• Upper: Ripstop/TPU
• Outsole: Vibram TC5+
• Waterproofing: Gore-Tex
• Lug depth: 4mm
• Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm

Design and materials

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid takes plenty of inspiration from the similarly named Speed 2 with the only real difference being the higher ankle cuff on the Mid version. As the name suggests, they also feature a Gore Tex liner which kept my feet dry as expected despite splashing around in some deeper than anticipated puddles as the UK was basking in glorious blue skies rather than pouring rain, which would've been more useful for testing waterproofing.

The upper is made from a mix of ripstop nylon and TPU to provide a durable yet noticeably lightweight shoe. The materials feel quite malleable and conformed well to my feet, which enhanced overall comfort greatly. If you find yourself scrambling through rocky terrain, these boots might lack the protection you're looking for but for lighter duties they fared very well.

The tongue is heavily padded and features an elastic loop to keep the excess lace under control, which I found there to be quite a lot of. The laces are of a flat variety and thread through fabric eyelets up the front of the shoe.

The outsole features a Vibram TC5+ sole unit which is said to provide ‘exceptional traction’. I found this to be largely accurate, feeling secure over loose surfaces but I felt the lugs were not aggressive enough to offer a great deal of bite into wet terrain. The lugs are claimed to be shaped to shed debris and I didn't feel like the boots clung onto loads of debris.

Performance and comfort

I had no issues with the fit at all, the boots offering plenty of space in the toe box but feeling secure and locked in throughout the instep and midfoot. The cushioning is excellent and I felt my feet were less fatigued and sore than with other full fat hiking boots I’ve tested recently. Part of this is likely down to the weight, or lack of. The Moab Speed 2 Mid is certainly a lightweight boot, worn back to back with a burlier boot, it’s very noticeable how nimble I felt.

I didn't have any issue with the lacing system either and could achieve and even tension throughout but found the lack of a locking eyelet slightly irritating but not disastrous. The eyelet over the arch of the foot is set back more than the others which provided a really secure fit that I welcomed and allowed tension to be regulated over different sections of the foot.

The mid height cuff sits just above the ankle to offer a small amount of protection from ankle rolls without feeling as restrictive as a full height alternative. I found it inspired a little more confidence when walking non technical trails that might feature roots or slippery rocks.

The midsole features a 30% increase in foam according to Merrell, which is said to greatly improve comfort over the previous model. Whilst I haven't tested the outgoing version, I can confirm that these boots are very comfortable, offering huge amounts of cushioning over rough terrain. Coupled with the mid height cuff, they provided a little more support than a shoe but without the bulk and weight of a full on boot which was welcomed over slippery or loose terrain.

I’d still pick a more traditional ‘boot’ if I was heading into the mountains or needed something with a little more protection but for those times when a shoe or trainer wont cut it, the Speed 2 Mid is a greta option that has earned itself a place on my shoe rack.

Verdict

I’ve never been keen on the mid height boot, but the Merrell Moab SPeed 2 Mid Gore Tex has changed that opinion. I found them to strike a great balance between comfort and weight and provided more confidence in certain conditions over a hiking shoe.

Also consider

The Salomon Elixir Mod Gore-Tex boots were praised for their huge amounts of protection and support, but we felt they didn't offer enough trail feedback.

Since I received the Danner Mountain 600 Evo earlier this year, they have been almost permanently attached to my feet. They resemble a full-on hiking boot but with a slightly lower ankle cuff for added mobility. They also look great. They aren't cheap, though.