My hikes and treks have taken me to some pretty extreme destinations, and my Moabs have travelled with me. On most terrain, the cushioning has proven more than adequate. The padded tongue is very effective for preventing the discomfort that comes when the laces are pulled in tight. For me it’s a personal choice, if you know you’re walking somewhere with a couple of puddles and occasional rain, maybe the Gore-Tex works for you. If you know your feet are going to face some liquid challenges, maybe opt for the more breathable pair without Gore-Tex. The non-waterproof Merrell Moab 3, for example. The Merrell Moab 2 GTX is quite light However, when I went to buy a new pair of Karrimor boots I found that, since the company outsourced their footwear manufacturing to the Far East, the fit and quality is far below what it used to be. Kinetic Fit™ ADVANCED removable contoured insole with reinforced heel cushioning for medium support

Merrell Moab 2 GTX Review (2023) | RunRepeat Cut in half: Merrell Moab 2 GTX Review (2023) | RunRepeat

Those boots have only just reached, as a technologist would say, end of life. I got over 20 years of hiking and hillwalking from my Karrimor KSBs. This can be really useful on shorter hikes where you can rely on your footwork being consistent. It adds to the comfort of the overall experience and is definitely refreshing if you’re used to hiking boots. If you’re not too concerned about the weight of you boots consider the Keen Venture Mid WP, which offer more stability and fantastic support for marginal increase in weight (a few ounces). Comfort Rating All applicable customs and import duties and any other charges are the responsibility of the customer. The wide toe box and flexible sole are great for running. On my hikes, in particular the training days, I like to up the tempo and run for between ½ and 1 mile. Alternating between running and walking allows me to cover more distance and is a great way to improve cardio conditioning. These Merrell boots are not designed as an alternative to cross country running shoes, but they are a great halfway house for anyone looking to add some speed work to their hiking and training.When we hear the name ‘GORE TEX’ we tend to think waterproof. This isn’t always the case. Unless your feet are encased in rubber there will be some inevitable water ingress. To really test the Merrell Moab 2 waterproof claims I wore them on a four hour hike – in pouring rain (the best weather to hike in!). For the first three hours my feet remained dry. By the end of the day’s hiking booth my feet were damp, though not soaked. As mentioned earlier, the Moab 2 isn’t the lightest hiking boot, a fact that’s easy to forget once you’re wearing them. 2lbs might seem like a lot of weight to carry on your feet, and there definitely lighter options available (such as the Merrell MQM Ace), but the performance you get from the Moab 2 is a fair trade-off. I think you’ll agree that, so far, these boots get a huge thumbs up. I need the right and you’re right, they do. Now let’s get down to a really important factor: the price.

Moab 3 GORE-TEX® - Shoes | Merrell Men - Moab 3 GORE-TEX® - Shoes | Merrell

I’ve been using one form or another of Merrell hiking boot models since the late 90s. My experiences of their hiking gear can only be described as varied. Since I first pulled on a pair of their Trail running shoes I’m happy to say that overall quality has improved massively. As I mentioned earlier the souls of these boots are rubberised, but that doesn’t mean they wear out easily. I’ve been using the GT axis front rear now, walking cross country, up and down hills and all Road. As you expect the souls are starting to show a little bit aware, but no way near as much as I would’ve thought this stage. The Merrell Moab 2 GTX soles: still looking good after one year of pretty hard use. The sole is made from Vibram rubber, a good move on Merrell’s part as this is the same material used in the first model and, in my eyes, the one of the best options for hiking boots. There is enough rigidity in the soles to give added support to your feet and prevent a loss of sensation when walking. What I mean by this is that the soles provide the flexibility necessary to give you an almost natural feeling when walking in them. The lacing system is a combination of heavy nylon duty loops and four hooks at the top of each boot, two on either side. I know some people don’t like these types of systems, but it’s one I’ve used for a very long time and, overall, I’m pretty happy with it. The layout and construction make it easy to pull your boots on and get a nice tight fit with just a couple of tugs. Simple and effective lacing system

I average about 20 to 30 miles a week in these boots. To some people, in particular through hikers, this might not seem like a big deal. But I work my boots hard, but I put it in more than average mileage on a weekly basis and my GTXs are still going strong. Measuring the foam softness with a durometer, we found that it is right in the middle - neither too soft nor too firm. It is about the same as the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX. If you want a softer experience in a Merrell shoe, consider the Merrell Moab Speed GTX (35% softer!) This doesn’t bode well for carrying heavy loads with this shoe, without much support you’re at risk of rolling your ankle. I would suggest going a half size lower and maybe trying the wider width if you’re worried about getting a squashed forefoot.