Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Last updated: August 14, 2020

Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
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We looked at the top Hiking Boots and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Hiking Boot you should buy.

Overall Take

These comfortable boots can be worn right out of the box without much break-in time, and they have a cushioned collar and tongue, plus a highly supportive footbed. The air cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability. There is also extra protection in the toe cap.

In our analysis of 85 expert reviews, the Merrell Men's Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot placed 7th when we looked at the top 11 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Experience out-of-the-box comfort in this waterproof hiker. With durable leathers, a supportive footbed, and Vibram traction, all in a versatile package,you won’t doubt why moab stands for mother-of-all-boots.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

Despite their being almost $100 less than our top pick at this writing, we found them to be good enough across all of our metrics: Provided strong ankle support during moderate hikes of 3 to 5 miles, they offered an easy-to-use lacing system, and they were fairly breathable during summer and fall weather.
Other Products we considered.
Sliding your feet into the Merrell Moab 2 is a reminder of what has made these shoes so popular for so long. It’s truly comfortable right out of the box with a cushioned collar and tongue, supportive footbed, and enough flexibility to take straight to the trail. One noticeable area of improvement in the latest Moab shoe is the refined insole. You now get decent arch support, and the molded heel cup holds you nicely in place.
The least expensive hiker in our review and provides a comfortable, cushioned walking experience for the day hiker or casual backpacker. This mid-top hiking boot has a well-padded ankle collar that hugs the ankle and provides good support for hauling medium-sized packs. The sole is light and flexible and allows the foot to bend freely, and the outer material, made of suede and mesh, is supple enough to be comfortable without any break-in period.
Professional gear reviewers were astounded by this boot’s superb breathability. Some hiking enthusiasts praised its glove-like fit. They admitted that it prevented their foot from sliding inside the shoe on ascents or descents.
As a trail runner and long-distance backpacker, I found the relatively light weight of the shoes a nice surprise at around 1 pound each (depending on your shoe size, mine were 10.5 men’s). The nylon arch shaft provides some foot impact protection without being as stiff and clumsy as the full metal plates used in some hardcore boots and trail runners.
“These things kick butt,” writes one happy customer, explaining, “I work in the rain a lot, and need something that can hold up to being rained on for like eight plus hours nonstop while stepping in water and all the rest. These things have gotten so wet I could swear they would let water through but they have not yet.” Another reviewer calls them, “Probably the best money I ever spent on footwear".
An incredibly comfortable boot that offers great support in challenging environments. The Vibram TC5 outsole with 5mm lug depth gives you a ton of traction along with the Merrell air cushion in the heel give you much-needed comfort and reliability when climbing or declining.
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.
Fantastic but unassumingly so - they perform exceptionally well, which my happy, blister-free feet always notice. The best part about these boots is how comfortable they are, as they have plenty of padding and an air cushion in the heel. This also means that breaking them in isn't bad - it only took a couple of day hikes before I felt that they had really started to adjust to my feet. On top of that, they're fairly lightweight but still sturdy - a great all-around boot!
These boots have been made of a suede leather/mesh material that allows for an increase in comfort level while having a lot of breathability. The outsole is made with Merrell’s exclusive Vibram TC5, that allows for increased traction throughout rough terrain. The Merrell air cushion has been placed directly under the heel that absorbs shocks and increases your stability while climbing or navigating down a large heel. With both of these combined it increases your overall safety while hiking.

What experts didn't like

No-frills. Waterproof (although not for an extended period of time),
Flexible build isn’t a good match for heavy loads or technical terrain.
They are best suited to a dry, desert-like climate as they do not feature a waterproof liner of any type. Not enough support for long or heavy backpacking trips. The included footbed is of reasonable quality, though we would recommend replacing with a more durable Superfeet or Ortholite insole like we found in some of the other models we reviewed. There is only one pair of lacing hooks in addition to the eyelets, making it harder to lace these boots with a customized, comfortable fit.
A renowned footwear review website gave the Moab 2 Mid Waterproof a thumbs down for its lackluster underfoot support. As observed by a considerable number of wearers, it's not waterproof as expected.
Limited water resistance. Heel may be high for some. I found it a bit tricky to balance in the bulky heel when I picked up the pace to anything beyond walking.
They fit tight so order a half size up from your normal shoe size
One minor issue I do have with the Moab 2 is that the cushioning in the soles is a little too thin for some terrain. Stepping on sharp, pointed rocks can be an uncomfortable experience.
Not quite waterproof.
Not fully waterproof. High priced.
View our Hiking Boot buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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