Merrell Moab 2 VentilatorPrice: $110 Show
4.8 Merrell’s original Moab reached legendary status, and the current “2” carries on the tradition. To cut right to the chase, after
taking the Moab 2 Ventilator to Utah’s Canyon Country and subsequent testing in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, the shoe impressed almost across the board. It’s not the most athletic design, but the Moab has a nice, wide base, is very comfortable, breathes well, and is one of the better values on the market at $110. Below we break down our experiences with the Moab 2. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the
best hiking shoes. Table of Contents
PerformanceComfortSliding 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. Moreover, there is extra padding in the heel that offers a surprising amount of trail isolation and underfoot protection. This additional cushioning felt a little tall and funny at first but gives the shoe a customized feel as the miles add up and likely contributes to the impressive comfort over long trail days.
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Shoe | Price | Type | Weight | Waterproof | Upper |
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Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator | $110 | Hiking shoe | 1 lb. 15 oz. | No (WP available) | Leather / mesh |
Keen Targhee Vent | $155 | Hiking shoe | 1 lb. 13.6 oz. | No (WP available) | Leather |
Oboz Sawtooth II Low | $115 | Hiking shoe | 1 lb. 15.2 oz. | No (WP available) | Leather / mesh |
Salomon X Ultra 3 | $120 | Hiking shoe | 1 lb. 9.8 oz. | No (WP available) | Synthetic |
Salomon X Raise Low | $110 | Hiking/trail running | 1 lb. 5.5 oz. | No (WP available) | Synthetic |
Merrell MQM Flex 2 | $110 | Hiking/trail running | 1 lb. 9 oz. | No (WP available) | Mesh / TPU |
The Competition
The lightweight and budget-friendly end of the hiking shoe and boot market is teeming with options, but the Merrell Moab 2 retains its place as one of our favorites. The Moab’s long-time competitor is the Keen Targhee, which is one of only a few shoes that can compete in terms of popularity. The Keen Targhee Vent accomplishes a lot of what we love about the Moab 2: a solid feel with a roomy toe box and good all-around trail performance. Both are great options, but the Moab undercuts the Targhee in price by a significant $45 for the non-waterproof version. No shoe is perfect, but the Moab's value is what pushes it ahead in our round-up of hiking shoes.
A second shoe that goes head-to-head with the Moab 2 is Oboz’s Sawtooth II Low, which is in many ways a beefed-up Moab. Its stiff heel counter and thick outsole provide a surprisingly rigid structure and good trail isolation for a low-top design. Further, its snug fit around the heel and spacious toe box make it a favorite among both day hikers and backpackers. One downside of the substantial build is that the Oboz has a clunkier and heavier feel compared with the Moab despite having a similar all-in weight of 1 pound 15.2 ounces. In the end, we give the edge to the softer and more comfortable Moab for lighter trail uses.
Opting for a performance-oriented lightweight shoe like the Salomon X Ultra 3 gets you a nimbler feel, similar ventilating abilities, and a step up in traction. If we’re moving fast over long distances or tackling technical terrain, we prefer the 6-ounce-lighter Salomon. But if you prefer a more traditional shoe that puts a premium on stability and comfort, the Moabs may be the better option. The Merrell’s solid base and better isolation from the trail are a great combination for day hikes and weekend backpacking trips.
A second Salomon option to consider is their newer X Raise. For the same price as the Moab 2 (for the non-waterproof, low-top version), the X Raise is impressively comfortable with generous cushioning underfoot, nice padding at the collar, and a soft interior. It also has an athletic, trail runner-like feel and light weight (1 b. 5.5 oz.) that are a great match for fast-and-light adventures. Our only notable performance-related complaint is that the shoe felt surprisingly squirrely and hard to trust while hiking over wet rock. Therefore, we still consider the Moab 2 the best budget hiking shoe, but the X Raise isn’t far behind and wins out in a few key areas.
Finally, Merrell’s own MQM Flex 2 is an interesting lightweight alternative. This shoe has a trail runner-like look and build, which trims away a significant 6 ounces per pair compared with the Moab. The MQM is also more flexible, which is a nice match for fast-moving days. But we found it falls short in a couple key areas. First, the thin construction underfoot can lead to foot soreness when carrying a heavy load or when traveling over rocky terrain. And we also have some concerns from a long-term durability standpoint. Specifically, the lugs are notably flexible, and we’ve torn off a couple chunks after only two months of use on fairly moderate terrain. Overall, within Merrell’s lineup, we think the Moab 2 stands apart as their most complete and well-designed product.