Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Charcoal

Lightweight, great support, waterproof and very comfortable from the first time I put them on!

After significant weight loss, my older Moabs in a wide width had started feeling too roomy and unstable. I tried the Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX in my usual size 13 but moved down to a medium width, and the difference was immediate. They wrapped my feet securely and felt far more supportive and planted, without creating pressure across the forefoot or toes. The mid-height collar adds useful support, but the improved fit through the entire shoe is what really impressed me. They also feel noticeably lighter and more responsive than the traditional Moab, while still having the underfoot stability I expect from a hiking shoe. If your older Moabs have begun feeling bulky or overly spacious, the Speed 2 is absolutely worth trying. Just don’t assume you still need the same width—the size 13 medium was the clear winner for me.

This is a good boot, but only under the right conditions. It's a Gore-Tex boot, that is very lightweight, and well designed, however, it does not breathe very well. Granted, everyone is different, and conditions vary. If you want to wear this on a hot day in California or the deserts of the west during summer on a long hike forget it. Your feet will bake. If on the other hand, you want to wear it some place where it's moderate or even cold and wet, although it isn't "insulated" I suspect it would do much better. I wore mine 3 times in California, outside on 85+ degree days on trails, and my feet overheated each time.

These worked well for about 500 miles of hiking over two seasons. At the end, the upper was ripping at the top of the sole in a few spots and they leaked badly. This seems to be the new normal for lightweight hiking boots - only good for 500-600 miles ($0.30/mile cost!).

I'm going hiking in Italy next summer and needed a new pair of boots. The sales associate was very helpful. Asked questions and brought out 4 different bboots to try.