Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Low Hiking Shoes Review
Reading Time: 7 minutes Note: The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator has been replaced by the Merrell Moab 3
The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator is a ventilated hiking shoe made with leather, mesh, and a Vibram sole. They’re not quite the trail runners that you find many long-distance hikers wearing, but they’re also not quite boots. As I said, they’re hiking shoes.
A pair weighs in at 31 oz / 879 g and will easily last for hundreds of miles. They’re available in Men’s and Women’s, in regular and wide, and in a shoe (low top) and a boot (high top). They also come in a waterproof version.
If you’re looking for something that’s less intense than a traditional boot but something that offers a bit more protection and durability than a trail running shoe, then the Moab 2 Ventilator is worth checking out.
Testing Conditions
I’ve used the Moab 2 Ventilator for thousands of miles of hiking. I hiked the entire Continental Divide Trail with them, over 1,000 mi / 1,600 km of the Pacific Crest Trail with them, and numerous other trails including the Wonderland Trail, Timberline Trail, and the Lowest to Highest Route. I even wore them the last time I was trekking in Nepal. I’ve worn them in the desert, through the snow, crossing rivers, and scrambling up mountainsides. The Moab 2 Ventilator and I are very well acquainted. Honestly, there are probably few people (if any) on Earth who have hiked more miles in these shoes than I have.
The Specs
- Weight (Pair): 31 oz / 888 g
- Closure: Lace-up
- Upper Material: Suede leather/mesh
- Lining: Mesh
- Midsole: EVA
- Outsole: Vibram TC5+
- Widths: Medium, Wide
- Available Colors: Charcoal Grey, Beluga, Black Night, Boulder, Earth, Gold, Walnut
- MSRP: $100
The Features
- Suede leather and mesh upper
- Bellows, closed-cell foam tongue to keep moisture and debris out
- Protective rubber toe cap
- Breathable mesh lining
- Merrell M Select™ FIT.ECO+ blended EVA contoured footbed with added zonal arch and heel support
- Molded nylon arch shank
- Merrell air cushion in the heel
- 5 mm lug depth
The Good
THE DURABILITY: The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator refuse to die. They’re incredibly durable and I often end up replacing them not because the shoe has worn out or ripped to shreds, but because the sole has been worn completely smooth. Usually, I experience some wear in the fabric where the laces come out at the top or around the heel. That said, I usually leave my shoes tied and just slip my foot out/jam my foot in instead of tying them every time I put them on.
THE COMFORT: Shoes are a very personal piece of gear and, personally, I find the Moab 2 Ventilator to be incredibly comfortable. Again, very personal as all of our feet are differently shaped and we all have different arches, lengths, widths, and ankles, but just know that should your feet be a match for the Moab 2 Ventilator, your feet will be happy.
THE WIDTH: I have wide feet and they’ve plagued me since I was a child (I always wanted those shoes with the lights in them, or Heelys, or Soaps, but my foot was always too fat). When looking for a hiking shoe, even the brands or models that are “generally wider” do me no good. Fortunately, Merrell has a wide version of this shoe. That is to say, the Moab 2 Ventilator comes in a size that’s specific for people with a wider foot (that’s me). If you don’t have fat feet, it’s available in a regular width as well (must be nice).
THE TRACTION: The Moab 2 Ventilator has a Vibram TC5+ outsole with a 5 mm lug depth. This is basically the depth of the shoe’s tread. I’ve confidently walked up and down some steep slabs in these shoes and I’ve had some sketchy traverses in the snow with them as well (without using any additional traction). This is a big benefit to these being hiking shoes and not trail runners.
The Okay
THE WEIGHT: The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator are hiking shoes, not the sexy trail running shoes that many long-distance hikers wear. As hiking shoes, they’re great. A pair of the low-tops weighs in at 31 oz / 888 g. The high tops weigh 34 oz / 964 g. You’re certainly not going to feel like your feet are weightless, but you’re not going to feel like you have bricks attached to your feet either. The upside of the weight? Durability.
THE DRYING: I’ve done a lot of hiking through snow and rivers with the Moab 2 Ventilator. Yes, having wet feet sucks hard. Because these shoes are bulkier/heavier than others, they take longer to dry out. That said, I have never found myself wishing they were drying faster. It’s the leather on the outside that takes longer to dry – the fabric on the inside usually dries as I continue hiking in them.
THE LACES: The laces on the Moab 2 Ventilator are decent. Most of the time they hold up for well over 500 mi / 800 km. On occasion, the outer sheath of my laces ends up tearing somewhere, but this is never before I’ve already started considering getting a replacement pair. But if you really hate the laces, you can always swap them out (but I can’t imagine that being necessary).
The Bad
THE COLORS: Yes, I love that these shoes are available in a wide version, but why are you limiting the colors available in wide? Us wide-footed people want cool colors, too, Merrell. Not cool. That said, if you have regular-sized feet, your color options are actually pretty good. I really want some of the gold ones (I wonder what color they turn after hundreds of miles of abuse – the gray ones turn brown).
Who are they for?
The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator is a shoe that you can use regardless of your hiking experience. If you’re looking for something specifically for trail running or weight is of the utmost importance to you, then this may not be the shoe for you. But if you want something that’s going to hold up, that’s comfortable, and that comes in a variety of different options.
Most-popular Alternatives
| SHOES | PRICE | WEIGHT (PAIR) | HEEL-TOE DROP | WATERPROOF | ROCK PLATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat | $145 | 21.6 oz / 612 g | 4 mm | No | No |
| Altra Lone Peak | $120 | 21 oz / 595 g | 0 mm | No | No |
| Brooks Cascadia | $130 | 21.4 oz / 607 g | 8 mm | No | Yes |
| Altra Olympus | $150 | 21.4 oz / 607 g | 0 mm | No | No |
| La Sportiva Wildcat | $110 | 25 oz / 709 g | 12 mm | No | No |
Conclusion
The Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator is a fantastic hiking shoe if you’re not comfortable in boots and you want something that’s more durable than a trail runner. I’ve literally used over a dozen pairs, and I’ll continue to use them for their comfort, durability, and fit.
If you’re looking for something that you can wear off the trail, but that will still make your feet feel protected enough while on the trail, then the Moab 2 Ventilator is worth investigating (especially if you have wide feet).
Check out the Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator here.
Affiliate Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive small commissions for purchases made via these links at no additional cost to you. This helps pay the bills and keep the site up and running. Thank you for your support!
I think it’s funny that you believe you are one, if not the one, that hiked the most with these shoes.
I use these bad boys for many years. Every year I use one brand new pair to hike while keeping the previous year’s pair to walk around the city and as day-to-day shoe.
They are awesome. Before I was using the goretex version and had severe problems with blisters. Switching to the ventilator solved all of that and I never went back.
thanks for this info. I have wide feet, normally EE or more and have been looking for better hiking shoes. Yes these are a little heavier than trail runners but even thous I like Ultralite and 1 of the feet is 5 off the back, I have to have good fitting shoes or lets face it, it over. Thanks. FYI the link to Backcountry showed a option for size but not for width so I could not order there.
They’re definitely more hiking shoes than trail running shoes. Good for thru-hiking, but probably not what you want if you’re actually running. HOKA just came out with a wide version of their Speedgoat 4 – could be worth checking out as well (I have a pair that I’m currently testing out – definitely wide enough).
But how fast do they dry out if you get them soaked? My Altra Lone Peaks do not hold water for even a minute. I simply take my socks off, walk through a river with shoes only and when I sit down to put my socks back on they are already empty of water.. Sometimes I dont bother taking my socks off if it’s hot weather as they will dry in an hr or so just walking in them. Ive had three pair of these Merrills and they hurt my feet doing all day trips but in the Lone Peaks my feet only hurt doing huge down hills (like 5-6 thousand feet descents). The Altra’s tread lasts about 400 miles in the Sierras due to all the crushed rock trail but 600-700 in the rest of the PCT. The tops seem to last till all the read is gone. Ive never wore out the tops of my Lone Peaks. They cost between 85.00 (on sale) to 120.00 at REI. . . . I am going to test drive a pair of Topos with Vibrum soles soon but I’m actually afraid to hit the trail with anything but the Lone Peaks because they are that much better than anything ive owned so far and I’m 65 years old so Ive tried a LOT of shoes/boots
These Merrells will hold water for a while. It usually takes the inside an hour or two to dry (while hiking) and then the outside takes much longer. I see far too many Long Peaks falling apart to inspire much confidence. That, and they’re not wide enough for me (a large toe box ≠a wide shoe).
Since ive owned two pairs of the Merrells I can say with certainty that the Lone Peak and the Timps are wider than the Merrells. I have a EEE foot but I do not have a wide heal. My foot is shaped like a swim fin with the toe section being the widest. They do not have a vibrum sole so they do not last more than 400 miles on rocky/gravely trail of the High Sierras but they last 700 miles in the desert and forested areas. Yeah, Ive seen hikers hand on to them till they fall apart but I have never had a pair fall apart or become ragged and I have one pair that;s got 800 miles on them and they still look good but have no lugs left. Some people tear up any shoe/boot by the way the walk.
Happy to hear they fit you John. Lone Peak/Timps aren’t wide enough for me. Needed to size up to a 14 before I had enough space (I wear a 12 normally).
I had to go a half size up. Also the Topo is literally the same shape shoe as the lone peak except they run a 1/4 size small and the Timps run smaller than the Lone Peaks.on the inside even though they are identical on the outside. Strange that. Topo has a Vibrum sole. I have a pair but have not tried them on a long hike yet, just 8 mile day hikes to make sure I dont get blisters first.
Agreed, and these are particularly good for hiking on trails that aren’t well maintained, bushwacking, etc. I used a pair of these all around the world. When they wore out I tried replacing with Altra Lone Peaks, but by comparison those just feel vulnerable and showed considerable wear and tear after a 3-day hike on a poorly maintained trail. I think my next pair will be another set of Merrell Moab’s.
I’m about to head out on the Sierra High Route and as much as I would like to give my HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoats a go, I feel like they’ll get torn to pieces. The Merrells on the other hand, I have no worries about using.
I just came from the Sierra High Rte and will return to finish it in two weeks after my eye surgery. I could have stayed a little longer but the snow is still on the north side of the passes especially Muir Pass and I have all summer to get to Sierra City
Maybe I’ll catch you out there!
That would be cool