Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Shoe Review

Introduction

As you may have read on my About page [find it HERE], I do have interests outside golf – including hiking. So you can probably understand my surprise when I found “golf” listed as an activity category while researching hiking shoes on the Merrell website. I didn’t find any golf shoes in the traditional sense, but I did find the tagline “superior traction is now par for the course” with a photo of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX. Intrigued, I said to myself “I’ll be the judge of that” and ordered a pair.

Looks

On a display shelf or in hand, I don’t believe golf will be the first thing that comes to mind when looking at the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX shoes. Without even seeing the soles, the visible edges of the heavy lugs suggest these shoes mean business – and not in the office sense. Interestingly, looking down at my feet with the shoes on, the look is athletic and not out of line with other golf shoes I wear.

Overall, the Moab Speed 2 are great looking modern trail shoes. The grid pattern of the nylon ripstop uppers provides visual interest and the thick midsole signals comfort. Branding is modest in size, but still a bit too prevalent for my taste. The Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX are available in 12 colorways, each equally as appealing as my chalk pair.

Comfort

I took the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX for a long walk straight out of the box and concluded they didn’t need any break-in period before a full round of golf. Under foot, the shoes had a central stiffness that is common for hiking shoes, yet there was ample flex at the forefoot for natural walking motion. I sensed heightened cushioning in my heel as the shoe struck the ground and a boost as I transitioned through the step. I later learned Merrell utilizes what they call FloatPro for their midsole material. Generous cushioning ensconced my ankle, providing for a secure fit.

$Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Shoe Review review$

I ordered the shoes a half size large as suggested on the Merrell website and was pleased with the overall fit (I’m a standard D). I enjoyed having some wiggle room in the toe box and plenty of adjustability with the lacing system. For readers who are into details, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX had a 10mm heel drop, a tad less than I expected from their looks.

Performance

Let me jump straight into traction – it was excellent. Although an issue with the HOKA Transport GTX I previously reviewed (you can read it HERE), traction with the Moab Speed 2 was solid throughout my swing in every ground condition I encountered.

$Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Shoe Review review$

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX had great lateral stability. The Merrell FlexPlate technology created a nice balance of torsional rigidity and the aforementioned forefoot flexibility. Clearly there’s commonality between the needs of the golfer and hiker on the performance front.

$Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Shoe Review review$

And as you certainly garnered from the name, these shoes feature a GORE-TEX membrane for “exceptional breathability and waterproof performance.” With the absence of rain during my field testing, I performed an obligatory faucet test and lo and behold, the most recognized name on the subject passed with flying colors. I have to also say that I liked the nylon ripstop fabric Merrell used in the Moab Speed 2 uppers – both in being different from a golf shoe perspective but also for durability. Finally, I appreciate seeing Merrell’s list of all the recycled materials utilized in the shoe.

Conclusion

Well, this judge definitely concludes that the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX are worthy of being considered for golf. The overall look may garner some comments from your playing partners, but when conditions get sloppy, the aggressive lugs and GORE-TEX fabric are sure to play to your advantage. On the golf course or on the trails, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX can conquer the challenges of the day – all while keeping your feet happy.

Visit Merrell HERE

Author
Recent Posts

Matt Meeker

Senior Writer at Plugged In Golf

Matt - aka 'Meeks' - lives in the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina with his wife who allows his golf obsession to stretch the limits of normalcy.