Ultimate Review: Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote (Men’s Hiking Shoe)

I’m reviewing the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote hiking shoe for those who may be looking for a new hiking or trail running shoe.

Although it’s advertised as a hiking shoe, I also use it for trail running. This shoe stood out because of the thickness of the sole, which I have read helps when you’re trail running. I recently signed up for a half-marathon trail run and needed a good shoe to train and run in.

This is my review of using the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote hiking shoe for both hiking and trail running after about 50 miles of heavy use.

First Impressions of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote

I noticed the design right away and liked it because it wasn’t all black or a darker brown color like most hiking shoes are.

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoe itself feels and looks durable upon initial viewing where I bought it. I chose a size 13 because I usually wear a size 13 shoe and a size 14 boot. It fits perfectly! I know it will also fit if I wear a thicker sock, like if I want to run in them in the winter.

The shoe was comfortable out of the box, and I felt positive about my purchase.

Performance on the Trail

I’ve used the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoe for both hiking and trail running. There is my feeling for both uses.

Hiking Experience

For hiking, I’ve hiked easy-to-rugged trails with it.

I did a 6-mile hike at LBL, an 8-mile hike at Cedar Lake, a 9-mile hike at Kinkaid Lake, and another 9 miles in Bald Knob Wilderness with them. I did a bunch of smaller hikes wearing them, too.

Some of the hikes were dry, but a few were muddy. I even crossed a creek, submerging the shoe completely in water. I’ve broken them in on slanted trails, hills, rocky terrain, and even gravel.

I find the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoes to have much better grip and traction than my Oboz hiking boots. But they’re still slick on wet rock—like everything else!

Overall, the stability and support have been awesome. My feet don’t hurt after a long hike, and the shoes hold up well.

Trail Running Experience

I’ve put in about 15 miles of running so far in the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoes.

I bought these for running as I’ve been training for a half-marathon trail run. They’re marketed as hiking shoes but have received many reviews for being good for trail running. Personally, I agree.

They have good grip and traction while I run, even when they hit roots and some rock—but as I said, everything is slick on wet rock.

The weight of the shoe is very light. The shoes are about 12.3 oz for each shoe.

The cushioning and soles are a big win for me. The point from the bottom of my foot to the ground is pretty thick and it helps reduce shock each time my foot hits the ground while running and fast hiking. That’s what I wanted to get out of these, and I’m getting just that!

Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote Comfort and Fit

They have a great selection for comfort and fit.

I have the wide option and size 13 because my feet are big. The range starts at size 7 and goes all the way to size 15. They also have a medium width option if you don’t need wide.

They have a few color options, including olive, coyote, black, and a whiter one. I chose coyote because I loved the look of it. It’s a lighter brown and orange color scheme.

The shoe has arch support and plenty of toe room with both thin and thicker socks. It is secure on me when tied tightly and does not move around as I run or hike.

Durability

The durability of Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoes has been very good in the 50+ miles that I used them for a combination of hiking and trail running.

The materials used are very durable and feel tough. It’s made from nylon and mesh, and most of the components are 100% recycled material. It’s also Vegan-friendly, in case you need to know that.

After over 50 miles of hiking and trail running in a lot of rugged areas, as I’ve said before, these shoes have held up well. I feel like I’ll have them for a few years, at least.

They’re easy to clean and keep dirt off, but they’re not waterproof. I didn’t want waterproof because that would make them heavier and less breathable. However, they dry out fast during use and sitting at home after a wet hike or run.

They drain well, too, because I submerged them completely with water over the top, and they weren’t full of water afterward. I didn’t have to take them out and dump them.

Breathability and Weather Resistance

As I said, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoes breathe fairly well.

I’ve worn them in mild to hot weather and never felt too hot in them. I can’t say anything about winter because I haven’t used them in winter yet.

As I said above, they are not water resistant, but I have found that they dry out faster than other hiking shoes both when I’m wearing them and using them and when I take them off at home without putting them on my boot dryer.

I got them soaking wet and wore them dry as a bone the next day. So, they had less than 12 hours of dry time, but they were pretty dry before I took them off.

Traction and Outsole Design

The traction of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoe is pretty good for the most part.

Slick rocks are still slick rocks. I’ve never found any kind of shoe that can completely grip slick rocks and give you no worries. But I feel this shoe provides more traction than my Oboz boots do.

The shoe does well in terms of traction and grip. I’m able to run on trails with roots, rocks, uneven terrain, and mud, and I’ve yet to fall. But with any shoe, things will still be slick, and it’s important to keep that in mind.

I feel like these shoes pass any test out there in terms of being able to grip trails in the outdoors.

Weight and Packability

As I mentioned above, these don’t weigh very much at all.

I don’t notice the weight of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 shoes like I do with my Oboz waterproof boots. The shoe is light enough to not really give me any issues. I never really thought this would be a factor for me until I realized how light the shoe actually is.

Each shoe weighs about 12.3 ounces. Even when wet, the shoe doesn’t seem that heavy. However, the light materials used don’t feel cheap, either.

Overall, I’m very satisfied with the weight and feel of these shoes.

Pros and Cons of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote

I do have some pros and a few cons of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 hiking shoes.

My pros are that the shoe is really comfortable and lightweight, and I feel no pain after running or hiking for a while in it. I also really like all the color options you can get with it. I like how fast they dry out after getting them wet, as well.

I don’t have too many complaints about these shoes. The price is really the only real complaint I have. $140 is a lot for shoes these days, but I know everything is rising all the time.

In all honesty, these are my favorite hiking and trail running shoes to date.

Who This Shoe Is Best For

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 hiking shoe is suitable for many different types of users who are looking for a new shoe.

I bought these based on the reviews and features for trail running. I would definitely recommend these shoes for trail running, as they have served me well so far. They’re definitely a great beginner shoe for trail runners.

These are also good for hikers. If you don’t want to wear boots when it’s warm out, these hiking shoes could be a good option. As long as you don’t care if the inside of your shoe gets wet, then I’d highly recommend these to hikers.

And in all honesty, these would be good for everyday wear type shoes, too.

Final Thoughts on the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote

I wanted to really put the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Coyote hiking shoes to the test before I made this review. I don’t like giving reviews on hiking products unless I have tested them and determined that they’re worth writing about.

I’ve used these for more than 50 miles since I first got them. I think they’re perfect for trail running, hiking, or both, which is how I use them.

I hope you have enjoyed this review. If you did, consider leaving me a small one-time tip for publishing it. You can also support me monthly by becoming a Patreon Member.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail.