Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Great traction, out-of-box comfort, breathable
Cons: Not waterproof, heavy, average support
Manufacturer: Merrell
Our Verdict
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Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $78.47 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $190.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $170.00 at REI | $149.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $159.95 at Backcountry |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Great traction, out-of-box comfort, breathable | Excellent comfort and traction, waterproof | Extremely comfortable, lightweight, supportive | Aggressive traction, great water resistance, versatile | Supportive, great traction, lightweight |
Cons | Not waterproof, heavy, average support | Expensive, not the most durable | Not as cushioned as previous Hoka models, some traction issues | Quicklace system not for everyone, average ankle protection | Stiff, lacing is hard to tighten |
Bottom Line | Built for light to moderate day hikes in cool to warm, dry environments | This hiking shoe combines comfort with incredible on-trail performance better than any other | Ideal for fastpacking missions with a great combination of comfort, support and performance | Charge down any and all trails in this aggressive hiker with a non-traditional lacing system | This is a supportive hiking shoe that is perfect for scrambling and peak bagging |
Rating Categories | Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator | La Sportiva Spire GTX | HOKA ONE ONE Toa Gore-Tex | Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX | Mountain Trainer Lite GTX |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Weight (25%) | |||||
Support (15%) | |||||
Traction (15%) | |||||
Versatility (10%) | |||||
Water Resistance (5%) | |||||
Durability (5%) | |||||
Specs | Merrell Moab 2... | La Sportiva Spire... | HOKA ONE ONE Toa... | Salomon X Ultra 3... | Mountain Trainer... |
Weight of Size 11 Pair | 2.20 lbs | 2.06 lbs | 2.03 lbs | 1.93 lbs | 2.16 lbs |
Upper | Suede leather and mesh | Abrasion-resistant mesh | Synthetic | Textile/synthetic leather | Synthetic |
Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular |
Waterproof Lining | None | Gore-Tex Surround | GTX lining | Gore-Tex Performance Comfort membrane | Gore-Tex Extended Comfort |
Flood Level (inches) | 4.375 in | 4.75 in | 5 in | 4.5 in | 3.5 in |
Last Board/Shank | Molded nylon arch shank | Molded EVA | EVA | Advanced chassis and molded shank | Nylon |
Midsole | EVA | 5mm Ortholite Insole, Compression Molded EVA, TPU inserts | Rubberized | Injected EVA | EVA |
Outsole | Vibram TC5+ | Vibram XS Trek with Impact Brake System | Vibram MegaGrip | Non-marking ContaGrip | Pomoca MTN trainer Lite |
Warranty | None | 1 year | 45 day | 2 years | 2 year |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Moab 2 Ventilator shoe is a fine hiking shoe for short, moderate ventures. It doesn't have a waterproof membrane, and therefore is not for encounters with water. The thick upper is made up of suede leather and mesh, with an EVA midsole, a nylon shank, and a Vibram TC5+ outsole.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
There isn't much of a break-in period with these shoes. Our testers took them straight from the box to the trail. The spacious foot box didn't produce any pressure points or hot spots on the feet of our reviewers, but our feet did slip around a bit inside. The fit is looser than typical hiking shoes.
The laces are thick and rounded like a cord. Our testers found that the laces came untied faster than other models. Of course, you can always swap out the laces for better ones. For the lacing system, we prefer other designs that allow for more precise adjustments (tight or loose) throughout the upper. This shoe is quite breathable through its mesh, waterproof membrane-free upper, making it more pleasant in warm weather.
Weight
The Ventilator is one of the heavier hiking shoes reviewed. Some of the hiking boots we reviewed weighed less than this pair of shoes. On the trail, though, you likely won't notice the extra weight until you pound out a lot of mileage.
Support
The support offered by the Ventilator is sufficient for light hiking needs. It has a wide forefoot to increase balance when powering off your forefoot, coupled with a flexible forefoot. Like its waterproof sibling, the insole is one of the beefier ones among the competition. Despite its nylon shank between the mid and outsole, this shoe provides only moderate torsional rigidity, though. It has a rather low ankle collar, too, which doesn't help protect ankles.
Day hikes with a minimal pack of water, snacks, and camera are where this shoe shines. Hikers with seasoned, strong ankles can use this model for overnight adventures and medium packs with these shoes, but even seasoned veterans will want more support for hikes lasting several days or more.
Traction
This shoe grips most surfaces well, providing some of the best results at the end of our traction tests. It features the same outsole as other Merrell footwear, the TC5+ from Vibram. It hugs dry and wet rock as if it were a dear friend and performs about as well as any other shoe in mud and snow. It didn't eat loose sediment underfoot for breakfast but didn't leave us out to dry in scree fields either. Its overall traction is just a bit below the top performers tested.
Versatility
The Ventilator is a capable light to moderate hiker. It doesn't excel in any single application, but it holds its own on pretty much any day hike. Its weight and bulk don't encourage picking up the pace to a jog, but that's not an important factor to all hikers. It's also not our first choice for backpacking trips lasting more than a couple of days.
Water Resistance
The Ventilator does not have a waterproof membrane, which means that when submerged, water flows in quickly. It also wets out quickly when walking through wet fauna. Like the Best Buy-winner, this relegates this shoe to hikes when dry weather is assured. The waterproof version of this shoe didn't prove much better in wet conditions, as it leaked in our water resistance tests, despite its built-in waterproof liner. If you frequently hike in wet weather or on soggy trails, you are better off with better to go with a more battle-tested waterproof membrane. in your shoes.
Durability
Several of our testers have had Merrell shoes and boots that last a long time. The quality is there. The Ventilator can withstand a lot of trail abuse, and with a bit of care, should last you hundreds of miles. The leather overlays protect the breathable mesh in the upper from wearing through, and the outsole showed no signs of wear following our testing period. One complaint, though, is that the seams in the forefoot are not double-stitched, which is what we prefer in high flex areas.
Value
This shoe brings solid value to the table but is edged out by some of its competition.
Conclusion
This is a good hiking shoe. We appreciate its bomber traction on and off the trail, and its level of comfort from Day One is awesome. If you need a pair of hikers that you can unbox and immediately hit the trail with, these are a great option. Nailing two of the most important criteria for this category, great traction and comfort, this shoe is impressive. It is a testament to the quality of hiking shoes included in this review that such a solid hiker like the Ventilator falls to the middle of the pack.
— Ross Robinson