These 'astoundingly waterproof' walking shoes are the perfect investment for getting outdoors in April showers

As a London native, I've never thought to invest in a pair of walking shoes. Most of my walks involve concrete paths - at most, a muddy walk through Hampstead Heath. So when I booked an off-season trip to the Lake District, I was faced with the sudden realisation that my beaten-up trainers wouldn't cut it walking through the fells. Thankfully, I came across the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX. 

What immediately struck me about these shoes is how ready-to-wear they look. They're genuinely quite an attractive shoe, not too dissimilar to a sturdy trainer, but just with a lot more tech. Style isn't the first thing that necessarily springs to mind when thinking of the best walking shoes, but while these wouldn't look out of place on a hiking trip, I could also picture myself wearing them paired with jeans for a summer stroll. 

An upgrade to Merrell's iconic Moab hiking boot, the Speed 2 GORE-TEX is designed for moderate hiking trails. There are six colours to choose from - I tried Peach - and these shoes are available in sizes 2.5 to 8.5. I tested these shoes for a week, pushing them to their (and my) limit in a very boggy March Lake District. 

Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX
Available in five unique colours, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX shoes are perfect for muddy trails and taking on spring/summer showers in style. 

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Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX review

Specifications

• Sizes: UK 2.5-8.5
• RRP: £150
• Weight per shoe: 300 grams per shoe
• Drop: 10mm
• Lug: 4mm
• Stack height: 34 to 24mm
• Materials: A combination of 100% recycled materials, nylon ripstop and TPU on the upper, with a GORE-TEX waterproof membrane
• Buy from: Merrell, £150

First impressions of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX

Opting for Peach was a bold choice, but this pale pink colourway was the perfect test to how well these shoes clean up after muddy walks. We can all guess that black would be the most weather and mud-resistant - but sometimes it's nice to have something a little different, and this unique colourway wasn't one I'd seen before. I've got fairly wide, size 8 feet, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX were, if anything, a little bit large. I imagine this is deliberate, allowing you to wear thick hiking socks during long walks and extra space for your feet to swell as they do during exercise.

The shoes are lightweight, with a nice thick sole that offers a good bounce underfoot - a 30% increase in foam from the initial Moab Speed boots, according to the brand. I  liked having the loop on the front and the back of the shoe to slip my foot in, a feature that was particularly helpful as it saved me from getting mud on my hands when the shoes were a bit grotty after a walk. 

The GORE-TEX waterproof membrane claims to offer waterproof yet breathable wear, but looking at the lightweight mesh that houses the shoe, I was doubtful about how weatherproof they were. Luckily, this was a doubt proven unnecessary within minutes of stepping into the great outdoors. 

User experience with the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX

My first wear of the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX shoes was on a challenging fell walk near Ambleside in the Lake District. It was very muddy and steep, so I was worried I'd slip as I climbed or scrambled down the other side. It had also been raining the night before my walk, so if the GORE-TEX didn't work, I'd be able to tell instantly. 

Thankfully, the shoes kept me dry, comfortable and free from any slips throughout the hike. Later in my trip, I walked through a flooded cave, literally ankle-deep in mud. At this point, the waterproof design had held up well and I returned home with dry feet every day. At this point though, I was certain I'd pushed the waterproof design too far. To my surprise (and delight), however, I emerged with completely dry feet this time too. Although, my shoes were incredibly muddy and no longer totally peach-coloured - more of a light brown with light pink details. 

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX are designed for 'moderate' trails (per the brand, they are "made for trails with some obstacles and moderate debris. Occasional speed, direction, and vertical changes") rather than the full hiking experience I put them through so that I feel it's unfair marking the shoes down for the one challenge I did face: ankle support. A couple of times during my days hiking,  I noticed I was putting a lot of strain on my ankles as I walked vertically along the slopes.

I'd recommend these shoes to anyone - but with the warning that a pair of solid hiking boots may a better option for uneven slopes or terrain with a strong incline. This isn't specific to the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX shoes though. Any hiking trainers will lack the specific ankle support provided by hiking boots, simply because the design doesn't stretch around the ankle. For better ankle support, woman&home's Digital Health Editor Grace Walsh recommends the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX (£180 at AlpineTrek). 

The Vibram traction lugs (the grip) on the sole of the shoes are designed to shed debris as you walk, and I was really impressed with how well this worked. My partner's walking shoes were caked up with mud on the sole, leading to a couple of small slips, but mine were consistently grippy, giving me more confidence on the trails. Plus, I didn't need to clean them before popping them in the car boot for the drive home. 

However, I was a little disappointed with how the shoes cleaned up when I got home. I went into wearing these shoes knowing that they wouldn't look as clean post-wash as the black colourway for instance, but I thought they'd clean up better. While there was a strong peach tone on the upper half of the shoes that didn't get so caked up in mud during my trip, on the lower half that had the most contact with the trails, there was a muddy mark that was impossible to remove. 

If I were to recommend these shoes to someone else, I'd suggest opting for a darker colour so they look fresher for longer. The peachy tone is a unique option, but it's not worth it for longevity. 

How do the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX compare?

My two reservations are how dirty the peach colourway looks even after washing and the lack of ankle support. Luckily, this shoe comes in multiple other colourways that are likely more mud-resistant (like black and grey) and Merrell has the shoe in boot form as well. The Women's Moab Speed 2 Mid GORE-TEX is just £5 more expensive than the shoe version - an additional spend worth making, in my eyes. If I were to choose a pair to take hiking with me again, I'd opt for this boot rather than the shoe. 

"When it comes to ankle support, a boot is going to be better than a shoe nine out of ten times. The higher structure and lacing system encases your ankle and offers strong support for this joint," says our Digital Health Editor Grace Walsh, who has spent years in both her professional and personal life wearing the best hiking shoes and walking boots. "If you plan to walk on uneven terrain or trails with a steep vertical incline, I'd suggest a hiking boot over a shoe. Shoes are better for flatter terrains like trails, city paths, and walking routes with minimal challenges."

Compared to similar shoes across other brands, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX is among the very best. Other similar options to consider are the Hoka Kaha 2 Low GORE-TEX (the shoe version of our favourite hiking boots, the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX) as these have the same waterproofing technology and a similar design, but they have a MetaRocker design to help propel you along as you walk, better support around the back of the ankle, and the leather upper makes the material harder-wearing and easier to clean. They are available in fewer sizes though, are more expensive, and are unsuitable for vegans.

At £150, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX are standard in price point for what you can expect to pay. The Columbia Trailstorm™ Ascend Waterproof Hiking Shoes are under £100, making them a suitable alternative for a budget-friendly pair of hiking shoes. Available in sizes 3 to 8, similar to the Merrell shoes, these have a cushioned sole, strong lugs for trail walking, and a waterproof mesh with leather overlay in the shoe upper for durability. However, as a compromise on the price, the waterproofing technology isn't GORE-TEX - the premium waterproofing material - so they won't be as weather-resistant as the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX or Hoka Kaha 2 Low GORE-TEX. 

Should I buy the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX?

I'd give these shoes an 8 out of 10 overall. I was so impressed by how waterproof they are, keeping my feet dry despite the intense weather conditions I put them through, and the grippy lugs on the bottom of the soles kept my confidence high on slippy trails (and the boot of my car clean). My main reservations are that the lighter colours could get grubby fast - and I now probably wouldn't wear my Moab Speed 2 boots instead of trainers as I'd originally imagined - and lack of ankle support as discussed. 

If you want a pair of walking shoes that can keep up with moderate hikes but also add some waterproof support for shorter walks, I'd highly recommend the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX shoes. They offer the comfort and style of a sturdy trainer but with heaps of support and seriously-impressive waterproof tech.