Glastonbury can push people - and their kit - to the limit.
As a veteran attendee, I can’t tell you how many pairs of shoes have met their demise on one June weekend at Worthy Farm.
A pair of holographic Converse that I adored sadly had to be relinquished to knee-deep mud in 2016. I’ve had box fresh wellies that split open at the toes. Sandals that broke apart after just one day of pinballing across the vast site.
And then I found Merrell. Or rather, Merrell found me.
Despite being established in 1981, I hadn’t heard of the brand until a few years ago, which is sad news because it would have saved my teenage feet on endless DofE expeditions and subsequent festivals past.
Merrell’s Moab Speed 2 hiking boots are the best pair I’ve ever worn. If you’re a festivalgoer, weekend stroller or enjoy a staycation walking holiday, you need a pair. Here’s why:
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Key Specs
- Weight (per shoe): 12.34oz / 0.34kg
- Drop: 10mm
- Lug: 4mm
- Stack height: 34-24mm
- Sizes: 3.5 - 8.5
Design
Think of hiking boots and I bet you’re imagining black, tan or green hulks laced up to the ankle, worn by rambler and geography teacher types. Enter Merrell, where the collection is so chic you’ll want to wear them even when you’re in the city.
The Moab Speed 2 are, hands down, the cutest pair of hiking shoes I’ve seen, with sections rendered in various shades of peach and creamy white. I defy anyone to slip into these lace-up boots and not instantly think of themselves as Hiking Barbie.
Despite their delicate aesthetic and ridiculous featherweight (just 0.34kg per boot - incapable of even, as demonstrated by our images, bruising a peach), these babies are tough and ready for practically all terrains, which, if you’re really lucky, Glastonbury will throw at you all at once.
I cannot emphasise the lightness of these boots enough. You’ll feel incredible, take-on-the-world support and like you have nothing on.
Performance
One of the many miraculous things about Merrell is that their shoes are comfortable straight out of the box. Before I tried the brand, I would spend weeks hobbling about in inferior hiking boots well ahead of when I actually needed them for a trip. “Let the blisters come up, let your feet settle”, I thought, remembering the advice I got from my DofE schooldays. What tosh.
Merrell ends such foot abuse straight out of the bat with plenty of padding, a FloatPro™ Foam midsole for all-day comfort and Lightweight FlexPlate™ technology which keeps your foot stable yet flexible. Pull these boots on and you’re ready to hit the ground running.
From wandering around the 1500-acre site for five days to standing for hours waiting for headliners to start, Merrell’s boots never let me down. Even when I surrendered and returned to my tent, they looked as good as new (aside from a little dust and mud).
Special features
They may not look it but these boots are armed up to the eyeballs with special features to see you through any moderate outdoor adventures.
The inside features something called Cleansport NXT which funnels out weird smells alongside the FloatPro Foam and Lightweight FlexPlate, which I’ve covered above.
The exterior is full of considered details that help the boots go the distance, from reinforced heel and toe caps with abrasion-resistant finishes to heel and tongue loops to pull the boots on and off with ease. And they’re Gore-Tex waterproof, which keeps cases of trench foot where it belongs - in the past.
The biggest draw? Vibram, a type of rubber that’s used on premium shoes for their durability and traction qualities. Merrell uses a custom-made formula called Vibram TC5+ which keeps you grounded while doing moderate-to-high-level outdoor activities (like darting around a huge festival), but it also sheds debris with each step so you’re not lugging the unnecessary weight of trapped mud around.
When it comes to Merrell, colour me impressed.
Verdict
Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 Mid GORE-TEX
Made for moderate hikes, Merrell's Moab Speed 2 boots rewrite everything you previously knew about hiking boots.
They're sturdy yet impossibly light (at 34g a shoe) and armed with high-performance features that make walking around in them a total dream.
Vibram technology increases traction so you’ll always feel grounded, even in wet weather, and even on steep inclines.
It doesn't hurt that they look rather chic too with a peach and white colourway that won’t fail to put a smile on your face.
If you value your feet, buy them now.
Buy now £160.00, Merrell
