Say “Moab” to many outdoorsy types and it's likely they'll think of the Merrell boot, not the Utah city on the edge of Arches National Park, which is what the boot's named after. This is because American footwear giant Merrell’s Moab is, according to the brand, the world’s best-selling hiking boot, with over 28 million sold since it was debuted over 15 years ago. These stats have led some to believe Moab actually stands for Mother of All Boots. Its blend of comfort, all-round performance and its attractive price point means that the name is still going strong today.
Flagship doesn’t cut it. These days, it’s not just one boot. Merrell have constructed an entire trail-conquering armada with the Moab name. The latest incarnation is the Moab Speed 2 hiking shoe, championed by the brand as ‘the future of hiking’. It’s got more of an urban aesthetic than the classic Moab, underlined by the fact that some of the images on the brand’s website show urbanites “hiking” down city streets. Are Merrell suggesting that the future of hiking is in a world where sprawling metropolises have engulfed the backcountry? Let’s hope not. Although, as mentioned, these shoes are named after a city, not a mountain.
