The Speed 2, SpeedARC Matis, and Maipo Explorer Aerosport
The MOAB and its Siblings
The Merrell MOAB line of hiking boots and shoes are the most popular hiking footwear on the market. Preceded in 2000 with the Mesa Vent models, the MOAB line, as we know it, was introduced in 2007 with the MOAB 3 variants being the latest models. Understandably, the exact number is proprietary to Merrell, but industry numbers floating around indicate that more MOABs have been sold than there are people in half the countries on earth.
I’d venture to say that nearly everyone who hikes or backpacks has worn them. I’ve come to believe that one of the MOABs will be a good or near-perfect boot for 90% of hikers. After all, casual hikers, thru hikers, and hikers of all kinds choose a MOAB for their outdoor undertakings.
The classic MOAB 3 in mid-height — Photo courtesy of Merrell
However, Merrell makes a bewildering variety of other hiking boots and trail shoes (as well as even more casual, lifestyle, water, military, collaborations, and construction shoes and boots), and these have also become popular. Most of the newer Merrell hiking shoes are designed for “faster-and-lighter” hiking, and Merrell sent three representative models for me to test. Here I’ll compare the hiking experience in them to the MOABs that I’ve been using regularly. All the provided models were low (shoe) style, so I’ll compare them to the MOAB 3 low.
Note — Merrell also makes the Rogue Hiker for heavier loads and more demanding terrain than the MOABs are designed for.
First: Busting Two Merrell Myths
The fact that Merrell boots usually provide “comfort out of the box” – i.e., they don’t usually need breaking in – is sometimes said to mean that they aren’t properly supportive boots. Such a criticism may have been valid back when hiking boots weighed a few pounds each and were made of leather, leather, and more leather. But it’s the 21st century and we use modern materials and construction methods now. Plus, MOABs are hiking, not expedition, boots. People routinely hike, and even through hike, in them, with the loads so required, and they perform well as millions of hikers can attest.
Another criticism I sometimes hear is that because MOABs are so popular they can’t be very good. This one is particularly galling. It is a variant of a pernicious notion that success must be bad. With an engineering background I know that every design decision is a trade-off; the fact that MOABs meet the needs of so many hikers so well is a remarkable design achievement, not something to carp about.
Evaluation Criteria
I’m a day hiker these days, so I’m be reporting primarily on day hikes in the various terrains available to me here in New England. And, of course, I’ll be describing the experience of hiking in these shoes for me. I use them on dirt trails with roots and rocks, on scree, and on exposed rock. I hike stretches of these terrains with one model shoe on one foot, and a different model on the other foot.
So you can make appropriate adjustments for your own expected experience you should know two things about my feet. While my gait is normal, 1) my feet are narrow and 2) my ankles are a little less stable than they used to be because of injuries and an ankle replacement. Nonetheless, Merrell boots, which don’t come in nominally narrow widths, usually fit me pretty well. And as interesting as I find the materials and technology employed, it’s the actual hiking experience that I’ll describe.
There are many terms that are used to describe how a hiking boot performs: “planted”, “ground isolation”, “stable”, “cushioning”, “support”, “comfort”, “traction” and “feel” are perhaps the most common. But to me all of these translate into just a few characteristics. 1) How secure is your foot when you land on uneven ground or rock? Does it feel like it’s locked to the ground? 2) How isolated are you from the rocks and roots that want to poke the bottom of your foot? 3) How much does the shoe cushion your impact? Finally, traction can be important on rock (nothing helps too much on wet roots) and overall “feel” is worth noting.
All weights below are for a single men’s size 11 shoe or boot.
The Defenders – The MOAB 3 low and mid
- Vibram® TC5 soles
- Mesh/leather uppers
- 17 ounces (shoe); 19 ounces (mid boot)
- 5 mm drop
- 5 mm lug
- Rubber heel and toe cap
- Available in waterproof and not waterproof versions
The MOAB 3 in shoe format — Photo courtesy of Merrell
The MOAB 3 in sole pattern — Photo courtesy of Merrell
Merrell rates the MOAB 3s for “rugged” terrain, defined as trails with lots of obstacles with heavy debris and with frequent speed, direction, and vertical changes. The MOAB 3s have been my go-to hikers for almost all the trails I day hike. They provide excellent stability (the boots a bit more than the shoes, naturally), excellent isolation, and very good (but not cushy) cushioning. There is literally no (three season) day hike in New England that I wouldn’t take them on.
The Contenders — MOAB Speed 2 (shoe)
- Vibram TC5+ sole
- FlexPlate(for torsional rigidity and lateral stability)
- 13 ounces
- 10mm drop
- 4mm lugs
- Available in waterproof and non-waterproof, and low or mid heights
- Stack height: 34-24 mm
The MOAB Speed 2 is Merrell’s incremental step towards a faster and lighter experience compared with the MOAB 3. Merrell rates the Speed 2 as suitable for “moderate” terrain, defined as trails with some obstacles and moderate debris, and with occasional speed, direction, and vertical changes. While it’s a different design with different materials, what Merrell seems to have done is essentially go for a similar experience but with a softer ride here, with the predictable trade-offs.
The Speed 2 — Photo courtesy of Merrell
The Speed 2’s sole pattern — Photo courtesy of Merrell
The soft and generous midsole gets stability from the FlexPlate. When you roll your ankle to the outside edge of either the MOAB 3 or the Speed 2, and then step forward with the opposite foot, both shoes snap back to neutral with the same alacrity.
The Speed 2 shoe definitely feels a little lighter and livelier on the feet than the MOAB 3 shoe. The softer midsole of the Speed 2 provides, as expected, a noticeably softer impact and greater isolation from pointy and uncomfortable rocks and roots. However the softer midsole is slightly less secure from the heel to the arch on uneven ground, including off-trail areas, exposed uneven rock, and scree. This is probably why Merrell rates the MOAB 3 as suitable for “rugged” terrain, and the Speed 2 for “moderate” terrain.
The Speed 2 provided very satisfactory traction on inclined rock. Photo: Ralph Mroz
The TC5+ sole of the Speed 2 performed pretty much the same as the TC5 sole of the MOAB3 on wet roots, one of the most slippery surfaces that hikers encounter.
My test version was not waterproof, and sure enough I slipped into a stream with them on, but the mesh upper dried out quickly on a 70 degree day. I’d be happy with the Speed 2 (with even a heavy day pack) on all but stretches of significantly uneven terrain where I’d personally prefer the MOAB 3. (But see my caveats regarding my own limitations above.)
Bottom line on the Speed 2: If you prioritize stability over impact reduction, the MOAB 3 is the better choice. If vice versa, then the Speed 2 is your shoe.
The Speed 2’s greater cushioning (left) meant a little less stability on scree and uneven rock compared to the MOAB 3 (right). Photo: Ralph Mroz
The Contenders – SpeedARC Matis
- Low-top (shoe) version only
- Vibram MegaGrip sole
- FlexPlate(for torsional rigidity and lateral stability)
- 6 ounces
- 18mm drop
- 3mm lugs
- Available in waterproof and non-waterproof versions
- Stack height: 34-26 mm
One look at the SpeedARC Matis and you can tell something different is going on. This new entry into Merrell’s faster/lighter hiking lineup features two midsoles with a FlexPlate sandwiched between them, and with grippy Vibram MegaGrip outsoles.
The SpeedARC Matis — Photo courtesy of Merrell
The SpeedARC Matis sole pattern — Photo courtesy of Merrell
Note: the SpeedARC Matis is the same shoe as the SpeedARC BOA, but with traditional lacing system, rather then the BOA system. The exploded image below shows the BOA version, but the construction is the same for the Matis.
The construction of the SpeedARC Matis is the same as the SpeedARC BOA shown — Image courtesy of Merrell
Hiking boot manufacturers are chasing the plush sensation these days, but of course there’s no free lunch. A soft midsole has to be traded off against some loss of stability; however the SpeedARC Matis does a remarkable job of optimizing both. Compared to the MOAB 3, the SpeedARC Matis is definitely softer striking while an only a slight difference in stability is felt in the heel. If you over-supinate on your heel strike you’ll notice this more than someone who doesn’t, and some of it may be due to the high heel stack height rather than the softer midsole.
On rough, uneven rock (see the image below for the rock that I did most of this testing on) the SpeedARC Matis was more stable than the Speed 2, and only a little less stable than the MOAB 3, with the difference felt mostly when landing considerably to the side of the shoe’s heel-to-toe centerline.
Photo: Ralph Mroz
One of the claims that Merrell makes for the SpeedARC Matis is that the unusual midsole design delivers more energy return and propels you forward more. I felt this, and it made each step of hiking a bit easier. And while the SpeedARC Matis’ MegaGrip sole is grippier on rocks than a TC5 sole, it provided equivalent traction on wet roots compared to the MOAB 3.
Bottom line on the SpeedARC Matis: If you want a lively ride on the trail and don’t need the full-boat of stability that a traditional hiking shoe like the MOAB 3 provides, the SpeedARC Matis is a good choice.
The Contenders – Maipo Explorer Aerosport
- Synthetic and mesh upper ensures fast-drying breathability
- Bellows tongue
- Merrell sticky rubber outsole
- FLEXconnect® dual-directional flex-grooves in midsole enhance ground connection and stability
- Stack Height: 31mm
- Drop: 10mm
- Lug: 4mm
- 14.3 ounces
The Maipo Explorer Aerosport – note the mesh upper — Photo courtesy of Merrell
The Maipo Explorer Aerosport’s sole pattern — Photo courtesy of Merrell
Merrell describes the Maipo Explorer Aerosport as designed with a ventilated mesh upper and quick-dry materials, plus an innovative lug pattern that lets water escape for better contact, it’s perfect for hot days and unexpected water escapades, and they suggest its use is for light hikes.
My initial impressions were that this shoe is indeed livelier than the MOAB 3, feeling more like a very sturdy running shoe. The 31 mm stack is definitely more shock absorbing than the MOAB 3s are, but there’s even less inherent relative instability in the heel than with the SpeedARC Matis – in fact you have to try and feel it. However, when standing flat on even ground, it’s much easier to roll your foot to the outside with this shoe than with the MOAB 3. How much you supinate will determine how important this is to you.
The Maipo Explorer Aerosport provided excellent traction on riverbed bottoms. Photo: Ralph Mroz
The mesh upper really does dry quickly. A little while exposed to the sun (hiking or not) and they are reasonably well dried out – much drier than running shoes (or worse, regular hiking shoes) would be.
Merrell’s sticky rubber outsole on the Maipo did provide better traction on wet roots than the MOAB 3, but frankly it’s a fool’s errand to trust any sole too much on that. However, the outsole did stick very well to wet rocks (I don’t know if you can see that the rock in the image below is wet, but I had a very hard time getting the shoe to slip on it so long as my weight was on that foot). In the river, the Maipo provided secure footing on the riverbed rocks.
The Maipo Explorer Aerosport stuck to wet rocks very well. Photo: Ralph Mroz
Bottom line on the Maipo Explorer Aerosport: it really does allow you to go from trail to water and back seamlessly. You can use it on as a rough a trail as you’re comfortable hiking in sturdy trail runners on.
Conclusion
19th century hiking and mountaineering boots were made entirely of leather, including leather soles (often with metal studs in them). After rubber outsoles became economically viable in the early 20th century hiking boots continued to be made of leather, only with rubber outsoles, and these boots still weighed several pounds each. Probably in the 80s — lighter, smaller, but still mostly all leather, boots came to be widely available. If I had to guess I’d say that modern synthetic/leather boots in the range of a pound each became popular in the 90s, with refinements of that technology continuing until today, and with the MOABs a prime example.
Sometime between then and now hikers discovered that trail runners could be pressed into service for hiking, given how much lighter pack weight had become. But trail running shoes are a bit of an oval peg in a round hole, even as they work well for some. Presently we are seeing manufacturers designing hiking-specific shoes that combine the best of a lightweight trail runner with the support, stability, protection, and purposeful design of a hiking shoe. Some even go further to include features that help propel you forward, like the SpeedARC Matis.
Merrell’s Speed 2, SpeedARC Matis, and Maipo Explorer Aerosport are excellent examples of this new trend, and they will find a ready market in today’s environment, as will the tried-and-true MOABs.
Merrell: Beyond the MOAB originally appeared on Gear Institute.