Moving Through Nature with Merrell’s Moab Speed 2 Hiker

This article is the latest in an ongoing series of deep dives into past, present, and future icons called Sole Searching, made in partnership with Vibram. Earlier features outline the founding history of Bedrock Sandals, how Arc’teryx is creating a new category with the Vertex Alpine, and more.

With more than 40 years experience in the hiking world, Merrell continues to gain popularity from crunchy mountain towns to city centers with functional footwear with a unique style of its own. In this article we’ll dive deep into the design process of the new Moab Speed 2 hikers, a Gore-Tex crossover style that delivers the same support, grip, and comfort as the flagship Moab but built with a more streamlined package that trades weight for additional style more suitable for in-town wear than its stouter predecessors.

Following the brand’s launch in 1981, Merrell made its first significant mark in 1982 with the arrival of its iconic Moab shoe and boot–an acronym for “Mother Of All Boots.” The Moab footwear collection continues as a significant brand driver, joined today by several offshoot models, including the Moab Speed 2, which was recently updated to lead the brand’s “athletic hike” segment.

While ideating around the future of the Moab shoe concept, Merrell Senior Design Director Ian Cobb recalls conversations that shaped the design’s heading, “If we were to think 5-10 years in the future, where would the Moab be? It would be lighter weight; it would be cushioned. We should make it like a Moab, but for speed!”

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/merrell-moab-speed-2-design-history