Why we chose them: Good eco aspects, light but sturdy

Merrell’s Moab has been one of its most popular models over the years. In fact, the brand says they’ve sold 20 million pairs over the years – quite a phenomenal figure. Now, for 2021, Merrell have developed this new iteration of the walking shoe, one that’s designed for those who prefer to feel light-footed and agile on the trail.

“I’d definitely class these as my favourite Merrells I’ve tested to date.” 

Merrell say their intention was to create a hybrid-type shoe, one with the comfort of a running shoe or sneaker but the protection of a walking shoe. And have they succeeded here? We’d say they have. This shoe is 130g lighter than the previous Moab, but during our tests, we’ve found it just as stable, comfortable and protective. 

We’ll go into more about the performance, fit, etc further down, but first of all, as this is featured within our Green Gear Guide, we’ll discuss the eco creds. 

As part of their membership within the Higg Index, a sustainability measurement tool, Merrell have taken steps to lower the overall impact of their products on the environment. In the case of the Moab collection, they’ve swapped out a bunch of materials for recycled ones. The laces and the mesh lining, for instance, use a material produced from recycled plastic bottles, the footbed uses a 50% recycled top sheet material and the Vibram sole is made from a minimum of 30% recycled rubber. 

Features

The version pictured here is low cut model with Gore-tex. You can also get this in a mid cut version and if you want more breathability and drainage there are versions without the waterproof protection of a Gore-tex membrane.