Australian Hiker

Weight out of the Box 924 g per pair for size 14 US

Cost $179.99

Merrell Moab FST 2 Men’s Shoe

Footwear

Rating

Rating:	8.1 / 10
Value for Money	1.7 / 2
Durability	1.8 / 2
Comfort	1.8 / 2
Weight	1.8 / 2
Support/Stability	1.0 / 2

Merrell Moab FST 2 Men's Shoe Review

Over 2018 my main hiking shoe was the Merrell Moab FST but as is usually the case just as I find a shoe I’m happy with, the shoe company releases an upgraded model. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don’t. So over the past 2.5 months I’ve been trialling the Merrell Moab FST 2 which is the replacement model. So did Merrell get it right with this new incarnation?

When I first wore my new pair of Merrell Moab FST 2’s I didn’t think so however my view soon changed. In the first few days of wearing the Merrell Moab FST 2 I had the feeling the sizing had changed because the fit felt a bit restricted. To ascertain if I was correct I started wearing one of the original FST shoes and one new FST 2. I soon discovered that the sizing was identical. The issue was I had been wearing the Altra Lone Peaks 4 for a few months prior which has a broader toe box that allows the front of the feet to spread. This is always an issue when you change to a different brand and style after your feet have become so used to a particular fit. To provide some context for this review my left foot is a size 14US and my right is size 13US. I have a medium height arch, and my feet are an average width at the back and broad at the front (think flippers).

From an appearance perspective there are some slight cosmetic changes to the shoe (see the image below) but if you didn’t have the old and new side by side, you probably wouldn’t notice. The breathable material in this shoe (there is also a waterproof model available) has been changed and is now a bit courser and the spaces between the mesh a bit tighter. While I didn’t have an issue with the previous model from a durability/breathability perspective, I like the new courser material just that tiny bit more.

The tread, toe protection and heal guard on the base of the shoe is also pretty much the same as the previous model. What has changed is there are five lacing loops and one plastic eyelet at the top of the shoe. The material strip at the top of the tongue (the tongue loop) which is used for pulling up the tongue now runs the full length of the shoe tongue and this helps to provide a bit more rigidity.

For me there are two real improvements with the FST 2 over the FST. The tongue and shoe upper have a bit more padding and while the original model was comfortable, this newer version is that tiny bit better. The other main change is the foot bed now has a bit of additional cushioning which was my main criticism with the original FST. Having said that I still like to remove the stock inserts which are a bit on the thin side and replace them with the Superfeet Blue insoles. I just find these insoles provide an additional layer of comfort on those big days where I do 40+km, or when I’m doing multiple days on a long distance hike.

Are far as performance on the trail goes I have used these shoes for around 300 km at the time of this review in a variety of conditions and find this shoe grips reasonably well in dry powdery conditions as well as in the wet. The FST 2 copes with an 18.5 kg pack well when paired with the Superfeet Blue insoles providing good support and comfort. In fact as part of my review I swapped between the FST and FST 2 wearing one of each (and tried this on both feet) and found my knees appreciated the extra comfort of FST 2 version. This version (the subject of this review) is the breathable version so I wouldn’t suggest using this in snow conditions but on a long distance hike where you are crossing rivers and creeks, and need the shoe to dry out then the breathable version (of any brand) is the way to go. There is enough protection on the toe, heel and around the base to keep your feet happy when dealing with a rocky conditions. If you need additional ankle support, go for the mid boot version.

Merrell has done an excellent job to upgrade to the FST 2 and has only added 22 grams in total to the weight (of a size 14US). While the changes aren’t huge Merrell has listened to users and from my perspective has made a good shoe even better. If you are considering a trail shoe for hiking and have an average width foot then this is definitely one worth putting in the mix.

We Like

The second generation of this shoe is a more comfortable all-round show and has more internal cushioning on the soles of the feet than the original FST model
They’re lightish at 924 grams for a pair of size 14 US
They have very good traction on dry unstable slopes as well as good grip in the wet
They are made for an average to slightly wide foot
The Merrell FST 2 fits firmly without being tight
The heal, toe guards and sole provide good foot protection
They breathe well so your feet won’t sweat in the heat and they also dry out reasonably quickly after water crossings

We Don't Like

There is a limited colour choice at size 14 and while this doesn’t really worry me I just find that black shoes always look dirty. Those with smaller feet will have a wider colour range from which to choose
The factory insert in these shoes doesn’t provide enough cushioning and tends to be a bit jarring on the knees for me. I have swapped these inserts for Blue Superfeet and this combination is working well
While they cope with the wet they are not for wintertime or permanently boggy conditions. If you need a show that will handle colder and wetter conditions, go for the waterproof option

Best Uses

All types of hiking where you aren’t carrying exceptionally heavy loads
Particularly good for long distance thru hiking
Ideal for people with medium to slightly wide feet
This shoe will accomodate a reasonably broad forefoot but is snug at the rear

Buy One

You can purchase Merrell Moab FST 2 Men’s Shoes online from Amazon USA

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