Merrell Men's Mqm Flex 2 GTX Track Shoe

Product Information

Right off the bat, we'll note that this shoe has developed a strong following among thru-hikers with its supportive cushioning, wide toe box, and solid traction. Other trail-focused features include an integrated rock plate for added protection, a TPU toe cap that acts as a shield against rocks, and a lacing system that integrates with the tongue to provide a more customizable fit. Neither shoe is ideal for heavy loads or technical terrain (we’d upgrade to a burlier low-top design or mid-height boot in these cases), but the Moab is the better all-rounder. One of the things that first caught my attention about the MQM Flex 2 is how comfortable they are on your feet.

Merrell Men’s MQM Flex 2 GORE-TEX® Shoes | GO Outdoors

We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Brilliant for good trails and fast walks on paths and similar, but these will soon start to struggle in more rugged terrain. Merrell has a long history of making sturdy, supportive, and well-designed hiking boots, earning themselves a huge fanbase amongst casual and serious hikers alike. At 708g per pair, they were far lighter than many other pairs of approach shoes I’ve owned in the past, which made me feel fast, light and nimble on my feet. Merrell’s flagship Moab is their bestselling model and one of the most popular hiking shoes on the market, but it’s not particularly light or modern.

It gripped pretty well over mixed terrain, ranging from grass, muddy fields, rocky ground, forest trails and dusty, dry tracks, and I never once felt out of control. Now in its second iteration, Merrell has made a variety of improvements on the original to deliver a competent all-rounder. The growing popularity of wearing trail running shoes for hiking has pushed the market towards lighter and nimbler designs. A dedicated trail runner might use gaiters to avoid this issue, but that seems a little overkill for a hiking shoe. In addition to the abovementioned features like tongue-integrated lacing and removable contoured insoles that assist with obtaining a great fit in these shoes, they also have a wider toe box than most trail runners and hiking shoes.

MQM | Merrell MQM | Merrell

Further, the lacing system does a nice job tightening evenly around the midfoot, and I haven’t had any issues with it loosening throughout the day.Proficient scramblers, for example, would almost certainly prefer a more technical approach shoe like the La Sportiva TX4, while hardcore trail runners will want something grippier, lighter and more advanced like the Inov-8 Terraultra G 260.