Our verdict

If sustainability is high on your priority list, then Merrell's most eco-friendly hiking shoe, the Speed Eco, is a must to consider. With recycled materials making most of its parts, we found this shoe to be amazigly light and easy on the foot. However, its performance and durability are strictly limited to shorter hikes and well-maintained trails. We recommend choosing this Merrel shoe for leisurely strolls through nature while showing respect to the latter with your eco-conscious footwear choices.

Pros

  • Balanced ground feel and impact protection
  • Firm and stable platform
  • Notably lighter then average
  • Highly durable upper mesh
  • Affordable price point
  • A ton of recycled materials
  • Fits true to width
  • Doesn't get any firmer in cold

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Frail inner lining
  • Outsole rubber wears easily
  • Tongue is not gusseted as promised

Audience verdict

N/A
Not enough reviews yet

Who should buy

Don't miss out on the Merrell Speed Eco if:

  • you need an affordable shoe for easy hikes on light terrain
  • you give preference to sustainably made products
  • you want a lightweight and non-technical hiking shoe

Merrell Speed Eco review

Who should NOT buy

If you want an equally lightweight but more capable hiking shoe for longer hikes, the Moab Speed 2 is a step-up option from Merrell. It is grippier, better cushioned, and more durable.

Another light and speedy alternative is the Salomon Outpulse. Stellar grip and outsole durability for its price!

Merrell Speed Eco lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Measuring the Speed Eco's heel stack, our digital caliper recorded a moderate reading of 32.4 mm.

This is a standard platform thickness for a hiking shoe offering a middle ground between impact protection and contact with the trail.

Merrell Speed Eco Heel stack
Test results
Speed Eco 32.4 mm
Average 32.7 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
22.0 mm
Heel stack
39.4 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe's forefoot stack came in at 20.4 mm which is slightly below the category average.

This is not a ton of cushioning but makes the shoe more nimble and flexible - just as the 'Speed' in its name suggests.

Merrell Speed Eco Forefoot stack
Test results
Speed Eco 20.4 mm
Average 22.0 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
10.7 mm
Forefoot stack
31.0 mm

Drop

According to Merrell, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop measures 10 mm. However, our caliper readings proved it to be even higher at 12.0 mm.

Fortunately, this 2-mm difference is not noticeable on foot, and the Speed Eco feels a lot like most other hiking shoes.

Unless you are a fan of low-drop or even zero-drop shoes, a standard offset of 8-12 mm should feel optimal for long hours of hiking. It takes the pressure off the Achilles and calves, provides enhanced cushioning under the heel, and is more supportive for carrying a backpack.

Merrell Speed Eco Drop
Test results
Speed Eco 12.0 mm
Average 10.7 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
-0.8 mm
Drop
16.0 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The Merrell Speed Eco uses a single-density EVA foam for midsole cushioning. We found that it is a pretty dense compound that doesn't feel very soft underfoot.

With a high durometer reading of 30.0 HA, its foam leans toward the firmer end of the spectrum. It is nowhere near as soft as the cushioning in the Merrell Moab Speed 2 (19.0 HA).

The firmness and moderate sole thickness of the Speed Eco can make it feel somewhat dull and less comfortable on long distances. But on the bright side, you get the benefit of being more connected to the trail, stable, and confident with your footing.

Merrell Speed Eco Midsole softness
Test results
Speed Eco 30.0 HA
Average 27.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
13.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.0 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

Firm at room temperature, the shoe's midsole doesn't get much harder in cold conditions.

Having kept the Speed Eco in the freezer for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and found that it only firmed up by 12%.

Whether you're hiking in chilly weather or leaving the shoes outside overnight, you won't notice any major changes in this Merrell shoe's cushioning.

Merrell Speed Eco Midsole softness in cold (%)
Test results
Speed Eco 12%
Average 18%
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
7%
Midsole softness in cold
29%

Insole thickness

With a thickness of 4.5 mm, the shoe's insole is on par with the category average.

Merrell Speed Eco Insole thickness
Test results
Speed Eco 4.6 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 32 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
2.6 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Rocker

Merrell Speed Eco Rocker

Size and fit

Size

Merrell Speed Eco is true to size (14 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Width / Fit

The Merrell Speed Eco offers a predictable D medium width which is neither too snug nor too roomy for our medium-width feet. But let's take a closer look at the gel replica of the shoe's interiors to confirm this.

Using a digital caliper, we measured the widest part of the mold at 92.6 mm. While this came close to our narrow category, it is still within the medium range.

Merrell Speed Eco Width / Fit
Test results
Speed Eco 92.6 mm
Average 94.1 mm
Compared to 27 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
90.0 mm
Width / Fit
99.9 mm

Toebox width

The absence of tapering and the rounded shape of the shoe's toebox make it accommodating for a medium-width foot.

Measuring the mold in the big toe area, we got an above-average reading of 73.7 mm.

Merrell Speed Eco Toebox width
Test results
Speed Eco 73.7 mm
Average 72.5 mm
Compared to 27 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
67.3 mm
Toebox width
80.5 mm

Toebox height

Merrell is pretty generous with the vertical space of the Speed Eco.

Clocking in at 30.8 mm, its toebox proved to be higher than average leaving some wiggle room above the toes.

Merrell Speed Eco Toebox height
Test results
Speed Eco 30.8 mm
Average 28.0 mm
Compared to 27 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
24.2 mm
Toebox height
35.4 mm

Traction / Grip

Outsole design

New

The forefoot and heel lugs of the Speed Eco face different directions to accommodate ascents and descents respectively.

The triangular lugs in the middle bite into softer terrain while the wide and smooth lugs around them offer traction on smooth rocks and boulders.

Merrell Speed Eco Outsole design

Stability

Lateral stability test

Even though it doesn't have any special supportive elements or foot-stabilizing technologies, we found the Merrel Speed Eco to be an inherently stable shoe thanks to its firm platform.

But please note that its lateral stability is only sufficient for what the shoe is intended for - moderate hikes on light terrain. So it's not the support you need for tackling challenging terrain with a heavier load.

Torsional rigidity

Even though there is no shank inside, the Speed Eco turned out to have a lot of torsional rigidity in its midfoot. That made the shoe much harder to twist raising our stiffness score to 4/5.

This is the primary indicator of this Merrell shoe's lateral stability.

Test results
Speed Eco 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The shoe's heel counter also has some moderate rigidity to it earning a middle-range stiffness score of 3/5. However, this is just enough to add some rearfoot support for short hikes on easy trails.

Test results
Speed Eco 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Neither too wide nor slim, the Speed Eco's midsole dimensions fall straight into the average range of hiking shoes.

We measured the widest part of its platform at a standard 112.2 mm.

Merrell Speed Eco Midsole width - forefoot
Test results
Speed Eco 112.2 mm
Average 111.1 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
103.0 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.6 mm

Midsole width - heel

The shoe's heel also proved to be on par with the average at 87.0 mm in its widest area. Not too platformy but with enough surface area to keep us feeling steady.

Merrell Speed Eco Midsole width - heel
Test results
Speed Eco 87.0 mm
Average 87.9 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
79.2 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.3 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

New

We are surprised to see that the Speed Eco's forefoot flexibility has not been affected by its rigid platform as much.

Fixing the shoe to our flexibility testing machine, we measured the amount of force it takes to bend it by 30 degrees. At 14.2N, it needs less effort than the average hiking shoe which makes its ride feel more natural.

Merrell Speed Eco Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
Speed Eco 14.2N
Average 18.3N
Compared to 24 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
11.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
29.0N

Weight

Designed for easy hikes, the Merrell Speed Eco can afford to be a lightweight shoe.

Tipping the scale at 11.6 oz (329g), it is nearly 2 oz lighter than the average. This makes the shoe feel airy and doesn't drag the foot down.

Merrell Speed Eco Weight
Test results
Speed Eco 11.6 oz (329g)
Average 13.3 oz (378g)
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 oz (312g)
Weight
17.1 oz (486g)

Breathability

The Speed Eco is not a waterproof shoe but its densely woven fabric hinders breathability quite a bit.

You can see how thin the billows of smoke are in the Merrell Speed Eco compared to the Merrell Antora 3 in our breathability test. Considering the difference, we couldn't rate the Speed Eco's ventilation capacity any higher than 2/5.

When we hovered the shoe's half-cut upper over the LED light, we didn't see any air channels or pores light up either.

Merrell Speed Eco Breathability Microscope test

What's more, we couldn't even see any gaps between the threads in our microscope test! Only weaves of different thickness that fit tightly together.

Merrell Speed Eco Breathability under microscope

Test results
Speed Eco 2
Average 2.4
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

But there is a bright side to the shoe's dense mesh upper - it can sustain a lot more wear and tear than the other textiles we've tested!

Merrell Speed Eco toe protection
Synthetic molding and a rubber toe bumper reinforce mesh in the high-wear area.

Exposing the Speed Eco's toebox to sandpaper for 12 seconds at a 5K RPM speed, we were amazed by its ability to hold up! Because of only minor scuffing, we rated the shoe's toebox durability at 4/5 which confirms its ability to fend off scrapes, slashes, and stick pokes.

Test results
Speed Eco 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 27 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Unfortunately, the inner lining of this Merrell shoe did not live up to the strength of its outer material.

It literally took the Dremel one second to tear the shoe's collar lining apart! Thus, we expect it to fail sooner than any other part of the shoe (and it won't be long before it does).

Test results
Speed Eco 1
Average 3.1
Compared to 26 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole durability

We could live with the shoe's torn inner lining but we cannot forgive its lack of outsole durability...

Our Dremel went halfway through one of the shoe's rubber lugs within 18 seconds and left a dent as deep as 1.4 mm.

This demonstrates poor abrasion resistance and can lead to faster outsole wear, especially if you frequent concrete and asphalt or step out of lighter trails to tackle some rocky patches.

Test results
Speed Eco 1.4 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 26 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

As a shoe meant for light terrain, the Speed Eco doesn't have a very thick rubber layer either. Measuring its thickness without the lugs, our caliper recorded only 1.7 mm.

Merrell Speed Eco Outsole thickness
Test results
Speed Eco 1.7 mm
Average 2.5 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
1.6 mm
Outsole thickness
4.0 mm

Misc

Lug depth

Merrell didn't lie when they promised 4 mm lugs on the Speed Eco. Our caliper confirmed it with a measurement of 3.8 mm.

This is surprisingly deep for the shoe's intended purpose but we can't complain since the extra millimeters helped with grip in light dirt and soft grassy patches.

Merrell Speed Eco Lug depth
Test results
Speed Eco 3.8 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
2.1 mm
Lug depth
5.0 mm

Price

The Speed Eco is a more affordable option from Merrell and we consider it reasonably priced. The shoe has its shortcomings but our lab tests confirmed that it ticks all the boxes of a functional hiking shoe for easier hikes on light terrain.

What's more, it packs a ton of sustainable recycled materials without raising the price point.

Merrell Speed Eco Price
Test results
Speed Eco $110
Average $150
Compared to 37 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
$70
Price
$230

Reflective elements

None of the shoe's elements are reflective so there is no visibility in the dark.

Merrell Speed Eco Reflective elements
Test results
Speed Eco No

Tongue padding

The shoe's interiors are decently padded with foam which is centered in the tongue and the collar. Measuring its tongue thickness returned a slightly below-average reading of 7.7 mm.

Merrell Speed Eco Tongue padding
Test results
Speed Eco 7.7 mm
Average 9.9 mm
Compared to 33 hiking shoes
Number of shoes
5.0 mm
Tongue padding
17.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

According to the brand's description, the Merrell Speed Eco comes with a bellows tongue (also known as a gusseted tongue).

However, our inspection showed no gussets or other pieces connecting the tongue to the rest of the upper! It is completely separated with large gaps on both sides.

Merrell Speed Eco Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Speed Eco None

Heel tab

A finger loop at the back helps to slip into the shoe with less effort.

Merrell Speed Eco Heel tab
Test results
Speed Eco Finger loop

Removable insole

The shoe's insole is removable so you have the option to swap it for your own orthotic.

Merrell Speed Eco Removable insole
Test results
Speed Eco Yes

Sustainable materials

This Merrell shoe carries the word 'Eco' in its name for a good reason. Nearly every part of the Speed Eco is made of recycled sources:

  • External Jacquard mesh (77%)
  • Internal mesh lining (100%)
  • Mesh insole lining (100%)
  • Laces and webbing (100%)
  • Removable insole (50%)
  • Rubber outsole (30%)

Merrell Speed Eco support