Merrell · Running & Athletic Shoes
Merrell Men's Speed Strike 2
Skip until Merrell discloses waterproof treatment composition.
Merrell Speed Strike 2 hiking shoe uses an unidentified waterproof coating typical of water-repellent coating treatments, often PFAS-based. Brand provides no transparency on treatment chemistry or PFAS status.
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Material
Textile upper with waterproof coating, unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Merrell Men's Speed Strike 2 is made of, ingredients and materials
The Speed Strike 2 uses a textile upper paired with an unspecified waterproof coating. Merrell does not publicly name the coating chemistry (water-repellent coating treatment, membrane type, or fluorocarbon basis). For waterproof textiles, this opacity is significant because durable water repellency typically relies on PFAS-class compounds or, less commonly, fluorine-free alternatives. The shoe's textile base itself may contain formaldehyde-based finishing resins (common in synthetic fabrics for wrinkle resistance and shape retention) and synthetic dyes, neither of which Merrell discloses for this model.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic textile uppers are routinely finished with urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde resins for wrinkle resistance and dye-setting. Merrell does not disclose this for the Speed Strike 2. Off-gassing risk is low after manufacturing curing, but prolonged humid storage or wear in warm conditions may release trace formaldehyde, particularly noticeable in poorly ventilated enclosed spaces.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
The shoe's colored textile upper and synthetic overlays likely use industrial azo dyes and may contain nickel, chromium, or lead-based mordants for color fastness. Merrell does not test or certify against heavy-metal dyes. Direct skin contact is low risk (dye transfer minimal after manufacturing), but sweat and heat can accelerate leaching if dyes are not fully fixed.
Source, FDA ↗Waterproof coating degradation and reapplication toxicity
As the water-repellent coating wears, users often reapply consumer spray-on water repellents (many containing PFAS or petroleum solvents). This secondary application introduces inhalation and skin-contact risk not controlled by the manufacturer. Merrell provides no guidance on safe recoating or recommends PFAS-free alternatives.
Microplastic shedding from synthetic upper and coating
Synthetic textile and plastic-film waterproof coatings shed microfibers and microplastic particles during wear, laundering, and degradation. No quantification exists for this shoe model, but the combination of synthetic uppers and synthetic coating increases the risk relative to leather-based alternatives. Environmental persistence is not a direct user-health hazard but represents a lifecycle conc
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrell (owned by Wolverine Worldwide) has not published a detailed PFAS elimination roadmap or ingredient transparency standard for footwear. The brand is silent on waterproof coating composition across its product range, which is standard industry practice but reflects weak disclosure culture. Wolverine Worldwide has faced no major public recalls or toxicity litigation tied to this shoe line, but silence on PFAS and textile chemistry is the norm for most athletic brands and does not indicate safety verification.
How it compares in its category
Most hiking and outdoor shoes at this price point use undisclosed waterproof coatings; Merrell is not an outlier. Competitors like HOKA and Salomon similarly do not name coating chemistry. Brands that do disclose (e.g., some Patagonia trails shoes) often still rely on PFAS or offer fewer waterproof-performance hours. The Speed Strike 2 has no public certification (e.g., Bluesign, OEKO-TEX) that would cover formaldehyde or heavy-metal dyes.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water with mild detergent; avoid machine drying and heat above 130F (waterproof coating can degrade). Do not tumble dry or iron. Inspect for coating breakdown (water pooling rather than beading) every 6-12 months; once water penetrates the textile, the shoe's functional life declines. If the upper develops odor, a light air-dry in shade (not direct heat or sunlight) is safer than laundering frequently. Replace when treading wears (typically 200-400 hours of use) or coating visibly delaminates.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Merrell has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.