Arc’teryx is no stranger to innovating perfection, and when they first decided to enter the footwear game, everyone was eagerly awaiting their entry.
Sure enough, it doesn’t disappoint; with an integrated tongue, cord-of-let lacing and a durable, robust outer that stills breaths, this is surely the one shoe to fit all of the Cinderella’s at the ball. But can you handle the 80’s bowling shoe style?
Our review of this product
9.75 / 10
The pros are:

  • love the style
  • comfortable fit
  • durable materials
  • extremely waterproof
 The cons are:

  • would have liked to see a quick lace system

acrux sl gtx shoe

First Observations

For this review, I wore the shoe for about a month in everything from day hikes, walking the dog, riding my bike and a few days of trail building.
What’s my favourite part of this shoe – they perform like a hiker, but clean-up well enough for a dinner date!
This shoe is downright bomber. It’s tough, even tough enough to spend a few days riding my dirtbike while course marking for a race, yet they’re so comfortable and breathable I never hesitated to wear them all day, plus, they don’t stink! Yet…
The Vibram sole is a nice touch, but lots of shoes these days have them. What set’s this shoe apart is the way the sole is integrated to the uppers, it’s virtually seamless.
arcteryx shoe review

Fit

The shoe is a little on the narrow and long side.  I’m typically a US 9 or 9.5, however with this particular shoe, there is a little bit more room in the toe-box than I would like.
The lacing structure is ideal for snugging them up and contouring your foot. They are great for soft approaches, yet you can still leave them a little loose so that you can have all day comfort.

Conclusion

My only grief with this shoes is the laces as I would have liked to have quick lace system. I’ve owned XA Pro’s for years and I must say that going back to tying up my laces is a bit of a pain. I also noticed that there is nowhere to tuck the laces into or hide for protection from getting snagged on rocks, branches or other snags. That aside, I personally the style, the fit, the strength and the waterproofing is unreal.
Want the best money can buy? Say no more. This shoe is worth its weight in gold, and it also floats.