The Arc’teryx Sylan Has Become My Go-To Summer Adventure Shoe

Arc’teryx has released its latest mountain trail runner, the Sylan, and self-confessed shoe novice but keen trail runner Hilary took them for a spin.

Canadian outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx may be best known for its high-quality, spiffy-looking snow and mountain gear, but recently they’ve been making serious tracks into the trail running scene. And they’re not messing around –their newly-released Sylan mountain running shoe ticks all the boxes when it comes to comfort, looks, and performance.

I definitely gave them a good run around

Admittedly, I’m not a shoe nerd. I often feel overwhelmed by the choice of trail runners on offer and begin to tune out when people start talking about stack height and toe boxes. After wearing out the same shoes until they were discontinued, I’m on the lookout for my new go-to shoe.

I’ve long been a fan of Salomon shoes (they just seem to fit my feet well) and was keen to try the Arc’teryx range. I was curious to see if they were a similar fit, as they share the same parent company: Amer Sports. I tried the Arc’teryx Norvan back in late 2023 and was pleasantly surprised – a simple, practical trail shoe, not dissimilar to the Salomon Sense Rides, that was a good all-rounder.

When I unboxed the Sylans, I was surprised to see a much more futuristic looking shoe – a similar sleek, slim design but with a knit collar, a feature I had yet to try on a trail shoe.

Quick Specifications

Price: $280. It’s probably more expensive than your standard trail shoe, but it’s still within the standard price range.

Weight: 305g (US Women’s 10). This is a bit on the heavier side when compared to similarly-priced trail shoes, but in your hand and on your feet, it’s light. There isn’t much to this shoe – the Vibram Megagrip outsole uses LITEBASE technology to keep it light but durable.

Drop: 6mm. Again, fairly standard, you won’t be putting too much pressure on or off the achilles. The Sylan has a nice rocker (curve to the base), which helps keep the legs ticking over. It’s a mountain shoe with decent lugs that are great for gripping on muddy trails.

Stack Height: 28.6mm at the heel, and 22.6mm at the toe. This is pretty middle-of-the-road when it comes to trail shoes – comfortably between a zero-drop and towering Hokas.  As someone who fears for my ankles in a stackier shoe, this is the perfect height that doesn’t compromise shock absorption on more challenging trails.

Midsole: A lightweight and responsive InFuse® EVA and Polyolefin, which is highly responsive and absorbs shock nicely

Outsole: Vibram® Megagrip. This common outsole is durable and works well on a range of surfaces.

Fresh out the box

So what’s changed?

The key difference between the Sylan and the Norvan is the knit collar. This creates a sock-like fit and makes the shoe feel more like a sock. Straight out of the box it made the shoes a pain to get on, as the knit was tight, and thin socks were a must. But once the shoes were on, they were seamless fits, with no chance of sticks, rocks, or dust making their way into the shoe.

The Sylan is a more aggressive trail shoe with larger, smarter lugs, making it perfect in wet and slippery mountain conditions. The outer is an incredibly light Matryx® Micro upper made from woven PU-coated recycled polyester fibres wrapped around a nylon core. This means an uber-light but snug fit, with effective cushioning pads behind the heel to ensure comfort isn’t compromised.

@tim_ashelford

And you’ll be pleased to know that the Sylan has the magic laces that Arc’teryx do so well, which, despite being laces, always seem incredibly easy to undo. I don’t know what it is, but I always seem to be able to tug on one end (despite being double-knotted and stuffed into the integrated tongue pocket), and the laces fall away. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I’m a fan of traditional laces, but bending down all that way after a long run to undo an impossibly tight knot is a pain. I don’t know how you do it Arc’teryx, but your laces are simply magical.

How do they feel after 50k?

These shoes have quickly become my go-to. Since receiving them, I’ve run at least a couple of hundred kilometres in them, and so far, I have zero complaints. Aside from looking pretty dusty, they’re wearing well, and my toenails are fully intact.

Despite having a cupboard filled with trail runners, once I get a new pair, it’s hard to switch back to an old smelly pair, which is generally on its way to being worn out. Since I’ve been ramping up the kilometres each week, I’ve found the Sylan to be enjoyably bouncy on more technical trails and feel good in wet and slippery conditions.

@tim_ashelford

Occasionally, I can get hot feet, especially on warmer days. However, these are super breathable and quick-drying, which is always a bonus. I have had to invest in some lightweight socks, as the knitted collar is pretty snug, and there isn’t much room for a thicker, woolly sock. But considering it’s summer, a lightweight poly sock is a good choice.

Sylan Season?

I haven’t been putting the Sylans to the test in their preferred environment, the mountains, but I’ve been testing them where most Aussies are likely to be running: along rivers and creeks, across rocks, and down gravel trails, and so far, I haven’t put a step wrong.

They also look good – I’ve had a few comments on the sleek, black design – which is now not so black as the summer dust embeds itself in the mesh upper. But like a dirty 4×4, dirty trail shoes show that you’re using them for their intended purpose.

If you’re planning some time in the mountains this summer, or like me, you want a reliable, comfortable shoe that can take you from inner-city trails to national parks and everywhere in between, the Sylan is an excellent choice.