On a recent drive through Stowe, Vermont, a Porsche Taycan came in the opposite direction. Its low, wide body was reminiscent of a shark prowling the sea. Narrow LED headlights gave it a focused, aggressive appearance. Underneath the sheet metal, an innovative 2-speed transmission and powerful electric powertrain provided performance that rivaled the world’s best supercars. Inside, the cabin was simple yet high-tech, with digital gauges, premium materials and unparalleled craftsmanship.
When I look at a modern Porsche, it’s obvious that designers and engineers have considered every element, from the bodywork to the braking system to the styling. The body panels are perfect. The powertrain is a sophisticated marvel, ready to be pushed to the limit. And then there’s the sleek, cat-like stance.
When I unboxed the Arc’teryx Sylan running shoes, I noticed some of the same features. I had never seen shoes so well made, with each seam flowing into the next and no faulty adhesives between the midsole and upper. The outsole was like a heavy-duty tire, with its 6mm lugs that had an oily, sticky look. The shark/black colorway enhanced the design and gave the shoes a deep, sleek look. But how would they perform?
To find out, I spent more than a month running through Vermont’s Green Mountains. I tried the shoes on real “mountain runs” with steep climbs and challenging terrain, tested their limits and made note of any shortcomings. Here’s what I found.
The Arc’Terx Sylan: What you need to know
Arc’teryx began in 1989 as “Rock Solid,” producing innovative climbing gear in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. In 1991, the company changed its name to reflect the transitional fossil Archaeopteryx, which shows the evolution of early dinosaurs to modern dinosaurs (birds). The fossil serves as the company’s logo and demonstrates the brand’s constant evolution and drive for improvement. Today, the company is a market leader in outerwear and climbing gear, and now wants to do the same in footwear. The result is the Sylan.
Arcteryx shoes were launched in 2015 in collaboration with sister company Salomon. It was a smart move given the French brand’s long history in the field, but recently the Canadian brand has taken things in-house. The first independently designed Arcteryx running shoes will be launched in spring 2024.
Ovidio Garcia, Vice President of Footwear at Arc’teryx, described the brand’s approach as follows: “Over the past two years, we have increased our focus on mountain athletes and the terrain they move on and through, and we have looked at why we exist. And we have allocated resources to it, with a dedicated team of
He continued: “We listen, learn and collaborate with our athletes and colleagues to solve real problems with these insights in mind through our unique design process. Our goal is to become a top shoe brand, known for our
The Sylan is a speed-focused design with a Vibram Megagrip cambered outsole, a durable yet flexible Matryx upper, and an InFuse midsole. Heel and toe stack heights are 28.6mm and 22.6mm, giving a 6mm drop. Weight is approximately 10 oz per shoe.
As I examined every inch of the shoe – the upper, the outsole, the craftsmanship – I could see every detail, every material had been examined, tested and critiqued over and over. There was sophisticated refinement everywhere, along with stunning looks. I couldn’t wait to try them out on the trail.
This is how I tested the Arc’Teryx Sylan running shoes
Arc-teryx describes the Sylan as a “performance mountain running shoe,” so I wanted to test it in challenging, vertically-focused scenarios. To do so, I spent a month running through Vermont’s Green Mountains, focusing on Mount Mansfield, their highest point. I ran over 50 miles and climbed more than 13,000 feet.
I tackled varied terrain, from the technical climbs of Mansfield to terrain above treeline where I had to focus on foot placement and movement in the alpine tundra. I tested grip, stability, comfort, cushioning and speed. I hiked, ran and sprinted. Here’s how the shoes performed.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Arc’teryx Sylan
The Sylan has many pros and some cons, but most importantly it is a unique shoe that stands out from the competition. Here are the highlights.
Per
- Vibram Megagrip outsole
- Comfortable fit
- Moist, elastic pillow
- Slim appearance
- Propulsion rocker
- Knitted collar
- Lacing system
- Likes to drive fast
- Durable, flexible upper material
Disadvantages
On the recommendation of an Arc’teryx representative, I went a half size smaller than my normal size 11.5. The 11 fit just right, with a wide toe box that provided extra toe clearance on longer outings.
Visually, the Sylan is a conversation piece. It’s as much an exotic sports car as it is a running shoe, with inspiring lines and materials. From the Matryx upper and its durable overlays to the outsole that resembles an all-terrain tire, the Sylan is not only fun to run in, it looks good too.
For me, the Vibram Megagrip outsole was the highlight of the shoe. I’ve owned many trail running shoes over the years, some with excellent traction. But I’ve never experienced grip like this. You know when two Lego bricks snap together? That’s what it feels like when the Sylan snaps into the trail. Plus, the rubber compound is just Sticksand I could descend wet boulders or climb steep ledges, always knowing that the shoe would grip.
The outsole features Vibram’s Litebase construction, which is 50% thinner and 30% lighter than traditional units. The lower mass gives the shoe a snappy feel during faster efforts.
The cambered outsole offered two benefits: propulsion and efficiency. While running in a shoe without a camber is like jumping rope—with absorption, muscle contraction, and then cushioning—the Sylan is more like riding a bike, where each pedal stroke leads to the next. When landing, the tuned camber put me in the core of my push-off, resulting in faster strides and energy savings. On longer runs, when fatigue set in, the shoe kept me going stride after stride.
The shoe’s InFuse cushioning – made of EVA and polyolefin – is a good balance of soft and firm, with a cushioning, absorbent quality. When walking downhill, I was able to drop all my weight onto the midsole, with my foot greeted by a workout mat-like absorption. There was a slight rebound when I pushed off my toes, floating me into the next step.
Instead of a tongue, the Sylan has a knit collar. The material felt like neoprene and wrapped and hugged my foot. It was like wearing a wetsuit or running tights – smooth and comfortable. The collar also kept out debris and acted as a sort of mini gaiter when I hit sand or mud.
Finally, I was able to tighten the laces using a lace garage and store them under a small hood. Each time, the laces held their tension when tied and were then neatly stored under the garage. Not only did this look cool, but it was also one less thing to worry about while running.
On technical descents—narrow trails full of roots and rocks—the Sylan could have used more stability. While the knit collar is a cool element and feels great, its softness conformed to my ankle and moved with it rather than holding it in place. Additionally, the pliable upper didn’t provide the support I prefer from the midfoot to the rear, and I had to focus on foot placement on uneven terrain.
Some may be put off by the Sylan’s $200 price tag, which puts it well ahead of competitors like the Salomon Genesis ($150) or the Saucony Endorphin Rift ($170).
Should you buy the Arc’teryx Sylan?
Sure, the Sylan has a premium price tag. But it’s a premium running shoe. When you unbox it, you’ll understand. On the box are the words “Design/Craftsmanship/Performance.” Does the shoe live up to those claims? Yes.
Every time I ran in the Sylan, I looked forward to the knit collar that wrapped around my foot, the rocker that rolled me forward, and the reassuring traction of the Vibram Megagrip outsole. No matter where I ran, I trusted the shoe. That included some hair-raising situations, like climbing steep ledges on the chin of Mount Mansfield or wading through mud after days of rain.
The upper was tortoise shell, held up to miles of rocks, roots and moisture, and seemed ready for more. If the midsole holds up, I could see the Sylan lasting 500 miles or more.
But perhaps most importantly, Sylan Fun. The roll and bounce with each step and the feeling of the outsole locking in made trail running feel like a rally car where I could push myself to the limit in search of speed. On open, flat trails, the shoe encouraged me to put my foot on the gas, drive to the rev limit and test my limits.
The shoe lacked stability at times, so if you spend a lot of time on technical trails, you might want something with a padded heel counter and a more structured upper. It depends on whether you value support over speed and control over movement.
The Arc’teryx Sylan shoes are a design study and a performer on the trails. With details and materials that are second to none, the Sylan is an exciting option for the runner looking for premium gear. Although it comes with a higher price tag, it’s worth it because its looks, durability and performance will have you looking forward to your next run. So grab a pair, lace up the shoes and get ready for a high-performance ride.
