The Arc'teryx Sylan was one of the first models released from the brand's dedicated shoe design center in Portland, OR. Two year's later it has been updated based on athlete feedback around fit and performance. I've tested most trail shoes from Arc'teryx, so I was interested to run in the updated Arc'teryx Sylan 2 to see if they improved the feel of the V1 Sylan, or if this was a nip and tuck update. After a few runs in them, I can say there are notable changes to how this shoe performs. Read on for what's changed and how they feel on trail.
Pro tip: Arc'teryx shoes fit large. See more detail below, but the bottom line is that you should measure your foot in CM and consult the most recent Arc'terx footwear size chart.
Here is a comparison from Arc'teryx of the Sylan 2, Norvan 4, and Vertex Speed
For 2026 Arc'teryx discontinued the Sylan Pro and waterproof GTX models. We've kept the original info for those below.
Arc'teryx Sylan 2: What's changed?
This mountain running shoe designed for maximizing speed got a few notable updates that change how it performs.
| New Sylan 2 | Old model | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight per shoe | 270g | 290g |
| Stack (Drop) | 32mm : 26mm (6mm) | 28.6mm : 22.6mm (6mm) |
| Rocker Profile | Forefoot | Midfoot |
| Lugs | 4.5mm/3.5mm | 6mm |
Here is what matters about these updates from my trail testing.
Updated forefoot rocker - This update makes the most difference on the Sylan 2. I found the midfoot rocker on the original Sylan to be unbalanced and it didn't work well for me as an overpronator. With the rocker moved forward, I get a balanced midfoot strike, but still feel the rocker propelling me as I kick off. Honestly, it's night and day from the first version of this shoe. Huge improvement.
Updated midsole - The new foam and added carbon plate in the midsole is the next most noticeable change on the Sylan 2. Arc'teryx added a "supercritical" foam to the midsole. A supercritical foam is one where carbon dioxide gas is passed through the heated foam to create uniform bubbles. This allows the density of the foam to be controlled precisely throughout the midsole for performance. It also reduces weight. Next Arc'teryx added a carbon fiber plate for stability. Before running in these shoes I was skeptical about these changes to the midsole because making a shoe stiffer and "more stable" generally reduces ground feel, which is one of the most important characteristics of a trail runner. Thankfully, this isn't the case. I'd say these give even more feedback than the original Sylan.
Increased stack height - This isn't as apparent to me as the other changes. What's important though is that stability and responsiveness both feel really good. Sometimes increasing the stack height can negatively affect these.
Updated lugs - Arc'teryx reduced the lug depth and increased the lug spacing. They hooked up great on loose, rocky terrain. I'm interested to get them on a muddy trail this Spring to see how they do. The original Sylan had great mud traction, but the lugs would get clogged and that became an issue. The updated Sylan 2 will shed mud without issue.
Cushioning below the ankle - They introduced this cushioning on the Norvan Nivalis (you can watch me cut it open here). It does a good job of keeping things comfortable when I tighten the laces and helps prevent heel slip.
Bonus points: The tongue pocket stows laces out of the way so you don't snag them on brush, or have them come untied. Some runners scoff at this, but I think it keeps everything looking tight.
The updated Sylan 2 has 4.5mm lugs around the perimeter, stepped down to 3.5mm in the middle. You can see they increased spacing.
The original Sylan had deeper lugs with narrow spacing. As you can see, they held mud quite nicely.
The women's Arc'teryx Sylan 2
The women's Sylan 2 received the same updates, as well as refreshed colorways.
The Arc'teryx Sylan 2 women's trail running shoe in Shincha (as in the tea).
How the Arc'teryx Sylan 2 Performs
The updated Sylan 2 keeps (and even improves) everything I liked about the original - speed and responsiveness. It also corrected the issues with the mid-foot rocker. I can't think of a comparable example where a shoe improved so much from v1 to v2. This shoe feels very balanced, gives great trail feedback, and is stable. The updated forefoot rocker propels off of the kick and keeps the momentum high. I'm keen to try these in my next trail race. I really should have gone down to the size 9.5 to see if I can get a snugger fit, but I was hesitant given the toe shape. I run a lot in Altras and I prefer a wider toe. That said, I haven't had any toe bang or heel slippage with the Sylan 2 and they have been really comfortable from my first run. I'll update this once I get a proper long day in them.
Understanding how Arc'teryx Shoes Fit
While Arc'teryx uses standard methodology to measure the length of your foot (back of heel to tip of longest toe), their fit designations for select shoes is unique.
Here is a link to Arc'teryx's shoe size chart:
https://arcteryx.com/help/sizing/footwear
Here are their descriptions on their three fit types. These are applicable to the Sylan, Vertex Alpine, and Kragg models.
Comfort Fit - This gives you the most space at the toe and a less snug fit around the foot.
Precision Fit - This fits snug across the width of the foot with slightly less space in front of the toes.
Technical Fit - This is the most snug option for fit. Picture the fit of a climbing shoe or ski boot.
The Sylan series has a default Precision fit. The key here though is that you need to measure your foot in CM and use their size chart; don't rely on the size you normally were, which in my experience will be at least a half size too big for you. Here is the guidance from Arc'teryx when fitting shoes with a Precision fit:
My take: I have been thrown off by the sizing, because I assumed the Precision Fit would mean that if I sized down from my normal 10.5 to a 10 that it would be snug. In practice, though, I ended up sizing down a half size U.S. compared to other brands and still ended up with a Comfort fit. I pulled out my Nike Zoomfly, Hoka Mach 6, Altra Timp 2, and Brooks Launch. All are 10.5 US, 44.5 Euro, and 28.5cm. My Sylan are 10 US, 44 Euro, and 28cm, and they feel like the Comfort fit described above.
I would be inclined to go a half size down and get the Precision fit and that would put me at a 9.5 US, which I haven't worn since I was a teenager. That said, my foot measures exactly 27.5cm and that matches the 9.5 US on Arc'teryx's shoe size chart. Usually I reserve a 27.5cm for ski boots, but find them much too small for running shoes. In this case I believe matching my foot length exactly to the size chart will provide the Precision Fit they illustrate.
I'll also say that after putting 20 miles on the Sylans through rocky terrain I have zero complaints about stability or foot slip. The takeaway here is that you should measure your foot in cm and check the U.S. and Euro sizing on Arc'teryx's size chart. For Precision Fit stay true to the exact length of your foot in CM.
Legacy Sylan Pro and Sylan GTX
The Arc'teryx Sylan Pro and Sylan GTX were discontinued at the end of 2025.
Sylan Pro
The Arc'teryx Sylan Pro women's trail running shoe in Euphoria/Black
The Arc'teryx Sylan Pro men's trail running shoe in Solaris/Black
Sylan GTX
The Arc'teryx Sylan GTX women's trail running shoe in Black Sapphire/Canvas
The Arc'teryx Sylan GTX men's trail running shoe in Edziza/Solitude
Laced tight, the Sylan Pro feels great.
You can see the knit collar, lace pocket on the tongue, and some interesting contours from the Matryx® upper.
My first impression trying these on is that they are roomy and borderline too big for me, even with a U.S. size 10 (to my normal 10.5). Once I properly tightened the laces though I have zero slippage so I believe I have the proper comfort fit. The Matryx® Micro upper feels almost like a hardshell jacket; it's pretty unique. It wrinkles in ways that I think make the shoe look too big for my foot, but it also feels very light. Check out our article on the Arc'teryx Vertex Speed, which also uses Matryx®.
The other thing I noticed when wearing these for the first time is that while I really like the feel of the rocker, these shoes accentuate my pronation. I over pronate and when wearing the Sylan Pro my ankle collapses noticeably during my stride. As other over-pronators can appreciate, I don't stick to just structure shoes meant to correct pronation. For example, I trained for and raced my last long-distance triathlon (injury free I might add) in a set of Nike Zoom Fly. I've learned to let comfort and feel be my guide. So I decided to give the Sylan Pro a chance. Overall I thought they felt great laced up. The trail would reveal all.
Running in the Arc'teryx Sylan Pro
My first test run was directly after an afternoon shower and made good use of the Vibram® Megagrip sole.
I took these on two runs for my initial round of testing. The first was a spin on my local Emerald Mountain trails just after an afternoon shower. The trails on Emerald are notorious for turning to sticky clay when wet and can be tough for running or riding. Some of the hardpack trails can also become treacherously slick. In other words, a great first test for these shoes. The Sylan Pro performed great; it is confident across wet rocks and slick downhills. This was my first experience with both Vibram® Megagrip and Vibram® LiteBase technology. The Megagrip compound is quite tacky. The Litebase cuts the thickness of a sole in half compared to typical trail footwear. What I noticed is that the shoe has great flex and responsiveness. Nimble is the adjective I kept turning over as I ran. The rocker gives some propulsion; this definitely feels more like a race shoe compared to something like the Norvan LD. I love race shoes but as I mentioned, my ankle collapses in these shoes due to my pronation. I was hoping that it wouldn't be as noticeable when running, but that was overly optimistic. I ran for an hour and while I definitely notice ankle collapse, I didn't feel any strain. In the hours and day after the run I didn't have any pain whatsoever, so I figured it was worth a second run to give a full assessment.
My first run had freshly soaked trails.
My second run was on rockier trails and through aspen groves at 8000' in the Routt National Forest. I was immediately impressed again with how responsive the sole is on the Arc'teryx Sylan Pro. Overall the construction of the midsole, stack height, etc... provides cushion without totally dampening ground feel. The upper feels light and super breathable. I'm starting to get used to the Matryx® material.
What I like about the Arc'teryx Sylan Pro
- Knit collar and tongue - Fully laced, this shoe feels great. The knit collar is comfortable and keeps out dirt and pebbles while on the trail.
- Outsole - I think I've said this enough, but these shoes made me a huge fan of Vibram® Megagrip with LiteBase.
- Responsiveness - Light and springy. This shoe has the feel I look for in my race shoes.
What doesn't work for me
- Comfort Fit - Diving into to the fit descriptions on Arc'teryx shoes and running in the Sylan Pro has made it conclusive; I prefer a precision fit.
- Rocker and support - I like the propulsion of the rocker on this shoe, but I think the contour of the heel causes too much ankle collapse for me to put big miles on these. It's a personal dynamic, but I strongly urge anyone that over pronates to try these on before buying.
