Arc’teryx Sylan 2 Review: A New Bird Takes Flight

Introduction to the Arc’teryx Sylan 2

REESE: I’m a big fan girl of the brand Arc’teryx. But for good reason, they’ve consistently impressed me with their apparel and, more recently, their trail shoes. Last year, the Sylan Pro was one of the top trail shoes our crew reviewed. The British Columbia trail camp solidified my belief that Arc’teryx truly thinks through every detail, be it the seam placement on a pair of shorts or the dinner place settings.

The Sylan Pro wasn’t perfect; it needed some help wth stability, so I was super excited when I saw the Sylan 2 at The Running Event in December. Is this shoe what I expected the Sylan Pro to be? I was certainly rooting for it.

ALEX: This was my first time running in an Arc’teryx shoe, though I’ve used a lot of their apparel over the years, specifically their outerwear — the Beta AR and Atom series have (quite literally) saved me during multiple winter races that had temps that dipped well into double-digit negative numbers. The design language felt very consistent with the rest of the brand —functional, clean lines, minimal overlays, simple colorways. Nothing flashy, very intentional.

What we like about the Arc’teryx Sylan 2

REESE: Vainly, I love the look of the lavender shoe I was sent. It’s such a good color, and I love the big, aggressive Arc’teryx logo on the side. Bold but sleek. It’s a tough shoe to miss. I’ve had so many comments on it. But the Sylan 2 isn’t just form over function.

To me, the Sylan 2 hits the perfect balance between rugged and durable enough for any condition (not to be confused with Nike ACG) you’d encounter on the trail, but not so durable that it’s too heavy. Or so max-stack that it’s unstable or lacks any kind of responsiveness or zing.

Starting with the outsole, Arc’teryx went with exactly what I’d want from a premium brand and a $220 shoe: Vibram Megagrip LiteBase. The lugs are designed in a way that you get 4.5 mm of traction in areas where you’ll want a little extra grip, and the lug height reduces to 3.5 mm in areas where you likely won’t benefit from additional grip. I never felt like I was under- or over-shod (if that’s a term) on just about every terrain. I wore this on roads and didn’t feel like I had tractor tires on my feet; I felt just fine. I tested these on gravel roads, loose trails, and technical trails, and the shoe really just felt ideal. Traction or lack thereof was never an issue.

The midsole took some getting used to. The slightly reduced rocker on the Sylan 2 compared to the Sylan Pro did make the shoe more stable, but the rocker and foam on the Sylan Pro made it feel more responsive. Even with a carbon plate in the Sylan 2, the midsole didn’t have as much character as I would have wanted. It wasn’t bad at all, but it wasn’t amazing. It was good. As I logged more miles in the shoe, I warmed up to the midsole, but I was left wanting a bit more.

I will say the stack height of 31.5 mm / 25.5 mm with a 6 mm drop is nearing perfection for me. This is what I want from a shoe that can span all distances and terrains. If they shaved a mere 1-2 mm off the heel, chef’s kiss. I can dream.

When Alex mentioned the features she didn’t like, I thought, oh, I’m going to love them. And sure enough, I did. So this is your helpful reminder that food and ankle shape make or break a shoe’s fit! I loved the heel bumpers and the minimal knit tongue on this shoe. Less padding and snug fits? Say less. My narrow heel loves it.

ALEX: The Sylan 2 immediately delivers that clean aesthetic you expect from Arc’teryx. The colorway feels thoughtful and understated, not loud or flashy, and also not pink (have I mentioned recently I’m not a fan of gendered color palettes?) It looks technical without trying too hard, and that design confidence carries over into the Sylan 2’s performance.

Underfoot, the supercritical foam midsole combined with a carbon plate delivers a responsive, energetic ride. It’s not overly soft; it feels controlled and efficient. There’s enough pop to provide an energetic ride on rolling terrain, and it never feels unstable. The shoe felt light on foot from the first run, and I kind of forgot about it, which is always a positive for me. It also strikes a great balance of protection and maintaining a sense of ground feel.

The upper feels durable, breathable, and protective without being overly stiff or overengineered.

I am (rather reluctantly) becoming a big fan of the knit heel collars. When I first saw them, I hated them. I think because they reminded me of turtlenecks, and I used to hate turtlenecks. As I get older, I like them more and more. On the Sylan 2, it feels like a very functional turtleneck for my ankle; it’s secure and keeps debris out without adding a separate gaiter — or running around with rocks in my shoe.

Arc’teryx did a great job on the design of this one by not starting it too low and sacrificing heel stability and lockdown fit. Just as importantly, I didn’t experience any rubbing or irritation at the collar seam, something I’ve run into with other knit-collar designs, like the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro.

Finally, the varied 3.5–4 mm stepped lug design is a subtle but smart detail that I hope catches on. Instead of the traditional, uniform lug pattern, the outsole features a slight depth variation, which adds versatility. It grips confidently on dirt and loose terrain without feeling overly aggressive on firmer surfaces. It’s a design choice that makes the shoe feel adaptable rather than specialized, and I kind of love that. And now I want this on all of my shoes.

What we don’t like about the Arc’teryx Sylan 2

REESE: The year is 2005. You’re watching America’s Next Top Model, like you always do. And then at the judges’ table moment, out of left field, Tyra Banks freaks out on Tiffany. She shouted, “I have never in my life yelled at a girl like this. When my mother yells like this, it’s because she loves me. I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you!” You sit there on your living room floor, stunned.

Fast forward to 2026, and I, too, was sitting again on my living room floor, stunned. Wanting to yell those very words at Arc’teryx. The laces. They did it again. They messed it up again. How are the same, awful, awful, laces that I hated on the Sylan Pro still used on this iteration? Which, let me remind you, is $220. I was rooting for you, Sylan. We all were.

I’m only yelling at them because, as noted above, I love them. Ok, but seriously, these laces are the worst. They do not stay tied. And even in a double knot the somehow manage to get loose. I really struggled to find and keep my foot snug in these shoes. The laces either felt too tight across the top of my foot or way too loose.

The only time the laces felt particularly snug was when I tried to put the shoe on. I had to unlace the shoes all the way to the bottom to get my foot into them. This is largely because the heel is so stiff. Which isn’t bad while running, just not great when you aren’t in motion.

And lastly, the sizing. Just know that you need to order based on your EU size, not your US size. I went a full size down from my normal US size, from a W7.5 to a W6.5.

ALEX: I really, really hate heel bolsters. I know they’re well-intended, though I always find them distracting and unnecessary. I can feel them pressing into the back of my heel, and they tend to put pressure on my Achilles tendon. It’s like moving into a furnished apartment… I’m gonna need all the space, don’t prefill it, please. So many shoes achieve a great lockdown without them.

The other thing I noticed was that it didn’t take much of a descent before I felt the lacing over the top of my foot. The flat-knit tongue is super thin and could benefit from even a small amount of padding to alleviate this.

This is relatively minor, though I always appreciate a finger loop or small tab on a knitted heel collar. The less structured collar is always a bit trickier to get on without it.

The shoe sizing was also a bit off for me. My US W8.5 felt long, and as a result, I felt like I slid forward and lacked some confidence on descents. I would size a half size(or more) down in this one.

Final thoughts on the Arc’teryx Sylan 2

REESE: I’m not sure if the Sylan 2 has what it takes to stay in the running to become America’s Next Top Shoe Model. That said, the more I run in it, the more I like it. The Sylan 2 is well-designed and has all the right features to make it a shoe that will stay in my weekly rotation. I love the stack height; it feels more stable than most shoes I’ve been testing, and the outsole has the perfect design.

It’s just that the little detail of the laces kind of ruins some of the experience. I know that might sound petty, but getting into the shoe is a chore, and staying secure in it while running is a chore. If I’m running for hours on end, the last thing I want is a chore to take care of while I’m out there. For a brand that thinks of every detail, I’m surprised they got this wrong.

I’m still rooting for the Sylan, and I’ll keep wearing this pair, with new laces, until the Sylan 3 comes out…

ALEX: The Sylan 2 feels very Arc’teryx to me — clean, thoughtful, and technical. It’s light on foot, has a nice bit of responsive pop, and the stepped lug pattern gives it a really versatile feel across different types of trail. It’s the kind of shoe I mostly stopped thinking about once I started running, which is a good sign. Ok, that’s a lie, I still kind of thought about those heel bolsters…

There are a couple of things I’d change. The heel bolsters and thin tongue stood out to me, especially on descents, but neither one was a dealbreaker. But if Arc’teryx ever decides to stop putting heel bolsters in shoes, I will happily celebrate that day.

Overall, it feels like a well-designed trail shoe that can move fast and handle a wide range of terrain. The Sylan 2 is a solid, versatile option for quick trail miles and races where you want something light, efficient, and reliable.

You can pick up the Arc’teryx Sylan 2 for $220 from Arc’teryx by using the buttons below.