Arc’teryx has never really been a footwear brand first. For most of its history, the Vancouver outfit built its reputation stitch by stitch on shells and harnesses, and when it did venture into shoes, it was drawing on the footwear expertise of its then-parent company, Salomon (which acquired Arc’teryx back in 2001). The brand didn’t launch its first standalone footwear line until 2015, and it wasn’t until spring 2024 that it unveiled its first fully in-house mountain sneaker capsule, featuring three silhouettes designed from the ground up, not just the upper. The Sylan was the runner of that trio, a propulsion-focused, technically tuned trail shoe aimed at people who actually move quickly in the mountains. Two years and one full cycle of athlete feedback later, Arc’teryx is back with the sequel.
Going Super
The headline upgrade here is the midsole, and it’s a big one. Arc’teryx swapped out the original foam for a compressed, supercritical compound (the same class of material you’ll find in the Nike Alphafly and Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1). Usually built in road racing shoes engineered for maximum energy return and minimum fatigue, the foam has been paired here with a carbon fiber compossite plate (forked, three-quarter length) to ad propulsion and technical stabilization on uneven ground.
The geometry got rethought too. The original Sylan’s midfoot rocker was polarizing. It was responsive in theory, but tough on runners who overpronate. The Sylan 2 moves that rocker into the forefoot, where it belongs on a shoe designed for forward momentum. Likewise, the heel geometry was redesigned so you sink into the tooling rather than fight it, which should open this shoe up to a much wider field of runners than the first version reached. Arc’teryx Footwear Design Director Chris Pope put it plainly: Athletes felt fast, they just wanted more confidence to go with it.
Built for the Dirt
Underfoot, Vibram Megagrip with Litebase technology returns, but the lug pattern is entirely new. The stepped 4.5mm/3.5mm design (shallower than the original’s 6mm lugs but spaced further apart) is a calculated trade. You give up some raw bite in deep mud but will gain cleaner transitions and better self-cleaning across mixed terrain. Stack height sits at 32mm heel and 26mm forefoot, which is a solid 6mm drop.
The Upper Story
Arc’teryx uppers have historically been praised for their burly protection and yet criticized for running a bit stiff. The Sylan 2 addresses that head-on with an engineered jacquard knit blending nylon, TPU, and TPE. It’s built to be lighter, stronger, and more breathable than before. TPU films also give you more durability in technical terrain. The flat-knit tongue is new too, offering better foot containment and targeted ventilation. Meanwhile, the knitted ankle collar from the first version carries over, which is welcomed since it was one of the shoe’s better ideas.
Aesthetically, the Sylan 2 continues the more expressive direction that the Sylan Pro established, putting Arc’teryx’s graphic branding front and center rather than the stripped-back minimalism of the original. If you were drawn to that cleaner look, this might take some adjusting.
The vivide lime-green Mantis colorway will absolutely stand out on trail, but the shoe is launching in a more monochromatic Graphite as well.
Spec Sheet
Model: Arc’teryx Sylan 2
Upper: Engineered jacquard knit (nylon/TPU/TPE blend) with TPU film overlays
Midsole: Supercritical foam + TPEE outer layer + carbon-fibre composite plate
Outsole: Vibram Megagrip with Litebase; stepped 4.5mm / 3.5mm lug pattern
Stack Height: 32mm heel / 26mm forefoot
Weight: 9.5oz (8.5 UK)
Lacing: Standard lace-up
Price: $220
Pricing & Availability
The Arc’teryx Sylan 2 is available now at Arc’teryx’s website and select retailers for $220, arriving in two colorways for both men and women as part of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2026 lineup.
Recap
Arc’teryx Sylan 2 Trail Runner
Arc’teryx just dropped the Sylan 2, a serious upgrade to their in-house trail runner that finally brings super-shoe tech — supercritical foam, a carbon-fiber plate, and a reworked rocker geometry — to the mountain running game. At $220, it’s the most performance-forward shoe the brand has put out yet.
