Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. While Arc’teryx deservedly gets a lot of praise for their outstanding outdoor apparel, their footwear line seems to have less prominence among the trail running masses. A great example is the original Sylan, introduced in 2024 as a model built for “linking peaks” or, moving quickly and efficiently over steep and technical terrain. That shoe was tweaked a bit in 2025 with an aggressive outsole and pronounced rocker to create the Sylan Pro. And, chances are, you may not have heard of either. Perhaps that will change with the Sylan 2, which is something of a fusion between the original Sylan and the Pro version, with top to bottom updates driven primarily by athlete feedback, with the intention of better supporting agility and stability for long distances on technical terrain. Version 2 is lighter by 20g (0.7oz), more stable and more responsive than the previous model.
Uppers of the Sylan 2 are made from engineered jacquard knit fabric consisting of blended nylon, TPU and TPE for a nice balance of breathability and tensile strength. It retains the same high knit collar that works well as a gaiter against debris and is contiguous with a stretchy, flat-knit material on top of the foot instead of a traditional tongue. The fabric stretches easily, rides comfortably against the foot and holds its position well when secured with the laces. However, the knit layer isn’t much thicker than a sock, so we felt some pressure from the laces on steep descents during our testing. The last is Arc’teryx’s Precision Fit shape that is snug in the midfoot with a somewhat narrow forefoot.
Significant changes are seen in the dual-density midsole, which sees the introduction of supercritical foam as well as a new forked three-quarter length carbon composite plate. A 100% Pebax core sits above the plate, with a thick TPEE compound comprising the outer rim as well as underfoot. The Sylan 2 modifies the rocker geometry of the Sylan Pro by lowering it slightly and positioning it more prominently in the forefoot, which combines with the propulsive energy of the rearfoot plate to provide string energy return throughout the gait cycle. The overall ride quality is comfortably firm for general use, and we were impressed by how smoothly we could shift gears into a higher tempo without feeling increased impact or exerting unnecessary energy.
Stack heights on the Sylan 2 are a relatively moderate 31/25mm, and the midsole construction does a great job of providing underfoot protection comparable to other models. In our testing, we had periodic challenges with stability on irregular rocks and roots, and we would like to see a slightly wider midsole footprint in the midfoot and rearfoot area. The outsole compound, which consists of full coverage Vibram Megagrip Litebase technology with a combination of 3mm and 4mm lugs, worked well when we tested it on technical terrain, and excels in gravel and mud, while providing durability across the entire bottom surface without adding excess weight. The grip strength was especially noticeable on steep downhills, which somewhat magnified the feeling of pressure against the top of the foot described earlier.
From our testing experience, the intent of the Sylan 2 is mostly accomplished, as it provides a responsive and comfortable ride over a wide variety of terrain. Because we had some issues with it on extremely steep or technical terrain during testing, we would probably adjust the ideal use profile from peak-bagging link-ups into FKT chasing or fast 50k to 50-mile efforts. The shoe provides nice energy return with less fatigue over long distances, similar to other trail supershoes.
Arc’teryx Sylan 2 shoes are available in men’s and women’s versions at www.arcteryx.com
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 9.5oz men’s / 8.0oz women’s
- Stack Height (heel/toe): 31/25mm
- Heel-Toe Drop: 6mm
- Upper: Engineered jacquard knit blend of nylon, TPU and TPE
- Midsole: 100% Pebax core surrounded by TPEE
- Three-quarter length carbon composite plate
- Outsole: Vibram Megagrip Litebase with 4mm and 3mm lugs
- Two colorway options for men and women
- MSRP: $240