Engineered to help you move faster and farther on the trail, the Arc'teryx Sylan 2 pairs ultra-responsive cushioning with a propulsive design that keeps every stride feeling smooth and energized. Lightweight, breathable, and equipped with Vibram® Megagrip traction, it delivers the confidence to push the pace across challenging terrain.
REVIEWS
46 Reviews
MHerb
Stiffer and more supportive than its predecessor. Great traction on all mediums of trail and the carbon plate is noticeable in the rebound. These things give you wings!
BHGK
I purchased a pair to replace my beloved Norvan LD3's after having finally worn through their Vibram soles. I also have a pair of Sylan GTX that are particularly useful for light hiking and walking in mixed conditions. So, I thought the Sylan 2 would be a worthy successor to the Norvans. Unfortunately, while the materials, construction and fit are otherwise top notch, the Sylan 2's have what for me is a fatal flaw. The Achilles tab at the rear of the shoe extending upward from the collar protrudes inward at a fairly sharp angle. After 5 miles, I had to change out of them, with my achilles red and almost blistered. Am I the only purchaser with this issue? I just do not understand the logic of this design. I am donating them to charity.
Mathis
Lightweight shoes with excellent heel comfort, well cushioned, making them unstable on rocky terrain but ideal for steep, walkable terrain.
Donwaxxty
I wear size 13 and a proper fit should leave some room for your toes and shouldn’t squeeze the front of your foot. I also feel that the price is too expensive for this type of shoe. If the price can be reduced.
SpeedDemon24
I’ve been running in my sylan 2 for a couple months now and they’ve given me great support why being permeable but man oh man… I ran the muddy dash this past weekend and brought the sylan 2 into the obstacle course. The shoes gave me so much support with how crazy I typically run and the whole course was a mud slope so you can imagine how slippery it was for anyone else. Shout out to the team over in Lynn field!! They’ll make sure you’re fully ready for any event!!
Nathmontagne
Impress by the lightness of the shoe, the conforte, his traction and responsiveness! Coming back from a tibia fracture I was a little worry about starting with a new shoe but this is my favorite for the pass 30 years.
patrickgasperini
A shoe with an excellent fit and fantastic cushioning. The grip is great both uphill and downhill, and above all, it doesn't tire the foot: both the fit and the breathability are excellent.
Kenshin
very nice design and it's a great feature for trail run
maerunes
I trained in the Norvan LD4s for a 50K with >3,500ft elevation gain, but I knew I wanted lighter, more springy shoes for the race itself so I got the Sylan 2s. I went up a half-size from from my street shoe size (which is what I always do for running shoes), and these fit really well. I wore them for just over six hours and they had great traction on grass, gravel, and more technical terrain. I felt a slight hot spot after five hours on my feet right around my right arch, but when I removed the shoes, I didn't have any blisters so the fit might be slightly off for my feet in that one spot.
Emma
The new Sylan 2 are epic! Increased stability from the Sylan 1, plus many other upgrades. These feel light, springy, responsive, and absolutely ready to rip!!!
rodo
The Sylan 2 is an absolute workhorse of a trail runner. The combination of the flat knit tongue/liner and the neon woven upper provides excellent lockdown and a seamless fit. (previous Arcteryx knit tongues always gave me painful pressure points at the start of the toebox) while not being too constrictive and still allowing for my toes to splay in a natural way. The foam of the sole is super comfortable and on the softer side for a trail runner (has a little bit more give than the norvan sole) but the addition of the carbon fiber adds a nice stiffness and responsiveness. I also like that the tread is a little bit chunkier with larger spaces in between so you dont get mud and dirt stuck in between the lugs compared to some other trail runners. All in all the Sylan has become my go to trail runner in almost any situation. Read Less
billislandboy
I received this shoe was a test to review so this will be a honest review. First off i've used the Merrell Agility Peak and Altra Lonepeak for trail running.. By far the price on the Sylan is quite a bit more than other trail shoes but there is a reason for that. This is a very premium superior trail shoe. Everything from the Vibram sole to the very responsive foam base. I love how it has the stealth fit upper which keeps debris from entering the shoe. The Sylan is super super lightweight. I live in Minneosta and the shoe handled the trails/gravel very well. The shoe does run wider (not as wide as Altra) than the two Arc'terx hiking shoes i've had and has more generous room than Solomon trail shoes. I'm a size 9 and the size was spot on. The upper material is very breathable. I typically wear a darn tough or smart wool zero cushion sock (as my feet really sweat). My feet did very well while inside the shoes. Very comfortable runs. I love Arc'terx products and def spend a ton of money in the store. I feel they really hit a home run with this shoe. Price is a bit steep but you are buying a very high end performance shoe. If you want a high end performance trail shoe that is super light weight, very responsive and very very cushioned look no further.
yeahturkey
I tested the Arc’teryx Sylan 2 extensively in Western New York, including a 30-mile ultramarathon on typical local terrain consisting of dirt trails, roots, rocks, and rolling hills. Most of my runs are on mixed singletrack and rugged trail systems, and I regularly run long distances, so I was able to get a good sense of the shoe’s performance over time. The standout feature of the Sylan 2 is how fast and efficient it feels. From the first few miles, the aggressive rocker design creates a smooth rolling sensation that helps maintain momentum and reduces the effort required to keep moving at a strong pace. The shoe feels energetic and responsive, and over long distances I noticed less fatigue compared to many other trail shoes I’ve used. Traction was excellent across the varied surfaces I encountered, including dry dirt, loose rock, roots, and uneven trail sections. I always felt confident with my footing, even when moving quickly through technical terrain. Despite being a speed-focused shoe, stability was surprisingly good. The platform felt secure on off-camber trails and rocky sections, allowing me to stay aggressive without feeling unstable. Comfort was another highlight. During a 30-mile ultramarathon, the shoe remained comfortable from start to finish with no significant hot spots or pressure points. The fit felt precise and performance-oriented without being restrictive, and the upper did an excellent job of locking my foot in place. I never experienced heel lift or excessive movement inside the shoe, even late in the run when fatigue started to set in. Overall, the Sylan 2 is the most efficient trail-running and fastpacking shoe I’ve used. It combines speed, propulsion, traction, stability, and long-distance comfort better than any trail shoe I’ve personally tested, and it has quickly become my favorite option for covering big miles on the trail.
Pdxyankees
Can I first start out with saying, WOW! These are the second pair of Arc’teryx trail running shoes I’ve worn and holy moley these are more comfortable than the Norvan’s. I took these out to a Robinson Preserve in Florida. I tested them on the inner most track which is a rubberized trail track. Before getting to that there is a gravel track and I will be talking about that as well. First of all, Fit! These are more narrower than the Norvan trail runners. I normally wear a 12 wide and get 12.5 with Arc’teryx shoes. After wearing them for about 30-40 mins, I can tell that the shoe starts feeling a bit narrower than what I’m use to. Knowing what I know now, I’d probably order a 13 just for peace of mind. I did have a bit of an issue with the heel feeling a bit narrow in the beginning but, over time I think it stretched out a bit. I do like the sock like upper, makes it easy to put on and take off. I also love the fact that Arc’teryx started taking some tips from Salomon and having an area to hid your shoe laces in the tongue. Ride - on the gravel trail, I noticed immediately there’s some bounce to these. The Norvan has no bounce what so ever. I would say that shoe is more flat than anything else. I also noticed that this shoe has a meta rocker similar to what you would find on a pair of Hoka Speedgoat 7 trail runners. The cushion on this is not as plush but it’s close to it. Also, I don’t feel like you had to break these in a long as you would with a pair of Hokas. I will say most of the cushion in through the mid foot leading into toe off. This makes for excellent amount of propulsion. The rubberized track portion was a completely different feel. The bounce back from the track offered me a fast change off from left foot to right foot and back. I felt a bit fast on that track than what I did on the gravel track. After going for it 3 times each week for the last 3 weeks, I can honestly say that this shoe is one of my favorite trail runners. Now if Arc’teryx just happened to make it a bit wider or in a wide, I would be a happy camper. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.
Knapp
I tested the Arc'teryx Sylan 2 over several weeks of trail running in the Pacific Northwest, primarily on a mix of singletrack trails, forest roads, rocky terrain, and steep elevation gains and descents. My typical runs ranged from 5 to 12 miles, and I used the shoes multiple times per week in both dry and slightly wet trail conditions. The standout feature of the Sylan 2 is its speed-oriented design. From the first run, the shoe felt incredibly quick and responsive. The rocker geometry creates a smooth rolling sensation that encourages forward momentum and makes it easy to maintain pace, especially on rolling terrain and gradual climbs. Compared to many traditional trail shoes I've used, the Sylan 2 feels much more race-focused but also efficient. The rocker design does an excellent job promoting propulsion. During longer efforts, I found myself naturally turning over my stride more efficiently, on climbs, the lightweight construction helped keep my legs feeling fresh, while on descents the rocker continued to provide a smooth ride without feeling overly aggressive. Traction was another major strength. The vibram bottom provided excellent grip across a variety of surfaces, including loose dirt, gravel, exposed roots, and rocky terrain. Even in damp conditions, I felt confident in the shoe's ability to maintain traction, I never experienced any issues with slipping, even when moving at higher speeds on technical sections. The primary limitation I experienced was stability and ankle security on highly technical terrain. While the shoe performs exceptionally well when running fast on smoother trails, I found that the lower-profile upper did not provide as much ankle support as some other trail shoes I've used which I haven't dealt with. During testing, I rolled my ankle more than usual twice on uneven terrain while navigating rocky sections of trail. Runners who frequently tackle highly technical trails or who prefer a more supportive shoe may want to consider this tradeoff. With the one slight flaw I found in the shoe I would still definitely recommend for someone looking for a fun fast shoe that just wants to go and take any challenge it's given. You'll definitely still see me out on the PNW trails with these every week! I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.
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