REASONS TO BUY
Very lightweight
Good traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Below average durability
Average water resistance
Arc'teryx Aerios FL 2 GTX Review
This lightweight hiking shoe is great for fast and light hikes where weight is the greatest concern
Credit: Arc'teryx
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Arcteryx Aerios FL 2 GTX is a very lightweight shoe that we were excited to try, given the success of its predecessor. It is nearly a trail running shoe, though it features a grippy Vibram sole and a Gore-Tex liner. We had issues with the longevity of this model, however, and so we feel like it is a niche shoe that ultralight hikers will appreciate, while the average hiker might find a more useful (read: durable) shoe elsewhere in this review. With so many other models that are also light but excel across more review metrics, be sure to take a look at the other top-ranked hiking shoes we have in this year's lineup.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We took the Aerios FL 2 GTX on a trip to Switzerland to hike a section of the famous Haute Route. While on the trail, we wanted a lightweight shoe that could shed some water now and then but ultimately not weigh us down since we were carrying a very small pack and did not require the additional support of a beefed-up shoe or boot. This is the application the Aerios FL 2 does well at. It is not the shoe that you should hike the whole JMT, AT, or PCT with, but for short trips where weight is your primary concern, these might be right for you.
Performance Comparison
Long(ish) days with light packs and big elevation change. This calls for a lightweight shoe like the Aerios FL 2 GTX.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Comfort
We found the Aerios FL 2 GTX to be comfortable out of the box, as the upper is made of a soft and forgiving polyester mesh material and easily conforms to the foot. For those with narrower feet, it seemed tough to really get a snug fit, as the laces and the upper have a lot of stretch. It feels easier to get a good fit around the ankle than around the forefoot unless you wear overly thick socks. The breathability of the GTX liner is fair, although on dry days, we were still getting pretty sweaty feet.
Mostly even terrain was where these shoes did best, as the fit was not snug enough for us to feel really comfortable in more demanding situations.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Support
The Aerios FL 2 GTX uses a TPU insert to provide structure and stability to the shoe, and this works well. For such a light shoe, it has good support and protects from impacts on the trail. The laces snug up and allow the upper material to tightly secure the foot in place, although for those with narrower feet, the wide-natured fit may be too much to overcome. Because of that wideness, this shoe felt unstable when edging up rocky steps or side-stepping, and we found ourselves hiking much more consciously so as not to roll an ankle.
The Aerios FL 2 GTX had a hard time in the boulder fields. It's not that the traction was bad, they just didn't have enough structural support for us to feel nimble and confident.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Traction
The Vibram Megagrip rubber compound used on the Aerios FL 2 GTX is super grippy and durable. The lugs are shallow and wide, making them quite effective in slabby terrain where more surface contact is needed and reasonably capable in softer, muddy sections of the trail.
Note the wide and shallow lug pattern on the Aerios FL 2.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
Armed with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, the Aerios FL 2 GTX was quite waterproof — at first. Their flood height is a relatively low 2.5 inches, but they were still effectively waterproof as we stood in an alpine stream when the shoes were new. Unfortunately, after some durability issues their resistance really dropped down, and we experienced leaking through gaps in rand.
Even though they have a shallow flood height, the Gore Tex does its job and keeps the water out.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
Weight is a metric in which the Aerios FL 2 GTX does quite well. They weigh only 1.68 pounds per pair in size 11 US, which is one of the lightest pairs of shoes in our review. These hardly register when on the feet and make tackling long hiking days much more pleasant.
Light pack, light shoes. This is where hiking shoes are really useful.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
This is the second pair of Aerios FL shoes we have tested and the most recent iteration. Previously we did not experience many durability issues aside from the shoe's structure breaking down over time. However, with this most recent version, they started breaking down immediately. It took no more than a 55-mile section of hiking to feel like these were getting worn down and in need of eventual replacement. While they are lightweight, experiencing a season's worth of wear and tear within four days of hiking was a bit off-putting.
Besides the structure of the midsole softening, the connection between the rand and the upper began delaminating within days of use.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Should You Buy the Arcteryx Aerios FL 2 GTX?
Whether these shoes are a good value to you depends on what you are using them for. They could be the right fit for one-time use on a long thru-hike, carrying little weight, and trying to maximize weight savings on your feet. But for many, having to retire a pair of shoes after relatively few miles will seem like a mediocre value.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
Without a doubt, the Columbia Facet 75 Outdry is a great option for overall performance, weight, and price. For better performance and also a better price, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex is about as good of a hiking shoe as you can get.
Moving fast and light has a price, are you willing to pay it?
Credit: Ryan Huetter
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Ryan Huetter
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