Arc'teryx Aerios FL 2 GTX - Women's Review

For short hiking excursions, we kept reaching for the Arc'teryx Aerios FL 2 GTX. It is lightweight, waterproof, and provides enough space, adjustability, and cushion to deliver a comfortable ride on some of our favorite weekly routes. While not supportive enough for longer hikes, it was an easy choice whenever our missions were quick and light or when we knew we had additional stops to make around our trail outings.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

It's hard to over-emphasize the importance of fit whenever evaluating a shoe for comfort. Fortunately, some shoes offer enough flexibility and give within their designs to accommodate a wider variety of foot structures, perhaps with some degree of aftermarket modification. The Aerios FL 2 is one of these shoes.

Like many European brands, the Aerios FL 2 seems to run long and slightly narrow. For many, this works great, even if it might require buying half a size down to ensure proper fit if you are between sizes. But what's interesting is once you pull the shoe on, the synthetic upper has such a softness and flexibility to it that the toe box itself feels more spacious and accommodating than it appears out of the box, even for those with a slightly wider forefoot.

Weirdly, however, that same soft, spacious upper we were so stoked to slip our feet into out of the gate very quickly proved itself to be a shortcoming once we were in action, just too flexible and loose to secure our foot properly to the base. One tester reported having no choice but to stop repeatedly during a short hike to retighten the laces, calling out the exaggerated pronation, slight ankle rolling, heel gapping, and slippage that developed due to the lack of topside structure. And while the super long laces are easy enough to adjust, the tongue is not padded well enough to protect the top of the foot from such exertion. Not the kind of precision fit we want for a long day on the trail.

The Aerios FL 2 is lined with a thin Ortholite insole, as is common in many hiking shoes. It offers limited arch support. The compressed EVA midsole is also not as cushioned as a normal EVA sole. So, while the result is a shoe that feels quite responsive, with significant flexion under the forefoot, the flip side is that there's a higher likelihood of foot fatigue on long days. Given the excessive topside volume and this lack of supportive cushioning underneath, we think an aftermarket insole is a great choice to help fill out the shoes and lock in one's feet for greater comfort.

Support

The newest update to the Aerios includes a durable 100% recycled polyester fabric upper to make the shoe lighter and more durable than the previous version, which was built of only a single layer Cordura mesh (0.8mm microfibre lining). Given the design's focus on reducing weight, we suspected the shoe might cut corners in other ways. So we were a bit surprised to find the Aerios FL 2 still sufficiently stiff and supportive underfoot for average trail days.

While it doesn't have much to speak of in terms of arch support, the synthetic upper of the Aerios features raised perimeter sidewalls that offer some additional protection and support. Its compressed EVA midsole and integrated TPU shank also do a decent job of balancing grip and stability. Overall, this shoe feels much closer to a trail running shoe than a rugged hiker, emphasizing minimalism over support. So for more demanding hikes, we'd point you elsewhere. Yet on shorter days, its chic athletic functional design is exactly what makes this the perfect shoe, particularly if you are just trying to snag a few quick miles before heading into town and you need to look put together in the process.

Traction

In general, deep lugs will perform best on loose dirt or unconsolidated trails like scree or gravel. So depth and variation in lug shape and positioning are what we tend to look for when assessing for maximum traction. We also know the stickier the rubber, the better handle you'll have on slabs and wet surfaces, and we inspect for this quality as well. The Aerios FL 2 delivers on both fronts, utilizing a Vibram Megagrip outsole with a decent set of lugs across the base made of a relatively soft, satisfyingly sticky rubber.

While this wasn't the grippiest shoe in our test collection, it served us well when tackling average day hikes. In below-freezing temperatures, we did notice the base became harder and less grippy to some minor degree (which is not an uncommon result when cold temps and sticky rubber meet). But with most of our trail time logged in warmer temps, we never saw a problem in function.

Weight

Although the Aerios FL 2 isn't among the lightest hiking shoes we tested, it was purposefully designed to balance weight with maximum performance and style. Extra effort has also been taken to account for durability in materials while still keeping you fast and light on your feet. So, while not our choice for big trail days, this shoe was a tester favorite for short and fast excursions like dog hikes or hikes after work in moderate conditions and seems likely to offer a comfortable ride over a long lifespan ahead.

Water Resistance

The Aerios FL 2 GTX is equipped with a Gore-Tex membrane, as are many hiking shoes we tested, which sheds water completely. So not surprisingly, it performed flawlessly in our five-minute bucket test as well as in all stream crossings we encountered on hikes, with the synthetic upper showing no signs of absorption from the contact.

Keep in mind, if your plans involve hiking in wet conditions on a regular basis, you may want a shoe (or boot) with more height. But for shallow puddles and rain, we trust this shoe to keep our feet dry.

Durability

Lightweight synthetic shoes are often seen as less tough and road-ready than their leather counterparts. But newer technologies in material and design have started to shift that narrative. The new Aerios FL 2 is a part of that story. While the overall shoe design between versions 1 and 2 remains essentially the same, the newly updated shoe is constructed of 100% recycled polyester fabric rather than the single layer of Cordura mesh as before. The result: a lighter-weight, more durable hiker ready to tackle all types of road conditions without hesitation.

We took the Aerios out on lava rocks and through pokey bitterbrush and boulders without any sign of snagging or abrasion. We saw no delamination in the welded upper nor any unusual signs of wear in the base. However, the rubber of the Vibram Megagrip is relatively soft, and its lugs are somewhat shallow compared to others in the test group. We suspect regular use on concrete and asphalt could wear down the material quickly and reduce their effectiveness in grip. Something to consider if these are going to become your go-to city hiker.

Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Aerios FL 2 GTX?

Although not the most supportive hiking shoe out there, the Aerios FL 2 is performance oriented and performs quite well during shorter outings. But it isn't a cheap hiker, nor is it one we'd recommend for technical or long trail days. Arc'teryx is a luxury outdoor brand catering to those looking for top-tier style and performance. As such, the Aerios is a durable, lightweight everyday trail shoe that will look sharp in dirt and in town and would make a great addition to any collection for those who have the budget.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?