www.arcteryx.com | £225
At £225, the Acrux2 FL GTX is one of the most expensive shoes you’ll find on the market. Essentially, Arc’teryx has decided that the way ‘normal’ hiking shoes do things isn’t quite good enough, so the company has designed a shoe that comes in two parts: a protective outer shell and a waterproof inner bootie. The idea is that you can trek all day in the shoe, then slip out of it and wear the booties like slippers around camp.
In terms of comfort the Acrux2 scores highly. While there is very little padding around the cuffs and tongue, everything just seems to fit so well. In terms of underfoot support there’s good lateral stiffness, though it’s not the stiffest, and the shoe flexes in the right areas. A protective rubber rand protects the toes and the heel, and there’s also a tough heel cap that does a great job of holding the foot in place. The inner bootie features a Gore-Tex membrane to keep your feet dry and the outer has a quality Vibram sole. The shoe has the minimalist looks that we’ve come to expect from Arc’teryx, our sample coming in a cool black and electric blue combination.
We love the idea of not having to carry a spare pair of shoes with us, but we’re concerned that the Acrux2 might cause problems in the blister department. There’s a degree of movement allowed between the bootie and the outer and we’re keen to see how it will perform on a longer, multi-day hike. But a neat new concept.
Arc’teryx Acrux2 FL GTX Verdict
The Acrux2 FL GTX is a great concept, but it comes with a big price.