Article by Alexandra Zvezdin
Arc’teryx Sylan ($200 USD/ 240 CAD)
Introduction
Sylan is the new Arc’teryx “all around” trail shoe. I think it’s appropriate to start with a little bit of history explaining why this shoe is a big deal.
The Norvan series was the Arc’teryx trail shoe line up offering the LD (long distance), SL (super light) and the now discontinued VT (Vertical Terrain).
Unlike the Norvans, the Sylan is the first shoe entirely designed by Arc’teryx, whereas previous trail shoes retailed by the brand were heavily supported in the design process by Salomon (also owned by Amer Sports).
The shoe is branded as “athlete inspired and built for speed”. This is obvious right away: rocker, integrated gaiter, sturdy but lightly built. Some of the more technical features include InFuse foam (EVA & Polyolefin) and Vibram Megagrip LITEBASE outsole. The Sylan is offered in 3 models: Sylan, Sylan Pro, and Sylan GTX. This review is for the Sylan. Let’s dive in and see what this new shoe is all about compared to the Norvan and other shoes in this higher-stack, high rocker, still-light category.
Pros:
Dynamic ride, great grip, durable upper, light enough for a protective shoe
Cons:
Odd collar fit, very loose and hard to lock down with laces.
Unstable ++ in downhills and technical terrain.
Stats
Sample Weight: women’s US 9 right: 6.2 oz / 177g , left: 6.1 oz / 173 g
Stack Height: 28mm heel / 22 mm forefoot (6mm drop)
Platform Width: 82 mm heel / 58 mm midfoot / 102 mm forefoot
Comparable shoes: La Sportiva Prodigio, Norda 001, Arc’teryx Norvan LD3, Scott Supertrac, Brooks Catamount (haven’t tried)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Right out of the box, the rocker of the shoe is impressive and what is quite unsettling is how little stability the shoe has laterally. This is due to the lug pattern & depth so more about this below.
The gaiter and collar of the shoe are surprisingly wide. There is open stitchin inside around the ankle and at the heel.
A closer look at fit. The gaiter is loose at the back of the heel. Photo by Anthony Dubé-Jaegly
Fit/Sizing: Sylan has an integrated knit gaiter with a lace garage. The upper is made of Matryx Micro, a mix of PU and nylon weaving which looks and feels durable and is highly breathable. The laces are similar (if not the exact same ones) as the Norvan LD3 line up.
I got the Interstellar / Solitude color and despite muddy runs, the Matryx upper makes the shoes easy to clean and remains free of excessive amounts of mud. As with previous Arc’ shoes, the aesthetics are great with many colorways offered and a minimalistic design approach.
Arc’teryx sizing is big so beware and try the shoes before buying them. I landed at a size 9 US women’s which is a full size to half a size down for me compared to other brands (e.g., Brooks, La Sportiva, Norda). The Sylan line is much wider and accommodates higher volume feet compared to Norvans which were on the narrow side.
The forefoot fit is great for me, but the midfoot, collar and gaiter are especially large. Arc’teryx’s Vertex shoe (now discontinued) also had a gaiter, which was much more effective at keeping debris out.
The Sylan gaiter is wide and doesn’t hug the ankle despite offering elasticity. Less fabric could improve this feature. An excellent comparison of a similar height collar/gaiter is the Brooks Catamount Agil which executes this feature perfectly. That gaiter collar seamlessly hugs your ankles and keeps debris out without being too tight. A small break-in period was needed for the Agil and for the Sylan. The open stitching in both cases caused blisters at the back of the heel, but this resolved after ~30km.
In the Vertex, a shoe that is now discontinued Arc’teryx implemented a more efficient gaiter using the same knit fabric. The Vertex gaiter was much higher without being constricting and thus successfully kept debris out.
Sylan vs. Norvan LD3. Both have a lace garage, but fit quite different with Sylan being roomier overall.
Sylan has more space in the toe box as noted by the loose upper fabric compared to the Norvan LD3.
The most problematic issue about the fit of the Sylan for the is how wide the collar of the shoe (not the gaiter) actually is. I spend a solid 5 minutes lacing up the Sylans to fit a sort of locked-down feeling which I have never experienced in any other shoe before.
On their website Arc’teryx says: “This shoe is designed for a Comfort Fit, giving you the most space at the toe and a less snug fit around the foot”. I definitely found this to be true and while the shoe is comfortable, I wish the upper was smaller at the collar and midfoot for a better “locked-in” feeling. I think the fit could be greatly improved in future iterations, which could increase the versatility of the shoe from “long easy run” to be secure enough for the “performance” category as well.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole is made of InFuse, an EVA and Polyolefin foam. The energy return is fantastic, and especially so when combined with the highly rockered geometry of the shoe. This foam combo is the same as in the previous Norvan LD3.
Sylan has a more pronounced rocker compared to the Norvan LD3
The heel platform is higher (28.7mm), than any of the previous Norvan models (see above) and even compared to other shoes in this category. This means a very cushioned ride despite the lack of any rock plate.
Outsole
The outsole is your regular Vibram Megagrip LITEBASE, so you can expect good grip. The lugs have changed immensely from any other Arc’teryx shoes with 6mm on the Sylan and 4mm on the Norvan LD3. More on Sylan lug depth below though…
Lug pattern and depth change in the Sylan (top) and Norvan LD3 (bottom)
They are now deeper, smaller with smaller flat contact areas and there’s way more of them. I think this leads to a great improvement in traction, especially on wet granite rocks and loose surfaces (gravel, rock dust/sand, mud). This type of traction was lacking from any shoes from the brand previously, while it was found in other shoes using LITEBASE with a “denser” and smaller lug pattern (e.g., Norda 001). Very happy to see this improved traction on the Sylan as I previously experienced slippage with Norvans. I found durability to be good with minimal wear visible after ~70km in the shoes.
Purple markings marking the measured lugs and lug use after ~70km.
Ok let’s get to the weird stuff: what makes this shoe unstable laterally which seems to be caused by a bit of a lateral rocker, although this is not specified anywhere in the specs.
I wasn’t sure if its the shape of the sole itself causing this rocker, or lug depth, but my measurements revealed a ~2mm difference between the lugs in the center of the shoe measuring in at 6mm and the lugs on the outer edge of the shoe measuring in at 4mm under the ball of the foot and ~1mm at the heel (6mm vs 5mm). I actually measured the lugs after first wear since I thought it was the shape of the sole causing this rocker.
Sustainability
The “Full Features” of the Sylan list “ PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) Compliant” as a “Sustanability” feature. PFAs are chemicals used as surfactants, repellants and lubricants in a very wide range of applications from cookware to textiles. In the outdoor industry, they are mostly used, you’ve guessed it, as water repellents. In Canada as (the Arc’teryx HQ is in North Vancouver) these chemicals are regulated due to their negative impacts on the environment and health.
While this is very neat, in my view it’s not a “sustainability” step taken by Arc’teryx per se, especially since this shoe is not waterproof, but rather a Canadian regulation they must follow that likely has to do with the materials of the Matryx Upper. Sustainability would look like: advertising the Sylan is available on the ReGear website to encourage buying used, avoiding toxic dyes, using recycled outsole rubber, or take advantage of the partnership with VIBRAM to design resoleable shoes.
Is this asking a bit too much from a single shoe? From a brand? Maybe, but I always hold Arc’teryx to a high standard because I like their gear a lot. They have high price points because their gear is innovative and durable, and their customer service is receptive to repairs, manufacturing mishaps and general durability issues.
I have to admit that in recent years I have been a bit disappointed by the marketing of incessant new “color ways” & “limited editions”, from a brand that prides itself on designing gear inspired by and for performing in the “Coast Mountains” (British Columbia, Canada). This strategy is far from sustainable, creating the need for consumers to get “the latest”. I’m always very wary that quality and durability that make Arc’ products great will be compromised at the expense of more aggressive retail strategies, but it hasn’t been the case yet.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
The rocker makes it feel speedy on gravel and flats and makes you want to run faster. So mission accomplished, Arc’teryx, this is a shoe built for speed. Uphill travel at slower paces is also great!
The Sylan shines during long runs. The rocker increases turnover, the ride is smooth and cushy. Despite the lack of a rock plate you will feel protected underfoot.
What is not so great….The high stack and strange lateral rocker left something to be desired: stability, ground feel & agility. The shoe still fared OK on scrambles since speed is significantly decreased there. However, the combination of these factors makes it quite unstable in rugged downhills where people are most likely to heel strike. The collar width also adds to the feeling of instability.
The shortfalls seem to be mostly associated with stability in more technical/rugged terrain. Increasing the stability of the shoe would be great for those moments when you’ve been running a long time and don’t want to worry about rolling an ankle because you’re tired and paying less attention, or you’re pushing the limits in rugged terrain.
The type of terrain where I would start to mind downhill stability, especially on runs longer than 3h. Photo by Anthony Dubé-Jaegly
Would I race in it? Yes, if I knew the trail would not be technical. Would I train in it? Absolutely, even in technical terrain when I’m not pushing downhill speed. This is a very fun, durable & aesthetic shoe and has great potential. I’m excited for future iterations and look forward to a better collar fit and some clarity on the lateral rocker. In the meantime I will have fun running in my Sylans.
Score: 8.3 / 10
Points off for fit & ride
Ride (50%): 8.5 Fit (30%): 7 Value (15%): 9 Style (5%): 10
The shoes & running clothing offered for free by my local Arc’teryx store. I am not sponsored, but help them out for community events and am hosting a conference at their store this October about skiing.
5 Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Same weight class:
La Sportiva Prodigio (RTR Review)
Very fun ride in both cases. High stack from both shoes. The Prodigo has a more stable ride without compromising any of the fun brought on by the rockered ride in the La Sportiva (likely from the upper fit which is more locked down around the midfoot and collar of the shoe). La Sportiva is ~20g lighter per shoe. More durability (upper and the outsole) and cushion in the Sylan. Size 9US Sylan/ 9.5+ US Prodigio
Norda 001 (RTR Review)
Similar durability, ground feel & grip. Ride feels dull in comparison to Sylan but stability is way better. Size 10 in Norda 001 9 in Sylan
Scott Supertrac
Better ground feel, less dynamic ride & less breathable. Very different traction rubbers but similar in terms of grip in muddy conditions and for UPHILL travel on slabs. Better stability in the Scott in tech terrain, especially downhill. Extremely different fits. Sylan is wider. 9US in both
Arc'Teryx Norvan LD3: Less dynamic ride, less rocker, more stability in the Norvan, but a less durable upper and less grip. Improved traction on Sylan and way better upper. No gaiter on the Norvan LD3.
Lighter but similar tech:
Brooks Catamount Agil (RTR Review)
Somewhat more dynamic and protected/cushioned ride in the Sylan, but not significant enough to outweigh any of the pros of the Agil. The Agil has great energy return, is more stable, equally breathable, and has a way better gaiter. I would race in the Agil, but train long in the Sylan. US 9 in Sylan 9.5 in Agil
Tester Profiles
Alexandra Zvezdin is a ski mountaineering racer on Canada’s National team. She splits her time between Montréal and wherever skiing ISMF World Cups takes her. During the off season you can find her road running around the city or doing track intervals, although her preferred choice are the (be)east coast trails of the Adirondacks, the Whites and QC hills. She loves steep ascents (~26%) and technical ascents and dreams of chasing a short distance steep FKT one day if she can avoid to faceplant in the process ;). On occasion she will pin on a bib for a road or trail race. Her favorite shoes are lean, light and fast shoes close to the ground. She was born in Moldova and grew up in Canada so you will find French and English reviews by her. You can find her on IG @whatforwho and on strava.
3 comments:
Excellent review! Will love to read more from you.
Thanks! I’ll have a couple more in French about the Agil & Cascadia
Do you have any comparison with the Altra Timp 5?
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