Arc'teryx  Aerios FL 2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots - Women's

After some deliberation about size, comparing other gortex shoes to the Aerios by Arc'teryx, I decided on the 8.5 - normally a 9 - 9.5 US. After exchanging the size there were a few areas as pictured that weren't as well crafted.

I stumbled upon the Aerios Mid while browsing for hiking shoes (not boots). I've never considered Arc'teryx for shoes but now won't use any other brands. My first hike with a brand new pair in Alpine Rose was 7 miles, 1.7k ft elevation in heavy mist. I was a bit wet and cold but my feet were perfectly dry and protected. I did have to downsize by 1/2 size but felt like these shoes were custom made for me. The soft pink makes me smile every time I look down at my feet.I know it's not the most practical color for hiking but stands out among other neutral color hiking shoes. If Arc'teryx ever discontinue this color please warn me so I can buy all your 6.5 inventory. LOL!

I have had these hiking boots for about 4 months now and I love them! I usually hike in trail runners because they are lightweight and agile, but I want to find something with more ankle support while still maintaining a lightweight design. These boots are perfect for that! They are lightweight, comfortable, and sturdy. I have been using them on all of my hikes since I have gotten them. They did great in the mountains, along the coast, and in the desert.

Despite the relatively plain and basic appearance of the boots, the technical features abound. The boots performed well on a range of terrain from grassy Illinois plains to a steep skree trail as well as on wet Arizona slickrock. While the boots did feel a bit stiff on the initial hikes, they broke in well and enabled fast climbing and short stretches of trail running. The boots performed excellently for the conditions for which they are marketed, fast and light hiking, and are fairly lightweight. My sole complaint were that my feet became cold while standing during two different volunteer commitments in 40 degree weather, but if I was moving they stayed warm.

This is my second pair of these - and I will say it's because the ones I got previously were worn so much that I made the front edge peel off. I probably should have reached out to warranty but they did get a lot of use in multiple terrains. These boots are by far the easiest hikers I've ever broken in. That may vary depending on foot/arch type, but compared to the Norvan runners and many other brands of hikers, these I can pretty much get right onto the trail immediately with no issues. I've worn these on 20-mile muddy hikes in Hawaii, steep summits in the Canadian Rockies, scree-ridden scrambles in BC with lots of bushwacking, and they constantly perform. Personally I never buy hikers that aren't waterproof / Goretex, and these have proven themselves so well amongst so many different environments.

They were comfy right out of the box. Training in them went really well. I took the through rain, mud, dry, and rocky terrain. Then I walked the West Highland way in them, they can't hold up to the wet. Feet soaked on rainy days. And they just aren't the right shoes for rocky trails, my feet were so sore. I could feel the rocks poking my feet, they just weren't sturdy enough. Now, this says to me that I chose the wrong shoes for the job, but the marketing and specs and reviews led me to believe these shoes could do it. I expected more from them.

I usually hike in trail running shoes, but I bought these for a six-day backcountry trip in Yosemite where I knew the trails would be rocky and there would be quite a few stream crossings. The grip is amazing. The shoes provide a great feel for the trail, but still protect my feet from sharp rocks. Rock hopping across creeks usually result in a toe or two getting dunked in the water, plus we ran into a lot of wet grass. My feet stayed dry. Blisters? Not even a hot spot. These are great hiking shoes.

I am so happy I decided to get this boot! I used it all through the rain season and not only is it comfortable from first time I put it on, but it is also very functional - amazing grip on different terrains, keeps water out and feet dry inside. Also it is stylish. At first i thought a black boot would not be so great for hiking but I ended up loving how versatile it is if you are trying to make it work with different outfits. All around, it makes me feel like I can concur any mountain!

The time had come to replace my hiking boots, and after owning the shoe version of this boot I decided to give these a try. Straight out of the box I did a 14km flat trail and were super comfortable! Next day did a 6km trail with steep accents and descents, again, super comfortable. I absolutely loved my previous boots but in comparison I have to say I love the lightness of these and the breathability. Tempted to buy a second pair before this old model runs out!!

Pros - SUPER lightweight. Shockingly so. - 100% water proof. Great for snow, slush and rain. - Great grip. Best I've had on a trail shoe yet. - Great, roomy toe box. Very hard to find. Exactly what I want. Cons - Terrible fit. Sized down from my typical 9 to an 8 and my feet are still swimming in them. Heel slip is bad. They don't stay put. - Sole is too stiff for my liking. Feels like a mountaineering sole on a light running shoe. For myself, the looseness and poor fit leads to poor mechanics and subsequently foot pain. - Worst laces I've ever had on a shoe. Truly. They come undone all the time even with double knots. You have to crank them super tight. How these shipped with the shoe is beyond me. Pretty unacceptable for the price. If they fit right and the sole was more pliable this would be the best winter shoe around.