How to Choose Hiking Boots

Agile, light and supportive, the men's Arc'terx Kopec Mid GTX hiking boots are made with a custom lug pattern for confident travel on varied terrain from day hikes to minimalist multiday treks.
Imported.
View all Arc'teryx Men's Day Hiking BootsBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Type of Waterproofing | GORE-TEX |
Upper | CORDURA mesh: 100% nylon |
Midsole | EVA |
Outsole | Vibram Megagrip rubber compound |
Weight (Pair) | Unavailable |
Gender | Men's |
6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 26.5 Mondo | 27.5 Mondo | 28.5 Mondo | 29.5 Mondo | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Men's | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 |
U.S. Women's | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | ||||||
UK | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
EU | 39.33 | 40 | 40.6 | 41 | 42 | 42.6 | 43.3 | 44 | 44.6 | 45.3 | 46 | 46.6 | 47.3 | 48 | 49.3 | 42 | 43.3 | 44.6 | 45 |
Mondo | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 32 | 26.5 | 27.5 | 28.5 | 29.5 |
Foot Length (in.) | 9.6 | 9.84 | 10.04 | 10.24 | 10.47 | 10.63 | 10.83 | 11.02 | 11.22 | 11.42 | 11.61 | 11.81 | 12.01 | 12.20 | 10.47 | 10.83 | 11.22 | 11.61 |
Calculate your own foot measurements, then select your product size. Use a ruler or tape measurer to measure your foot from the heel to the tip of your longest toe. Find the closest measurement that is equal to or greater than the length of your foot.
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Purchased my normal 10.5 and they fit perfectly. I have normal width foot and this show offered me space to spray feet, no pressure spots. First few wears around the block they felt great so I started with 14 mile summit day. No blisters, great traction on dry and rocky soil, shifting terrain. Took them to summit Mt. Whitney, after 16 hour day no blisters, no pressure or pain on toes from hours moving downhill, ankles fully supported. These shoes protected me from endless toe stubs hiking downhill in the dark. Solid hiking shoe-zero complaints.
I bought these in April and wore them on two trips—one soon after getting them and another more recently—with some light day use in between. At first, I really liked them. They were snug, supportive, and gave me confidence with my footing, just like the description says. But they’re not built for long-term wear. Wearing them all day, let alone for a full week as my primary footwear, was brutal—just not that comfortable over time. After only a couple of trips and some casual use, they already looked seriously worn out. The base scuffs super easily—just slipping on a rock left visible damage. The worst part? I wore them briefly in a sandy area and now they sound like maracas. There’s sand stuck deep in the lining, making the shoes heavier and noisy. Sometimes it even comes out the top when I shake them. The stitching inside is rough, and it explains why a little water on the upper ends up soaking my whole foot. I had Salomons that lasted six years before blowing out the side. I initially loved these as a replacement, but now I’m really questioning Arc'teryx’s quality in footwear.
Hi Mitchell. Thanks for taking the time to share such a detailed review. We’re glad to hear the Kopec Mid GTX initially gave you the support and confidence you were looking for—but we're genuinely sorry to hear how quickly the performance and comfort broke down. Your feedback on comfort, water resistance, and sand retention is being shared directly with our footwear team for review. We really value insights like yours—they help us improve.
It fulfills its promises of being waterproof, comfortable, and light. I just tried this pair on today, and my first impression was excellent. I have the black/void edition, and it looks great. The only thing I noticed was that the shoe laces were easily untied, so tie them twice to ensure they are secure.
The Kopec Mid GTX Boot is true to size, and the roomy toe box fits perfectly (I’m usually a US 11). Love the premium feel and materials, especially the Gore-Tex Invisible Fit, which handles Vancouver’s wet, cold weather like a champ. The easy on/off design is a big plus, but there’s a bit too much space between the tongue and collar. Would’ve loved a lace garage on the tongue area too. Overall, it’s a solid boot with a few small tweaks needed!
So far so good, have about 40km on them already and I won’t be stopping anytime soon. Very comfortable, foot doesn’t slide in the shoe, feels like it’s a part of my foot. Very light weight, great grip and so far very durable. I did have a slight concern when they got wet, seemed the outer material stayed wet for a long time after but the inside seemed dry to the touch.
I don't understand why each year they make the boots smaller and smaller. There is a reason why a taller boot works better, it keeps the water from entering where the tongue joins the sides. This boots tounge flap is right below the cuff of a pant which drips into the gap which is you guessed it smaller than the old version. There's a visible hole or space where you can actually see your sock between the tounge and side of the boot. They also fit like women's shoes and are very narrow at the arch. The only thing this boot has over the previous is more cushion.
Thank you for sharing your feedback on the Kopec Mid GTX Boot. It sounds like the fit of the boot is not meeting your expectations, particularly with the tongue and the narrowness at the arch. We recommend considering sizing up for added comfort, and trying them on in-store can help ensure the best fit. If the boots are unworn and within our 30-day return window, you can also order online, try them on, and return them if they don't suit your foot shape. We’re happy to assist with sizing or fit details—please feel free to reach out to us via phone or our 'Contact Us' form for further assistance. https://arcteryx.com/ca/en/help/contact
As a fan of Arc'teryx footwear I have had the Aerios FL, Aerios AR, Aerios FL2, Norvan LD3 and now the new Kopec. I've hiked hundreds of miles in each of these shoes from the Canadian Rockies, Washington Cascades, Californian Sierras, Costa Rican Jungles, Guatemalan Volcanoes to everything in between. Arc' makes some serious footwear that is always lightweight, comfortable, and performs exceptionally. Every detail is thought out (whether you agree with the details or not) and from my experience the shoes quality, construction and durability have steadily increased over time. I see the Kopec as an improved version of the older Aerios FL line with the same lightweight feel but a more durable exterior and a more true supportive "mid" ankle. I give 5 five stars for performance and construction minus the sole could benefit from a more aggressive tread. I love all my hiking shoes in the all black versions and this one with the now embroidered Arc logo just look sharp. However, my one complaint is the overall inconsistency of sizing between all Arc' shoes. I am solidly a US 11 in every shoe brand from Salomon, Adidas, Nike, Salewa, Scarpa, OnCloud etc. In the original Aerios FL2, Aerios AR, and Norvan LD3 I was a US 11. However in the Aerios FL2 and now the Kopec the 11's are just way too big. I have to tighten the shoes to an uncomfortable degree in order to feel like they are connected onto my foot in a way that inspires confidence in varied terrain. Thus I have settled on the US 10.5 which is just a tad bit too snug out of the box. I am hoping the shoes will mold to my foot over time in a positive way. My advice is try this shoe on in person or order a couple different sizes, don't just assume your standard shoe size will be the best fit. One last note to the people at Arc'teryx- get better colors. Most people I talk to are fans of clean looks, less flashy contrasty shoes when they're outdoors, more solid shoes- dark greens, navy blues, and burnt orange/brown.
Hiking the Fishermen’s Trail in Portugal these boots excelled the first few days of hiking 90 km through beaches and dry sand. Then they felt smaller and smaller. Initially I thought maybe my feet were swelling from all the hiking, I changed to an older pair of hiking boots. When packing the boots up for returning home, their plastic bag contained a lot of sand. As I gave the boots a good shake more sand came out. It turns out that hidden in the front of the shoe beyond the lace underneath the top fabric there are two holes - where sand was accumulated I poured/shook out 1/3 of a cup of sand! It had accumulated between the top fabric and the lining. I never managed to get all the sand out.
it is great. very comfortable and nice looking. I love it!
I took these in my regular size 10.5, they fit perfectly. First longer day in them, 4200 feet elevation and 14 miles they handled beautifully. No pain spots, no blisters, breathable, great traction on loose dry downhill. I stubbed my toe a few times and the toe protection was amazing, no pain. Room to splay feet naturally. This review is limited, not sure how they will last over time-but straight on the box these are super light, no break in period, and checking off all the requirements I have for a great hiking shoe. Will use them on Mt. Whitney next!