Arc'teryx  Vertex Alpine Approach Shoes - Men's

I made the switch from the Salomon XT4 that I’ve been rocking for the last 2 years. On one hand I loved the shoe the second I put it on but only after a few wears I’m noticing the glue already starting to come off in some areas of the shoe. For the price point and the brand I was not expecting that.

For laps in the flatirons…I haven’t found better rubber than these that provide absolute confidence moving on slabs. No rubber break in time needed. They scramble beautifully right out the box. The durability is incredible. I’ve done over a hundred laps in the same pair of shoes and they’re not done. I’ve worn a lot of shoes while scrambling…and this one has been my favorite while moving up and down on rock, warm or cold it just grips. For the run to said rocks, they feel good on up and in technical trails, but it is a little stiff and almost clappy on descents due to the harder rubber compound. Generally very comfortable out of the box. I bought more of a running fit, my toes have some wiggle and swell space for longer days. The benefits of how it performs on the rock your aiming for far outweighs the minor complaint of how they sounds/feels on the descent. My fastest laps have come to fruition in these shoes. My beloved pairs of La sportiva mutants have taken a back seat to these. I will be stocking up on additional pairs.

The vibram grip is strong and thanks to the narrow toe it is very precise for scrambles. I was worried at first as the shoe feels stiff in your hand but under your feet it is comfortable and very supportive. The added length around the ankle is also helpful for avoiding sand or dirt from getting into the shoe. I'm typically a size 8 in other brands but in Arc I'm always a 7.5 and this was no different.

Most supportive pair of hiking/approach shoes you will ever wear. This piece of technology will help you hike the most strenuous trails with ease with its vibram flash XS soles. It feels like you are able to walk up a cliff with how sticky it is. The stiff construct helps your stability while going through uneven and treacherous terrains. I have used this as a hiking shoes every weekend during the month of April to August of 2024 and it is still holding up amazingly. I will say though that this pair requires a substantial amount of wears for it to be broken in at first due to how stiff it is, and the heel locks on these are a non-negotiable, MUST ENGAGE HEEL LOCK

Was skeptical given the many bad reviews, but it must just be an issue of foot shape or volume and incorrect sizing. My are feet are flipper-shaped wide boys and I still find these shoes to be very comfortable, with no pinching or hot spots etc. I even had existing blisters from a pair of lesser approach shoes I wore recently, and they weren't aggravated by the Vertex's at all. They do fit a bit small, I sized up by .5 and mine are perfect. The grip on wet rock is excellent, and around town they also performed flawlessly. So glad these worked out, really nothing not to like other than the price.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Arcteryx super fan here, and I REALLY wanted to like this shoe. It looked so promising. Avid LD3 fan, gone through three pairs with about 350 miles on each pair. I am unable to get 100 miles out of the Vertex… the heels chew my heels up so badly that I was forced to stay off the trail for a few weeks. I tried many 5-10 mile hikes with the Vertex and they won’t break in and continue to destroy my heels. In reading reviews it seems I’m not the only one with this complaint. I have burly feet and can accept prolonged break-in periods for a stiffer shoe but Arc missed the mark on this one.

These are stiff approach shoes with amazing grip in varied terrain. The upper material is really solid and protects your feet well from rocks and roots while the sock like material at the collar helps with comfort. The upper stiffness does make it a bit harder to slip your feet into and hasn't seemed to break in at all. I can feel the harder edge at the achilles like other reviewers have mentioned, but only after a really long day. I find that wearing high/thick enough socks has prevented any hot spots or rubbing in that area. The soles are so good - the tread has stuck in all sorts of terrain and conditions from dry desert, to granite, to wet forest floor. The fit feels a touch narrower in the toebox than my other Arc'teryx shoes, though the length seems spot on. I took the same size as other Arc'teryx shoes. If you're looking for a great approach shoe, these Vertex Alpine will fit the bill. They're a bit stiff for light hiking/day to day use, I prefer a softer and more comfortable shoe for those purposes.

I love this product At first i dont want to buy it but my wife encourage me and i think it’s a great deal and worth it.cheers!

I wore the Vertex Alpine on leg 1 of the Sierra "Grand Traverse" (Chapman & Chapman 2023) over seven days, 47 miles (mostly off-trail), from Tuolomne Meadows to Mammoth. They were the perfect shoe for the job, supportive yet nimble, with enough cushion in the heel and mid-foot yet precise enough in the toe box for fast travel on large talus and class 3 scrambling. Great traction, and the built-in stretch gaiter helped keep out scree. (I also have the c. 2022 version of the Konseal and the Aerios FL Mid, but for this trip the Vertex Alpine were perfect)

Previous Arc'teryx approach shoes and trail runners were comfortable and durable. These improve on durability but have completely dropped the ball on comfort. The knit collar works great at keeping out debris. The toe cap (and full perimeter) protection is amazing and the grip is just as amazing as previous generations. My feet are quite resilient and rarely blister but in these shoes they got shredded like something I've never experienced. I would only recommend buying these shoes for summits where the approach to high class scrambles is short.