Arc'teryx  Kopec 2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots - Men's

Took these boots on 14kms unmaintained Trail in North Vancouver. 500m incline. They hadn't been worn at all yet but were extremely comfortable. The cushion and support made it like they were already worn in. The cuff is a bit stiff around the ankle though started leaving a blister on the back of my leg and by the end of 5 hours I could definitely feel the chafing not sure if they were too tight (user error) or if it's a design flaw I'll keep wearing them. They are grippy as hell, I loved that. I took them to a waterfall in the rain and even on the roots and slippery rocks they gripped really well. My body was preparing for a slip but by the end of the hike I had trust. They are genuinely waterproof. Walk through creeks and took pics under the waterfall not to mention the rain and my white socks were still white and generally dry other that some sweat. They breathe well too. Make sure you get a proper fit to your feet going first... and km sure these will be a new favorite.

These felt incredible out of the box and I’d argue barely need a break in period. After several multi-hour hikes over the past few weeks in prep for a Patagonia trip, they’re performing well and feel fantastic. The wearing experience is as close you get to running show comfort while being a fully capable backpacking boot. If I had to criticize them; the tongue material can bunch up when putting them on if you don’t pull it up/distribute it before lacing. This should be a best practice before lacing any boot, so truly not a notable negative imo. Great boot all around and looking forward to 14 days in Patagonia with them!