Arc'teryx Sylan 2 review: a sharper, faster trail racer

Arc'teryx didn't redesign the Sylan because the first version was bad. They redesigned it because it was almost right. The original landed with real personality (a fun rocker, a brilliant outsole, a debris-sealing collar) but a few rough edges kept it from feeling fully race-ready on technical terrain.

The Arc'teryx Sylan 2 is the version I wanted the first one to be: lighter, more stable, more refined, and properly fast. This is a $220 carbon-plated trail racer aimed at runners who want speed and precision on real mountain singletrack, not a plush daily trainer.

After putting miles on my pair, here's what works, what to know about the fit, and how it stacks up against the original.

Key specifications

• Price: $220 at REI
• Weight: 9.6 oz / 272 g (my measured US men's size 9 pair)
• Stack height: 31 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot
• Drop: 6mm
• Upper: Engineered jacquard knit with integrated stretchy collar (gaiter-style), TPU overlays, semi-flexible toe bumper
• Midsole: Supercritical foam (Pebax core, TPEE rim) with forked three-quarter-length carbon-fiber plate and refined forefoot rocker
• Outsole: Vibram Megagrip Litebase with stepped, multi-height lugs (around 4 mm)
• Extra attributes: Integrated gaiter collar (no external gaiter needed), lace garage on tongue, rockered geometry, available in Graphite and Mantis (no wide width)

Running training plan generator — road & trail, 5K to 100M

Build a personalized running training plan around your actual race date, current mileage, and experience level. Road and trail, any distance.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

Sizing and fit

The Sylan 2 fits true to size for me with a precise, race-oriented, low-volume profile.

Midfoot lockdown is excellent and the heel sits sculpted and stable, while the toe box is performance-snug with enough room for splay during technical efforts.

The integrated bootie collar makes entry a little fiddly (full unlacing helps), but once on the foot it seals out debris cleanly and locks the foot in without pressure points.

If you're between sizes or have a wider foot, I'd try them on first, since there's no wide option.

There's a nice amount of padding in the collars, and a cheeky little lace garage to keep the laces out the way when done up.

Performance review

A ride that wants to be pushed

The Sylan 2 has a firm, propulsive character that comes alive when you push the pace.

The supercritical foam, forked carbon plate, and refined rocker work together to produce a quick, energetic toe-off without that floaty, disconnected feel some plated trail shoes deliver.

On rolling singletrack and tempo efforts I feel a clear forward roll from heel through forefoot, and the shoe stays composed when the trail tilts up or breaks into rocks.

It's not a shoe I'd reach for on easy recovery miles; the ride is lively rather than plush, and ground feel is present in a way that keeps you honest on technical lines.

For races, fast training, and power-hiking pitches, that firmness is the point.

Stability that finally matches the speed

This is the area where the Sylan 2 makes its biggest jump. The wider platform, forked plate, and more secure upper combine to give a planted, confidence-inspiring feel on roots, scree, wet rock, and loose descents.

I noticed it most on fast downhill sections where a lighter racer can normally feel twitchy: the Sylan 2 stays composed and tracks where I aim it. The plate adds torsional rigidity without making the shoe feel stiff or uncooperative on uneven terrain.

It's stable in the way a shoe should be when you're moving quickly through technical ground, not stable in the way a corrective trainer is.

Outsole grip with range, not just teeth

The Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole is one of my favorite parts of the package. The stepped, multi-height lug pattern bites confidently on wet rock, roots, loose scree, gravel, and light mud, and the open spacing sheds debris quickly between strides.

On firmer hardpack and gravel road sections it stays smooth and predictable rather than feeling overly aggressive or buzzy. Lug height around 4 mm is a smart middle ground for a versatile trail racer. It gives you grip on the technical stuff without punishing you on the runnable connectors between.

An upper that handles its job quietly

The jacquard knit upper feels refined and protective without adding bulk. The integrated collar acts as a low-profile gaiter, keeping dirt and small rocks out while still letting air move through the foot, and the TPU overlays add targeted protection where you'd expect impact on rocky terrain.

The toe bumper and heel counter are firm enough for confidence without crowding the foot. Lockdown is secure and the upper holds shape over longer efforts, including technical descents where I tend to feel uppers start to give up. No hot spots, no sloppy heel.

Durability holding up so far

Early miles on technical terrain have been kind. The Vibram compound is wearing predictably, the upper shows no fraying around the high-flex zones, and the midsole still feels lively rather than packed out.

For a protective, plated racer, the construction reads as well-considered and ready for real mountain use.

How it compares to the previous version

I liked the original Arc'teryx Sylan (10.3 oz / 292 g in my US men's 9). The Matryx upper, gaiter collar, rockered InFuse ride, and Vibram outsole all worked. But it was heavy for a performance shoe, the heel counter felt too flexible on fast technical ground, the upper occasionally pressed on the top of my toes, and the heel needed a racer's loop to stay locked in.

The Sylan 2 fixes all of it. My size 9 pair is 9.6 oz / 272 g, around 0.7 oz lighter per shoe despite the taller stack. The supercritical foam, forked carbon plate, and refined forefoot rocker deliver smoother, more stable propulsion without losing the original's pop.

The wider platform and plate design give a planted feel on descents and roots that the first version never quite managed, and the heel counter concern is gone. The jacquard knit upper keeps the breathable, gaiter-style collar but feels more refined, with no toe-box pressure this time. Traction remains class-leading.

If you liked the first Sylan but wanted it lighter, more stable, and more precise, this is exactly that shoe.

My verdict

The Arc'teryx Sylan 2 is the rare second-generation shoe that fixes its predecessor's real issues without losing what made the original interesting.

It's lighter, more stable, more propulsive, and more confidence-inspiring on technical ground, and it still delivers the gaiter-sealed upper and Vibram traction that gave the first version its identity.

It's a purpose-built shoe. If you want a fast, precise carbon-plated racer for technical mountain efforts, fast trail training, FKT attempts, or trail races from short distances up to 100 miles, this earns rotation space without much debate.

If you want a plush daily trainer, a wide-volume fit, or something for easy recovery miles, it isn't for you, and that's fine.

At $220 it isn't cheap (nothing from Arc'teryx is), but the materials, the ride, and the specificity of the package back the price up. For the right runner, this is one of the most rewarding technical trail racers I've put miles on this year.

If you haven't already, signup for my free newsletter, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more content like this. -Alastair

Written by

Share

Copied