Future Footwear From Arc’teryx — A buzz-worthy launch at OR came from Canadian brand Arc’teryx, which debuted a line of high-performance boots and trail shoes. The tech, which we covered in a significant preview article last month, includes removable booties, rubberized textiles, injected EVA midsoles, custom pattern Vibram soles, and models with no tongues.
In the hand the boots are solid and svelte — Arc’teryx rides a line between minimalist design and a “gettin’ it done” build for any conditions outside on the trail or in snow. Models like the Bora2 Mid are marketed to be a “new generation” of footwear. Its removable bootie is similar to what’s seen in a high-altitude mountaineering boot.
Some approach shoes in the line, including men’s and women’s models, go with the same two-part design. The durable outer shoe “shell” combined with the bootie leaves “a minute air space between the shell and the liner,” Arc’teryx notes, acting as a “conduit for air exchange and moisture dispersion,” ostensibly keeping the footwear more comfortable and dry.
The high design does not come cheap. Look to prices hovering in the $300 range when the line ships to retailers in 2015.
