Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Vertex Alpine

Excellent. I took them for the first time out and comfortable out of the box. Amazing grip, worked well for the approach on rock and dirt. Also super light when compared to other approach shoes.

Love these shoes! I am a sixty something guide with arthritic feet who covers hundreds of kilometres a year on hiking trails, in canyons and scrambling 3rd through 5th class terrain. I have tried many brands of approach shoes over the last few decades and the Vertex Alpine shoe comes out on top for durability, comfort and performance. One of the best features of the Vertex Alpine is the shoehorn like fit due to the built in collar in combination with a roomy toe box that makes for lasting comfort on long days and downhill grinds. The only downside is the collar also makes the shoe difficult to get on - especially because I have a high instep. Unlike many approach shoes, another winning feature is the toe rocker and structural integrity that makes it feel like the shoe is doing the walking for me. Simply put, this elegant shoe provides an impossible combination of support, performance and comfort.

First approach shoe that actually fit well. I just did two alpine climbs. Mt Whitney one day and the next Mt Russell. I even wore these on the hike in and out. I highly recommend. I honestly don't remember ever reviewing a product

for me very comfortable shoes I would buy them again

I switched from the GTX to the non-GTX version as there wasn't much use to the GTX layer when water still can get in from the ankle area. This version seems more summer-friendly and breathable. GTX only when you have snowy tundra areas I suppose. The rear pull tab is horizontal which makes wearing these easier, than the GTX version. Though this version may want to adjust on the stiffness of the heel area to be softer than the GTX version. In either cases, the heel area doesn't catch as well unless they have Achilles inserts like ski boots does.

I had heard the Vertex Alpine Shoes could be tough to break in and might cause blisters, so I took a gradual approach, wearing them on daily dog walks to ease them in before my first run. That strategy worked perfectly: no blisters at all during my first trail run! I live in Pemberton, where the trails are already dry and loose this season, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well these shoes performed. The grip and stability were impressive, even on loose terrain. They feel very durable and quite stiff, which I actually like for shorter, technical runs. For longer distances, though, I'd probably go with something that offers a bit more cushioning. Still, the Vertex Alpine is an outstanding performer and a great choice if you're looking for a high-stability, high-durability trail shoe.

What I love about this shoe may also be what others don't like about it. As an outdoor photographer who often runs into technical approaches and/or positions on a rock, it's important to feel stable in the footwear I use. The Vertex Alpine is stiff, but I like that because it succeeds in making me feel stable. It's stiffness also gives you security and better performance when you need to scramble across boulders and rocks to get to where you need to go. The grip on these are on par with any other approach shoe I've tried and I'm happy to have these whenever I need shoes I can trust on the job.

I've been taking these out for a couple of day trips this week to Vedauwoo, WY (grippy, some jammy approaches) and Eldorado Canyon, CO (steepish boulder field). The first thing to notice is the narrowness of the shoe. I am someone with wider feet and the vertex pinches my forefoot like no other when standing or sitting. However, this narrowness does lend itself well to techier approaches where it functions more like a climbing shoe. The sock like gaiter is great for keeping out debris and the tpu shank is just stiff enough where you need it. I did hope that the outer foam on the mid foot would hold up a bit better to Voo granite but they got scraped up pretty good. Overall this would be an awesome approach shoe for someone with narrow/med-narrow feet but I don't know if I'd want to take these on a longer day out with my size foot.

I took these shoes out for their first test on a full day of scrambling in 3rd to 5th class terrain. While there were some definite highlights, I was a bit surprised by how quickly the shoes showed wear - especially from the rock. After just one day, they were noticeably chewed up. I went with my usual shoe size, and while the fit around the heel and midfoot was great -secure and supportive - the toe box felt quite wide. This made my footwork feel clunky and imprecise, especially on more technical terrain. I had originally avoided sizing down half a size to prevent toe bang on steep descents, but in hindsight, I'd probably go smaller next time for better connection with the rock. After a single use, the shoes also seemed to stretch or slacken a bit, which left even more room in the toe than I'd like. That said, there's a lot to like: the shoes are super lightweight and incredibly comfortable right out of the box. The traction is excellentgrippy and confidence-inspiring on rock. If the fit and durability issues were improved, they'd be a top contender for alpine missions.

I bought these in the blue from the outlet. A few things I like, the fit is like a sock. Very comfy. The laces are better than on the other hikers. There is a heel lock, which needs to be on the other hikers. The heel cup is less supportive, BIG PLUS, so it's a bit more neutral than their trail runners. But, I took these on a 8km trail run just to see if they were any good at running, and I would say no. The heel is too stiff. Caveat, I am used to a low drop shoe so to me it felt like I was wearing a stiletto, but that 7 mm drop would not be so bad if the heel wasn't so stiff. It feels like a big piece of plastic under the heel. Literally like you are walking in a high heel shoe. Weird cause the rest of the shoe is alright. Not too stiff. Another thing not perfect yet is the gator seems to stretch out with as you wear it and stuff does have the potential of getting in. So I would say adjust the drop to 4mm and adjust the firmness of the heel. Getting there. Isn't Salomon a parent company? They should be able to help you with that heel!!

I was very disappointed with these Arc'teryx shoes. After only a short wear, they gave me extremely painful blisters that even started bleeding. For such an expensive brand, I expected comfort and quality, but the design is very harsh on the feet. What made the experience even worse was the company's response. When I went back to the store, they told me that "these shoes are not for everyone" and did nothing to help. For a premium brand, that kind of customer service is unacceptable. I feel like I wasted my money and would not recommend these shoes if you value comfort, support, and good customer care. Please don't buy this product