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Walking, Hiking & Trail Running

Arc’Teryx Bora2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots Review

Trust Arc’Teryx to change a category entirely. The Canadian brand has long been known for creating exceptional apparel – simple and beautifully tailored – but they’ve never really ventured into footwear, until last year… and wow, did they. Arc’Teryx have created a range of footwear that redefines the category and reinvents the idea of boot construction completely. How?

Well, their boots come in two separate parts: a interior ‘booty’ or liner and the exterior ‘boot’. There’s very little like it anywhere else and they nailed it… first time. This should be no surprise; Arc’Teryx will have spent an awful lot of time on R&D, perfecting a product before releasing it, rather than just repeating the same thing over seasons.

“Arc’Teryx have created a range of footwear that redefines the category and reinvents the idea of boot construction completely.”

The Bora Mid GTX is their flagship hiking and trekking boot, perfect for a few winter days on the trail. The internal liner, known as the Adaptive Fit, stretches around the foot and up the ankle, and its sock-like fit is the key to this remarkable boot. It is in the liner where the stretchy waterproof Gore-Tex membrane is housed. Another advantage of the separate liner is that the Gore-Tex membrane goes right up the elasticated ankle – no other boot does this.

Also, the sole of the liner is a durable plastic making it the perfect shoe for the bothy or mountain hut. Finger loops fore and aft help pull it on. In a brilliant move, the liners can be interchanged and there’s an insulated liner available to buy separately.

Once you’ve squeezed the liner on, it’s time to pop your foot into the boot itself. The upper is a PU coated nylon textile in one single ‘thermolaminated’ piece – no seams – and allows some ventilation around the sides. There’s no need for a tongue as the laces fasten around the liner.

Its unique construction also means it’s lightweight and quick drying. It’s also highly abrasion resistant; this is a boot that will last an age. A loop at the back makes it easier to put on. The lacing is positive with a great clamp on the ankle loop. The injected EVA midsole absorbs a lot of shock, while still feeling solid. The custom Vibram outsoles have an aggressive pattern.

Together, the liner and outsole form a boot like no other, and far from being gimmicky it works incredibly well. Almost all pressure points are eliminated with the liner. They feel very positive on steep rocks and in the snow (these ones are not crampon compatible), and we’ve worn them for days on the trail with no issues at all. If you’re hut-to-hut walking in the Alps for example, the liners mean you don’t need to take your slippers. Two for the price of one.

Arc’Teryx Bora2 Mid GTX Stats:

The 100 Best Outdoor Products for Winter 2016 View them all

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Selected for The Outdoor 100 Winter 2016

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