Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX Hiking Shoe Review

Decaf Journal is reader-supported. When you buy links through our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When I'm purchasing a good pair of hikers, there are a few non-negotiables that I take into consideration.

The first is good traction. Hiking shoes/boots, more than any other piece of footwear, need to have enough grip to keep me upright, no matter what is underneath me—whatever the angle.

The next is durability. As soon as I go off the trail, I want to make sure that a small snag or sharp rock isn't going to tear a hole and require an early departure back to civilization.

Everything else is just icing on the cake. But the extras included on the Kopec by Arc'teryx make this pair of hikers stand out above the field, making their difficult-to-swallow price tag all that more bearable. Because while the brand is likely charging a bit extra for the name, the quality, style, and durability of these shoes more than makes up for the high price.

First Impressions

Right when taking these out of the box, the first big noticeable feature is its weight; or rather, the lack thereof. At only 12 oz each (Men's 9.5), they are considered lightweight for any shoe, but then in a league of their own when compared to what they can do. In fact, I was pretty skeptical at how they would perform based on how light they were.

The other big feature I noticed right away was how thin the outsole is. This is thanks to Vibram's litebase technology. The company claims that it is 30% lighter than their standard rubber soles, yet does not compromise on strength or traction. I was feeling impressed, but still skeptical since shoe companies are some of the biggest culprits when trying to sell feature-rich products that end up being duds when put into practice.

Trail Testing

To test these shoes out, I took them out for two weeks on a work trip in Whistler, BC for a film shoot that had us in the elements. This reality show took contestants around the mountain resort town in spring weather that involved several days of downpour. Our set was a creek side wilderness retreat that had its fair share of mud and undulating terrains.

So although I wasn't going on long hikes, I was on my feet for up to 12 hours a day, logging upwards of 30-40 thousand steps every day, in just about every type of weather BC's Coast Mountains has in the spring.

The first test I had to make was to see if the waterproofing was real. To do that, I stepped into the closest creek and submerged the shoes for minutes at a time. They worked. My feet stayed dry and the material did not become waterlogged, feeling just as light as when I pulled them out of the box. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. With a combination of Cordura and GORE-TEX, the waterproofing is as good as anything out on the market.

When it came time to test the traction, the Litebase did live up to the hype. I've tested over 50 pairs of hiking boots over the past few years and the outsoles on the Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX are as good as anything out there. What makes the Litebase outsole stand out is in the reduced break-in time. While they advertise it as needing minimal break-in period, I did find them a bit rigid at the outset, yet only a few km of use had them responsive enough to feel broken-in.

Drawbacks

While I've been giving glowing reviews thus-far, the Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX does have limitations. As mentioned, I was working in these shoes for up to 12 hours a day, with a few days being even longer. What I found was a bit of soreness about halfway into the day after being on my feet for so long.

I did find a remedy for this, and that was in using an aftermarket insole. My favourite insoles that I have found thus far is from a company called SOLE, who makes insoles out of recycled cork. The cork is naturally odour resistant, and has a high R-value to keep feet warm, no matter the temperature underfoot. I used their Performance Insoles, and they were just what my feet needed. After adding them about a week into using the Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX, the difference was night and day, and the soreness all but vanished.

Another drawback I found was that the laces do not lock into place. I would need to re-tighten them once or twice throughout the day to keep the fit snug. It's a tradeoff having the lightweight agility and not having extra hardware to lock it into place. This is more of an issue if you have a heavy pack and it's difficult to bend down to re-tie your shoes, but if you don't mind giving the tightness a top-up, it wasn't a huge deal when you consider that you're sacrificing some bells and whistles for lightweight comfort.

Final Thoughts

The Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX is a stylish, waterproof, lightweight, and extremely durable hiking shoe/boot that is perfect for moving fast on the trail. The performance on these impressed me enough to consider that the high price tag is worth it for those who want to go hiking in varied conditions and environments, and not letting your footwear hold you back.

If you get an aftermarket insole, the comfort rises exponentially, allowing for long days on the trail, or off-trail, while still holding up no matter what gets in its way.

Arc'teryx is also a leader in sleek, clean lines and minimalist design. As such, you can take these shoes to the city streets without missing a beat. Bonus points if you need to travel in inclement weather, as the GORE-TEX lining will keep you dry.

If the budget allows, these shoes are worth the extra price tag for something that will last, have good grip, and look great at the same time.