Gear Review: Arc'teryx Bora2 Mid GTX Hiking Boot
Arc'teryx, who's Canadian roots originated with using thermolamination technology to create climbing gear, surprised us when teasing a photo last year of their inaugural footwear line. A very sleek looking approach shoe and hiking boot both paid homage to the company's origin as they were created using the same heat laminate technology once again.
We've been testing the Bora2 Mid GTX Hiking boot on our hikes and backpacking adventures during your typical Canadian Spring. We've made our way through snow, rain, muck, sloppy terrain and lots of ice... and here's how the boot stood up...
The hiking boot is quite striking and we're not sure what you will focus on first as your eyes dart around the futuristic footwear. The entire upper is made from a single sheet of thermolaminate, which means no seams. This durable material stood up to all of the snow and muck that we slogged through and no amount of underbrush seemed to phase it. Even when we used them snowshoeing I thought the snowshoe buckles would mar the material, but there is no evidence that they were ever attached. Throughout our hikes, there were no odd bending points that would poke or apply pressure to our feet, the boot always moved seamlessly.
There are three hooks per side on the uppers and once you lace in, they really secure them into place (you may have to give a fair tug to unlace them again afterwards).
The Vibram soles have nice deep lugs that run all the way up its rounded heel, and had excellent traction and breaking abilities. The rear of the heel also helped for smooth foot strides that didn't 'clomp' as you stepped. There is a protective toecap but the heel protection was really the solid point as no matter how hard I tried to squeeze that section, it wouldn't budge. The sole itself is very dependable too providing solid support and was great for long backpacking excursions. If you try and flex the sole by wringing it opposite directions in your hands, you will find there is very little give.
The next thing that will catch your eyes is the lack of a tongue on the boot. Perhaps the biggest shift in design with these boots is Arc'Teryx's radical thinking on how the inside of it should work. Within the entire line of shoes sits a removable lightweight GORE-TEX® liner which is created with a minimal amount of seams and is highly breathable. To top it off, these liners are interchangeable, easy to wash and quick to dry, and there is an insulated liner you can purchase as well for colder conditions. Don't worry, you don't have to remove the liner each time you put on the boot as there are two very handy pull tabs (one on the front and one on the back) which make it very easy to slip into the liner. The top of the liner has a handy elastic cuff which keeps out debris, and the sole is protected by a solid (but flexible) layer that lets you use the liners as camp shoes after a long day of hiking.
Once you are out in the wilderness, how do they hold up? They are outstanding! Every possible sticking point that I thought would have made this an poor design, turned out to work extraordinarily well. The liner's unified design didn't bunch up on me, the heel of the liner never slipped up and down with each step and was always in place, and there were no hotspots after many kilometres of hiking. I was very pleased with the breathability of the boot as I have had leather hiking boots that started to get damp inside after a long day's trek, but these were perfectly dry.
Perhaps the best thing I can say is that even through I set off on each trip thinking about my feet, they didn't cross my mind during each trip. The hiking boots worked so well, they weren't a distraction during the journey. They feel incredibly well made and we'll continue testing as the temperatures warm up, so stay tuned for updates. In the mean time, head to your local Arc'teryx store to try them on for yourself!
Learn more about the Arc'teryx Bora2 Mid GTX Hiking Boot and stay connected to Arc'teryx by following them on Facebook and Twitter.
