Arc’teryx Winterizes Range Of Performance Footwear

Arc’teryx knows the outdoors. The extreme outdoors, at that. As the Vancouver-based brand launched in 1989 continues to grow its footwear offerings, the brand winterized three of its popular models.

“Our athletes needed the ability to be able to train year-round,” Ovidio Garcia, vice president of footwear for Arc’teryx, tells me. “We asked our team what they needed to be able to run in the winter.”

The answer is plenty of Gore-Tex, stretch gaiters, updated outsoles with unique rubber compounds, aggressive lugs and quick-lace systems. Throughout the Aerios Nivalis GTX, Norvan Nivalis GTX and Vertex GTX models the brand’s designers offer up a winterized take on outdoor training.

With winter conditions changing so quickly, Garcia says making winterized models means making weather protection and stability key to ensuring comfort so users can focus on a run or hike.

Some of the most obvious changes come in the form of the Gore-Tex breathable waterproof materials on the upper. The Aerios Nivalis has a Gore-Tex upper but adds a water-repellant stretch gaiter to help seal out wet and snow. The Novan model also added a gaiter for the first time, with with a Gore-Tex bootie for waterproof protection that features a water-repellent stretch gaiter with a front-zip closure that extends to the ankle for added protection. The Vertex model uses Gore-Tex for the first time. An integrated gaiter on the Vertex extends the Gore-Tex above the ankle to help seal out snow, water and debris.

“Water-repellant gaiters keep the snow and slush out and keep your feet protected,” Garcia says.

With the waterproofing and booties dialed in, winterizing doesn’t stop. “Lug size makes a big difference, specifically for grip and traction,” Garcia says. “Different lug patterns optimize performance in each terrain.”

The Aerios model, for example, increases the lug size and features an outsole with a Vibram XS Trek Evo outsole with Arctic Grip zones for maximum durability and grip on snow and ice, Garcia says. The Norvan’s Vibram Litebase sole and InFuse midsole offers run-ready weight reduction while using the Vibram Megagrip rubber compound with an aggressive 6mm lug pattern for confidence on slippery terrain. The Vertex model features 5mm lugs and a forefoot climbing zone for additional grip security.

With comfort and cushioning already a key design feature, especially in the Aerios and Norvan models, Garcia says, the focus was to improve traction and weather protection for the extreme conditions.

Further winterization includes integrated TPU shanks for additional stability and a quick-lace system with a cord lock that “allows you to adjust fit easily and quickly, with your gloves on to avoid cold hands.”

“By building alongside Arc’teryx mountain athletes who are out in the elements, day after day,” Garcia says, “we addressed weather protection and superior traction in three different models that solve for early and late season to deep winter days.”