Vertex Alpine Shoe Men's

I made the switch from the Salomon XT4 that I’ve been rocking for the last 2 years. On one hand I loved the shoe the second I put it on but only after a few wears I’m noticing the glue already starting to come off in some areas of the shoe. For the price point and the brand I was not expecting that.

The vibram grip is strong and thanks to the narrow toe it is very precise for scrambles. I was worried at first as the shoe feels stiff in your hand but under your feet it is comfortable and very supportive. The added length around the ankle is also helpful for avoiding sand or dirt from getting into the shoe. I'm typically a size 8 in other brands but in Arc I'm always a 7.5 and this was no different.

In my experience, it's hard to find an approach shoe that is comfortable to walk in, but still performs in technical terrain. For me, the Vertex Alpine has become my go-to approach shoe for all summer climbing: comfy on the trail, burly for talus and scrambling, and techy enough to climb up 5.10+. They're not the lightest, but they clip well to your harness if you do switch to rock shoes or mountain boots. Oh and they are durable enough to last multiple seasons of heavy use.

Perfect Blend of Comfort, Support, and Performance! The Vertex Alpine has completely redefined my approach footwear experience! As someone who spends a lot of time in the mountains, I need a shoe that can handle long, technical approaches while still providing the agility and comfort of a trail running shoe. This shoe delivers on all fronts and then some. First off, the fit is incredible. The Precision Fit design is snug across the foot, giving a secure, supportive feel without feeling tight. It has just the right amount of space in front of the toes, making it perfect for all-day mountain adventures. No slipping or discomfort, even after hours of tough terrain. The performance is where the Vertex Alpine really shines. The Vibram XS Flash 2 outsole grips like nothing else, whether I'm on wet rock, dry dirt, or muddy trails. I feel confident on every step, especially when edging or tackling tricky sections. The TPU shank and toe cap add excellent protection, keeping my feet safe from rocks and debris, while the knit collar prevents any dirt from getting inside the shoe, which is a game-changer! What truly stands out is how lightweight and fast these shoes are. They allow me to move quickly without sacrificing stability or support, which is crucial for the rugged, varied terrain I often encounter. Whether it's a long approach or a quick trail run, the Vertex Alpine never slows me down. Overall, these shoes are an absolute must-have for anyone serious about mountain travel or technical approaches. Comfort, durability, and performance are all top-notch. Highly recommend!

I *wanted* to love these shoes. As a long time fan of the Norvan & Kopec line of shoes, these had me grinning with excitement to try out. Day 1, horrible pain during break in. Day 3, still no difference, day 4 I started to comparing what climbing shoes I've owned that hurt this much breaking in... never found an answer. Day 5, the pain instilled on my heels was permanent, not 1, but 2 blisters on each side of my heel. Why? The heel retention "pads" are so violent in keeping your heel locked in that they created a blister on *both sides* of my achilles. Took some time away from them, let the blisters heal. Gave these things another shot, day 6, 7, 8 all the most pain I've ever felt on my foot. These shoes had me in tears, literally. Unfortunately that was not the end of my complaints, I thought why not warm these up, twist and bend them with my hands in the apartment. Why bother I thought.... the upper is so light that the shank inside seems to be working double duty on keeping the shoes structure, these things take purposeful effort to flex. The outsole, even worse... It may be vibram rubber but these are not sticky or tacky in any sense of the word. It feels like you're walking with Tupperware outsoles, these days *feel* like a plastic shoe. And the cherry on top, if they're properly sized they're a nightmare to get into. Carry a small shoe-horn with you on the trail because the "debris retention sock" really makes these a challenge to slip your foot in. Despite them being in perfect condition, and well within the return window, Arc retail stores refused a return. Complaints were valid, they even put me on a shoe size rig to tell me I bought the wrong size and that was the cause of pain (it wasn't/I didn't). A pair of bleeding heels didn't even help my case, as there was nothing functionally wrong with the shoe. I wanted to throw these away 3 times over with how bad of a product these are. Given that would be impossible to do, I left them outside of the store, sitting on the sidewalk with a little note saying "Free, SZ8, sorry for your heels". And you know what, I hate these so much I still hope those pieces of junk are still out there waiting for someone to take them home. Jackets being re-sized was a notch against Arcteryx that didn't bother me much, but the fact these made it to market is astonishing. I would easily consider these to be the worst product Arcteryx has ever made... and with having friends inside, I've tried a lot of their gear. But these, these are special. I've started clearing out the gear closet, giving away and selling Arc gear. I haven't liked what the company has been doing for a while, and this is the last straw. Vertex Alpine shoes are the last Arcteryx product I will ever buy. Good Riddance,

Durable but decent amount of time before they break in. Tough upper and rugged sole that is not as responsive as I would like. Would have liked to get half a size bigger due to the shoe being very form fitting. Prefer the Kopecs.

I've owned several other pairs of Arcteryx shoes, and I like them. These shoes... are the single worst purchase I've ever made with regards to footwear. The shoes look good. The concept is great - a thin rigid shell and a grippy sole. The problem is both the footbed and the insole. It was apparent after a week that the shoes weren't breaking in. I talked to a rep at the local Arcteryx store and he told me I was probably out of luck. I contacted support and they confirmed - doesn't matter if the shoe is a piece of junk, they're shoes, and they hadn't experienced a "failure." I spent $150 on different insoles trying to get the shoes to work. One insole helped a little bit, but honestly, my heels go numb after a day of wearing these. The cant is off, forcing my feet to flex inward awkwardly. In short - don't buy these. Arcteryx won't warranty them so my only recourse is to warn others away from their shoes. (For the record, I probably own four Arcteryx jackets, six pairs of pants, a vest, ski pants, rain pants, four pairs of shorts, many gloves, multiple base layers, two pairs of running pants, several pairs of shoes... and I've fully kitted my wife out as well. I'm a fan of the company, but this product interaction and the response of the support folks has left me deeply disappointed).