Hello. I am Daichi Terui, a mountain guide.
This time I want to write about the mountain boots I wear most days: the Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX.
DaichiThese are the boots I wear most of the time
The midsole is 2 to 3 mm thicker than the La Sportiva Trango Cube I had been using.
That gives you more cushioning without losing the feel of the ground underfoot. The Vibram sole handles wet rock without trouble.
Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX video review
Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX features
DaichiArc’teryx Acrux LT GTX is a boot from the 2022 spring and summer line.
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Full-length carbon plate with a PU foam core
- Lace lock
- GORE-TEX construction for waterproof, breathable performance
- Crampon compatible
- 0.6 mm TPU protective film
- Extended lacing
- A gusseted tongue helps keep grit and debris out
- 3D moulded rubber toe cap
- 3D moulded Dynamic Foam (4.5 mm), Ionic Element 100% recycled closed-cell EVA
- Vibram®Mont
- Vibram®LiteBase
Semi-automatic crampons that pair well with these boots
Arc’teryx Acrux LT in use
「Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX uses Megagrip, a compound most other brands put on approach shoes. The grip on rock is superb.
It is unusual to see Megagrip on a boot in this class, and combined with the stiffness of the midsole the grip feels very good indeed.
The shank is fairly stiff, stiff even for a three-season alpine boot of this type, which is exactly why it takes crampons so well.
It stands well on small holds when alpine climbing, and it comes into its own in the Northern and Southern Alps in late spring, and around Tsurugidake in summer where the snow patches linger.
The flip side of that stiffness is that on flat ground, on the walk from Kamikochi to Yokoo for instance, the boot does not flex much, so the sole wears faster at the toe.
Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX: mountains I would recommend them for
- Tsurugidake, with its long-lying snow patches
- Hotakadake in late spring
- The Northern and Southern Alps in late spring
In summary
Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX has a supple upper that wraps the foot, so there is nothing to fight against on the climb.
The last is narrow. The lacing system is good, and there is a moderate turn-in.
When you weight the toe there is a little heel lift, but nothing that causes problems, and this varies from foot to foot. Do try a pair on in a shop before you buy.
DaichiArc’teryx Acrux LT GTX is a genuinely versatile boot, and it earns its place across a wide range of days in the mountains.
