Arc'teryx just did something very un-Arc'teryx to my favourite GORE-TEX hiking shoes

Arc’teryx has launched the second generation of its Kopec hiking footwear, including an updated Kopec 2 Low GTX Shoe and Kopec 2 Mid GTX Boot.

I’m a big fan of the original Kopec GTX, as it's one of those hiking shoes that feels reassuringly capable without making you feel as though you’ve strapped a pair of traditional walking boots to your feet.

The original Kopec arrived in 2024 during the first year of Arc’teryx’s new era of fully in-house footwear design, following the Vertex Alpine, Sylan and Kragg that launched earlier that spring.

While the Kopec 2 features GORE-TEX waterproofing and a Vibram Megagrip outsole, Arc’teryx has made a couple of potentially significant changes to how the shoe feels on foot.

Space programme

The biggest update is a wider, more forgiving fit, which supposedly gives your toes more room to splay on longer hikes.

It’s worth stressing that Arc’teryx hasn’t turned the Kopec into a dedicated wide-fit shoe – the brand says the Mid remains a standard D width – but there is more room through the forefoot.

There’s also new, more responsive midsole foam, which Arc’teryx says improves energy return while providing more protection from rocks and other obstacles underfoot.

That could make the Kopec 2 Low particularly appealing for fast hiking.

Its low collar allows more dynamic movement, while the Mid adds ankle support and better debris protection for longer hikes and trips with a pack.

Both versions use 5mm lugs and a Vibram Megagrip outsole incorporating LITEBASE technology.

They also share an 8mm drop, with a listed stack height of 23mm at the heel and 15mm at the forefoot.

The Low weighs a claimed 357g per shoe, while the Mid comes in at 399g.

That actually makes both models heavier than their predecessors: Arc’teryx lists the original Kopec GTX at 315g and the previous Mid at 350g.

Waiting game

The Arc’teryx Kopec 2 Low GTX costs $190, while the Kopec 2 Mid GTX is $210 in the US.

At the time of writing, the new models don’t appear to have made their way onto Arc’teryx’s UK store.

The previous-generation Kopec GTX is still listed at £160, while the outgoing Kopec Mid GTX costs £180.

There’s no need to bin your existing Kopecs, then, but the combination of a roomier forefoot and livelier midsole sounds like a sensible evolution of a shoe I already rate highly.

EU and AU availability and prices TBC.