Sylan Pro

The La Sportiva's have the best sole grip IME, but those outsoles aren't the most durable. Given you're in the NE (where ankles go to die), I hate the give the lame response, but try a bunch of stuff on and find a place where you can walk around in them a little on fake rocks or uneven ground (edges of stairs). Bean in Freeport had this, if I remember correctly - been a long time tho.

I have a "roll test" I do (I'm PARANOID about ankle rolls) when there aren't stairs or some fake-rock ramp thing: Lace medium tight, slowly and deliberately roll feet from ankle to toe and walk around. Gently shift weight from inside, to middle, to outside of foot as you go. You look like a moron, but I'd rather look stupid once than once again be lying on the side of the trail in heap fighting nauseau from the latest ankle roll. If you have ANY doubt, put them back. I've had several shoes I REALLY wanted on paper, but they failed this test.

The Nike Zegama was like that for me. The Arc Teryx Sylan Pro rolled to the outside at the toe, etc.

I love the arcteryx sylan pros. They are like the Goldilocks shoe for me. The prodigio pros are well liked but I didn't get the lockdown I needed. 

Fit is so so so subjective, so I wouldn’t worry too much about what anyone else says in this regard. Where are you getting the blisters? Toes? Arch? Heel? I’m a fan of a larger lug and I am constantly amazed by how ill equipped many of my fellow UK runners appear to be at autumn/winter race start lines. 5mm feels like a minimum for me but those shoes are harder to find these days as brands all surge towards the middle ground/gravel/door-to-trail. I’m afraid I don’t have many answers for you! I have recently enjoyed the Arcteryx Sylan Pro (currently on a mega deal on the Arcteryx Outlet website as they have been discontinued…), very good grip, nice shape to the midsole (rockered), super tough and durable. They are a little heavy but they fit my foot perfectly so am willing to pay that tax.

this might be unpopular, but get a good pair of trail runners for hiking. i currently wear the Sylan Pro Shoe by Arcteryx and they’re great. i’ve also had multiple pairs of Hoka trail runners and i’ve never had issues with blisters. my boyfriend has a pair of Altra trail runners because he has wide feet and he loves them!

Trail Rotation: Norda 01, La Sportivia Prodigio Pro, Mount to Coast T1 Treadmill: Mount to Coast R1 Tried & Didn’t Like: Arteryx Sylan Pro, Speedlands GTX

My take, Arc shorts (Incendio) are awesome. Favourite shorts personally (7inch). I also have a superlight weight Arc merino t shirt for running which has been a comfortable alternate to all the synthetic I have. Can’t recall the model. I’ve had two pair of their shoes, the OG Norvan, and more recently the Sylan. OG Norvan was good, Sylan was a very different shoe, quite unique, a little stiff with a little of rocker and a bit unstable. Would not recommend. I’ve mostly run in Salomon, and would choose both their shoes and their Hydration vest over Arc, but greatly prefer Arc’s apparel (including Norvan jacket). Also, I just got my first Norda’s, and to me they’re the Arc or shoes. Premium material, great fit (for my feet) and look great. The durability on feel and upper so fair have been really strong.

Trolling can be funny it’s a skill that you don’t have. I have this shoe alongside Sylans and Norvan 4s. I run mostly single track and hard pack and they KILL my legs…because they aren’t meant for that kind of running. My lack of understanding what this shoe was for has in turn showed me what *is* good about them. They fit snug, have great ground feel, are breathable and dry fast. Scrambling in them and hopping off rocks etc in them is great. I can’t see how this shoe could be great for technical terrain and groundbreakingly comfortable. Comfortable is high in importance for road running but running on technical terrain it seems as though you must sacrifice that in exchange for stability, as the degree of both is decided by the same thing (the midsole)