Review: Arc’teryx Konseal FL Approach Shoe

The new Arc’teryx Konseal FL Approach shoes are made for the mountains, city street and boulder-fields. The technical shoe offers climbers a balanced design that combines durability with low weight, nice stability and good sensibility appropriate for moderate loads.

Overall, the shoe is a nice athletic-fitting option for when you need good cushioning on varying terrain. It’s more trail-runner than hiker. They hit the market in February 2018.

Comfort

The Konseal FL has a straighter last than most approach shoes with moderate volume.

There’s no arch-support in the insole, so you might want to think about aftermarket insoles if you have an unstable arch.

They have 4-mm OrthoLite 3-D molded insole and an EVA midsole that makes them very comfortable. The laces don’t push on any pressure points, but are a little slippery.

Grip

Due to the foam insoles that give great comfort, you will lose some sensitivity with the stones you’re hoping around on.

The traction on dry rocks is as good as any approach shoe on the market. On wet rocks, the traction is good but not as good as some shoes on the market.

Because the Konseal FL have cushioning like a trail runner, you lose some stability, but have the benefit of a light shoe.

They have Vibram Megagrip outsoles with a solid climbing edge under the toe which helps on steep terrain.

The heel has a square edge that helps when you’re running down to give you balance.

Durability/Breathability

Arc’teryx is know for creating sharp looking pieces of gear, but more than that climbers go to them for quality and attention to detail.

The Konseal FL live up to the reputation of Arc’teryx and then some. They have raised TPU sidewalls that make a solid toe cap, which gives impact protection.

The stitching is clean and straight. Like all of Arc’teryx’s products, the bonding is near perfect.

The upper and overlays don’t give in easily to abrasion and are more breathable than other similar approach shoes.

The Approach

Lacing extends only to the base of the toes. This hurt climbing ability a little, but the toe profile worked well for toeing pockets and jamming into cracks.

Conclusion

An aesthetically pleasing design combined with great cushioning, light weight and good grip makes the Konseal FL a must-have.

We recommend it for climbers everywhere, including those hitting the coffee shops in Squamish before walking to the granite, those hiking up to Acephale in the Rockies, you Niagara Escarpment cragsters heading to a Toronto pub after, you Val David climbers hiking to the top of Mount King to take in the sunset and you nine-to-fivers heading to the climbing gym post-work.