Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoe

Review by Erin Trail

The Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoe is designed to be an approach shoe for rock climbing, but I’ve found it to be a great camping and recovery shoe.

Details

• Breathable upper
• Moulded rubber toe cap
• Collapsible heel allows it to be worn as a slide
• INSITE PU drop-in midsole for cushion, comfort, and stability
• Vibram® Megagrip outsole with 2 mm lugs
• Drop: 7 mm

Fit and Function

I have found that in general, Arc’teryx shoes fit a little on the large side.  The Kraag Aura Shoe is no different. I typically wear a women’s 9 running shoe and somewhere between a size 8 and 8.5 in daily shoes.  I got a size 8 in the Kraag Aura Shoe and they are a bit roomy, but fit well enough to function well.  I also have skinny, low volume feet that are a 1/2 size different right to left, so sometimes shoes are just a bit challenging for me. I do like how they fit with socks, and while a little loose when I’m sans socks, they’re not so loose that it’s annoying.  I also haven’t had any areas of rubbing, irritation or blisters from these shoes, even when barefoot.

I am not a rock climber, so I won’t even pretend to discuss how these shoes would work as an approach shoe.

I have been wearing the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes for the past month for a diverse list of other uses and I think that boxing the Kraag Aura shoes into only rock climbing does them a disservice. I’ve been wearing them as a camp shoe, a shoe to wear before and after bike rides or runs, and a shoe to wear before and after a recent off-road triathlon.

The short review?  These shoes are fantastic to wear, but get a slight ding because they do get and stay DIRTY.

The combination of the 2mm lugs of the Vibram® Megagrip outsole and the moulded rubber toe cap are what take the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoe to an outdoor appropriate shoe. During my testing, I often walked on uneven terrain full of rocks, roots, grass, and moondust.  Sometimes I was in a hurry (like for my triathlon), sometimes it was in the middle of the night when camping (for a bathroom break).  I had consistent, even, safe footing, no matter the surface. And if I did trip or catch my toe, my feet were protected by the toecap.  Amazing.

I also love how the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoe goes from a pull-on shoe to a slide, all depending on if you decide to pull the heel cap onto your foot.  The heel fabric collapses down – and more importantly – doesn’t feel awkward when the shoe is in slide mode.  The shoe maintains traction and footing in both modes. And even with my skinny feet, I haven’t had the Kragg Aura shoe slip off of my foot accidentally when they were in slide mode.

For my triathlon, the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes were a welcome surprise.  As part of the morning race set up, I have my running and cycling shoes in my backpack, and need to either walk or ride my bike (and a backpack full of gear) from my parking space to the race start and transition. I popped on the Kragg Aura shoes, hopped on my bike and headed to the race start.  The shoes, with the generous Vibram® Megagrip outsole managed my bike pedals well.  And once I got my gear set up in transition, the shoes were a nice option for walking around the venue before the race.  Once the race was done, the Kraag Aura Shoes were a welcome option, giving my feet a little TLC in the form of recovery and breathability.  These shoes were SO much better than my usual flip flops.

For car camping, the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes were great.  I really loved having a shoe that was rugged but also easy wearing for hanging out at camp.  The shoes also did well when I explored the area around camp, handling minor obstacles with ease.

I love a good recovery shoe, and the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes also check that box.  The insole is CHONKY and has a nice balance of support and squish. They feel really nice to wear after a bike ride or run.  And as a bonus, they’re also good driving shoes.  I also imagine that they’d be ideal airport or travel shoes.

My only complaint is a minor one.  These shoes attract a lot of dirt.  The upper is a super breathable kit fabric, which does a great job with ventilation.  But the texture of the knit seems to attract and retain dirt inside the knit.  I haven’t washed the shoes (mostly because they’ll just get dirty again), but the dirt doesn’t release by clapping the shoes together. I have the Alpine Blue Grey color; perhaps the Rune color would show less dirt (or the dirt would blend in).

Of note, the Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes are on the heavier side. My women’s size 8 weigh almost 18 ounces (both shoes combined).  As a reference point, that’s heavier than my ultralight sleeping pad or down sleeping quilt.  For me, I probably wouldn’t take them on a bikepacking or backpacking trip, but someone else might want to bring them along because of their comfort and versatility when at camp.

Closing Thoughts

The Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes are a great slip on shoe that’s a capable for a variety of uses.  I personally love how comfortable and capable they are.  They’ve become the shoe I grab when I’m getting ready to head out on an adventure and something that I look forward putting on after the adventure is over.

The Arc’teryx Kraag Aura Shoes are available for both men and women.  The men’s option is available in 4 colorways (Sea Salt, Habitat, Light Black Sapphire, and Black) in half sizes ranging from 7 to 13.  The women’s option is available in 4 colorways (Alpine Blue Grey, Rune, Black, and Red Stone) in half sizes ranging from 5 to 10.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race