What are the Konseal FL GTX's?
The Konseal FL's are technical, lightweight, incredibly well made and exceptionally comfortable approach shoes, designed to be just as good on the rock as on long mountain walks. The recent update has further improved their breathability and durability, firmly cementing them as the go-to shoe for lightweight mountain excursions.
How are they constructed?
Upper: The upper of the shoe is made from high-quality leather, offering plenty of abrasion resistance and breathability. Arc'teryx fastens every piece of fabric down with micro-sized pieces of taping which glue the fabrics together internally, eliminating the possibility that a rock, bramble or sharp object of some sort will pull a stitch loose. A protective moulded rubber toe cap finishes this super durable shoe off and takes the majority of climbing abuse.
Membrane: Underneath this tough outer lies a Gore-Tex membrane. This membrane provides complete waterproof protection for those true UK conditions whilst still allowing sweat to escape.
Midsole: The midsole of the Konseal's has also been redesigned to offer improved weight with the stiffness required for climbing and approach use. Unlike most midsoles, Arc'teryx's feature a raised sidewall to further improve stability and confidence on technical terrain. As well as offering valuable support, it's designed to absorb shock and provide comfort.
Footbed: Slipping your foot into the Konseal's feels effortless and instantly feels 'right'. A 4mm thick Ortholite 3D moulded footbed provides superior comfort and support for long walks and the laces can be adjusted in two positions to further improve the fit around your ankle. The inner of the tongue is also wider than most and features a thick layer of padding for a secure yet not blood flow-limiting fit.
Sole Unit: A self-cleaning Vibram Megagrip sole further epitomises the lightweight nature of this shoe by shedding mud and debris without the need for a pointy stick. This sole has also been designed to offer differently shaped lugs in different places on the shoe to ensure optimal performance. For example, larger, sharper lugs are placed at the back of the shoe (the heel) to act as brakes when descending, while a flat 'climbing zone' section allows you to smear with confidence.
What are the Konseal's features?
There are two lacing positions to allow you to fine-tune the fit, a loop on the heel to allow you to clip them to a carabiner and a nice Arc'teryx logo on the heel. Most of the features really do lie in the construction of the shoe.
- Secure, comfortable fit
- Gore-Tex membrane
- Two lacing positions
- Minimal seams and no stitch points
- Large rubber protective rand
- Leather upper with reinforcements
- Extremely lightweight
- Self-shedding, sticky sole
- Debris shedding design
- Cushioned and soft underfoot
- 3D footbed
- Supportive midsole