originally posted on REI
I bought these after someone suggested they'd be a good replacement for my Altra Escalates, which I loved through 2 but were ruined increasingly with 2.5 and 3.These too are terrible. I initially loved Altras because they were one step above minimal shoes, a light bit of padding but still neutral, flexible, and maintaining natural footshape and toe splay. These, however, have little hills inside the toes for some reason. I don't want my toes going downhill when I'm trying to run; that's the opposite of a natural foot shape. I assume it's some dumb "hack", trying to alter your gait to make you faster. However, over constructed shoes that play those games are a dime a dozen (and they're usually better at it).Altra used to be a great brand for a niche audience, now ... MoreI bought these after someone suggested they'd be a good replacement for my Altra Escalates, which I loved through 2 but were ruined increasingly with 2.5 and 3.These too are terrible. I initially loved Altras because they were one step above minimal shoes, a light bit of padding but still neutral, flexible, and maintaining natural footshape and toe splay. These, however, have little hills inside the toes for some reason. I don't want my toes going downhill when I'm trying to run; that's the opposite of a natural foot shape. I assume it's some dumb "hack", trying to alter your gait to make you faster. However, over constructed shoes that play those games are a dime a dozen (and they're usually better at it).Altra used to be a great brand for a niche audience, now it just produced third-rate mainstream shoes. If you want mainstream styled shoes, there are better brands for that.if you want nearly minimal shoes, this isn't that brand any longer.
originally posted on REI
I really wanted to like this shoe. The zero drop is good. The tread is grippy but not so much that it locks your feet to the ground on a pivot. The sizing is horrible. I have worn a 10 1/2 my whole life. On the rare times I have had to buy a no half size shoe the 10 always fit better then the 11. One of the reasons I wanted this shoe was the extra room in the toe box. Forget that! The 10 1/2 was way too tight. I figured they'd stretch out and break in, not happening to the point of any kind of comfort. I guess you could try buying a size bigger and risk your foot swimming in them if they do break in. Also they are better suited to very dry climates. A walk through the dewey grass is all it takes to soak them.
originally posted on altrarunning.eu
Bought them for walking the Bob Graham round with some friends. I normally run in inov8s in the lakes but wanted something with a bit more padding for length of time on feet, but enough trainer feel to give some bits a decent go.Overall the shoe did really well and my feet were still comfy after all the walking (75miles total - few bits to get between start/finish). Decent going uphill and grippy on both rocks and grass. Caveat is it was very dry (June).My only downside, and this could be my lacing, was on some of the more technical descents I couldn't get the same level of ground feel as I do on my inov8s. I stacked it once but that was more my fault, but do still feel there was a little movement in the shoe that I wouldn't normally expect.That being said, ... MoreBought them for walking the Bob Graham round with some friends. I normally run in inov8s in the lakes but wanted something with a bit more padding for length of time on feet, but enough trainer feel to give some bits a decent go.Overall the shoe did really well and my feet were still comfy after all the walking (75miles total - few bits to get between start/finish). Decent going uphill and grippy on both rocks and grass. Caveat is it was very dry (June).My only downside, and this could be my lacing, was on some of the more technical descents I couldn't get the same level of ground feel as I do on my inov8s. I stacked it once but that was more my fault, but do still feel there was a little movement in the shoe that I wouldn't normally expect.That being said, these were completely new shoes for this and they were amazing out of the box, if I have to wait a little bit to get the lacing sorted or get used to the slightly higher stack height, but my feet still enjoy going in them (even to the pub after walking) then I can't complain. Will be buying more and recommending.
| Product dimensions | 27.94 x 10.16 x 17.78 cm |
I bought these after someone suggested they'd be a good replacement for my Altra Escalates, which I loved through 2 but were ruined increasingly with 2.5 and 3.These too are terrible. I initially loved Altras because they were one step above minimal shoes, a light bit of padding but still neutral, flexible, and maintaining natural footshape and toe splay. These, however, have little hills inside the toes for some reason. I don't want my toes going downhill when I'm trying to run; that's the opposite of a natural foot shape. I assume it's some dumb "hack", trying to alter your gait to make you faster. However, over constructed shoes that play those games are a dime a dozen (and they're usually better at it).Altra used to be a great brand for a niche audience, now ... MoreI bought these after someone suggested they'd be a good replacement for my Altra Escalates, which I loved through 2 but were ruined increasingly with 2.5 and 3.These too are terrible. I initially loved Altras because they were one step above minimal shoes, a light bit of padding but still neutral, flexible, and maintaining natural footshape and toe splay. These, however, have little hills inside the toes for some reason. I don't want my toes going downhill when I'm trying to run; that's the opposite of a natural foot shape. I assume it's some dumb "hack", trying to alter your gait to make you faster. However, over constructed shoes that play those games are a dime a dozen (and they're usually better at it).Altra used to be a great brand for a niche audience, now it just produced third-rate mainstream shoes. If you want mainstream styled shoes, there are better brands for that.if you want nearly minimal shoes, this isn't that brand any longer.
I really wanted to like this shoe. The zero drop is good. The tread is grippy but not so much that it locks your feet to the ground on a pivot. The sizing is horrible. I have worn a 10 1/2 my whole life. On the rare times I have had to buy a no half size shoe the 10 always fit better then the 11. One of the reasons I wanted this shoe was the extra room in the toe box. Forget that! The 10 1/2 was way too tight. I figured they'd stretch out and break in, not happening to the point of any kind of comfort. I guess you could try buying a size bigger and risk your foot swimming in them if they do break in. Also they are better suited to very dry climates. A walk through the dewey grass is all it takes to soak them.
Bought them for walking the Bob Graham round with some friends. I normally run in inov8s in the lakes but wanted something with a bit more padding for length of time on feet, but enough trainer feel to give some bits a decent go.Overall the shoe did really well and my feet were still comfy after all the walking (75miles total - few bits to get between start/finish). Decent going uphill and grippy on both rocks and grass. Caveat is it was very dry (June).My only downside, and this could be my lacing, was on some of the more technical descents I couldn't get the same level of ground feel as I do on my inov8s. I stacked it once but that was more my fault, but do still feel there was a little movement in the shoe that I wouldn't normally expect.That being said, ... MoreBought them for walking the Bob Graham round with some friends. I normally run in inov8s in the lakes but wanted something with a bit more padding for length of time on feet, but enough trainer feel to give some bits a decent go.Overall the shoe did really well and my feet were still comfy after all the walking (75miles total - few bits to get between start/finish). Decent going uphill and grippy on both rocks and grass. Caveat is it was very dry (June).My only downside, and this could be my lacing, was on some of the more technical descents I couldn't get the same level of ground feel as I do on my inov8s. I stacked it once but that was more my fault, but do still feel there was a little movement in the shoe that I wouldn't normally expect.That being said, these were completely new shoes for this and they were amazing out of the box, if I have to wait a little bit to get the lacing sorted or get used to the slightly higher stack height, but my feet still enjoy going in them (even to the pub after walking) then I can't complain. Will be buying more and recommending.
I'm so disappointed in these shoes. I switched from my Lone Peak 6's to these for better ground feel, but they have virtually no traction in ANY sort of sketchy terrain. Purchased for my (current) 5 week trip through Peru/Guatemala as an everyday shoe on mostly dirt/gravel roads and not manicured trails through volcanoes, heavy elevation, and jungles.I DO NOT feel safe in these at all. They are absolutely horrible in creek crossings, any type of traction on rocks/boulders whether wet or not, and just slides on loose dirt/scree as if they have no lugs at all.I'm actually scared to wear these as they did not keep me upright in several situations, and had to slide down on my butt due to lack of trusting these. Even on wet flat ground (such as smooth wet concrete), ... MoreI'm so disappointed in these shoes. I switched from my Lone Peak 6's to these for better ground feel, but they have virtually no traction in ANY sort of sketchy terrain. Purchased for my (current) 5 week trip through Peru/Guatemala as an everyday shoe on mostly dirt/gravel roads and not manicured trails through volcanoes, heavy elevation, and jungles.I DO NOT feel safe in these at all. They are absolutely horrible in creek crossings, any type of traction on rocks/boulders whether wet or not, and just slides on loose dirt/scree as if they have no lugs at all.I'm actually scared to wear these as they did not keep me upright in several situations, and had to slide down on my butt due to lack of trusting these. Even on wet flat ground (such as smooth wet concrete), they don't have any traction.If you're not planning on hiking in these, or just running on flat groomed trails I'm sure these are fine, but I'm personally counting down the days until I'm back in the US and can return these. I never had any of these issues in my Lone Peaks, so not sure what went so wrong with these.
This version is easily my fav so far and is at the top of my running shoe rotation.Likes: zero drop, low stack, good proprioception, fairly responsive midsole, decent grip, wide enough toe box for toe/metatarsal splay, very good heel & midfoot lockdown, removable rock plate (my wife leaves her's in all the time & the opp is true for me), simplified upper & significantly improved aesthetics compared to previous versions (subjectively speaking, the cleaner simpler appearance looks great). This versions feels more balanced than its predecessors & is the first version that disappears into the background of a run, forgotten about it in a good way. For me, the toe box of the predecessors felt disjointed from the rest of the shoe, creating a floppy distraction on trail ... MoreThis version is easily my fav so far and is at the top of my running shoe rotation.Likes: zero drop, low stack, good proprioception, fairly responsive midsole, decent grip, wide enough toe box for toe/metatarsal splay, very good heel & midfoot lockdown, removable rock plate (my wife leaves her's in all the time & the opp is true for me), simplified upper & significantly improved aesthetics compared to previous versions (subjectively speaking, the cleaner simpler appearance looks great). This versions feels more balanced than its predecessors & is the first version that disappears into the background of a run, forgotten about it in a good way. For me, the toe box of the predecessors felt disjointed from the rest of the shoe, creating a floppy distraction on trail runs (so they've all quickly fallen out of the running shoe rotation, relegated to yard work).Dislikes: as a sockless runner, the welded 'seem' at the toe bumper occasionally catches my toe nails, a less-than-enjoyable experience. A strip of tenacious tape over the seam has helped eliminate that issue.Kudos Altra, appreciate the design efforts & incremental improvements.For reference, this is a trail running/racing shoe for me, it's not used as a casual or cross training shoe as mentioned in other reviews (the solstice is my cross training/lifting shoe).
The positive first: this shoe looks great aesthetically. The red gray and black is classy and sharp and there is a minimalist aspect of the shoe that keeps it from looking huge and clunky. I was looking for a zero-drop shoe with padding as my barefoot shoes are taking a bit of time to get used to (I have had to adjust my stride and gait in order to keep my heel from striking the pavement so hard). Sadly, these shoes have very little stability and when you're perching someone on top of a foot cushion for a good portion of the day or sending them to run in the forest over branches, rocks and uneven terrain. it seems like the rest of the shoe should keep the foot in place to some degree. As a personal trainer, I will have client stand on a cushion to challenge their ... MoreThe positive first: this shoe looks great aesthetically. The red gray and black is classy and sharp and there is a minimalist aspect of the shoe that keeps it from looking huge and clunky. I was looking for a zero-drop shoe with padding as my barefoot shoes are taking a bit of time to get used to (I have had to adjust my stride and gait in order to keep my heel from striking the pavement so hard). Sadly, these shoes have very little stability and when you're perching someone on top of a foot cushion for a good portion of the day or sending them to run in the forest over branches, rocks and uneven terrain. it seems like the rest of the shoe should keep the foot in place to some degree. As a personal trainer, I will have client stand on a cushion to challenge their balance and recruit muscle that may be inactive. But I will not do it for a few hours in a row while running. This is what this sho feels like to me. But like I said, I like the look so I am going to try to wear today for an hour or two and see if my body can adapt. But when I wore the first 2-3 days I had it, I developed hip pain which I am certain came form the instability of my ankle atop the shoe.
Disclaimer: I'm a minimalist running shoe kind of bloke, and I'm running short fast (as I can at any rate) steep runs on technical trails. This shoe's bloody nigh on perfect. First off, it's super light, this is a fast shoe. I have wide feet and the toe box is just right: accommodating but not overly spacious. I love the padded, stitched-in tongue and the softness and pliability of the uppers. With the rear lace eyelet, your foot can be bound in perfectly, snug and secure; the heel box is very supportive too: I have zero fear of the shoe spinning around on my foot or being sucked off by thick mud. The insole is pretty good too- typically I swap out insoles for superfeet (high arches) but after a few runs in these, I will probably stick with the insole as it comes. ... MoreDisclaimer: I'm a minimalist running shoe kind of bloke, and I'm running short fast (as I can at any rate) steep runs on technical trails. This shoe's bloody nigh on perfect. First off, it's super light, this is a fast shoe. I have wide feet and the toe box is just right: accommodating but not overly spacious. I love the padded, stitched-in tongue and the softness and pliability of the uppers. With the rear lace eyelet, your foot can be bound in perfectly, snug and secure; the heel box is very supportive too: I have zero fear of the shoe spinning around on my foot or being sucked off by thick mud. The insole is pretty good too- typically I swap out insoles for superfeet (high arches) but after a few runs in these, I will probably stick with the insole as it comes. The sole is good, there's feel for the terrain and adequate protection from root and rock, and most importantly the grip seems good on the deep descents. I have a short distance (about 1/4 mile) of unpaved road on one of my routes, and the shoe's fine with that but you wouldn't want to wear these for any sort of road running, that's not what they're for! As a dedicated trail shoe, for short hard runs I think this is perfect. Thank you Altra!
I'm an aggressive, fast paced, 230lb hiker with high arches. I hike a 5+ mile rolling hill, clay trail with multiple creek crossings. 50+ miles in shoe so far & fits like a glove. The heel is comfortably snug and the toe box gives my toes just the perfect amount of space. No more squishy toes! The Superior is very responsive and similar to the Escalante in fit. In fact, both these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn!I give it 4 stars due to lack of traction. I took a spill going down a steep wet hill and I've noticed a bit of slippage hitting the muddy spots on a few up hill spots, creek crossings & wet logs or tree roots.
I've been purchasing Altra for many year and I am getting tired of leaving poor reviews after the company has changed its direction from quality innovations to copycat technology and poor quality manufacturing. The sole on this shoe is pealing off after only couple of months of regular walking. Also, I rotate my shoes so use is at least less than half the time I've owned them. All I want is the Altra of old, High quality, zero drop shoes with the original shape. NOT the current, rhymes with "Choka" look alike shoes or the diluted poor quality version of an Altra classic like the "Escalante." I keep trying to find an Altra shoe to enjoy but keep getting disappointed. I feel sorry for the new Altra customers who don't know what the shoes where like before this new ... MoreI've been purchasing Altra for many year and I am getting tired of leaving poor reviews after the company has changed its direction from quality innovations to copycat technology and poor quality manufacturing. The sole on this shoe is pealing off after only couple of months of regular walking. Also, I rotate my shoes so use is at least less than half the time I've owned them. All I want is the Altra of old, High quality, zero drop shoes with the original shape. NOT the current, rhymes with "Choka" look alike shoes or the diluted poor quality version of an Altra classic like the "Escalante." I keep trying to find an Altra shoe to enjoy but keep getting disappointed. I feel sorry for the new Altra customers who don't know what the shoes where like before this new "Soft" "Sock like" no structure, poor quality, copy the other brand direction the company has taken.
I started off with altra using the superior 3 and then went through a few models of the lone peak and now Im back with the superiors. I was looking for something with a little less cushion and to try something different. The shoe has a really comfortable and snug fit, it might fit slightly small though. It feels insanely light on foot and I love how they feel to wear for both daily and hiking purposes. The materials are all feel really nice but the upper might have some slight durability issues depending on if you catch it on rocks. The upper is really thin and breathable but I don't expect it to keep water out at all for even just walking on damp grass. One small flaw that I've noticed is that I feel like the inside of my foot reaches over the edge of the midsole a ... MoreI started off with altra using the superior 3 and then went through a few models of the lone peak and now Im back with the superiors. I was looking for something with a little less cushion and to try something different. The shoe has a really comfortable and snug fit, it might fit slightly small though. It feels insanely light on foot and I love how they feel to wear for both daily and hiking purposes. The materials are all feel really nice but the upper might have some slight durability issues depending on if you catch it on rocks. The upper is really thin and breathable but I don't expect it to keep water out at all for even just walking on damp grass. One small flaw that I've noticed is that I feel like the inside of my foot reaches over the edge of the midsole a bit. It's barely a problem and I don't expect it to bother anyone else. I also love the way the burrito tongue feels. I got the white and green color and after a few months of wear they still keep their color after just a quick rinse. I highly recommend the shoe for anyone who wants a barefoot shoe that still has some cushion.
| Product dimensions | 27.94 x 10.16 x 17.78 cm |
Trailblaze your trail days with the new Superior 5. It’s light, it’s fast, and it’s trail-running-ready with a MaxTrac outsole and a multi-directional lug pattern for traction on any terrain. The updated removeable StoneGuard uses less material and is lighter weight and the “burrito” style wrap-around tongue provides a locked-in feel. Lace up and take off with the Superior 5.
Trailblaze your trail days with the new Superior 5. It’s light, it’s fast, and it’s trail-running-ready with a MaxTrac outsole and a multi-directional lug pattern for traction on any terrain. The updated removeable StoneGuard uses less material and is lighter weight and the “burrito” style wrap-around tongue provides a locked-in feel. Lace up and take off with the Superior 5.
Trailblaze your trail days with the new Superior 5. It’s light, it’s fast, and it’s trail-running-ready with a MaxTrac outsole and a multi-directional lug pattern for traction on any terrain. The updated removeable StoneGuard uses less material and is lighter weight and the “burrito” style wrap-around tongue provides a locked-in feel. Lace up and take off with the Superior 5.
Trailblaze your trail days with the new Superior 5. It’s light, it’s fast, and it’s trail-running-ready with a MaxTrac outsole and a multi-directional lug pattern for traction on any terrain. The updated removeable StoneGuard uses less material and is lighter weight and the “burrito” style wrap-around tongue provides a locked-in feel. Lace up and take off with the Superior 5.
