Last updated at 01/31/2025 01:21:49
originally posted on altrarunning.com
I've logged thousands of miles on Paradigms. These are a huge miss, especially since the 6's. I wore these on several training runs prior to a marathon and they felt like boards on the feet, a much different feel from other models. My knees hurt after each run, i figured it was just the break in period, which I've never really experienced on other Altra's. I wore these in a marathon and about half way in my feet were on fire... it felt like every time my foot struck the ground I was hitting a brick, very odd coming from such a historically good shoe. Whatever they did on the 7 was a big mistake. Wish I could get back to the comfort and feel of the Paradigm 6's. Sent these back.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
Have these shoes for about 7 month now, they are very comfortable and I use them for my day to day. As you can see from the photos, they been lightly walked but the heel collar decided to give up. Called customer service explained them the situation and got the following response: "Thank you for contacting Altra! As per our conversation. We have looked into your issue. Finding a shoe that has less cushion would prevent heel slippage which could be the cause of the hole wearing in your shoe. The Torin and Paradigm shoes are similar which is why you may be having issues with both. The Escalante 4 may be a better option to prevent further issues". So as you can see, it is me, a person with severe knee injury that needs cushioned shoes for my day to day that at fault ... MoreHave these shoes for about 7 month now, they are very comfortable and I use them for my day to day. As you can see from the photos, they been lightly walked but the heel collar decided to give up. Called customer service explained them the situation and got the following response: "Thank you for contacting Altra! As per our conversation. We have looked into your issue. Finding a shoe that has less cushion would prevent heel slippage which could be the cause of the hole wearing in your shoe. The Torin and Paradigm shoes are similar which is why you may be having issues with both. The Escalante 4 may be a better option to prevent further issues". So as you can see, it is me, a person with severe knee injury that needs cushioned shoes for my day to day that at fault and I should use less cushioned shoes that exacerbate my pain. Thank you Altra for the quality shoes made for runners ...
originally posted on altrarunning.com
The paradigm 6 is SO much better than this iteration. The only 'positive' thing I can say is that they are lighter, but I never had a problem with the weight of them anyway. Here are a few of my issues: - The midsole feels more stiff and less cushioned. My feet were actually sore after running in these. - The outsole offers almost no traction. I was slipping on small frost patches the road on the third day of use. After around 40 miles of use, there is visible wearing of the outsole. - The toe box is smaller and stiffer. The tops of my toes were irritated by being rubbed by the toe cap. This is the second line of Altras that have gotten worse in their latest version; the Escalante 3 was a letdown for me too. Returning these. Hopefully, I can find a few pairs of 6s ... MoreThe paradigm 6 is SO much better than this iteration. The only 'positive' thing I can say is that they are lighter, but I never had a problem with the weight of them anyway. Here are a few of my issues: - The midsole feels more stiff and less cushioned. My feet were actually sore after running in these. - The outsole offers almost no traction. I was slipping on small frost patches the road on the third day of use. After around 40 miles of use, there is visible wearing of the outsole. - The toe box is smaller and stiffer. The tops of my toes were irritated by being rubbed by the toe cap. This is the second line of Altras that have gotten worse in their latest version; the Escalante 3 was a letdown for me too. Returning these. Hopefully, I can find a few pairs of 6s in my size so I can have a decent shoe for a while. Maybe the 8s will be better?
| Shoe Type | Road Running |
| Foot Type | Stability |
I've logged thousands of miles on Paradigms. These are a huge miss, especially since the 6's. I wore these on several training runs prior to a marathon and they felt like boards on the feet, a much different feel from other models. My knees hurt after each run, i figured it was just the break in period, which I've never really experienced on other Altra's. I wore these in a marathon and about half way in my feet were on fire... it felt like every time my foot struck the ground I was hitting a brick, very odd coming from such a historically good shoe. Whatever they did on the 7 was a big mistake. Wish I could get back to the comfort and feel of the Paradigm 6's. Sent these back.
Have these shoes for about 7 month now, they are very comfortable and I use them for my day to day. As you can see from the photos, they been lightly walked but the heel collar decided to give up. Called customer service explained them the situation and got the following response: "Thank you for contacting Altra! As per our conversation. We have looked into your issue. Finding a shoe that has less cushion would prevent heel slippage which could be the cause of the hole wearing in your shoe. The Torin and Paradigm shoes are similar which is why you may be having issues with both. The Escalante 4 may be a better option to prevent further issues". So as you can see, it is me, a person with severe knee injury that needs cushioned shoes for my day to day that at fault ... MoreHave these shoes for about 7 month now, they are very comfortable and I use them for my day to day. As you can see from the photos, they been lightly walked but the heel collar decided to give up. Called customer service explained them the situation and got the following response: "Thank you for contacting Altra! As per our conversation. We have looked into your issue. Finding a shoe that has less cushion would prevent heel slippage which could be the cause of the hole wearing in your shoe. The Torin and Paradigm shoes are similar which is why you may be having issues with both. The Escalante 4 may be a better option to prevent further issues". So as you can see, it is me, a person with severe knee injury that needs cushioned shoes for my day to day that at fault and I should use less cushioned shoes that exacerbate my pain. Thank you Altra for the quality shoes made for runners ...
The paradigm 6 is SO much better than this iteration. The only 'positive' thing I can say is that they are lighter, but I never had a problem with the weight of them anyway. Here are a few of my issues: - The midsole feels more stiff and less cushioned. My feet were actually sore after running in these. - The outsole offers almost no traction. I was slipping on small frost patches the road on the third day of use. After around 40 miles of use, there is visible wearing of the outsole. - The toe box is smaller and stiffer. The tops of my toes were irritated by being rubbed by the toe cap. This is the second line of Altras that have gotten worse in their latest version; the Escalante 3 was a letdown for me too. Returning these. Hopefully, I can find a few pairs of 6s ... MoreThe paradigm 6 is SO much better than this iteration. The only 'positive' thing I can say is that they are lighter, but I never had a problem with the weight of them anyway. Here are a few of my issues: - The midsole feels more stiff and less cushioned. My feet were actually sore after running in these. - The outsole offers almost no traction. I was slipping on small frost patches the road on the third day of use. After around 40 miles of use, there is visible wearing of the outsole. - The toe box is smaller and stiffer. The tops of my toes were irritated by being rubbed by the toe cap. This is the second line of Altras that have gotten worse in their latest version; the Escalante 3 was a letdown for me too. Returning these. Hopefully, I can find a few pairs of 6s in my size so I can have a decent shoe for a while. Maybe the 8s will be better?
I purchased a pair of Altra Paradigms in the middle April of 2023. 4 months later they are already wearing out. The heel cups are disintegrating. Each heel cup now has a hole. In comparison, I have had Keen trail shoes that lasted 3 years before they even started to wear out. These Altra shoes are supposed to be designed for Ultra marathons. Good luck with that. At 50 miles you may have holes in your heel cups. At $170.00 a pair and $85.00 per shoe, one would expect quality materials that last. There is no excuse for using poor quality construction in a shoe that boasts about being innovative and used for long hard races. It just shows you that a company can spend lots of money on slick videos that show down to earth dudes talking with pride about the groundbreaking ... MoreI purchased a pair of Altra Paradigms in the middle April of 2023. 4 months later they are already wearing out. The heel cups are disintegrating. Each heel cup now has a hole. In comparison, I have had Keen trail shoes that lasted 3 years before they even started to wear out. These Altra shoes are supposed to be designed for Ultra marathons. Good luck with that. At 50 miles you may have holes in your heel cups. At $170.00 a pair and $85.00 per shoe, one would expect quality materials that last. There is no excuse for using poor quality construction in a shoe that boasts about being innovative and used for long hard races. It just shows you that a company can spend lots of money on slick videos that show down to earth dudes talking with pride about the groundbreaking designs and features of their shoes, and then the same dudes make the shoes fast and cheap and sell them to saps enamored by their bunkum. Hey if you want to spend $170.00 on disposable shoes that only last a few months, then go for it. Oh, and the tongues of the shoes constantly slide to the side. Maybe the hip dudes at Altra can find an innovation to stop that. (Hint: Look at every other running shoe in the market.) They call their designs “groundbreaking,” that’s because when you use them on the ground… they break.
I use these shoes as an all around shoe including mild hiking. I have issues with pronation and found the Paradigm 5 really worked well for both pronation and cushioning. When I tried the P6, for me it had lost much of its pronation assistance but retained the same cushioning. I found the P7 to be much firmer even hard with a harsh feel especially on hard surfaces. This is a bit confusing being high cushioning is what Altra is known for designing into their shoes. The P7 did help stabilize pronation better than the P6. But I found the P7 to be so firm that I returned them.
I've been running in the last two gens of the Paradigm for a little while now and is a great shoe, this new one is no exception in terms of fit and performance. However, the Black color this year is NOT black at all...not even close. It is a deep hunter green fabric with black accents. Contacted Altra and they are aware of the issue and the misleading photos but they didn't say why it happened or when they will fix them. I normally go for bright shoes, but I really wanted just a pair of black shoes for a trip so they would be a little less loud...while these are dark, they are absolutely green in the day light and it's hard to unsee it. Will probably just keep them since I need a high milage walking shoe....but such a disappointment on the color. The only up side is ... MoreI've been running in the last two gens of the Paradigm for a little while now and is a great shoe, this new one is no exception in terms of fit and performance. However, the Black color this year is NOT black at all...not even close. It is a deep hunter green fabric with black accents. Contacted Altra and they are aware of the issue and the misleading photos but they didn't say why it happened or when they will fix them. I normally go for bright shoes, but I really wanted just a pair of black shoes for a trip so they would be a little less loud...while these are dark, they are absolutely green in the day light and it's hard to unsee it. Will probably just keep them since I need a high milage walking shoe....but such a disappointment on the color. The only up side is that the sole is medium gray...not white like the picture.
This review only covers the fit of the shoe. I wear a 10.5 and own the Torin 7 wide. They are a perfect fit for my foot width. These are 10.5 wide for the Paradigm and they are too narrow for my feet. There is plenty of toe room, but immediately after the toe cup the material digs into the sides. In addition my foot doesn't quite fit the shape of the insoles and given the amount of toe space I am hesitant to size up to an 11 or 11.5. Given the Torin 7 success I had hope for another Altra "wide" model. I wish we had more original foot shaped or wide options for road running shoes.
Thank you, Altra for giving us the only zero-drop stability shoes with moderate/high cushion in the market. As someone who has had knee surgery and back issues, this shoe is a godsend. Super comfortable and stable. The arch support and the guidance rails are perfect. Please don't change this combination Altra or discontinue this line. My only request to Altra is to give us a trail version of this gem! Currently, none of the Altra trail shoes have an arch support and guidance system.
I received this running shoe as free product to test. I have not used Altra before and was pleasantly surprised on the comfort of the shoe. The design and comfort of the bottom sole is unique and is formed to help you during the run while providing the support/cushioning where it is needed most. The shoe is light and breathable and the neutral color scheme with a touch of color was a good mix. My only complaint with the shoe was it seemed like they could tighten the top of the foot. I liked the width for my feet, but there seemed to be too much material on top of my foot that wasn't doing anything and made it slightly loose above the toe. It wasn't terribly bothersome because of the light material, but if the company is looking for something to change that would be ... MoreI received this running shoe as free product to test. I have not used Altra before and was pleasantly surprised on the comfort of the shoe. The design and comfort of the bottom sole is unique and is formed to help you during the run while providing the support/cushioning where it is needed most. The shoe is light and breathable and the neutral color scheme with a touch of color was a good mix. My only complaint with the shoe was it seemed like they could tighten the top of the foot. I liked the width for my feet, but there seemed to be too much material on top of my foot that wasn't doing anything and made it slightly loose above the toe. It wasn't terribly bothersome because of the light material, but if the company is looking for something to change that would be my only recommendation. Overall a solid choice in the running category that I will keep in mind during my next purchase.
Myself: I'm typically putting in 15-20 miles of running every week. My normal running shoe is the Adidas Adistar 2.0 but my racing shoe is the Adidas Adios Pro 2. I have a fairly neutral gait with a slight over pronation. Specs/Looks: The shoes came in at 318 grams or 11.2 oz (size 10.5) which is a decent weight for the price of shoe. Overall construction appears to be well made with no apparent flaws in the shoes I received. The color scheme (grey with yellow) isn't the best but given they have other colors to chose from, I would choose another color. The venting in the toe and sides are decent but the amount of material would lead the foot to get hot on longer runs especially in the summer. There is ample padding on the back of the ankle with two reflective strips ... MoreMyself: I'm typically putting in 15-20 miles of running every week. My normal running shoe is the Adidas Adistar 2.0 but my racing shoe is the Adidas Adios Pro 2. I have a fairly neutral gait with a slight over pronation. Specs/Looks: The shoes came in at 318 grams or 11.2 oz (size 10.5) which is a decent weight for the price of shoe. Overall construction appears to be well made with no apparent flaws in the shoes I received. The color scheme (grey with yellow) isn't the best but given they have other colors to chose from, I would choose another color. The venting in the toe and sides are decent but the amount of material would lead the foot to get hot on longer runs especially in the summer. There is ample padding on the back of the ankle with two reflective strips for being seen while running. There is also sufficient tread on the bottom all around which appears to favor all-around running styles and road conditions. Who are they good for: I would rate these shoes as great for the average runner than is putting in more than 10 miles each week. If you are a walker or go for a jog every so often I would pass on these given the price. These shoes are best for runners who have a slightly wider foot and primarily runs with a heel strike with a supination landing (appears it would move the foot more neutral). These would be a good shoe for your normal everyday sort of runs under 8 miles. Anything more and you might want to look for a shoe with a carbon insert. I would be curious how their top-tier shoes would work on those longer runs or races. Positive: I really liked the amount of room in the toe of the shoe. Unlike some other brands which narrow the toe, Altra provides a wider toe for comfort. The shoe also has a decent amount of springiness even when walking in them. This is due to the considerable thickness of foam in the arch and heel. The construction of the shoe is very well done and appears it would hold up for many miles of running. I found it easy to use an insole insert in these given the amount of room in the shoe, while still being able to tighten the shoes snugly even without the insert. Negative: The negatives I am listing are mostly due to these shoes not fitting my running style. I run in a neutral gait with a slight inner pronation. These shoes caused my foot to land then my heel to roll back. This caused more fatigue on my shins than normal. I added an insole during my run which helped level off my foot which did help some. This shouldn't be an issue if your running style is more of a heel strike though. I also had more shin hits from the shoe due to the inner pronation of the shoe. The shoe also caused me to land awkward at times because of this design. Overall Thoughts: I feel these shoes are a decent mid-level running shoe for the right type of runner. The shoe has a medium amount of cushion in the mid to heel giving the runner ample protection from the pounding of the road. The toe of the shoe is roomy giving the foot plenty of space to breath on those longer runs. The lighter weight of the shoe will make those long runs easier and more enjoyable. The amount of tread on the bottom should hold up for a couple hundred miles also. If you can get these on sale and your running style matches these, I would give them a try.
| Shoe Type | Road Running |
| Foot Type | Stability |
The Altra Paradigm 7 gives you maximum cushion and support for every mile. Altra reformulated its EGOtrade MAX midsole material to make it softer and lighter than ever before. The Paradigm has Altrarsquos signature Balanced Cushioning that has the same stack height in the heel and forefoot (or 0 mm heel to toe drop) to give you a natural stride. Altrarsquos GuideRailstrade provide stability and support only when you need it, like when your legs are toast during the late stages of a run. The upper also has a lacing system that provides support and structure for your feet. A plush collar and tongue provide premium comfort and a fantastic fit. The engineered mesh upper gives you plenty of breathability, while the wider toe box allows your toes to wiggle and gives you more stability. Whether you are walking for your health or running to relieve stress, the Altra Paradigm 7 provides the stability and cushion you crave.
The Altra Paradigm 7 gives you maximum cushion and support for every mile. Altra reformulated its EGOtrade MAX midsole material to make it softer and lighter than ever before. The Paradigm has Altrarsquos signature Balanced Cushioning that has the same stack height in the heel and forefoot (or 0 mm heel to toe drop) to give you a natural stride. Altrarsquos GuideRailstrade provide stability and support only when you need it, like when your legs are toast during the late stages of a run. The upper also has a lacing system that provides support and structure for your feet. A plush collar and tongue provide premium comfort and a fantastic fit. The engineered mesh upper gives you plenty of breathability, while the wider toe box allows your toes to wiggle and gives you more stability. Whether you are walking for your health or running to relieve stress, the Altra Paradigm 7 provides the stability and cushion you crave.
The Altra Paradigm 7 gives you maximum cushion and support for every mile. Altra reformulated its EGOtrade MAX midsole material to make it softer and lighter than ever before. The Paradigm has Altrarsquos signature Balanced Cushioning that has the same stack height in the heel and forefoot (or 0 mm heel to toe drop) to give you a natural stride. Altrarsquos GuideRailstrade provide stability and support only when you need it, like when your legs are toast during the late stages of a run. The upper also has a lacing system that provides support and structure for your feet. A plush collar and tongue provide premium comfort and a fantastic fit. The engineered mesh upper gives you plenty of breathability, while the wider toe box allows your toes to wiggle and gives you more stability. Whether you are walking for your health or running to relieve stress, the Altra Paradigm 7 provides the stability and cushion you crave.
The Altra Paradigm 7 gives you maximum cushion and support for every mile. Altra reformulated its EGOtrade MAX midsole material to make it softer and lighter than ever before. The Paradigm has Altrarsquos signature Balanced Cushioning that has the same stack height in the heel and forefoot (or 0 mm heel to toe drop) to give you a natural stride. Altrarsquos GuideRailstrade provide stability and support only when you need it, like when your legs are toast during the late stages of a run. The upper also has a lacing system that provides support and structure for your feet. A plush collar and tongue provide premium comfort and a fantastic fit. The engineered mesh upper gives you plenty of breathability, while the wider toe box allows your toes to wiggle and gives you more stability. Whether you are walking for your health or running to relieve stress, the Altra Paradigm 7 provides the stability and cushion you crave.
