Does Anyone Run in Altra Shoes?

I tried the Olympus and didn't like them - they were really cushy and very wide in the toe box - way to much to the extreme I thought. I also hated the 0 drop.

I think a good with a wide toe box is the Nike Wild Horse.

I have very wide feet and run in Altras.

Trail

Tried the Olympus 1.5, hated them. Too much stack for me. I fell 3 times in 2 days running slow, not racing.

Superior 2.0, good shoe, good shape, wish it was a bit wider

Lone Peak 3.0, jury is out, don't really like the shape for my foot

Road

Impulse, ok, sole is not thin but feel minimal

This is what I noticed about transitioning to a zero drop shoe--I didn't feel it much on the trail, I suppose due to the constant changes in terrain and slope, but I really felt it in the road shoe. Go slow with the switch over if you do a lot of mileage. I changed over too fast and tweaked my Achilles in the road shoe.

The odd thing about Altras is that the foot shape seems to be different on every single shoe. They all have a wider toe box, but where the widest part of the toe box is located and the width at the heel feels different with every model.

I bought the Provision 1.5 a couple years ago and they didn't work for running. Too wide. I liked the wide toe box for walking, though.

nb fresh foam zante has a roomy toebox

no experience w altra

i agree re saucony

I won a pair of shoes at a race that should be delivered Friday. (race gave gift certificate) I got the Paradigm 2.0 as I have been running in the Hoka Clifton the last couple years which I love. Clifton has a 4 or 5 mm drop so zero drop doesn't concern me. Generally the only fit problem I have is the arch support placement.

I'll give a review but it won't be until next week.

Really like the Paradigm 1.5 - love the cushion, and with that extra cushion the 0-drop isn't as hard on your achilles. Also are really light - great overall shoe. Also like the Lone Peaks, and enjoyed the original Olympus - not as much of a fan of the 1.5.

When I switch into a pair of "normal" toebox shoes, they actually feel constricting now. Big Altra fan.

Agree with other post that said they were too cushioned. I am used to zero drop shoes, but my Achilles couldn't handle the sinking of the sole. If they had a more dense shoe I'd be a big fan.

Big fan of Altra Shoes.

I have run in numerous pairs of The One's. They are great for pretty much any run (long runs, easy days, tempos). They have plenty of toe space, are super comfortable, and feel very lightweight (my favorite aspect of the shoe). I have logged well over 500 miles in every pair that I have owned. I could honestly keep going in them, but the upper begins to rip off on the outsides.

However, for rocky paths and trails, I find that The One's easily catch little pebbles in between the outer soles of the shoes. This gets very frustrating as it can happen often. So when it comes to trail running I use the Superiors which is essentially the trail version of The One. They are a little heavier (still pretty light though, in the 8-9oz. range), but have fantastic traction for the trails. The downside here is that they seem to be less durable, with the same outer edge of the upper ripping off at around 300-400 miles.

I have gotten to the point where almost all of my running is done between these shoes. I highly recommend them to anyone interested. The zero drop may take some getting used to (i.e. tight calves initially). However, I do believe that this brand of shoe is fantastic for perfecting your gait. I use to have perpetual shin splints, but since I switched to Altra shoes (almost 3 years ago), I haven't had a single running injury.

Their 'racing flat' the One is nice, its lasted a few hundred miles without detrimental wear. Relatively earlier into their life on my feet, however, i noticed some ripping near the front of the inner foot in the upper of the shoe, near its connection to the lower cushion. It hasn't separated completely after several more weeks of wear on various surfaces like concrete, grassy and rocky trail, and snow. It doesn't shield too well from wet weather, however.

I picked up a pair of Instinct 2.0 on sale. I like the overall shape. Very much agree with others that this is a soft shoe, so this may not appeal to everyone. I tend to mix them in with other shoes, as I do have some Achilles strain on my left foot if I use the a lot.

I do wish that both the tongue and laces were a bit longer.

I also agree with the prior poster on the NB Zante as being wider... They are really pointy toed relative to the Altar, so I needed 1/2 size up to be comfy for my long 3rd and 4th toes. The outdoors are also a bit thin and I very much land on the outside of my mission and wore them out more quickly than I had hoped.

Maybe as a drill shoe/slow recovery shoe (Altra) I have been through the adaptation process even wear Vans, skate shoes everyday to help but the Achilles always seem to get too tight and turns into tighter/weaker calves/hamstrings. This tightening along the chain eventually ends with a tightness/tenderness on the patella tendon because of all the other tightness bringing the load too favored on the center of the knee.

So far I've had progress with Brooks launch 2s (the 3s are too narrow) 4s come out next month and wider) and Asics Dynaflyte. Both these shoes start out somewhat soft but seem to firm up past 50miles. Bottom line if your sensitive to lower drop you may be headed toward the very things (Achilles, runners knee) Altra says zero drop will alleviate. Brooks and Asics are a 8-10 drop but they have a good balance with firm/soft to keep your form even. I have also recently tried Brooks Ghost 9 couple oz. heavier but has a slight rocker feel to it which makes it smooth. G9 is listed as a 12mm drop but its continuous sole and slight rocker make for an even ride...

I've had the same foot issue as you have for the past year and a half. I got a pair of Altra The One's for the wide toebox and initially had mixed results. In the last 3 months or so, I've run 3 times a week alternating shoes each time and managed (knock wood) to stay pain free. The shoes in my rotation are The Ones, an older (4 years) pair of Go Runs (wide toe box) and a pair of Skora's, which I really like. For me, the Altra's work best when I don't run in them exclusively.

Topo athletic shoes. Basically Altra copies but with 5 mm drop.

Wide Toe Box Needed wrote:

Sorry for the boring topic that's actually running related, but I am looking for feedback on Altra running shoes. I have chronic metatarsalgia and need a shoe with plenty of room in the toe box to allow my toes to splay, and I've heard that Altras are constructed with this in mind.

I used to run in Saucony shoes almost exclusively, but as the years have passed, Saucony has gotten away from the "narrow heel - wide toe box" construction that was par for many of their models.

I am interested in hearing feedback on specific Altra models, both for road and trail shoes. Also, if anyone has recommendations besides Altra, I'd appreciate the info.

Thanks.

I generally run in Asics, but when I started developing metatarsal pain I tried Altras, both for running (road, don't run much on trails) and their rather unattractive dress shoes. The pain left in about 10 days. I continue to wear them in my shoe rotation or anytime I feel the least twinge. They also helped with achilles tendonitis for me.

Definitely worth a try along with various stretches/strengthening exercises. But the Altras definitely made a difference for me.

Have had at least 10 pairs of Altra shoes because I need forefoot room due to bunions. I didn't like Lone Peak.

My favorite is the track spike which have enough room for Correct Toes.

The Nike Free Run Distance is a good alternative.

Which Sauconys did you run in?

The Superior (Altra's light trail shoe) and the One 2.5 (their light trainer) are far and away my two favorite running shoes. I wore the original Instinct when it came out because I was looking for a wide shoe - it helped with the problems I was having, but it was stiff and I didn't really like it. I still feel that way about most of their other shoes, but these two are flexible and incredibly comfortable in my opinion. To each their own I suppose. Good luck!

I've been running in Lone Peak 3s for 6 months now. I always run on grass. I love them.

I have the same issue. I had surgery first which was a major improvement, but was not 100% and regular width shoes would irritate it. Since switching to Altras post surgery, I almost never have any pain. I wear the intuition and it's held up really well.

I dig Altras. I too suffered from chronic metatarsalgia, thought I'd never be able to run again (unless I could somehow manage to mentally overcome the feeling of stomping on legos with each stride), and had my life changed with their shoes. My first pair was the Instinct 1.5, and after getting over the goofy feeling of increased weight and width of the shoe, I came to love it. It will forever be my favorite shoe of all time, and each new pair of Altras that I've bought has been in an effort to replicate the greatness that was the Instinct 1.5. I fear if they don't get some consistency in their sizing that they might be on the way out, and I know that clearance rack at my local store is filled with their ugly-ass color schemed shoes, but I'll keep buying their stuff. Nothing has come close to the comfort of that first pair of Instinct 1.5s (my latest pair is the Torin 2.0, and I've tried out the 3sum, the One, and the Instinct 3.0, all of which I'd give good reviews, but not the 5/5 review that I'd give to the Instinct 1.5). Give them a shot. The Instinct 2.0 was just too squishy for me, and the Instinct 3.0 is a step in the direction of the 1.5 again, but just not quite there yet. I can no longer wear any other shoes. Ever. Walking, running, at work, to church (who am I kidding, I don't go to church), and on dates. You name it, I'm in Altras.