Altra Escalante 1.5

Altra Escalante 1.5 - The most comfortable running shoe

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About half a year ago, I got my first pair of Altra shoes - the Superior 3.5. Running in the Superior 3.5 was such a profound experience that when I needed a new pair of more road-suitable running shoes, I looked towards Altra.

I soon found the Escalante, and as soon as they released the Escalante 1.5 in Europe, I got myself a pair. I don't know how to put this in terms that will not completely blow this review. The Escalante 1.5 is simply the most comfortable running shoe I have tried in my entire 25 years of running marathons and ultras.

Simple, classic yet stylish looking one-piece knit upper.

Not only is it super comfortable, but it is also springy, fast and light. What more could a recreational ultra-runner wish for? Well, let's have a closer look!

Fit

The Escalante is comfortable right out of the box. The upper is extremely soft and pliable - hardly a shoe! More like a comfy sock with a cushy outsole. It is made up of a thin and breathable fabric, and ventilation is excellent.

The soft and thin knitted upper provides super ventilation but also poor protection against the elements.

Heel & collar

The heel cup is rather wide, and the ankle collar sits at a standard height. There is a lot of foam within the collar itself, whereas the lower sections of the heel cup consist of two layers of fabric only. This gives a nice soft and hugging feel around the heel and ankle.

Heavily cushioned ankle collar and thin tongue.

Tongue

The tongue is extremely simple and thin. It is an independent unit and attached to the shoe at the very bottom of the instep only. This is perfectly in line with the rest of the shoe - light and simple.

However, also one of my major gripes with it. Not a deal-breaker but definitely something to take into account.

Because the upper has no structural elements, it is difficult to tie the Escalante properly. Either they end up too soft, resulting in a fair amount of in-shoe-sliding and little control or you tighten them too much ending up hurting your instep.

Zero drop (no head-to-toe offset) and no real structural elements in the upper.

Looks

The Escalante comes in many colors both upper and midsole. Most colors somewhat inconspicuous, others a bit more attention-grabbing (like my Lime/blue European version).

Some are available in the US others in Europe. A common denominator for all of them is a wide midsole and a one-piece knitted upper with a flecked pattern — a stylish yet casual look in a normative package.

The Escalante is so good looking that it easily "doubles" as a sneaker. I'm certain quite a few people will wear the Escalante as an everyday shoe. Pretty much like a whole lot of major brand shoes like Nike and Adidas.

Full frontal view of the lime/blue (Europe) knit Escalante 1.5.

Performance

The Escalante is one fast shoe! The springiness of the EGO midsole and the way the entire shoe propels you forward is just phenomenal. I can't recall having this much spring in my step - ever. It is quite remarkable.

Not only is the Escalante springy it is also lightweight for its amount of cushioning. My pair (size UK 7) currently weighs in at 224 grams after 300+ km. The springiness and low weight in combination vouches for a very fast shoe.

I trialed the Escalante head-to-head against two other reasonably fast shoes. I did this by running the same half marathon (mixed trail) in all three shoes within a week. All three runs without consciously trying to control my speed (i.e., mosey on) as I always do.

The Asics DynaFlyte came in pretty much on my average speed for the route. The Inov-8 TerraClaw 220 (my favorite racing flat) was about 12 seconds faster per kilometer.

The Escalante came in one-second faster again per kilometer. An unscientific test against a rather random selection of shoes will not hold as evidence in the high court. However, it is still a fairly good indication that the Escalante is a fast shoe.

When it comes to ground-feel, I find the Escalante a bit of an odd beast. The 25mm stack height is quite sizeable, yet you still get a fairly good feel for what you are running on.

Even on soft forest-floor type trails, you are not running completely in the unknown. Somehow the EGO midsole lets you sense the track. Perhaps the very minimal outsole is the key not only to save weight but also to provide an okay ground feel.

The midsole and outsole are wide all around (as is the last). This provides a nice sense of stability and security. No fear of twisting those ankles! This is a huge plus in my book!

Wide and minimalistic outsole offers a stable, cushioned yet responsive platform.

Distance

When it comes to running far, the Escalante is quite good. I have taken mine as far as 30km on mixed road/trail, and I wouldn't mind taking on a marathon. One of the big pros for the Escalante is that they are so comfortable, and have ample room for the feet to splay and swell.

However, it is not all rosy red. The springiness and soft EGO foam also make running a bit wearisome or perhaps disagreeable is a better word. They provide too little support near nothing from the upper and the EGO midsole is springy is not supportive.

Hence, despite their super springiness, my feet tire and my footpads numb after a while. This is no good for an ultra.

I have also found that running consecutive long runs in my Altra shoes (e.g., alternating between Escalante and Superior) I end up with a niggling pain on the outwards lateral side of my feet.

If I then switch to more supportive shoes for a while, the pain goes away. It is highly not the shoe that is to blame; rather me and my feet, but now you know there might be issues with lack of support.

Where and when to use

Because the Escalante is so light and the upper super breathable, it is a perfect shoe for summertime runs. Not so much for cold and wet conditions! As soon as there is a bit of moisture around, your feet will be instantly and constantly soaked. Hence, not much of a cold-season shoe.

Similarly, if there is a bit of dirt, sand or other bits of geology around they are bound to end up inside your Escalantes quickly. Don't even think about wearing gaiters!

Okay, perhaps not that bad but you get the drift. The Escalante is not a trail shoe!

Discussion

As a trail runner, I miss a bit more "structure" in the Escalante. Something that holds together the shoe and upper - frankly speaking, "a bit of real shoe." Because the entire shoe is so soft, you have no sense of control.

On the other hand, this is not a shoe for the rugged trails. It is clearly meant for urban conditions: straight, flat and easy routes on tarmac, footpaths and in parks.

During the six+ months, I have run in the Escalante. I have had to take the occasional break from them. This because my instep hurt as soon as I put them on.

The only way I can wear my Escalante today is having the laces very loose. This is of course, very comfortable. However, it also provides a rather sloppy fit with little control.

Had the tongue been just a tad bit thicker, it would be easier to find some sort of equilibrium lace tightness. Or perhaps a bit of structure that could help (re-)distribute the lace-tightness across the foot? Then again, if you added those bits, it wouldn't be the Escalante - or would it?

Value for money?

The Altra Escalante is expensive at $140/ EUR150. If you look for deals, you might find them on sale for less. Nevertheless, they are costly.

Are they worth it? Well, it sure is a comfortable shoe. It's light, fast and fairly good looking! So far, my pair is holding up nicely. No build issues, and wear and tear are less than what I would otherwise expect.

If I keep up their current usage, I estimate mine to last somewhere around 500 miles before retirement. Yes, I would say they are worth the money.

Conclusion

The Altra Escalante 1.5 is without a doubt the most comfortable running shoe I have ever tried. The space for your toes is phenomenal. However, extreme comfort comes at a cost. They offer little support, and you may find you lack control.

In my opinion, the Escalante 1.5 is a three-season shoe at best, and suitable for anything from urban running to light, easy trails. They are very fast and well-aligned for short to medium-long runs. Get one of the racing editions, and you'll literally be flying!

As with all Altra shoes, the Escalante has zero drop, and this may take a bit of getting used to. The sizes are reasonably large, so better try before you buy - you may be able to go half if not an entire size down.

The Escalante 1.5 is not suitable for rugged, technical or muddy trails with shoe/toe-destroying obstacles. I find that they are not suitable for ultra runs either, because of the soft midsole and minimal outsole. You may think otherwise, but go try it out, it is worth it!

Altra Escalante 1.5: The footwear of the gods

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I rolled into the running store in search of a nice, plush low drop shoe for my liking. I rolled out with possibly the best pair of shoes to ever touch my feet.

I had heard of Altra before, but I always figured that zero drop was a bit extra and rough for me. Out of pure curiosity, I requested a pair of Altra trainers, and they felt fantastic.

The Hoka Rincon, New Balance 890, and the Hoka Clifton 5s came nowhere near the comfort I had with the Escalante, so I pulled the trigger and never regretted it.

The Escalante 1.5 is a neutral trainer/racer. I use it mainly for training, but I have on occasion used it for a time trial where spikes seemed unnecessary.

They’re one of the fastest shoes I have run in, as demonstrated by a 4:50 mile time trial (pr 4:40). In addition to racing and training, I also have used them on moderate, dirt trails without much consequence.

On rocky parts, however, problems become evident, as the Escalantes are too thin and squishy to provide much protection from them.

Design

The Escalante has quite a reputation for its design. I got the blue and white colorway, but for those of more interesting tastes, it comes in much more gonzo colors such as lime green and blue.

On a team full of judgemental teenagers, it isn’t exactly Nike or Adidas, but it does look nice enough to be respectable. It goes well with both white and black socks, which is key.

Also, the shaded pattern on the Escalante makes for a subtle yet pretty aesthetic.

The only two things holding this shoe back from being a significant fashion icon are 1. Brand name recognition and 2. The wide toe box (a little unorthodox).

Fit

Be careful when picking your size. Unless you have previously worn Altra, the sizing is a little different from all other shoes due to the toe box.

With most other shoes I wear, there is a sizeable gap between the tip of my toe and the end of the shoe. This is because my second toe is smaller than my big toe.

With Altra, however, the front of the shoe is almost flat, not pointed like most other shoes. As a result, I wear half a size smaller Altra than most other shoes.

Besides sizing, though, the Escalante 1.5 felt amazing right out of the gate. Needless to say, it took next to no break-in time.

Function

The Escalante 1.5 is equipped with all of Altra’s signature features: zero drop, foot-shaped toe box, and gender-specific fit.

Zero Drop

In all Altra shoes, the front stack height is equal to the heel stack height. This means wearing the shoe feels like standing on level ground.

This is significantly different from most other companies, such as Brooks or Nike. Most mainstream shoes have around a 10 millimeter difference in stack height from the heel to the toe.

According to Altra, this drop in the heel to toe disrupts natural running form. Along with the shoes, Altra gives a cute little booklet on how to run correctly and transition to zero drop.

Although 10 millimeters might not seem like much, it is quite the change, so tread carefully.

Foot-shaped toe box

As mentioned earlier, the Escalante’s toe box is unorthodox. It looks almost club-like in comparison to most other shoes. I didn’t think too much of toe boxes until I wore the Escalante.

It is extraordinarily roomy, especially when compared to notoriously tight Nikes. I have received minor blisters from other shoes that have forced toes to rub up against one another—not in the Escalantes.

One’s foot is allowed to naturally splay out. Even if you don’t think you need it, it does wonders for comfort.

Gender-specific fit

I'm not going to elaborate too much on this. It’s a bit self-explanatory.

As a male, it doesn’t affect me, but apparently, female feet are slightly anatomically different than male feet. Altra makes shoes accordingly.

Durability

After 300-some miles, they’re still going strong. The tread is an interesting foot-shaped pattern, which has shown minor signs of wear.

Annoyingly though, my foot strike lands right in between two of the rubber portions, which wears the foam instead.

The cushion seems to have stayed nearly the same from when I first started running in them, which is good. The upper has also remained sturdy.

I’m expecting to get around 500 miles out of them, probably more.

Ride

The cushion in the Escalante 1.5 is absolutely perfect; It is just squishy enough to provide excellent comfort, but also firm enough to not become cumbersome after over 10 miles.

The ride is beyond fantastic. The midsole is extremely flexy.

As a neutral shoe, it makes no attempts to impede upon form whatsoever, which is fine by me. I strike near the midfoot, which serves well on the Escalante.

With every stride, I feel a nice strike, toe-off, strike again. Weight-wise, the Escalante isn’t exactly feather-light, but it is light enough to be barely noticeable.

It is so accommodating that I occasionally forget I am wearing shoes until I look down.

My only minor complaint, which seems to be widespread, is that when I make a sharp turn, my foot slides in a gap between the upper and midsole. Thus, it is not for agility practice.

Comfort

Comfort-wise, this is where the Escalante 1.5 shines brightest. As mentioned earlier, the midsole is the best on any shoe I have ever worn, and I have worn Ultra Boosts casually.

The upper is a nice mesh material that is well-ventilated. The tongue is a little odd because it is thin and minimal, but it has minimal movement and discomfort.

The padding around the heel is soft and non-abrasive, which is uncommon in higher performance shoes. The shoes are so comfortable that I bought another pair for everyday wear.

I have only one complaint and that is the shoelaces. The tricky little things keep untying themselves whenever they can.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, buy ‘em while you can and make sure to buy stocks because these shoes take it to the next level.

This shoe has single-handedly made me completely loyal to Altra. I yearn for the moment each day when I can don these masterpieces on my feet.

Once you’ve transitioned to zero drop, you may as well say goodbye to the prospect of owning any other shoe brands.

Have a wonderful day and remember, stay speedy!