Altra Escalante 1.5

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!

For those of us with wide feet or those looking for a wide toe box shoe, almost any pair of Altras is a great choice. The wide toe box is a big focus of Altra shoes, and yet some models have more spacious toe boxes than others.

Finding a wide running shoe is not always easy as most tend to run narrow and even extra-wide sizes, can still press against the toes. Altra shoes have a great toe box design and the comfort level is higher than most any other running shoe that I have tried.

It may take a little bit of an adjustment looking down and seeing a wider, front of your running shoe, but this quickly feels natural and the comfort is well worth it!

The name Escalante sounds a bit like the Escalade truck made by Cadillac and maybe this is no coincidence. Both Altras and Cadillacs are known for their unique design and high level of comfort.

A Cadillac Escalade is a spacious, comfortable car, and the Altra Escalante allows toes to spread out, improving toe splay and providing a smooth and comfortable running experience.

Day to day use

Altras, especially the Escalante, is one of the few types of running shoes that I can comfortably wear throughout the entire day.

This was a big factor for me in switching to Altras as a fitness trainer, Physical Education teacher, and someone who needs to be in comfortable athletic shoes all day long.

If you are in a profession that requires comfortable shoes, these could be a great all-day footwear option for you to consider. There are a number of types of athletic shoes out there that have the sock-like, ultra-comfortable feel.

The Escalante is in this category as well, but with features that make the shoe better for running and more durable. The Altra Escalante has the classic Altra “wide toe box” but also the stretchy mesh fabric that makes it feel as though you are wearing a sock.

The shoe has tremendous comfort and is also very light and has a nicely cushioned, zero drop, sole.

Stability

In my opinion, many shoes of this sock-like mesh nature generally have issues with stability, and comparatively the Altras have better stability, but not perfect.

The stretchy material, which makes the shoes super comfortable and cool on the feet, does not succeed in really holding the foot firmly in place.

They are also not so good for quick changes of direction and could be a potential problem for those prone to twisting ankles.

I have played sports involving quick changes of direction in them and my foot has slid over the side of the sole. The mesh seems to loosen with time, which can make this even more of a problem.

If I go out on a nice and easy run where I am “cruising” or not changing direction so much, the shoe is very comfortable and does the job well.

For pushing myself to run faster or do tougher courses, I would prefer to use a different shoe because of the Escalante’s lack of stability and lack of attachment to my foot.

Sole

The sole is a medium thickness, zero drop, very comfortable and springy, and suited largely for road running. I really like zero drop shoes and I have gotten used to running with them.

However, I know that for some who are transitioning, the zero drop can feel a bit less cushiony. Zero drop means that the sole is the same thickness from front to back.

It is different from most running shoes, which are stacked higher in the back. A higher back promotes more sitting back on your heels while running.

Wearing zero drop shoes or minimalist shoes, force you to run more on the balls of the feet where your foot is naturally more cushioned.

There are several benefits of learning to run on the front of your foot such as:

• The front is the naturally cushioned part of the foot that best absorbs shock (much better than the heel) and thus is healthier for the body.
• Running on the front of the foot is better for sprinting and running fast (watch how sprinters never touch the ground with their heels).
• Running on the front of the foot also forces you to have more mindful and form oriented running and it provides a better leg workout, especially in the calf muscles.

Prior to Altras, I was running with minimalist shoes that have almost no sole cushion, which really forced me to run on my forefoot with proper form.

I felt that for longer runs, I needed shoes that were still a bit cushiony but also forced me to run with proper form.

Fortunately, Altras have provided me with a good mix of zero drop, but with a sole that has some nice cushion to help out during longer runs.

The Escalante sole is designed for road running in that it doesn’t have too deep lugs of a trail running shoe.

And, although the shoe does perform fine off-road, the sides start to peel a bit from the trail running and the shoe starts to look less aesthetic quicker than would a normal trail running shoe.

Aesthetic

The shoe has a nice mesh design and looks sharp. It has a bit less of the “duck-like” front of the shoe look than some other Altras, due to the mesh.

I like to wear the shoe as a day to day shoe because of the comfort and also because they look sharp and respectable for my work as a fitness trainer and Phys Ed teacher.

Summary

Many people enjoy running in the Altra Escalante, and it is sold primarily as a running shoe. I have run a considerable amount in them and have enjoyed jogging with them on easy courses.

They are light, very comfortable, and look good. As mentioned, I get nervous by their lack of stability, which is common in this type of mesh shoe.

For running, I generally prefer a shoe that feels like it is solidly attached to my foot. As a trainer wearing a shoe all day, a little bit of give and flexibility in the shoe is okay.

The comfort and lightweight nature of the shoe make them a great all-day footwear option. The shoe is also well-made and durable.

This is not always the case with shoes in this genre, and the mesh ventilates well and keeps the foot from overheating. I am a huge fan of Altras, and this is a good shoe for easier road running, walking, and all-day use.