Altra Vanish Carbon 2 review

We were eager to put the Vanish Carbon 2 through its paces, both in our lab and on the road, to determine its capabilities—and we're thrilled to recommend it for:

• Altra enthusiasts eager for a top-notch racing shoe from their favorite brand.
• Runners looking for a comfortable, low-drop competition shoe that's also suitable for both speed training and long runs.
• Individuals frustrated by the restrictive toeboxes of traditional marathon shoes, as the Vanish Carbon 2 offers a unique foot-shaped toebox.

We really liked the Vanish Carbon 2, but we do not think that it's a true supershoe—the midsole lacks energy return compared to leading models. And from our point of view, the $260 price tag should guarantee top-tier performance, yet it falls a bit short. If that's a problem for you, we suggest the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 or the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3, both superior in shaving seconds off your time.

The Vanish Carbon 2's outsole may also lack durability, making it less suited for dirt paths or gravel—common terrains for many Altra runners. For those who require a more rugged shoe, we think the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon is a better fit, designed to handle such demanding conditions effectively with its Vibram outsole.

Altra lists the Vanish Carbon 2 with a 36/36 mm stack height, but our measurements revealed a some differences. In the heel, we found it to be 33.1 mm—a minor 3 mm deviation that’s hardly noticeable.

This positions the Vanish Carbon 2 as a mid-tier racing shoe in terms of cushioning, staying well below the famous 40-mm threshold set by World Athletics. We believe this decision was likely to maintain a lightweight feel, as reaching that limit could have made the shoe significantly heavier.

After measuring the heel, we moved on to the forefoot and found it thinner than anticipated at just 29.4 mm.

While this still provides sufficient cushioning for most runners and aligns with many supershoes in this area, we believe the difference here is more significant than it should be.

Altra has recently expanded its lineup with 4-mm drop shoes like the Experience Flow, but the Vanish Carbon 2 was intended to remain a zero-drop shoe. However, our testing revealed otherwise.

After multiple measurements at the official World Athletics points for both the forefoot and heel, we discovered that the Vanish Carbon 2 has a real drop of 3.7 mm. This drop is still incredibly low compared to almost any other supershoe, and we believe it actually enhances the racing experience more than a true zero-drop would. For us, this is a positive aspect.

That said, if you're in search of a true zero-drop racing shoe, the Vanish Carbon 2 won’t meet that need, and there isn't an alternative on the market.

We haven’t referred to the Vanish Carbon 2 as a supershoe in this review, and this was intentional. We believe that Ego Pro is still a step below what we consider "superfoams." In other words—it lacks the explosive energy return seen in foams like ZoomX, FF Turbo+, or Lightstrike Pro.

Don't get us wrong—Ego Pro (TPE) is a great foam with great resilience and durability. However, it doesn't deliver the top-tier pop that defines the best of the best. In our opinion, a supershoe must feature a premier foam to qualify.

Altra followed the classic Vaporfly formula, using two slabs of foam with different densities and placing a carbon plate in between. The firmer layer, which we measured at 22.8 HA on our durometer, is positioned above the carbon plate. As a result, the underfoot feel leans toward the firmer side.

Beneath the carbon plate, there’s a second layer of Ego Pro, but this time Altra has tweaked the formula to make it remarkably airy and plush, measuring just 9.9 HA.

This creates a noticeably softer feel upon ground contact. This setup follows the winning formula of many supershoes—firmer foam compresses the plate, while the softer layer beneath delivers a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Ego Pro may not be a superfoam in our view, but it's certainly no ordinary EVA foam. We tested its performance under cold conditions and were impressed.

After 20 minutes in the freezer, we measured only a 12.1% increase with our durometer—a solid result.

The insole, measuring just 3.7 mm in thickness, perfectly aligns with what we expect from a shoe designed for speed. 

The Vanish Carbon 2 showcases a subtle early-stage rocker in the forefoot—ideal for midfoot and forefoot strikers. However, despite the rocker, we appreciate that the shoe maintains a more natural running feel compared to other supershoes, making it much easier to handle underfoot.

We also think that this isn't a shoe built for heel strikers at all—it simply doesn't support that footstrike, and the zero-drop philosophy inherent in its design only solidifies that focus.

It took until 2024 for Altra to launch a full-length carbon-plated road shoe, as the first-gen Vanish Carbon only featured a partial plate.

Thanks to our love for buying shoes and cutting them in half, you can see it boasts a curved, spoon-shaped plate similar to the one in the Nike Vaporfly 3. This feature is essential as it significantly enhances turnover and stability, providing a stiff and responsive ride that Altra shoes had not offered before.

Initially, the Vanish Carbon 2's wide toebox had us concerned—it seemed too roomy for a racing shoe, which typically requires a snug fit. However, once we slipped the shoe on, we encountered a peculiar sensation—it felt both tight and spacious simultaneously.

The upper offers enough vertical space yet maintains a snug fit.

To clarify our initial impression, we measured the broadest part of the toebox and discovered it was 96.2 mm wide, explaining why it felt tighter compared to other Altra models.

Our second measurement at the big toe area really solved the puzzle—measuring a mind-boggling 86.1 mm, it’s exceptionally wide compared to typical racing shoes.

This showcases Altra's iconic foot-shaped toebox, which provides generous space for toe splay, offering a spacious feel that excels during long-distance runs. Simultaneously, it fits securely around the ball of the foot.

Although this distinctive design may initially seem odd to some, we've found that it's exactly what makes it a perfect racing shoe for those familiar with Altra’s anatomical toeboxes or runners with wide feet.

The Vanish Carbon 2 offers a mixed bag when it comes to stability. We found that it has several strong points, such as its low-drop geometry, supportive midsole sidewalls, and a stiff carbon plate. However, its relatively narrow landing platform and higher stack height compared to other Altras can deliver a slightly unstable ride for some runners.

Based on our lab analysis, we recommend this shoe only for neutral runners, like most racing shoes anyway.

Our hands-on assessment of the Vanish Carbon 2's torsional rigidity earned it a 5/5 rating, precisely what we anticipated from a shoe equipped with a carbon-fiber plate.

Naturally, this places the shoe far from delivering a natural feel underfoot. If you’re looking for a more flexible and grounded experience, we recommend considering the Altra Escalante Racer 2 instead. It may not be as snappy or cushioned, but with running shoes, performance always involves trade-offs.

The heel counter on this shoe is super flexible, which contributes to the race-fit feel we were aiming for.

After our tests, we rated it a 1/5 in stiffness, which might make it feel unstable for heel strikers. It's another reason we believe this shoe is better suited for forefoot and midfoot strikers.

At first glance, the toebox shape might suggest a wider sole, but it’s purely an optical illusion!

Our detailed measurements with digital calipers revealed a forefoot width of 104.8 mm, categorizing this Altra among the narrower and more agile racing shoes available in the market.

We then examined the heel, which mirrors the design elements seen earlier. Measuring 84.8 mm, it's clearly not a good pick for heel strikers considering its drop, dimensions, and support in that area.

Remember those outsole cutouts we highlighted earlier in this lab review? They play a crucial role in making this shoe less stiff than other competition shoes.

With 27.8N in our 90-degree bend test, it's actually more flexible than models with nylon plates like the ASICS Magic Speed 4, and closer in stiffness to plateless shoes like the ASICS Superblast 2.

This flexibility makes the Vanish Carbon 2 an appealing option for runners seeking a carbon-plated shoe without the extreme stiffness typically found in supershoes.

We tested again the shoe's cold-weather performance by placing it in the freezer for 20 minutes before conducting a second 90-degree bend test. We recorded only a slight increase in stiffness—just 19.4%—showing that it maintains its flexibility even in colder conditions.

For a competitive racing shoe, we believe the weight should be comfortably under 8 oz, and the Vanish Carbon 2 fits here—tipping the scales at just 7.4 oz (210g). This marks a 0.4 oz improvement over its predecessor.

While it's not the absolute lightest on the market—our lab tests of other supershoes like the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris revealed a remarkably low weight of 6.5 oz—the Vanish Carbon 2 strikes a good balance. We found its slightly higher weight justifiable, especially given the generous amount of rubber on the outsole.

At first glance, the engineered mesh on the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 appears deceptively thin, but we remained cautious in our lab. However, our initial tests quickly dispelled any concerns, revealing exceptional 5-out-of-5 ventilation—so effective, in fact, we'd score it above our maximum if possible!

If we had to choose one word to describe this airflow, it’s clear in our minds: incredible!

Our examination under the light revealed the design of the upper: the toebox and midfoot are extremely thin for breathability, while the rear half is reinforced for stability. We also admired the subtle ventilation holes at the heel—a clever touch.

Under the microscope, we uncovered the secret to this extraordinary ventilation.

Despite the absence of large holes, the entire upper is composed of a network of micro gaps that promote air circulation and also allow for rapid water evacuation—ideal for rainy conditions.

The Vanish Carbon 2 has minimal padding except in essential areas, and the slight stretch we observed is exactly what we'd anticipate from an engineered mesh material.

Overall, the upper of the Vanish Carbon 2 is well-suited for performance, justifying its premium price tag.

After being impressed with the ventilation in the Vanish Carbon 2, we were eager to put it to the test with our Dremel, hoping for a surprising result.

The upper is so thin that you can clearly see the cardboard piece we used to maintain the shoe's shape beneath it.

Unfortunately, the outcome was just as we feared. With such a thin and delicate mesh, it was inevitable that it would fare poorly, and indeed, it earned a disappointing 1/5 in our durability test.

We felt relieved moving on from the toebox to our second durability test, knowing it couldn't possibly perform worse.

The Vanish Carbon 2 surprised us by excelling here thanks to the lack of padding except for two small foam pads. We found that this minimalistic approach led to a fantastic 5/5 result in our assessment.

These two durability tests were crucial, but we also know that when investing $260 in a racing shoe, the outsole is just as critical—everyone wants to maximize the mileage from such a purchase.

We started by testing the hardness of Altra’s rubber, which measured a soft 60.8 HC on our Shore C durometer. This hardness is typical of racing shoes and delivers exceptional grip, though it may result in shorter durability.

To assess the outsole's durability, we put the Dremel to work one last time and were somewhat let down by the results.

A 1.5-mm dent—though not entirely surprising—makes it difficult to recommend this shoe for those prone to rapid outsole wear. However, for most runners, it shouldn't pose a significant issue.

We were pleased to discover that the Vanish Carbon 2 includes slightly more rubber than many other racing shoes, measuring 2.4 mm with our vernier calipers. This extra thickness is a beneficial addition, helping to offset the durability issues we previously identified.

We didn't find any reflective elements on the Vanish Carbon 2, which was expected—who really races at night with these?

While the original Vanish Carbon was heavier despite its paper-thin 1.7 mm tongue, Altra has impressively reduced weight in this second iteration despite having a tongue plush enough (4.2 mm) to rival many daily trainers.

With this thick tongue—for being a racer—, we think the VC2 not only does a great job in races but also handles speed training and fast long runs with ease, especially because it's paired with the anatomic toebox design.

The tongue is semi-gusseted—a welcome feature not often found in competition shoes.

While some high-end shoes might manage well with a non-fixed tongue, the spacious toebox of Altra shoes really benefits from this design. And we're thrilled to see this improvement, especially since the previous version's non-gusseted tongue was quite a disappointment!

The heel design prioritizes weight reduction—maybe to compensate the tongue—omitting the finger-loop heel tab. However, we discovered that the updated heel collar design allowed us to easily pull on the shoe when necessary.

Unlike many racing shoes, the Vanish Carbon 2 allows for easy removal of its insole because it's not glued to the last. However, due to Altra's unique foot-shaped toebox, fitting an aftermarket insole could be a challenge.