Altra Experience Flow 2 review

We found the Altra Experience Flow 2 to be especially suitable for:

• Runners looking to move from high-drop shoes to a low drop option. Or even runners transitioning toward zero-drop shoes who want a low-drop option to adapt over the course of a year or so.
• Those who tried the first version and found it flat or lifeless. Version 2 is noticeably bouncier and more cushioned.
• Individuals who prefer a flexible, moderately stacked shoe that delivers a smooth, natural ride over today’s stiffer daily trainers.

We believe the Altra Experience Flow 2 isn’t ideal for runners seeking first-class shock absorption. In our tests, its moderate stack can’t match high-stack trainers even with the new foam. For that, we suggest the budget-friendly New Balance FuelCell Propel v4 or the premium-priced Fresh Foam X More v6.

We also think runners who often wear down outsoles quickly should skip this model, because the rubber is just not tough enough. If you are into this group, the Topo Atmos is a better pick, keeping the roomy fit and low-drop feel with greater outsole lifespan.

For Altra, the Experience still line takes a step back from the maximalist trend, and we’re glad it does. It’s important to have options with different stack heights, and not every new shoe needs to be ultra-tall.

For those who enjoy classic, moderately stacked shoes, this daily trainer hits the mark. It offers dependable shock absorption at 127 SA in the heel and 103 SA in the forefoot, providing enough protection for daily runs while keeping a natural, ground-connected feel.

We were quite critical of the first-generation Experience Flow. For a brand-new model, it felt like a missed opportunity, because Altra used a flat, outdated EVA foam that scored only 46.1% in our lab tests.

Fortunately, Altra listened. They also skipped the underwhelming EGO FLO foam—which was advertised as bouncy but fell short in our tests of the FWD VIA—and they used their brand new EGO P35 compound. This upgrade is a major step forward, as we measured 60.3% energy return in the heel and a springy 68.1% in the forefoot.

The lower-than-average stack is especially noticeable in the heel, a result of Altra’s signature low-drop design. It measures just 30.3 mm here, but since Altra shoes have never catered to heel strikers, the real story lies in the forefoot.

The front of the Experience Flow 2 features 25.9 mm of cushioning underfoot, which we measured to be close to the average and confirms our impressions: this shoe is perfect for runners who prefer classic, moderately stacked daily trainers over today’s max-cushioned options like the PUMA MagMax Nitro or the HOKA Clifton 10.

Most Altra fans raised an eyebrow when the brand introduced its first non-zero-drop shoes a few years ago under the FWD line. It started as a small experiment but ended up marking a big shift for a brand long known for its zero-drop philosophy.

And it worked! Runners who once found the flat-drop design intimidating discovered that a 4-mm drop felt far more approachable. So it’s no surprise we’re now seeing more Altra models using this setup, including the Experience Flow 2, which we measured at an actual 4.4 mm.

As long as Altra keeps churning out zero-drop shoes, this looks like a win-win to us.

The new EGO P35 foam is a true game-changer for this shoe. Last year, we labeled the OG Experience Flow as boring and disappointing, but Altra came back strong with a completely new midsole that feels worlds apart.

We tested this new polyolefin elastomer (POE) compound and found it delivers a plush ride, scoring 14.1 HA on our durometer. It’s a very similar foam to the one in the ASICS Novablast 5, offering a lively, modern feel that transforms the Experience Flow 2 from a 2010-era trainer into a fully modern shoe.

One of the things we loved about the Experience Flow 2 is flat shape. Thanks to its moderate stack height and high flexibility, it delivers an easy, natural ride, and doubles perfectly as an ultra-comfortable everyday sneaker.

In our view, what draws most runners to Altra is their distinctive foot-shaped design. In nearly all their shoes, the generous toebox space is simply outstanding, making them perfect for wide-footed runners who crave toe freedom. But what about the Experience Flow 2?

To find out, we tested it in our lab creating a gel mold of the shoe’s interior. Once it cooled, we carefully extracted it and measured the widest section at an impressively roomy 99.1 mm.

The real magic happens in the toebox, where we measured an impressive 82.6 mm. The way that the shoe tapers looks absolutely different from most other daily trainers, right?

However, this ultra-roomy fit makes it a poor choice for runners with narrow feet or those who prefer a snug feel. In our view, it’s just built for freedom and natural toe splay.

Probably to balance out the extra-wide design and add a touch of security, the toebox sits slightly lower than usual.

At 24.6 mm, it’s a few millimeters below our current lab average. It’s not a deal-breaker, but if you’re sensitive to toe pressure, this might become a slight annoyance.

The Experience Flow 2 showed a good performance in our SATRA TM144 test, registering a 0.55 on our scale and marking yet another improvement over its predecessor. That result also puts it right on par with most road shoes, offering a secure feel on dry pavement and reassuring traction when the surface gets wet.

We discovered that the outsole of the Experience Flow 2 features a classic Altra design, with rubber only in the heel and forefoot and the midfoot fully exposed to reveal the EGO P35 foam. Its segmented, anatomical grooves in the front enhance flexibility and create a smooth, natural transition while maintaining good grip. 

We just mentioned the flexibility improvements, and here are the lab numbers to prove it.

The Experience Flow 2 ranks among the most highly-flexible, natural-feeling daily trainers we tested, scoring only 10.0N in our bend test. That's a remarkable result for a shoe with an average forefoot stack height.

Another standout feature of the Experience Flow 2 is its impressive lightness, as we found that Altra maintained the same weight as its predecessor. At just 8.3 oz or 235g, it ranks among the lightest daily trainers available today.

One area we noted still needs improvement is breathability. It’s not terrible, but a 3/5 score definitely shows there’s room to grow.

Using our light test, we noticed some thinner sections in the toebox, though airflow remained  a bit limited. That said, as with most wide shoes, breathability becomes less of an issue since the toes have more room to breathe, allowing air to circulate and move more freely inside.

Under the microscope, it was clear why this shoe was not able to reach 4 or 5: those areas aren’t thin enough, and we believe a more classic design with open ventilation holes would work better for a daily trainer.

That said, a 3/5 isn’t a deal-breaker at all, and we wouldn’t skip the shoe because of it. Still, runners in warmer climates might want to opt for a lighter colorway instead of black.

When it comes to comfort, the upper performs really well, matching the feel of many mainstream daily trainers. In fact, it’s surprisingly plush in the heel and tongue, packing multiple foam layers while still keeping the shoe impressively lightweight.

We recommend the Experience Flow 2 mainly for runners with a neutral gait, as it delivers a stable and very solid ride especially for midfoot and forefoot strikers. The trademark Altra design with its extra-wide midfoot helps create steady transitions.

For heel strikers, stability remains decent, though the compact heel dimensions and low-cut ankle design provide slightly less support compared to other daily trainers.

Designed for a natural, free-moving ride that lets the foot work as it should, the Experience Flow 2 maintains a moderate torsional rigidity of 3/5. Altra likely aimed for even more flexibility, but that’s challenging with roughly 30 mm of stack height.

The heel counter also hits a balanced 3/5, which again feels intentional given the shoe’s low-cut design and compact heel construction. It's just enough structure to support without fully restricting movement or become uncomfortable.

We appreciated that the Experience Flow 2 doesn’t chase unnecessary width in its midsole design. While a broader platform could boost stability, Altra clearly prioritized a more agile, fun-to-run feel underfoot.

To achieve that, they actually went slightly narrower than average at 112.2 mm. It's an intentional choice that perfectly suits this shoe.

The heel follows the same design philosophy, measuring just 87.2 mm. Altra could have pushed it even further, as a 4-mm drop shoe is seldom the go-to choice for heel strikers anyway...

The upper is clearly not the strongest aspect of the Altra Experience Flow 2. It falls short in ventilation and showed considerable room for improvement in durability, earning a modest 2/5 in our lab test.

To make up for it, the heel padding demonstrated good durability, outperforming the average running shoe with a solid 4/5 in our tests.

Unfortunately, the Altra Experience Flow 2 didn’t fare well in our outsole durability test. After using our Dremel, we measured 1.7 mm of wear, which is nearly double the average.

At least Altra added a generous 3.1 mm layer of rubber, providing decent longevity despite its low abrasion resistance. Still, if you’re the kind of runner who quickly wears through outsoles, this might not be your best match.

One of the few elements resembling a Nike or Adidas running shoe is the insole, which has a similar 4.4 mm thickness and doesn’t particularly stand out.

As with most Altra daily trainers, the insole can be easily swapped out for a third-party option.

The new EGO P35 foam offers far better bounce and comfort than before, yet its cold-weather performance still leaves room for improvement. After 20 minutes in our freezer test, we found it became 38% firmer.

The strip covering the heel’s stitching also functions as a reflective detail, enhancing visibility and safety during low-light runs.

The Altra Experience Flow 2 features a super-comfy tongue with 10.3 mm of plush padding, making it perfect for daily use. Thanks to its pillow-like cushioning, it prevents any discomfort from overtightened laces, as the foam absorbs the pressure beautifully.

The tongue is semi-gusseted, which is essential for achieving a secure lockdown in a shoe with such a roomy interior that could otherwise experience tongue shifting. And yes, it’s hard to spot it in our photo because of the full-black colorway, but it was the only option available when we made our purchase.

The original Experience Flow felt overpriced when considering its underwhelming performance, but that completely changes with version 2. Now priced alongside the Nike Pegasus 41, we discovered it delivers solid energy return in a feather-light build with one of the most spacious, foot-friendly fits we’ve ever tested. That's a very good deal!

The heel showcases an extended collar design that makes slipping into the Experience Flow 2 effortless. It also aligns with Altra’s recent design language from the past three years, characterized by its notably low-cut ankle area.