Altra Experience Wild 2 review

The Altra Experience Wild 2 is a very good pick for:

• Heel strikers who want an Altra with a super-sized toebox and a smooth, comfortable ride.
• Midfoot and forefoot strikers who enjoy a truly wide toebox and want a stable, versatile trail option.
• Anyone seeking an adventure-ready shoe that handles hikes, walks, and runs with ease, making it great for travel.

We found in the lab that the Experience Wild 2 delivers extremely low energy return, and there's no way to sugarcoat that. In our view, this flat feel makes the shoe a poor match for anyone wanting a lively and fun ride. Rather than this model, we suggest options like the Nike Zegama 2 or the Inov8 Trailfly Max.

We also think the ultra-wide toebox won’t suit runners with narrow feet, as the fit becomes loose everywhere. Instead, we recommend the Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 for its energetic feel or the Brooks Cascadia 19 for a more versatile and affordable option.

Shock absorption is fairly average in the Experience Wild 2 at 117 SA in the heel and 100 SA in the forefoot, making it suitable for moderate distances, though it can fall short for runners aiming for anything close to ultra territory.

Altra missed a real opportunity with this shoe, and it feels disappointing. We discovered in the lab that their new EGO P35 foam used in the Experience Flow 2 is amazing, yet they kept the same low-energy CMEVA foam in the Experience Wild 2.

The outcome is a weak 42.5% energy return in the heel, with only a slight bump to 46.5% in the forefoot. And while this foam brings a few advantages—like stronger durability and lower build costs for Altra—we found that it drags the whole experience down. It’s just painfully boring if you want to push the pace even a little bit.

Altra advertises a 32 mm heel stack for the Experience Wild 2, and we measured 32.3 mm, which is extremely close. It is quite rare for us to see such precise alignment between the stated spec and our lab number.

And remember not to get fooled by this shoe and its massive sidewalls. They look higher than almost anything else we have tested, but once you cut the shoe in half, the real story becomes clear.

We also measured the forefoot at 26.2 mm. That falls a bit short of the official 28 mm, but it still delivers a very similar feel: solid cushioning with a touch of ground feedback, especially since this shoe has no rock plate.

The Experience line surprised many long-time Altra fans, as some were shocked to see the end of their zero-drop exclusivity and the arrival of a new 4-mm series for both road and trail. Version 2 keeps that official 4 mm offset, although we discovered a slightly higher 6.1 mm in our measurement, making this model even more friendly for heel strikers.

Altra aiming for a more mainstream direction felt a bit weird at first, but it definitely works for us as long as the brand keeps its zero-drop lineup.

The CMEVA foam (that should have been replaced) still keeps its moderate softness underfoot, landing at 21.5 HA in our Shore A durometer, and we discovered that it feels decent for walking, hiking, or short runs.

The main issue appears when you want a plush feel or expect real energy return, as we tested and confirmed that this foam simply doesn’t deliver that.

The Altra Experience Wild 2 features a very pronounced heel bevel, making it clear that this is the trail model Altra designed with heel strikers in mind. Other options like the Lone Peak don’t offer the same help, both because of their zero-drop build and their lack of a heel-friendly geometry.

Up front, the forefoot keeps a more classic shape, which works well in a shoe this flexible. It’s a smart choice for a model many runners will use not only on trails but also for hiking and even casual, everyday wear.

The biggest selling point of this shoe is its roomy forefoot. It uses Altra’s Standard FootShape Fit, which means generous space in the toebox and ensures it fully respects the shape of your foot.

When we created our gel mould, we discovered once again how unique Altra shoes are, and the measurements matched that feeling as we started with 100.4 mm.

However, the toebox width is where Altra really shows its magic. With an 83.3 mm second reading, we confirmed there’s plenty of room for your toes and solid support for runners with wide feet.

The toebox height also gives the toes enough space, measuring 26.0 mm.

On top of that, the upper offers a bit of stretch, and the toe cap reinforcements don’t get in the way at all.

We had small hopes that the Experience Wild 2 would gain Vibram rubber, although we knew the chances were slim, and we discovered that Altra kept the average MaxTrac compound.

Still, it performs nicely for the price, and the 0.59 score we tested confirms reliable traction across many surfaces. However, those wanting Vibram should look at the premium version of the Lone Peak 9.

We measured the lugs at 3.5 mm, which lands right in the average range.

That depth and shape works nicely for mellow and moderately rough trails, but it still falls short of what you’d want for truly technical terrain. However, we believe that this is the perfect depth for a shoe like this one.

The outsole already performed well in the first version, so Altra kept the same layout for the Experience Wild 2.

As you can see, it uses their familiar anatomical pattern with rubber strips that mirror the shape of the foot, two large rubber pods in the heel, and an exposed midfoot area to trim weight and keep the shoe feeling a bit more agile and flexible.

Flexibility dropped even further to 10.8N in our 30-degree test, and we discovered this is great news for a shoe that aims to feel natural and stay extra-comfortable for walking and hiking. This result is 22% lower than version 1.

While we got a foam disappointment with this shoe, there are some positives too, and one of the clearest is weight, which we discovered to be nicely improved without changing the shoe’s comfort.

The Altra Experience Wild was too heavy for its size at 10.1 oz (285g), but version 2 arrives with a very consistent upgrade that leaves the shoe at 9.4 oz (266g), offering the same comfort and still keeping a durable build.

Altra has slightly updated the upper pattern, and we discovered that ventilation now sits one level below the previous version. Our 2/5 score shows that airflow may feel limited on hot summer days.

When we examined the material against the light, we noticed that Altra kept the same upper thickness in both the toebox and midfoot area, which is quite uncommon for a trail shoe.

Under the microscope, the fabric appears durable, although we’ll confirm that later through the proper durability test. Still, it was easy to understand why breathability is low.

This mesh reveals rope-like strands over a compact inner grid, creating a tough, armoured texture that looks sturdy.

We also found that Altra removed the awkward lateral seam from version 1, giving the shoe a cleaner look.

And the lateral heel padding was redesigned too, solving the slightly intrusive feel some runners experienced in the first version while keeping the same comfort in the heel and tongue.

The Experience Wild 2 delivers a steady feel on most trails thanks to its super-sized midsole sidewalls and the choice to skip a plush foam. It's also worth noting that the medium drop and low heel height work together to create a more grounded ride.

The Experience Wild 2 keeps the flexible character we expected with a 3/5 result, and that’s good news. Most trail shoes feel stiff, but runners who enjoy a more natural sensation underfoot still have a comfortable and easy-moving option here.

Altra kept the heel counter nicely low in stiffness with a 2/5 score, and the redesigned lateral padding offers better retention than before. It holds the sides of the ankle more securely, though it may still feel a bit tricky for some.

Another reason the Experience Wild 2 feels more stable than many competitors is its wide forefoot. We measured it at 119.0 mm, which was a surprise since we originally expected a slightly narrower result.

The heel stays close to the average at 90.6 mm, a safe design choice that delivers solid stability while avoiding the clunky underfoot feel we’ve seen in several newer shoes.

The redesigned upper kept its 3/5 score in our Dremel test, which is a solid result that shows good abrasion resistance. It's a relief, as Altra made the material slightly less dense to reduce weight.

The heel padding benefits from the new collar design and updated materials, earning a 4/5 score and improving by one full point over its predecessor.

The MaxTrac rubber may not match Vibram Megagrip in pure traction, but its durability is impressive. We measured only 0.8 mm of rubber lost in this tough test, delivering a very encouraging result for long-term wear.

Altra uses 1.7 mm of rubber here, which provides enough protection for easy trails with minimal hazards. However, because the shoe lacks a rock plate or a maximalist midsole, it won’t shield your feet as well on rougher terrain with sharp rocks or debris.

The insole also uses basic EVA foam and measures 4.0 mm thick.

We found that the insole isn’t glued down, making it easy to replace or remove for extra toebox room with a thinner option, though matching the interior shape can be tricky and may require insoles made for barefoot-style shoes.

The CMEVA foam became 29% firmer after a 20-minute nap in our freezer, and we think this is a pretty reasonable outcome overall.

We always appreciate seeing reflective elements in trail shoes, as they add a helpful safety layer with no real downside. And Altra delivered nicely with the Experience Wild 2.

Altra changed the lacing system design and made it simpler and better. Now it uses only punched eyelets and adds an optional eyelet in an offset position that offers extra-versatile adjustment for different foot volumes. That's a very nice detail.

The tongue also features a subtle redesign from version 1. There’s now a loop that makes it easier to adjust the fit, and it includes slightly less padding but remains super-plush at 10.7 mm... maybe even a bit too much.

What Altra still hasn’t changed is the non-gusseted tongue, which feels a bit disappointing for a trail shoe. They’re saving plenty of cost with that CMEVA foam, and at least offering this small upgrade would’ve been a nice touch.

The Experience Wild 2 keeps the same price, which makes sense given the absence of major tech upgrades. It’s not bad news, although many of us would likely prefer a small 5–10 dollar bump if it meant getting that bouncy EGO P35 foam instead.

There’s a velcro-based ankle gaiter attachment placed at the back of the shoe.

And we found that Altra removed the odd heel tab design from version 1, which is good news because it felt like an afterthought from a design perspective.