Altra Outroad review

Who should buy Altra Outroad

Buy it if you want a shoe that can be worn for almost every run. Its versatility, comfort, low to the ground style make it ideal for daily training, but also for longer sessions on gravel, single-track, rocks, and pavement too. If you are a beginner, remember that this is a zero-drop shoe and a gradual approach is always recommended.

Who should not buy it

Look elsewhere if you:

• like the classic Altra’s width. Check out the Altra Lone Peak 6 instead
• want a shoe that doesn’t need breaking in. The Altra Superior 5 is ready out of the box.

Upper is great on the Outroad

Those who tested this shoe described the upper as being well-crafted and, contrary to many other trail running shoes, very flexible. On top of this, reviewers noticed that breathability is excellent, as they had no issues with their feet being too warm.

A multi-purpose shoe

A tester pointed out that this is “the-one-shoe-do-it-all.” It has “the perfect balance of cushion and traction” and this can be appreciated on a variety of terrains, even on tarmac. As noticed by another reviewer, running on the road feels smooth because the lugs are not very pronounced.

Besides, a runner used it for other activities as well. He said it’s great when traveling and you are not sure which shoe to pack up.

Thumbs up for the ride

On his first 10-mile run on both trails and roads, an experienced runner said he “had a blast.” The ride was particularly smooth, soft, and responsive. And this was confirmed by another runner who said he enjoyed it a lot and “this is a bucket list shoe to have.”

Altra Outroad is the outsider of the family 

Altra says the fit of this shoe is slim. What this means is that this shoe doesn’t have the typical Altra’s very wide toe box. However, runners who are not used to the brand’s usual width still find it accommodating and somewhat roomy compared to other brands.

A runner had no doubts about this: it's “an awesome snug fit.”

No rubbing, no blisters

Experts agreed on the comfort that this shoe provides. There’s plenty of padding on the inside and around the ankle, and as a runner said after his first 10-mile run in it, it “felt really comfortable the entire time.”

Another runner pointed out that it was “problem-free right out of the box.“

Grip in the Outroad is really good

Testers appreciated the outsole they found in this shoe. It’s rugged, durable, and as a runner pointed out, it “provides plenty of grip” on roads, gravel, grass, and most other types of terrains. Moderately technical terrain is not a problem either: as a tester said, it “can definitely handle it well.” 

Lighter than what’s on paper

At 10.7oz (303g), the Altra Outroad is very close to the average weight for a trail running shoe, which is 10.5 (297g). An expert noticed that on foot it “feels a lot lighter” and doesn’t seem heavy at all. 

Outroad needs some time

A runner pointed out that the midsole needs to be broken in for a few miles. After that, the shoe really starts to shine and shows its full potential.

Not boring anymore

Some Altra fans have been let down in the past as the design was not always exciting. With the new Outroad, this issue is no longer there and a runner confirmed this when he said that this shoe “really looks cool.”