Altra Solstice XT 2 review

Unique features of the Altra Solstice XT 2 make it stand out from many other training shoes.

It's not for everyone but we believe that this shoe will be a great match for athletes who are after the following:

• a low-drop training shoe that encourages more muscle engagement
• a grounded, low-stack trainer for better balance and movement control
• a wider-than-average toebox that accommodates toe splay and wide feet
• a very lightweight, barely-there trainer

If your typical workout involves lots of heavy lifting or demanding WODs, the Altra Solstice XT 2 may not offer enough stability and support. We recommend turning to the trusted Nike Metcon 9 instead.

And if you do want a minimalist training shoe but don't need as much toebox space, consider the New Balance Minimus TR.

Measuring the heel stack of the Altra Solstice XT 2, our calliper showed 23.1 mm. Exactly as stated by the brand.

While this is not considered minimalist, this stack is slightly thinner than average and feels grounded. We experienced a very intimate contact with the floor which made it easier to control our movements and make microadjustments with the feet.

The forefoot stack measurement, however, showed only 20.0 mm. This is 3 mm lower than the official specs (23 mm).

On its own, we have no problem with a 20-mm stack as it offers a perfect balance of ground feel and cushioning. What bothers us, is the fact that this discrepancy affects the shoe's heel-to-toe drop measurement.

Calculating the difference in stack heights, we were disappointed with the result. As it turns out, the Altra Solstice XT 2 is not the true zero-drop shoe it is marketed to be.

Based on our lab measurements, it comes in at 3.1 mm! Even though most people won't notice the difference, those who are into minimalist training shoes will. Thus, we must report such discrepancies.

Athletes who prefer zero- or low-drop training shoes are looking for a more natural positioning of their feet and legs. When your heels are on the same level as your toes, it promotes better muscle activation during the workout, better ankle mobility, balance, and, in the long term, even better posture.

However, zero/low-drop shoes take some getting used to and can even be adverse for people with injuries or some foot conditions. We recommend consulting a podiatrist or a physiotherapist before opting for this type of footwear.

To prevent wobbliness and compression underfoot, a training shoe must have a firm sole. And the Altra Solstice XT 2 lives up to the expectation.

As our durometer measurement shows, the shoe's foam has a reading of 32.4 HA which is 20% firmer than the average of training shoes.

And yet, we wouldn't recommend lifting heavy (over 300 lbs/135 kg) in the Solstice XT 2. There is still some compression in the midsole and the shoe is way too flexible.

It may be low-stacked but the Solstice XT 2 comes with a very well-padded insole. Showing 5.6 mm on our calliper, it is among the thickest we've seen in training shoes.

This is a welcome touch of comfort and cushioning as there is not much to rely on in the shoe's firm midsole. 

When you lift a heavy bar off the floor or try to balance on one foot, your toes tend to splay and grab a wider area to achieve stability.

That's why it's crucial to have enough space in the toebox and Altra is aware of how important it is.

Just by looking at the Soltice XT 2, we can tell that it is the widest toebox we've seen in a training shoe. It is ready to accommodate the widest feet out there.

Measuring its widest area with a calliper, we got 102.7 mm which is a few millimetres above the average.

Meanwhile, the tip of the toebox turned out to be the widest in our roster at 87.3 mm!

For reference, the Nike Metcon 9 has a measurement of 81.4 mm and is considered to have a wide toebox. Thus, the Altra Solstice XT 2 earns the proud title of an extra wide toebox.

The Altra Solstice XT 2 has no stabilising components. But as a low-stack/low-drop trainer, it comes with some inherent stability.

This Altra shoe bends and twists any way you like. It moves along with the foot with ease but has limits when it comes to lifting heavy weight.

On a 1-5 scale, we rated the shoe's torsional rigidity with the lowest score of 1.

There is not much support around the ankle either, so don't expect a firm foothold.

As our push-and-squeeze test shows, the shoe's heel counter is highly flexible, earning only 2 out of 5 on a stiffness scale. 

Because the Solstice XT 2 follows the foot's natural shape, it doesn't have a very wide platform.

We measured the widest part of the forefoot at 110.5 mm which is the same as the average of training shoes.

However, the heel area of the platform turns out to be narrower than most trainers.

With a calliper measurement of 76.7 mm, it is a whole centimetre narrower than average. This is another factor that detracts from the shoe's stability for serious Crossfit and heavy lifting.

The Altra Solstice XT 2 is one of the most flexible training shoes we've tested. Thanks to the Innerflex technology, its midsole bends exceptionally well to mimic a barefoot experience.

Doing planks, lunges, sled pushes, stretches, and other exercises, we never faced resistance from this Altra shoe.

In the lab, we measured how much force it would take to bend the Soctice XT 2 to a 90-degree angle. Requiring only 12.1N, this shoe is 60% more pliable than the average!

Lightness is one of this Altra shoe's main virtues. Doing all sorts of agility work and cardio is a blessing in this trainer! 

Tipping the scale at only 9.0 oz (254g) in a men's US size 9, it is among the lightest in our roster. Basically, this shoe is only second to minimalist trainers.

Paired with its low stack and drop, such a light weight makes the Solstice XT 2 feel barely present on the foot.

We weren't worried about breaking some sweat in the Altra Solstice XT 2. The shoe's mesh upper stayed wonderfully ventilated the entire workout, letting the air in and out of the shoe.

Our personal experience was also backed up by a smoke-pumping machine test. The smoke effortlessly passed through the fabric in the toebox and other parts of the shoe.

It all made sense when we hovered the shoe's half-cut upper over the light. It showed how thin the mesh actually is and how large its breathing pores are.

We also grabbed our microscope for a close-up view. It clearly shows the varying thickness of threads in the shoe's fabric. Areas with thinner threads make up the ventilation pores.

No doubt about it, this Altra shoe deserves the highest breathability score: 5 out of 5!

It was smart of Altra to cover such delicate mesh with a sturdy overlay on the toebox.

To test its abrasion resistance, we equipped ourselves with a Dremel and drilled the centre of the toebox for 12 seconds. For the record, the speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N) remained consistent.

The Solstice XT 2 passed our durability test with flying colours!

Sure, the Dremel left a scuff but the overlay didn't let the tool get to the mesh. And that deserves a high score of 4 out of 5 for toebox durability.

The inner lining, on the other hand, cannot boast the same wear resistance.

After a very short bout of drilling (4 seconds), the shoe's heel padding got significantly damaged.

On a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is the absolute worst, we rated the shoe's durability in this area as 2. Altra could do better here!

Checking the shoe's outsole hardness, we were a bit worried about its soft nature.

With a durometer measurement of 71.0 HC, it turned out to be 20% softer than the average training shoe. Will the Altra Solstice XT 2 have the same capacity to last as the other trainers?

Our surefire way to tell is to drill the shoe's outsole with a Dremel.

This time, we set the tool's speed to 10K RPM and extended the drilling time to 22 seconds. Luckily, the Altra's rubber outsole persisted!

Showing only 0.9 mm of damage, it held up just as fine as the other training shoes (even those with firmer outsoles!).

This fact made us confident about the shoe's outsole longevity in the gym. However, we still don't recommend it for casual wear outside the gym because soft rubber will wear out faster in that scenario. 

Another reason why we think it's best to keep the Altra Solstice indoors is its outsole thickness.

With a calliper measurement of 3.1 mm, it is slightly thinner than average but is more than enough for gym use.

If you need a shoe for outdoor training sessions, consider the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure instead (4.1 mm of outsole thickness).

The shoe's grip never let us down on the gym surfaces. Because its outsole rubber is softer than average, it bites onto the ground a little better as well.

Pair that with the shoe's low stack and multiple flex grooves, and you feel like you're grabbing the floor with your feet.

The tongue of this Altra shoe is lightly padded with 6.0 mm of foam. This is an average amount of padding for training shoes.

The rest of the upper, except the collar, is very minimally layered to keep the shoe light and airy.

The tongue of this Altra shoe is not gusseted but considering the minimalist design of this trainer, we never had issues with the lockdown or bunching in its upper.

The Solstice XT 2 comes with a large enough loop hole (yes, thank you!) which is very handy for getting the trainer on with little effort.