7 Best Altra Running Shoes in 2024

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
7 Best Altra Running Shoes in 2024

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Whether it’s a trail or road running shoe you’re after, Altra has got you covered. The brand has always been highly regarded for its top-quality, supportive, and comfortable running shoes. 

And if you’re searching for the best of all time, we are here to help you. Having tested Altra shoes on the roads, trails and in our shoe lab, we are more than sure that we can give you the Altra gold mine from different categories. Thanks to our independent lab, along with our tools and gadgets, we are able to further examine each shoe, empirical style!

How we test running shoes

We don’t randomly decide on which shoe makes it to this list. We take our time testing each one of them in our independent shoe testing lab. And to really back our recommendations, we make sure to: 

  • Buy all the Altra shoes with our own money to prevent bias and brand loyalty
  • Rake in at least 30-50 miles in each shoe to see how well they perform and how sturdy they are
  • Cut each of them open to see the details inside and measure them with our callipers, durometers, scale, our custom-made smoke machine, etc. 

Best Altra running shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The Altra Experience Flow perfectly captures our running experience in its name with its light and natural feel. Amazingly, it offers a stable ride without stiffening up its build and boosts comfort with its breezy, square-shaped upper. Validated by our lab, it’s the top Altra running shoe we’ve tested.

Experience Flow’s midsole adapts seamlessly to each stride, while the outsole’s anatomy-based flex points align with our foot structure. True enough, it took minimal effort (20.6N) to bend the shoe to 90 degrees vs. the average (29.0N). Additionally, each stride feels effortless with its 8.3 oz (235g) build, 11.3% lighter than average.

Despite its flexibility, Experience Flow offers a well-planted ride through its low drop, broad base, and raised sidewalls. At 4.1 mm, it deviates from the brand’s zero drop but still gives a very grounded experience. Meanwhile, our calliper confirms an expansive platform measuring 118.4/93.2 mm.

The upper mimics our natural foot shape too, particularly around the big toe area, accommodating both wide and square feet. At 87.6 mm, it’s significantly 9.3 mm more spacious than average! Further boosting comfort is its breathable material, validated by our smoke test with a 4/5 ventilation score.

However, its midsole feels dull and uninspiring. Those who seek a dynamic ride should find more responsive shoes.

Pros

  • Broad appeal for various runners
  • Exceptionally light
  • Comfortable, durable upper
  • Spacious foot-shaped toebox
  • Ideal as a travel shoe
  • Superior stability
  • Highly breathable
  • Fairly priced

Cons

  • Lacks energy return
  • Not for fast paces at all
  • Non-gusseted tongue
Full review of Altra Experience Flow

Best Altra daily running shoes

What makes it the best?

Like most Altras, Paradigm 7 is a zero-drop shoe. It's accommodating even to new Altra users with its balance of flexibility, comfort, and a hint of stability — all in a lightweight package. Our trial runs and lab results validate it’s the best daily trainer among Altra running shoes.

This heel-to-toe drop is at a microscopic 0.1 mm (basically zero). Its 27.6/27.5 mm stack makes it ideal for mid-to-forefoot strikers with its cushioned front. Its Innerflex technology utilises grid-like cuts in the midsole to allow the foot to flex naturally. Allowing free-flowing movements, it's 28.9% more adaptive than average in our flex test.

The Ego Max cushioning blends comfort and support. Our durometer shows it’s 18.8% softer than average, but it doesn’t feel like we’re sinking. This enhances stability since it prevents lateral wobbles.

As a minimalist shoe, it weighs lighter than average (9.3 oz/264g vs. 9.5 oz/268g average). The upper is designed with large holes, allowing the breeze to come in. Its perfect score on our lab breathability test confirms we don’t need to worry about hotspots or sweaty feet.

At £170, Paradigm 7 is on the higher end of the spectrum vs. the £150 average of other Altra daily trainers. We recommend checking other options if budget is a priority.

Pros

  • Exceptional space for toe splay
  • Highly stable and supportive
  • Really light
  • Features Ego Max foam for added comfort
  • Innerflex technology promotes natural midfoot striking
  • Outstanding durability
  • Versatile for walking or gym use
  • Genuine zero-drop design!

Cons

  • Becomes uncomfortably firm and stiff in cold weather
  • Priced on the higher end of the spectrum at $170
  • Not suitable for fast-paced running
Full review of Altra Paradigm 7

Best Altra speed training shoes

What makes it the best?

The Escalante Racer 2 lives up to its name, embodying speed in every stride. With its fast and fluid feel in our runs, this nimble shoe swiftly won us over, securing its spot as the top Altra tempo/race shoe. Our lab agrees it blends speed and flexibility effortlessly with its minimalist and grounded design. 

Weighing a mere 7.9 oz (224g), the Escalante Racer 2 seamlessly integrates with our stride, offering a featherweight feel on the pavement. Its sleek midsole amplifies ground feel and manoeuvrability, elevating our agility.

Embracing a low drop and minimal cushioning, this speedster trains our leg muscles to do the work. With a stack height of 22.5/21.4 mm, it gives enhanced surface sensitivity. The resulting 1.1 mm drop is hardly noticeable, fully embodying Altra’s zero-drop trademark. 

Engineered with FootPod technology in the outsole and InnerFlex technology in the foam, the shoe is intently designed to mimic our foot anatomy. Its flexibility shines through in our lab tests, boasting a remarkable 48.5% higher malleability than average and earning the lowest 1/5 score for torsional rigidity. We find it perfect for building speed without relying on overly stiff elements.

However, its minimal cushioning may lack the plush comfort needed for prolonged use and extensive mileage. Those who prefer more impact protection should look elsewhere.

Pros

  • Enhanced toebox and outsole durability
  • Incredible ventilation
  • Grounded yet cushioned feel
  • True zero-drop experience
  • Spacious, foot-shaped toebox
  • Superb stability
  • Highly durable knit
  • Premium perforated insole

Cons

  • Heavier than previous version
  • Lacks heel padding durability
Full review of Altra Escalante Racer 2

Best Altra race running shoes

What makes it the best?

During our runs, the Vanish Carbon 2 captivated us with its airy and speedy nature, feeling easy on the legs as we pushed the pace. Its midsole takes centre stage, delivering energetic takeoffs and gentle landings. Among lab-tested Altra running shoes, it’s ultimately our top racer. 

To assess the midsole further, we sliced it into half and found two foams with a curved, spoon-shaped plate in between. It ensures smooth turnover while remaining as flexible as other plateless shoes, boosting comfort. The top foam pressing the plate is a firm 22.8 HA for responsiveness, while the bottom layer is an ultra-plush 9.9 HA for softer impact.

Fitting its name, Vanish Carbon 2 vanished on our feet as soon as we started running. Our scales reveal a featherweight 7.4 oz (210g), 20.8% below average. It features a modest stack with a low 3.7 mm drop. While it’s not a true zero-drop shoe, the ride feels more forgiving for racing.

Enhancing the effortless sensation is the extremely airy upper. In our lab test, the smoke vanished almost instantly, earning an incredible 5/5 score. Because of its lightness, we’ll never have to complain about hotspots and sweaty feet.

However, it’s still not as insanely responsive as other supershoes. Those who want to shave off seconds in their time should look at other racers.

Pros

  • Ideal for midfoot strikers
  • Unique racing shoe
  • Anatomically shaped toebox
  • Superior breathability
  • Full-length carbon plate
  • Excellent for speed training too
  • Amazing tongue
  • Significant upgrade from v1

Cons

  • Insufficient energy return
  • Not a real zero-drop shoe
  • Durability concerns
  • High price tag
Full review of Altra Vanish Carbon 2

Best Altra running shoes for long distance

What makes it the best?

Amidst our extensive testing of Altra running shoes, the VIA Olympus 2 emerges as the optimal choice for long-distance endeavours. It offers unparalleled comfort and energy return for enjoyably accomplishing gruelling miles. Crafted with purpose, it mirrors our natural foot shape, enhancing comfort throughout our runs and withstanding multiple marathon distances with its robust outsole.

With the EGO MAX foam providing a cushioned and lively ride, we eagerly pursued extra miles. The plush 14.5 HA foam adds a delightful bounce, effortlessly propelling us forward. It features Altra’s hallmark zero-drop design, with our precise measurements revealing a -0.2 mm drop due to the stacked 34.8/35.0 mm heel and forefoot, the latter being one of the highest we’ve encountered in the lab.

The FootShape design mimics our foot shape so that it’s comfortable for most runners. With a generous 104.4 mm toebox tapering to 91.1 mm at the big toe, it gives room for our feet to swell during prolonged runs. Even the outsole, featuring FootPod technology, aligns with our foot anatomy to flow with our movements. While its 73.3 HC rubber measures below average, it proves its resilience by showing 33.3% less wear than average in our Dremel test.

However, a red flag is its lack of ventilation, potentially leading to discomfort such as blisters and hotspots. We recommend using this pair during the cooler seasons.

Pros

  • Incredibly roomy toebox
  • Authentic zero-drop design
  • Extremely cushy and soft midsole
  • Superb all-around durability
  • Cosy upper
  • Remarkably stable
  • Ideal for long runs

Cons

  • Limited ventilation
  • Tongue not gusseted
  • Still a bit heavy
Full review of Altra VIA Olympus 2

Altra running shoes with the best stability

What makes it the best?

Our intensive lab tests and run sessions reveal Altra’s best stability shoe—Provision 8. It delivers subtle support that doesn’t interfere with our strides, yet we know it’s there when we need it. This trainer feels light and low, with extra features that enhance stability, such as a balanced ride and the GuideRails technology.

There is a feeling of surefootedness throughout our runs since we have maximum surface sensitivity due to Provision 8’s grounded platform and low-drop convention. Our lab tests confirmed our sensations, revealing the 26.0/25.8 mm stack is below average while the heel drop is an almost flat 0.2 mm.

An added stability boost is the GuideRails, which are tall sidewalls that prevent our feet from collapsing in. To counter the rigidity, Provision 8 adds some flexibility in terms of longitudinal movement. Our bend test confirms it needs 21.2% less force than average to flex to our desired angle. On foot, it feels highly comfortable for daily walks and other activities.

Surprisingly, the shoe feels light as a mid-stability trainer. Compared to the 10.4 oz (296g) average of supportive shoes, Provision 8 is only 9.6 oz (273g).

Some runners may find the cushion too firm for long runs. We recommend exploring other options if comfort is a priority.

Pros

  • Authentic zero-drop design
  • Exceptional stability at all paces
  • Anatomically shaped toebox
  • Competitive pricing
  • Durable, flexible outsole
  • Versatile for daily wear
  • Great for daily mileage

Cons

  • Heel padding durability
  • Weight increase from v7
  • Needs more energy return
Full review of Altra Provision 8

Altra running shoes for trail

What makes it the best?

In our outdoor explorations with the Lone Peak 8, we felt very agile as we could easily manoeuvre unpredictable grounds with its fluid, balanced, and grounded ride. Our lab confirms its versatility, shining as the ultimate trail shoe among Altra running shoes.

The shoe's 3.0 mm lugs provided excellent grip on dry surfaces during our tests. They are strategically patterned along our foot structure, allowing for natural bending and movement. The lower resistance gives us more control and confidence to run faster in the wild as we can easily adapt to unpredictable obstacles. Our bend test confirms it’s 27.1% more adaptive than the average trail shoe.

We could keep going all day with LP8’s supportive fit. Its cushion remains low to the ground to enhance ground feedback and has a firm composition to protect us from rocks and debris underfoot. In true Altra fashion, our calliper reveals a mere 1.4 mm drop, which feels essentially zero and boosts a natural feel. Our durometer confirms the foam is 11.4% denser than average, promoting stable strides as it won’t compress unevenly.

However, we recommend avoiding wet and muddy tracks as we felt less surefooted along these paths. For those prioritising unparalleled grip, we suggest exploring alternative options.

Pros

  • Responsive midsole
  • Natural barefoot feeling ride
  • Low to the ground and stable
  • Doubles as a reliable hiking shoe
  • Breathable and durable ripstop upper mesh
  • Secure midfoot lockdown
  • Accommodating toebox
  • Generously padded and comfy
  • Dries quickly
  • Gaiter attachment ready

Cons

  • Not so grippy in wet conditions
  • Subpar outsole durability
Full review of Altra Lone Peak 8

3 things Altras are known for

Altra running shoes are famous for: 

  1. A foot-shaped design which means there’s a roomy toebox for your toes to splay naturally 
  2. This design promotes a natural feel while running with no interference with the natural biomechanics 
  3. Zero to low heel-to-toe drop

We will cover all of these features in great detail below. 

Don’t buy Altra running shoes if…

You want or need a high heel drop and have a narrow forefoot. You won’t be able to achieve a proper lockdown and your feet might slide side to side inside the shoe. 

lockdown-in-altra-shoes.jpg

Foot-shaped design of Altra running shoes

In the world of very narrow running shoes with pointy toeboxes, Altra appeared as a refreshment. Their foot-shaped design is just that: shaped like a foot. It promotes and encourages the natural shape and form and does not try to squeeze our feet into the shoes. 

footshapes-from-altra.jpg
Shapes from Altra (source: Altra)

Altra has trademarked this design as FootShape™. They make shoes in 3 widths Original, Standard and Slim. As seen in the illustration below, all 3 widths follow the natural shape of the foot instead of making it narrow and pointy. 

original-standard-slim-altra-shape.jpg
Comparison of outsole shapes in different Altra designs, from the widest (left) to the narrowest (right)

Slim is usually found in tempo and race shoes and is best for beginners who want to easily transition to more foot-shaped shoes. Standard is by far the most common shape in Altra running shoes. Original is best for people who enjoy a roomy toebox and love to be able to wiggle their toes. 

Altra running shoe widths explained 

Altra tags their running shoe widths with 3 shapes: Original, Standard, and Slim. Original is the widest and slim is the narrowest. Below, look at which shoe models or collections belong to each of these shapes: 

  • Original fit: Lone Peak, Olympus, Escalante, Escalante Racer 2
  • Standard fit: King MT, Experience Flow, Experience Form, Experience Wild, AltraFWD Experience, Torin, Timp, Paradigm, Superior, Provision, Solstice, Mont Blanc, Escalante Racer 1
  • Slim fit: Rivera, Outroad, Vanish

But, not knowing how wide these are actually, it’s hard to decipher which shape you’d be OK with. Is Slim narrower than average? The same, or maybe even wider? Let’s find out. 

How wide are Altras actually? 

To answer this, we will look at our lab measurements. We use a digital calliper to measure the width of the toebox in 2 places: where it’s the widest and at the big toe. 

toebox-widths-altra-running-shoes.jpg
Measuring the toebox width at the big toe (left) and where it's the widest (right) 

It’s important to take both measurements into account because the first one, where the toebox is the widest around the ball of the foot, tells us how wide the shoe is there. The second one doesn’t just tell us how wide it is at the big toe but how much the toebox tapers or how pointy it is. 

toe-shapes-running-toeboxes.jpg

Knowing whether the toebox is pointy or square-ish helps a lot when taking into account all the different shapes of toes and toeboxes. Here’s how some Altra models that we’ve tested rank against the averages. 

Our current averages for running shoes are: 98.4 mm at the widest part and 78.2 mm at the big toe

Altra’s fit

Avg width at the widest part

Avg width at the big toe

Original

102.5

91.5

Standard

99.8

88.9

Slim

98.1

84.3

What we see from the numbers below is that:

  1. the width of the toebox where it’s the widest varies, it can be narrower and wider than the average
  2. the toebox width of Altra shoes at the big toe is always wider than the average of all other running shoes. This is the signature shape from Altra: their toeboxes are not pointy!
  3. the Slim fit is the closest to the average toebox width, which makes the Standard and the Original wider than the average
pointy-vs-square-toebox-altra-shoes.jpg
Altra's toebox (left) vs an average, pointy toebox (right)

Toebox widths of ORIGINAL-shaped running shoes from Altra: 

Shoe

Widest width

Compared to the overall avg for widest width

Big toe width

Compared to the overall avg for big-toe width

Lone Peak 8

97.9

-0.5%

92.1

17.8%

Escalante 4

103.6

5.3%

90.8

16.1%

Escalante Racer 2

104.2

5.9%

92

17.6%

Via Olympus 2

104.4

6.1%

91.1

16.5%

Toebox widths of STANDARD-shaped running shoes from Altra: 

Shoe

Widest width

Compared to the overall avg for widest width

Big toe width

Compared to the overall avg for big-toe width

Experience Flow

101

2.6%

87.6

12.0%

Escalante Racer

101.9

3.6%

92.5

18.3%

Mont Blanc Carbon

97.6

-0.8%

86.3

10.4%

Superior 6

100.4

2.0%

89.5

14.5%

Paradigm 7

99.1

0.7%

86.7

10.9%

Timp 5

100.1

1.7%

90.1

15.2%

Torin 7

103.3

5.0%

90.4

15.6%

Provision 7

95.4

-3.0%

88.3

12.9%

Toebox widths of SLIM-shaped running shoes from Altra: 

Shoe

Widest width

Compared to the overall avg for widest width

Big toe width

Compared to the overall avg for big-toe width

Rivera 4

96.5

-1.9%

85.7

9.6%

Rivera 3

100.5

2.1%

87.7

12.1%

Outroad 2

99.4

1.0%

82.8

5.9%

Outroad

99.1

0.7%

79.5

1.7%

Vanish Carbon

97.1

-1.3%

84.2

7.7%

Vanish Carbon 2

96.2

-2.2%

86.1

10.1%

Why you should be cautious about Altra’s heel drop

Heel-to-toe drop tells us how high the heel sits compared to the forefoot. It goes from 0mm to even 15mm. Although many runners disregard the heel drop, it’s important to pay attention to it because sudden changes in heel drop, especially big ones, can lead to an injury. 

General guidelines say that the zero drop utilises the foot muscles the most, then as you go higher with the drop, you also activate higher leg muscles more. A low drop (less than 5mm) will focus on the Achilles and calves and a high drop (above 10mm) on the hip muscles. 

heel-drop-4-variations.jpg
Zero and low drop are not exclusive for non-cushioned running shoes. There are many high-stacked running shoes today that feature a drop lower than 5 mm

If you previously had an injury or are currently dealing with one, it’s important not to choose a heel drop that could make it worse. If you’re running in 10mm drop shoes and are dealing with Achilles pain, you should not go for 0mm shoes or even less than 4mm. At least not all of a sudden. Transitions are possible, but they should always be gradual. 

How to transition to zero drop or low drop

Fun fact: if you’ve been running in high-drop shoes, the first time you enter the zero-drop shoes, they might feel like it’s a negative drop! Like your heel is lower than the forefoot. That’s normal and you will get used to it. 

altra-escalante-racer-2-cut-in-half.jpg
Altra (zero-drop) running shoe cut in half; it's noticeable that the heel does not sit higher than the forefoot

There’s no standard protocol because the amount of time needed to safely transition to a zero-drop shoe or a low-drop shoe depends on many factors: your current and previous state regarding injuries, your foot strike, pronation, overall foot and leg strength, and so on. You should, however, take it slowly, and if there’s even a hint of strain or discomfort, stop immediately and switch to your old shoes that do not cause discomfort. 

For context, you should know that some runners need a full year to be able to run 10km in zero-drop running shoes. Others can do it in a few months.

Runners who could transition to low drop or zero drop more easily are those who: are already running in mid-drop (5-8mm) running shoes, who don’t have lower-leg weaknesses, who are forefoot strikers and have neutral pronation or supination. Of course, this does not mean that heel strikers and overpronators can’t run in zero-drop shoes, but it means that they might need a bit more time for a safe transition. 

The most comprehensive source for all things related to heel drop is found in our Ultimate guide on heel to toe drop. We highly recommend reading it! 

Is it really a zero drop? 

Altra started as a zero-drop brand. All the shoes were said to have a 0 mm heel-to-toe drop. But then, after many years, the Experience line happened (featuring the shoes Experience Flow, Experience Form and Experience Wild) and we got shoes with a 4mm heel drop. 

Cutting Altra shoes in half in RunRepeat lab

In our shoe lab, we measure the heel stack height and forefoot stack height and we do it according to the guidelines from WorldAthletics. This means that we first cut the shoes in half and then measure the heel stack height at 12% of the inner shoe length and forefoot stack height at 75% of the inner shoe length. 

stack-height-measurements-altra-running-shoes.jpg
Using a digital calliper to measure the heel stack height (left) and forefoot stack height (right) according to the WorldAthletics guidelines

Then, we calculate the drop. (Heel stack height) - (Forefoot stack height) = Heel to toe drop. To our surprise, many shoes have a very different heel drop compared to what the brands promote! You should be aware of this and always double-check the drop. 

Here are some of the biggest differences found in lab-measured heel drop vs brand-promoted heel drops= in Altra running shoes: 

Shoe Lab-measured heel drop Brand's heel drop specs
Altra Vanish Carbon 5.4 mm 0 mm
Altra Provision 7 4.8 mm 0 mm
Altra Vanish Carbon 2 3.7 mm 0 mm
Altra VIA Olympus 1.6 mm 0 mm
Altra Lone Peak 8 1.4 mm 0 mm

Altra running shoes for overpronation 

Just because Altra makes running shoes that promote natural gait and feel on the run does not mean they shy away from the regular technologies we’d expect in running shoes. They don’t make only neutral running shoes but also stability ones. 

Usually, medial posts and side walls are used to prevent (to some degree) the excessive inward rolling of the ankle that happens to the overpronators. 

medial-support-in-altra-running-shoes.jpg
Medial support in Altra running shoes

Altra actually trademarked the Guide Rail, which is located on the medial side and offers guidance when needed. 

guide-rail-in-altra-shoes-closeup.jpg
Guide Rail technology is focused on giving guidance on the inner side of the shoe

Carbon-plated Altra running shoes

Many people think that foot-shaped footwear is boring and minimalist or barefoot and Altra is here to prove them wrong. Just because the shoes are zero-drop or low-drop, does not mean they can’t utilise a carbon plate. 

altra-shoes-visible-carbon-plate.jpg
Carbon-plated Altra shoe cut in half with a visible almost-full-length carbon plate (black) embedded between the white and orange foam

Turns out, you can enjoy the carbon-fibre plate in a zero/low drop shoe after all. 

Author
Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic
Whether it's a vertical kilometre or an ultra, climbing in the Alps or exploring local mountains, Jovana uses every opportunity to trade walls and concrete for forests and trails. She logs at least 10h/week on trails, with no off-season, and 4x more on research on running and running shoes. With a background in physics and engineering management, she prefers her running spiced with data.