7 Best Altra Running Shoes in 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In our outdoor explorations with the Lone Peak 9, we felt very secure as we could easily manoeuvre unpredictable terrain with its grippy, balanced, and grounded ride. Our lab results confirm its manoeuvrability and awesome surface feedback, shining as the ultimate trail shoe among Altra running shoes.

The shoe's 3.8 mm lugs provide excellent grip on wet and dry surfaces during our tests. They are strategically patterned and shaped to enhance control during ascents and descents. The LP9+ version features the world-class Vibram outsole, securing our strides no matter how slippery the trails get.

We had a good sense of the ground in this shoe. Its 23.3/23.3 mm cushion remains low profile to enhance sensitivity and has a balanced 23.6 HA composition to protect us from rocks and debris underfoot. In true Altra fashion, it features a real zero drop, which boosts a natural feel.

Its wide toebox and non-tapered silhouette also enhance the barefoot sensation, notably its massive 85.3 mm big toe area.

However, we cannot recommend this pair for long-distance running since it may feel under-cushioned and too harsh on the legs. Those tackling multi-hour runs should find a more supportive pair.