20 Altra Jewelry Outlet For Sale (2023 Update)

Unless I'm wearing sandals, I've been running, hiking, and working every day in Altra shoes exclusively for a decade now. I put in a lot of miles running both roads and trails. I was waiting eagerly for the Torin 6 to come out and I've now put 50 miles on them. The good – I love the overall fit and cushion of the shoe. At 200 lb I'm a big runner and am looking for a high cushioned zero drop wide toe box neutral shoe that gives me as much cushion and as flexible a sole as possible while maintaining my natural gait. These run and fit awesome. I love the Escalante too, but at my weight, I need the extra cushioning in the Torin. And the Torin 6 is a great overall upgrade from the Torin 5 – better cushioning and wider toe box. EXCEPT… for two key issues. 1) Altra did not address the issue of the pointy tongues that so many reviewers complained about in the Torin 5. I literally have ankle calluses from the Torn 5, and the tongues of the Torin 6 are pointed and rub my ankles while running in the same way. All my other Ultra road and trail shoes have a tongue with a gap in the middle and are softer and lower. Altra, why the big pointed tongues on the Torin? It makes no functional sense. Listen to your customers… so annoying! 2) I had to go through several pairs of Torin 6's to find found a pair that worked due to inconsistency in sizing in different pairs of the same size shoe. This included clear abnormalities in the toebox of R vs. L. I loved the dusky teal color, but tried two pairs and found them both to be noticably narrower than a pair of the same size in white. The wider white shoes fit me better and I sadly sent the teal shoes back. One of the pair of teal Torin's I tried had a blemished fold in the toe box, the other was normal, but both pairs were clearly narrower than the white pair. It was not a lacing issues, as I loosened and retightened all laces several times. This spring I had a similar issue finding asymmetry between R and L shoes in the Mount Blanc. I had to order three pairs to find a R and L pair that matched. Altra has great shoe designs that so many of us have come to depend upon. It makes these issues so much more frustrating. Come on Altra, get the QAQC together!Ryan

I have a lot to say, so bare with me 🙂 I am 43, and a firefighter for over 15 years. I stay fit, and cardio is of upmost importance to me. I will say though, since having kids, my money and priorities weigh heavily towards my kids and not me anymore. I got to try these shoes for free, and I couldn't be more thankful. I tend to buy what's on sale, or what I have always known as far as commercial name brands. They are fine, but tend to wear out quickly, and im replacing them all the time it seems. I didn't know this brand, and I didn't know this brand prior to trying them out, but I can say with 100% certainty, quality matters, and these are quality! I have a wider foot, but most wide shoes are almost too wide. Not these! I feel like my foot is secured nicely, with little wiggle room, and the soles are so soft, its like walking on your favorite foam pillow. These are soft and flexible, and if you are like me and pull on your shoes from time to time, you will love how flexible the material is. I have had a number of shoes that some hard plastic piece tends to poke through in the heal after I wear it down a bit, but that has not happened here. I have a learned a good lesson on taking the extra time to buy something that's quality, and not just what youre used to. I feel I would have never known about these had I not had the chance to try them, so trust me 100% when I tell you these are amazing. No blisters, the shoes are holding up incredible, and they feel as good weeks into wearing them as they did when I first put them on. I hope after reading this you consider trying these out. You will be incredibly pleased, just like I was, and maybe find your new favorite shoe brand!Carrie

Thankfully, even from the first run with the Altra Torin 6 shoes, I felt no foot pain whatsoever. Updated from its number 5 iteration, the Torin 6 shoes debuted this summer with an engineered mesh upper, an evolved molded heel collar, and superb foam in the midsole. In short: If you are a fan of zero-drop shoes and Altras classic FootShape, the Torin 6s will feel like nothing on your feet – except support and comfort. I tested them out for miles on a variety of roads and trails this month. Straight from the box, the Torin 6 looks sleeker than Altra's other trail runners and hikers, but still holds true to the wider toe box. The engineered mesh upper covers most of the shoe, minus the heel and collar, and just a subtle pattern that blends into the shoe's grooved design. The heel and collar fabric is soft and smooth, as is an improved, more plush tongue (compared to previous models). After about a week of testing, I had taken the Altra Torin 6 on a few shorter runs and one longer 12-mile run around the foothills of Boulder, Colo. I used the Torins on pavement and sidewalks and on mostly flat road, though still with some elevation gain. I also should point out that I have run or hiked in zero-drop shoes previously, including other Altras, though not recently. When minimalist and zero-drop shoes became more popular a few years ago, I had run in a few zero-drop shoes from Merrell for both trail and road. I was a little nervous about running longer distances in these Torins, but I had no pain issues whatsoever. From the first time out, the Torin felt light and airy underneath my feet. These shoes gave me a new outlook on running on pavement. So far, I'm confident their cushion and stability will last miles and miles.respecta3554

Unless I'm wearing sandals, I've been running, hiking, and working every day in Altra shoes exclusively for a decade now. I put in a lot of miles running both roads and trails. I was waiting eagerly for the Torin 6 to come out and I've now put 50 miles on them. The good – I love the overall fit and cushion of the shoe. At 200 lb I'm a big runner and am looking for a high cushioned zero drop wide toe box neutral shoe that gives me as much cushion and as flexible a sole as possible while maintaining my natural gait. These run and fit awesome. I love the Escalante too, but at my weight, I need the extra cushioning in the Torin. And the Torin 6 is a great overall upgrade from the Torin 5 – better cushioning and wider toe box. EXCEPT… for two key issues. 1) Altra did not address the issue of the pointy tongues that so many reviewers complained about in the Torin 5. I literally have ankle calluses from the Torn 5, and the tongues of the Torin 6 are pointed and rub my ankles while running in the same way. All my other Ultra road and trail shoes have a tongue with a gap in the middle and are softer and lower. Altra, why the big pointed tongues on the Torin? It makes no functional sense. Listen to your customers… so annoying! 2) I had to go through several pairs of Torin 6's to find found a pair that worked due to inconsistency in sizing in different pairs of the same size shoe. This included clear abnormalities in the toebox of R vs. L. I loved the dusky teal color, but tried two pairs and found them both to be noticably narrower than a pair of the same size in white. The wider white shoes fit me better and I sadly sent the teal shoes back. One of the pair of teal Torin's I tried had a blemished fold in the toe box, the other was normal, but both pairs were clearly narrower than the white pair. It was not a lacing issues, as I loosened and retightened all laces several times. This spring I had a similar issue finding asymmetry between R and L shoes in the Mount Blanc. I had to order three pairs to find a R and L pair that matched. Altra has great shoe designs that so many of us have come to depend upon. It makes these issues so much more frustrating. Come on Altra, get the QAQC together!Ryan

I have a lot to say, so bare with me 🙂 I am 43, and a firefighter for over 15 years. I stay fit, and cardio is of upmost importance to me. I will say though, since having kids, my money and priorities weigh heavily towards my kids and not me anymore. I got to try these shoes for free, and I couldn't be more thankful. I tend to buy what's on sale, or what I have always known as far as commercial name brands. They are fine, but tend to wear out quickly, and im replacing them all the time it seems. I didn't know this brand, and I didn't know this brand prior to trying them out, but I can say with 100% certainty, quality matters, and these are quality! I have a wider foot, but most wide shoes are almost too wide. Not these! I feel like my foot is secured nicely, with little wiggle room, and the soles are so soft, its like walking on your favorite foam pillow. These are soft and flexible, and if you are like me and pull on your shoes from time to time, you will love how flexible the material is. I have had a number of shoes that some hard plastic piece tends to poke through in the heal after I wear it down a bit, but that has not happened here. I have a learned a good lesson on taking the extra time to buy something that's quality, and not just what youre used to. I feel I would have never known about these had I not had the chance to try them, so trust me 100% when I tell you these are amazing. No blisters, the shoes are holding up incredible, and they feel as good weeks into wearing them as they did when I first put them on. I hope after reading this you consider trying these out. You will be incredibly pleased, just like I was, and maybe find your new favorite shoe brand!Carrie

Thankfully, even from the first run with the Altra Torin 6 shoes, I felt no foot pain whatsoever. Updated from its number 5 iteration, the Torin 6 shoes debuted this summer with an engineered mesh upper, an evolved molded heel collar, and superb foam in the midsole. In short: If you are a fan of zero-drop shoes and Altras classic FootShape, the Torin 6s will feel like nothing on your feet – except support and comfort. I tested them out for miles on a variety of roads and trails this month. Straight from the box, the Torin 6 looks sleeker than Altra's other trail runners and hikers, but still holds true to the wider toe box. The engineered mesh upper covers most of the shoe, minus the heel and collar, and just a subtle pattern that blends into the shoe's grooved design. The heel and collar fabric is soft and smooth, as is an improved, more plush tongue (compared to previous models). After about a week of testing, I had taken the Altra Torin 6 on a few shorter runs and one longer 12-mile run around the foothills of Boulder, Colo. I used the Torins on pavement and sidewalks and on mostly flat road, though still with some elevation gain. I also should point out that I have run or hiked in zero-drop shoes previously, including other Altras, though not recently. When minimalist and zero-drop shoes became more popular a few years ago, I had run in a few zero-drop shoes from Merrell for both trail and road. I was a little nervous about running longer distances in these Torins, but I had no pain issues whatsoever. From the first time out, the Torin felt light and airy underneath my feet. These shoes gave me a new outlook on running on pavement. So far, I'm confident their cushion and stability will last miles and miles.respecta3554

I am an Altra-ite through and through. In the last three years I've purchased and used at least 8 of their shoes. Primarily I run trails but also some road work here and there. I mostly use superiors, but also some Rivera, Escalante racer, and Lone peaks. I have run a 50k in their lone peaks and wanted a little more cushion once I got past mile 25 so I thought I'd try the timps. I had read a lot of reviews on different sites and had mixed feelings about them. I really wanted this shoe to work. To give it credit, walking in it feels fine so hiking might be good. My feet definitely felt less of the rocks and roots and I think it would have done well for the distance in that regard. But there are other issues like my feet going numb (despite different lacing styles and tensions) and it just feeling tight. I tried them on in a store and it didn't seem to bother me, went with the larger size of the two I tried, but ordered from altra directly since The store didn't have the color I wanted. Out of the box they are nice looking and I was eager to use them. In the end I hated running in them. Felt too tight and feet rejected them within just a few miles. If the lone peak came in a slightly thicker version that would be incredible. For now I'm experimenting with adding the new skinny rock guards in my lone peaks and that seems to be good so far.Beau the Gear Tester

I REALLY wanted to like the Timp 3! I still have two pairs of the original Timps and love them, especially the offset lacing and the solid yet nimble feel of the shoe; the original material also feels more durable (you know, for actually running trails). Even the Timp 2 is better than the Timp 3! I ordered the Timp 3 from the Altra website in Women's size 8/Dark Blue; pretty color and snug fit, except for the tongue: As soon as I began running, the thin tongue cut into my instep and slid around and slid out of place; very uncomfortable and distracting, eventually causing numbness. Overall assessment: The Timp 3 has great potential, if Altra just makes the tongue thicker (like the thickness on the Rivera); otherwise, if I want to actually RUN in them, I will just wear my older Timp models. (I returned the Timp 3.) SO disappointed, especially since the Timp has been my go-to shoe as a road-trail hybrid. ALSO: Altra is conforming too much to what the other running shoe brands are making. What happened to "Zero-Drop", "Foot Shape", and offset lacing? Altra might win some new mass-market fans, but they are in danger of losing their core fan base — runners who were looking for something different, something BETTER, something UNIQUE. I'll check back to see if Altra ever returns to the design foundation that truly set them apart from the competition.Active Mom

I went through six pairs of these on the PCT this year. I bought 3 of the pairs when they went on sale this last summer and the soles delaminated, pealed right off beginning in the first week of each. I had to glue them back together every night in camp. I loved my first three pairs but something was definitely wrong with the last three. I stuck with them throughout the PCT hike because I didn't want to risk getting blisters from a different shoe. Maybe they fixed the problem, who knows. I can't believe REI and Altra let those things go out the door, they must have known. REI returned my money on one pair because I held onto them. The others I through away while out on the PCT so they wouldn't refund those. My first three would rate four stars but I must enter one star for Altra for selling these, even though it was a low sale price. The PCT is hard enough without having to worry about you shoes falling apart.Rocky

My first impression of the gaiters was great. They are comfortable and easy to fix on the shoe. They provide a velcro patch to stick to the heel of your shoe, and this does a good job of holding the gaiter in place. They also provide another patch of velcro to protect the one on the shoe when you aren't wearing the gaiters. I didn't have any trouble with the gaiter displacing when running regularly-the hook stayed attached in front. I think these would work well in dusty/rocky conditions. However, it's been very snowy where I live, so I tested them in snow. I found that snow easily got up under the gaiter and became trapped. If you buy these, you should also be very careful about removing the gaiter from the show. I accidentally pulled off the sticky velcro patch, and now have trouble getting it to stay fixed. These would be great if the velcro patch actually stuck-or more replacement patches were provided.thetheatrecat

These gaiters now have adaptors for non-Altra shoes, but the only way I knew this was the little note stuck on the packaging that said “includes gaiter trap adaptor to fit any shoe.” There was no instruction provided, and I had no clue what the adaptor was or how it worked. After getting help from someone at REI and viewing a couple of videos on Altra’s website, I now understand. There is an extra Velcro piece with an adhesive backing – you stick that on the back of your shoe, and it grabs onto the Velcro piece of the gaiter. (Altra shoes have a little tab on the back that grabs onto that Velcro piece – this would be the “gaiter trap.” I don’t think I would have figured that out either without the videos. The instructions say to attach the hook and loop tab to the back of the shoe. There is no hook and loop.) So now that we finally know how the gaiters attach to non-Altra shoes, how well do they work? The front hook, which attaches to your shoelaces, was a little tricky. My Salomon shoes have thin, string-like, somewhat stretchy laces. I found that if I pushed the hook under two rows of lace, so that one row crossed over the gaiter tip, the hook stayed in place better. The gaiters fit a little funny on the sides and look like they’ll ride up, but they don’t. The gaiters do work well to keep out the little pebbles and dirt clumps that can creep in and interfere with your workout. To test the effectiveness further, I spent some time in my garden using my feet to push mulch around. No debris got in the shoes. I have more than one pair of trail running shoes, but I can only use these gaiters with one of them, because I have to have the adhesive tab on the back of the shoes. The adhesive does hold better than I expected, but I can already tell it won’t last very long. After the first run, I could see one corner just barely starting to come loose. Bottom line: I’d be willing to bet these gaiters work beautifully with Altra shoes, and I would probably recommend them for those shoes. With non-Altra shoes, there are some definite limitations. And the packaging information leaves a lot to be desired.Hiker Babe

Light-weight and easy to put on and take off. They're meant to work with Altra trail runners. There's an extra adhesive-velcro you can put on other shoes to use these with those as well, but I haven't tried that. These are not appropriate for really nasty conditions — if they get wet, they get wet — but they help keep splashed water/mud out of your shoes, and more importantly, they keep *pebbles and pine needles out*. As someone who tends to collect half the forest in their shoes out on the trail, these were great for keeping my shoes clear.Anie

Upper: it's fine. I get the complaints that it's hot and doesn't breath. I wear thin and thick socks and I haven't had issues but the upper is thick and isn't the most breathable. Torin, Escalante, and Rivera breath much better. Still, not terrible. The tongue is also far too thick. I can't also understand the complaints regarding heel slip, but if you use the marathon lace system that fixes the heel slippage. Shoe laces are a good length, Altra tends to make them too long. Innovarch is at worst painful and at best useless. When engaged it pinches and is abrasive. Even if it didn't cause these issues it's completely useless. It doesn't help support the arch whatsoever. A better fix would be teaming up with a company like Sole and use their wide zero drop insoles to support the arch. I complete disengage and removed the laces from the Innovarch system and added Sole insoles. The width is fine. I like most have noticed even the standard width as shrunk. I didn't feel much difference in width between the Paradigm and Rivera. It might be that the Rivs were more broken in but the Paradigms are a tad snug. Guiderails are great. This is the best part of the shoe by far. The only criticism I have, is the guiderails should continue through past your arches. The point of Altras is to land in your mid to forefoot. The guiderails only seem to help when you walk or land heavily on your midfoot. Sole: this is supposed to be Altras best foam. I think the Torin is more plush. Give me more plush!PT_Bruiser

I was critical of a few things in my first review that I would like to revisit now that I'm on my second pair. I ran in the Hoka Arahi 6s just to see what the scuttle butt was all about, so I will say this about the Paradigm 6: I now think Altra does a much better job than others with heel slippage. The upper could be better but its fine, maybe better construction. The Arahi seemed stiffer in a good way, more supportive I guess. The Paradigm 6s breath just fine. The only negative I have for the Paradigm is the Innovarch. It doesn't work and at worst is abrasive. I'm switching back because I need my feet to splay, I love the zero drop, and the guiderail is brilliant. The Paradigm 6s relieve pain in my hips, arches, and plantar fascia. 2 things I think need to drastically change Change for Altra in general. I have run in Escalantes/Racers, Lone Peaks, Torins, and Riveras. The cushion. It's no good. The stuff blows out after 100-150 miles. The other is the color schemes. They are just awful. Always the same black, gray, blue with probably one good color choice. The trail shoes have an ok color choice, but the road shoes seem to be going for a much older audience.PT_Bruiser

What can I say?! I absolutely love these sneakers! I bought these shoes for the purpose of jogging/exercise. Normally, when I buy a new pair of sneakers I swap out the insoles for name brand ones. However, when I put these sneakers on for sizing (I bought them online) I was immediately surprised at how well they fit. My heels and ankles felt supported and secure , my heels did not slip out of the shoe. In addition, I have high arches and these sneakers were able to take care of that too! The extra toe room is also a game changer…my toes have room to wriggle and breathe. The extra cushioning on the soles feels like I am running on a rubber track instead of hard pavement. The soles are also super grippy and stick to the road like glue, especially when you are running down hill! I recently ran a 5k race and honestly feel wearing these sneakers made a big difference in how well I did (I placed 3rd for my age group!). I am not a fast runner but I do enjoy it very much and now even more not having to worry about my aching feet all the time…Thank you Altra!Pebbles

Upper: it's fine. I get the complaints that it's hot and doesn't breath. I wear thin and thick socks and I haven't had issues but the upper is thick and isn't the most breathable. Torin, Escalante, and Rivera breath much better. Still, not terrible. The tongue is also far too thick. I can't also understand the complaints regarding heel slip, but if you use the marathon lace system that fixes the heel slippage. Shoe laces are a good length, Altra tends to make them too long. Innovarch is at worst painful and at best useless. When engaged it pinches and is abrasive. Even if it didn't cause these issues it's completely useless. It doesn't help support the arch whatsoever. A better fix would be teaming up with a company like Sole and use their wide zero drop insoles to support the arch. I complete disengage and removed the laces from the Innovarch system and added Sole insoles. The width is fine. I like most have noticed even the standard width as shrunk. I didn't feel much difference in width between the Paradigm and Rivera. It might be that the Rivs were more broken in but the Paradigms are a tad snug. Guiderails are great. This is the best part of the shoe by far. The only criticism I have, is the guiderails should continue through past your arches. The point of Altras is to land in your mid to forefoot. The guiderails only seem to help when you walk or land heavily on your midfoot. Sole: this is supposed to be Altras best foam. I think the Torin is more plush. Give me more plush!PT_Bruiser

I was critical of a few things in my first review that I would like to revisit now that I'm on my second pair. I ran in the Hoka Arahi 6s just to see what the scuttle butt was all about, so I will say this about the Paradigm 6: I now think Altra does a much better job than others with heel slippage. The upper could be better but its fine, maybe better construction. The Arahi seemed stiffer in a good way, more supportive I guess. The Paradigm 6s breath just fine. The only negative I have for the Paradigm is the Innovarch. It doesn't work and at worst is abrasive. I'm switching back because I need my feet to splay, I love the zero drop, and the guiderail is brilliant. The Paradigm 6s relieve pain in my hips, arches, and plantar fascia. 2 things I think need to drastically change Change for Altra in general. I have run in Escalantes/Racers, Lone Peaks, Torins, and Riveras. The cushion. It's no good. The stuff blows out after 100-150 miles. The other is the color schemes. They are just awful. Always the same black, gray, blue with probably one good color choice. The trail shoes have an ok color choice, but the road shoes seem to be going for a much older audience.PT_Bruiser

What can I say?! I absolutely love these sneakers! I bought these shoes for the purpose of jogging/exercise. Normally, when I buy a new pair of sneakers I swap out the insoles for name brand ones. However, when I put these sneakers on for sizing (I bought them online) I was immediately surprised at how well they fit. My heels and ankles felt supported and secure , my heels did not slip out of the shoe. In addition, I have high arches and these sneakers were able to take care of that too! The extra toe room is also a game changer…my toes have room to wriggle and breathe. The extra cushioning on the soles feels like I am running on a rubber track instead of hard pavement. The soles are also super grippy and stick to the road like glue, especially when you are running down hill! I recently ran a 5k race and honestly feel wearing these sneakers made a big difference in how well I did (I placed 3rd for my age group!). I am not a fast runner but I do enjoy it very much and now even more not having to worry about my aching feet all the time…Thank you Altra!Pebbles

Upper: it's fine. I get the complaints that it's hot and doesn't breath. I wear thin and thick socks and I haven't had issues but the upper is thick and isn't the most breathable. Torin, Escalante, and Rivera breath much better. Still, not terrible. The tongue is also far too thick. I can't also understand the complaints regarding heel slip, but if you use the marathon lace system that fixes the heel slippage. Shoe laces are a good length, Altra tends to make them too long. Innovarch is at worst painful and at best useless. When engaged it pinches and is abrasive. Even if it didn't cause these issues it's completely useless. It doesn't help support the arch whatsoever. A better fix would be teaming up with a company like Sole and use their wide zero drop insoles to support the arch. I complete disengage and removed the laces from the Innovarch system and added Sole insoles. The width is fine. I like most have noticed even the standard width as shrunk. I didn't feel much difference in width between the Paradigm and Rivera. It might be that the Rivs were more broken in but the Paradigms are a tad snug. Guiderails are great. This is the best part of the shoe by far. The only criticism I have, is the guiderails should continue through past your arches. The point of Altras is to land in your mid to forefoot. The guiderails only seem to help when you walk or land heavily on your midfoot. Sole: this is supposed to be Altras best foam. I think the Torin is more plush. Give me more plush!PT_Bruiser

I was critical of a few things in my first review that I would like to revisit now that I'm on my second pair. I ran in the Hoka Arahi 6s just to see what the scuttle butt was all about, so I will say this about the Paradigm 6: I now think Altra does a much better job than others with heel slippage. The upper could be better but its fine, maybe better construction. The Arahi seemed stiffer in a good way, more supportive I guess. The Paradigm 6s breath just fine. The only negative I have for the Paradigm is the Innovarch. It doesn't work and at worst is abrasive. I'm switching back because I need my feet to splay, I love the zero drop, and the guiderail is brilliant. The Paradigm 6s relieve pain in my hips, arches, and plantar fascia. 2 things I think need to drastically change Change for Altra in general. I have run in Escalantes/Racers, Lone Peaks, Torins, and Riveras. The cushion. It's no good. The stuff blows out after 100-150 miles. The other is the color schemes. They are just awful. Always the same black, gray, blue with probably one good color choice. The trail shoes have an ok color choice, but the road shoes seem to be going for a much older audience.PT_Bruiser

What can I say?! I absolutely love these sneakers! I bought these shoes for the purpose of jogging/exercise. Normally, when I buy a new pair of sneakers I swap out the insoles for name brand ones. However, when I put these sneakers on for sizing (I bought them online) I was immediately surprised at how well they fit. My heels and ankles felt supported and secure , my heels did not slip out of the shoe. In addition, I have high arches and these sneakers were able to take care of that too! The extra toe room is also a game changer…my toes have room to wriggle and breathe. The extra cushioning on the soles feels like I am running on a rubber track instead of hard pavement. The soles are also super grippy and stick to the road like glue, especially when you are running down hill! I recently ran a 5k race and honestly feel wearing these sneakers made a big difference in how well I did (I placed 3rd for my age group!). I am not a fast runner but I do enjoy it very much and now even more not having to worry about my aching feet all the time…Thank you Altra!Pebbles

Upper: it's fine. I get the complaints that it's hot and doesn't breath. I wear thin and thick socks and I haven't had issues but the upper is thick and isn't the most breathable. Torin, Escalante, and Rivera breath much better. Still, not terrible. The tongue is also far too thick. I can't also understand the complaints regarding heel slip, but if you use the marathon lace system that fixes the heel slippage. Shoe laces are a good length, Altra tends to make them too long. Innovarch is at worst painful and at best useless. When engaged it pinches and is abrasive. Even if it didn't cause these issues it's completely useless. It doesn't help support the arch whatsoever. A better fix would be teaming up with a company like Sole and use their wide zero drop insoles to support the arch. I complete disengage and removed the laces from the Innovarch system and added Sole insoles. The width is fine. I like most have noticed even the standard width as shrunk. I didn't feel much difference in width between the Paradigm and Rivera. It might be that the Rivs were more broken in but the Paradigms are a tad snug. Guiderails are great. This is the best part of the shoe by far. The only criticism I have, is the guiderails should continue through past your arches. The point of Altras is to land in your mid to forefoot. The guiderails only seem to help when you walk or land heavily on your midfoot. Sole: this is supposed to be Altras best foam. I think the Torin is more plush. Give me more plush!PT_Bruiser

I was critical of a few things in my first review that I would like to revisit now that I'm on my second pair. I ran in the Hoka Arahi 6s just to see what the scuttle butt was all about, so I will say this about the Paradigm 6: I now think Altra does a much better job than others with heel slippage. The upper could be better but its fine, maybe better construction. The Arahi seemed stiffer in a good way, more supportive I guess. The Paradigm 6s breath just fine. The only negative I have for the Paradigm is the Innovarch. It doesn't work and at worst is abrasive. I'm switching back because I need my feet to splay, I love the zero drop, and the guiderail is brilliant. The Paradigm 6s relieve pain in my hips, arches, and plantar fascia. 2 things I think need to drastically change Change for Altra in general. I have run in Escalantes/Racers, Lone Peaks, Torins, and Riveras. The cushion. It's no good. The stuff blows out after 100-150 miles. The other is the color schemes. They are just awful. Always the same black, gray, blue with probably one good color choice. The trail shoes have an ok color choice, but the road shoes seem to be going for a much older audience.PT_Bruiser

What can I say?! I absolutely love these sneakers! I bought these shoes for the purpose of jogging/exercise. Normally, when I buy a new pair of sneakers I swap out the insoles for name brand ones. However, when I put these sneakers on for sizing (I bought them online) I was immediately surprised at how well they fit. My heels and ankles felt supported and secure , my heels did not slip out of the shoe. In addition, I have high arches and these sneakers were able to take care of that too! The extra toe room is also a game changer…my toes have room to wriggle and breathe. The extra cushioning on the soles feels like I am running on a rubber track instead of hard pavement. The soles are also super grippy and stick to the road like glue, especially when you are running down hill! I recently ran a 5k race and honestly feel wearing these sneakers made a big difference in how well I did (I placed 3rd for my age group!). I am not a fast runner but I do enjoy it very much and now even more not having to worry about my aching feet all the time…Thank you Altra!Pebbles

My third pair of Superiors and probably not my last! The fit is perfectly dialed, at least for me. The latest iteration is slightly smaller feeling than previous as others have mentioned, but for me it actually fits a little better. My fore and mid foot are mid wide, with narrow heels, and Superiors have always just felt right. New version heel is even more secure and improved. The only complaint is that I often want for a heavy duty version. Give me a Superior approach shoe! I wear Scarpa mountaineering boots and love them, but obviously overkill in a lot of situations. Problem is a lot of running/approach type shoes feel like high heeled narrow Italian dress shoes compared to the Superiors. I would absolutely love something like the Scarpa Ribelle Run … half rubber rand, reinforced uppers, a sticky sole with some edging for a bit of scrambling, just in Superior form. Something that I could trail run the first half, then scree bash and scramble the the summit without needing to bring a second, more durable shoe. Bit of a niche, but a guy can dream!Gully

The balance of support, flexibility, and cushion are perfect. I feel the actual muscles in my feet feeling the surface under the shoe and activating accordingly, but with the right support. I did go up a full size, and probably would have done half a size up except that the toe box height is pretty…tight. Foot type: a tiny bit wider but not wide sized, slightly low arches (not flat footed). Additionally, I actually got these to wear generally because I have a broken ankle (I’m in the stage of being out of the boot but wearing compression socks) and my mush led fee way more activated in this shoe, even more than the other models of altra (and I know you’re not supposed to use these soles on pavement, but…wearing them out is a small price to pay). Note that I also hiked/jogged on trails in an earlier iteration of these shoes, and the ankle padding and structure isn’t as supportive as these (therefore why I bought these for the ankle recovery) — and also I was a 7 on those but an 8 in these. One criticism: dang these colors make me feel like a clown. Even the men’s colors are more subtle. Altra, please make a basic black or white. Some people like jewel tones with high contrast in the same shoe, and some people like pink…but I bet most of your customer base would like a classic, basic, neutrally toned option.Fuchsia

I bought the orange Superior 5s in size 10.5. Just the right size, and thank goodness these shoes have the wide toe box I need! I recently purchased some Spartan Altra trail shoes with the narrowest toe box I've seen in years; they were totally useless. I started trail running in Altra Lone Peaks, which were okay but not my favorite for Spartan races. For the past 3 years, I have run in Salomon Speedcross 10.5s (wide). Things I love about the Altra Superior 5s: Lightweight, comfortable feel, wide toe box, breathability, gussetted tongue, they perform exceptionally well on less technical terrain, and they look great! Things I don't love about the Altra Superior 5s: 1. Because they aren't a particularly aggressive shoe, they're not great on technical terrain, rocks, mud, steep climbs and steep descents. 2. You will feel rocks and roots and possibly have sore feet, even with the stone bar insert. It's not terrible, but shoes like the Speedcross are noticeably better at preventing this when running on technical terrain. 3. The traditional laces. Double-knotting the laces did the trick for me on dry trails, but traditional lace-up shoes don't work well in obstacle course races or in water or mud. I would love to see Altra add a lace option comparable to the Salomon Quicklace System. Bottom Line: I'll run in these shoes often on trails with small or moderate elevation gain or on less technical trails. They are solid, and my feet feel great in them on these types of trails. However, I'll leave them at home when I'm running on mountains or competing in Spartan races.Trifecta Tone

Unless I'm wearing sandals, I've been running, hiking, and working every day in Altra shoes exclusively for a decade now. I put in a lot of miles running both roads and trails. I was waiting eagerly for the Torin 6 to come out and I've now put 50 miles on them. The good – I love the overall fit and cushion of the shoe. At 200 lb I'm a big runner and am looking for a high cushioned zero drop wide toe box neutral shoe that gives me as much cushion and as flexible a sole as possible while maintaining my natural gait. These run and fit awesome. I love the Escalante too, but at my weight, I need the extra cushioning in the Torin. And the Torin 6 is a great overall upgrade from the Torin 5 – better cushioning and wider toe box. EXCEPT… for two key issues. 1) Altra did not address the issue of the pointy tongues that so many reviewers complained about in the Torin 5. I literally have ankle calluses from the Torn 5, and the tongues of the Torin 6 are pointed and rub my ankles while running in the same way. All my other Ultra road and trail shoes have a tongue with a gap in the middle and are softer and lower. Altra, why the big pointed tongues on the Torin? It makes no functional sense. Listen to your customers… so annoying! 2) I had to go through several pairs of Torin 6's to find found a pair that worked due to inconsistency in sizing in different pairs of the same size shoe. This included clear abnormalities in the toebox of R vs. L. I loved the dusky teal color, but tried two pairs and found them both to be noticably narrower than a pair of the same size in white. The wider white shoes fit me better and I sadly sent the teal shoes back. One of the pair of teal Torin's I tried had a blemished fold in the toe box, the other was normal, but both pairs were clearly narrower than the white pair. It was not a lacing issues, as I loosened and retightened all laces several times. This spring I had a similar issue finding asymmetry between R and L shoes in the Mount Blanc. I had to order three pairs to find a R and L pair that matched. Altra has great shoe designs that so many of us have come to depend upon. It makes these issues so much more frustrating. Come on Altra, get the QAQC together!Ryan

I have a lot to say, so bare with me 🙂 I am 43, and a firefighter for over 15 years. I stay fit, and cardio is of upmost importance to me. I will say though, since having kids, my money and priorities weigh heavily towards my kids and not me anymore. I got to try these shoes for free, and I couldn't be more thankful. I tend to buy what's on sale, or what I have always known as far as commercial name brands. They are fine, but tend to wear out quickly, and im replacing them all the time it seems. I didn't know this brand, and I didn't know this brand prior to trying them out, but I can say with 100% certainty, quality matters, and these are quality! I have a wider foot, but most wide shoes are almost too wide. Not these! I feel like my foot is secured nicely, with little wiggle room, and the soles are so soft, its like walking on your favorite foam pillow. These are soft and flexible, and if you are like me and pull on your shoes from time to time, you will love how flexible the material is. I have had a number of shoes that some hard plastic piece tends to poke through in the heal after I wear it down a bit, but that has not happened here. I have a learned a good lesson on taking the extra time to buy something that's quality, and not just what youre used to. I feel I would have never known about these had I not had the chance to try them, so trust me 100% when I tell you these are amazing. No blisters, the shoes are holding up incredible, and they feel as good weeks into wearing them as they did when I first put them on. I hope after reading this you consider trying these out. You will be incredibly pleased, just like I was, and maybe find your new favorite shoe brand!Carrie

Thankfully, even from the first run with the Altra Torin 6 shoes, I felt no foot pain whatsoever. Updated from its number 5 iteration, the Torin 6 shoes debuted this summer with an engineered mesh upper, an evolved molded heel collar, and superb foam in the midsole. In short: If you are a fan of zero-drop shoes and Altras classic FootShape, the Torin 6s will feel like nothing on your feet – except support and comfort. I tested them out for miles on a variety of roads and trails this month. Straight from the box, the Torin 6 looks sleeker than Altra's other trail runners and hikers, but still holds true to the wider toe box. The engineered mesh upper covers most of the shoe, minus the heel and collar, and just a subtle pattern that blends into the shoe's grooved design. The heel and collar fabric is soft and smooth, as is an improved, more plush tongue (compared to previous models). After about a week of testing, I had taken the Altra Torin 6 on a few shorter runs and one longer 12-mile run around the foothills of Boulder, Colo. I used the Torins on pavement and sidewalks and on mostly flat road, though still with some elevation gain. I also should point out that I have run or hiked in zero-drop shoes previously, including other Altras, though not recently. When minimalist and zero-drop shoes became more popular a few years ago, I had run in a few zero-drop shoes from Merrell for both trail and road. I was a little nervous about running longer distances in these Torins, but I had no pain issues whatsoever. From the first time out, the Torin felt light and airy underneath my feet. These shoes gave me a new outlook on running on pavement. So far, I'm confident their cushion and stability will last miles and miles.respecta3554

Unless I'm wearing sandals, I've been running, hiking, and working every day in Altra shoes exclusively for a decade now. I put in a lot of miles running both roads and trails. I was waiting eagerly for the Torin 6 to come out and I've now put 50 miles on them. The good – I love the overall fit and cushion of the shoe. At 200 lb I'm a big runner and am looking for a high cushioned zero drop wide toe box neutral shoe that gives me as much cushion and as flexible a sole as possible while maintaining my natural gait. These run and fit awesome. I love the Escalante too, but at my weight, I need the extra cushioning in the Torin. And the Torin 6 is a great overall upgrade from the Torin 5 – better cushioning and wider toe box. EXCEPT… for two key issues. 1) Altra did not address the issue of the pointy tongues that so many reviewers complained about in the Torin 5. I literally have ankle calluses from the Torn 5, and the tongues of the Torin 6 are pointed and rub my ankles while running in the same way. All my other Ultra road and trail shoes have a tongue with a gap in the middle and are softer and lower. Altra, why the big pointed tongues on the Torin? It makes no functional sense. Listen to your customers… so annoying! 2) I had to go through several pairs of Torin 6's to find found a pair that worked due to inconsistency in sizing in different pairs of the same size shoe. This included clear abnormalities in the toebox of R vs. L. I loved the dusky teal color, but tried two pairs and found them both to be noticably narrower than a pair of the same size in white. The wider white shoes fit me better and I sadly sent the teal shoes back. One of the pair of teal Torin's I tried had a blemished fold in the toe box, the other was normal, but both pairs were clearly narrower than the white pair. It was not a lacing issues, as I loosened and retightened all laces several times. This spring I had a similar issue finding asymmetry between R and L shoes in the Mount Blanc. I had to order three pairs to find a R and L pair that matched. Altra has great shoe designs that so many of us have come to depend upon. It makes these issues so much more frustrating. Come on Altra, get the QAQC together!Ryan

I have a lot to say, so bare with me 🙂 I am 43, and a firefighter for over 15 years. I stay fit, and cardio is of upmost importance to me. I will say though, since having kids, my money and priorities weigh heavily towards my kids and not me anymore. I got to try these shoes for free, and I couldn't be more thankful. I tend to buy what's on sale, or what I have always known as far as commercial name brands. They are fine, but tend to wear out quickly, and im replacing them all the time it seems. I didn't know this brand, and I didn't know this brand prior to trying them out, but I can say with 100% certainty, quality matters, and these are quality! I have a wider foot, but most wide shoes are almost too wide. Not these! I feel like my foot is secured nicely, with little wiggle room, and the soles are so soft, its like walking on your favorite foam pillow. These are soft and flexible, and if you are like me and pull on your shoes from time to time, you will love how flexible the material is. I have had a number of shoes that some hard plastic piece tends to poke through in the heal after I wear it down a bit, but that has not happened here. I have a learned a good lesson on taking the extra time to buy something that's quality, and not just what youre used to. I feel I would have never known about these had I not had the chance to try them, so trust me 100% when I tell you these are amazing. No blisters, the shoes are holding up incredible, and they feel as good weeks into wearing them as they did when I first put them on. I hope after reading this you consider trying these out. You will be incredibly pleased, just like I was, and maybe find your new favorite shoe brand!Carrie

Thankfully, even from the first run with the Altra Torin 6 shoes, I felt no foot pain whatsoever. Updated from its number 5 iteration, the Torin 6 shoes debuted this summer with an engineered mesh upper, an evolved molded heel collar, and superb foam in the midsole. In short: If you are a fan of zero-drop shoes and Altras classic FootShape, the Torin 6s will feel like nothing on your feet – except support and comfort. I tested them out for miles on a variety of roads and trails this month. Straight from the box, the Torin 6 looks sleeker than Altra's other trail runners and hikers, but still holds true to the wider toe box. The engineered mesh upper covers most of the shoe, minus the heel and collar, and just a subtle pattern that blends into the shoe's grooved design. The heel and collar fabric is soft and smooth, as is an improved, more plush tongue (compared to previous models). After about a week of testing, I had taken the Altra Torin 6 on a few shorter runs and one longer 12-mile run around the foothills of Boulder, Colo. I used the Torins on pavement and sidewalks and on mostly flat road, though still with some elevation gain. I also should point out that I have run or hiked in zero-drop shoes previously, including other Altras, though not recently. When minimalist and zero-drop shoes became more popular a few years ago, I had run in a few zero-drop shoes from Merrell for both trail and road. I was a little nervous about running longer distances in these Torins, but I had no pain issues whatsoever. From the first time out, the Torin felt light and airy underneath my feet. These shoes gave me a new outlook on running on pavement. So far, I'm confident their cushion and stability will last miles and miles.respecta3554

The amount of cushioned shoes flooding the market always made me think where does it end? Having read Born to Run and Born to Run 2 where this show was recommended, I decided to go zero drop. My first 'zero drop' shoes were the Vivo Barefoot and despite a settling in period, I was still left with very sore calves after just a 2 mile run. Fast forward about 11 months and having done most of my marathon training in a cushioned shoe, stuck with it for the actual marathon distance. Straight after the marathon Operation Zero Drop began. This week I have completed 2 runs of about 4 miles each, one on a treadmill and one outside and both times the feedback given by Nurvv tracker is registering a 90%+ neutral pronation with 90%+ forefoot strike. It took a lot of work to get this far, consciously changing the way I ran over the past year, transitioning from heel striking to more forefoot striking (actually more of a whole foot landing but balls of the feet landing just ahead of midfoot) and the difference is palpable. Not only am I faster, I'm much more relaxed when I run now. The shoe itself is very light as compared to the cushioned shoes I had but where Nurvv was telling me I was overprinting in those it was the cushioning actually changing my footstrike/ balance pattern. I am hopefully never going back to fully cushioned shoes. Oh yeah, very little calf pain after both runs (some is expected given calves will absorb more impact in the absence of maximal cushioning). I am very pleased with them and they held up well in rainy conditions, with no heel slip, good grip and very comfortable to wear with a sock like feel. Go a half size up.MuddyBeard

If you're not a runner and experience issues with the narrow toebox of your current pair of sneakers, you should give Altra Escalantes a try. I've been wearing the Escalantes from their first iterations, and I like the new, improved fabric fit as it provides more stability so my foot doesn't move around while I'm in motion. I've experienced immense problems with ASICS and most big-named athletic footwear due to their too-narrow design. I've always had bunions and leg issues (shin splints and foot pain) and decided to give zero drop footwear a try and have never looked back. I like the Escalantes because they provide moderate cushioning which is ideal for my environment as I walk on concrete. I don't wear these during my weight lifting sessions as they have too much cushion for weight-bearing activities, but for walking everywhere — they're amazing! The Escalantes will not fix any foot pain you may have — I improved my shin splints and overall lower body issues with consistent strength training, not because I switched shoes. A proper strength training regimen combined with proper footwear have improved my overall quality of life because I no longer experience immense foot pain when I go for long, long walks. Also, due to the wide toe box, my toes have naturally straightened out! No more crooked toes. This happened over the past few years and my feet have felt so much better. Definitely give these shoes a go if you're tired of cramming your feet in something that's too narrow.Non-Runner Lifter

I loved these shoes at first. They were so comfortable, a bit springy, and I loved the stretchiness of the upper material. However, after wearing them for a few weeks I began to realize that my feet were noticeably rolling inward even when standing still. I think this was the combination of the stretchy material and the total lack of arch support. I began developing posterior shin splint symptoms. I prefer running in low-drop or zero-drop shoes. and I've never had problems with this before! I tried an insole, but it just didn't cut it… ended up having to return them. I think these are perfectly comfortable for walking and maybe even short running mileage, but they didn't work for me for any kind of distance training.Cruns

The amount of cushioned shoes flooding the market always made me think where does it end? Having read Born to Run and Born to Run 2 where this show was recommended, I decided to go zero drop. My first 'zero drop' shoes were the Vivo Barefoot and despite a settling in period, I was still left with very sore calves after just a 2 mile run. Fast forward about 11 months and having done most of my marathon training in a cushioned shoe, stuck with it for the actual marathon distance. Straight after the marathon Operation Zero Drop began. This week I have completed 2 runs of about 4 miles each, one on a treadmill and one outside and both times the feedback given by Nurvv tracker is registering a 90%+ neutral pronation with 90%+ forefoot strike. It took a lot of work to get this far, consciously changing the way I ran over the past year, transitioning from heel striking to more forefoot striking (actually more of a whole foot landing but balls of the feet landing just ahead of midfoot) and the difference is palpable. Not only am I faster, I'm much more relaxed when I run now. The shoe itself is very light as compared to the cushioned shoes I had but where Nurvv was telling me I was overprinting in those it was the cushioning actually changing my footstrike/ balance pattern. I am hopefully never going back to fully cushioned shoes. Oh yeah, very little calf pain after both runs (some is expected given calves will absorb more impact in the absence of maximal cushioning). I am very pleased with them and they held up well in rainy conditions, with no heel slip, good grip and very comfortable to wear with a sock like feel. Go a half size up.MuddyBeard

If you're not a runner and experience issues with the narrow toebox of your current pair of sneakers, you should give Altra Escalantes a try. I've been wearing the Escalantes from their first iterations, and I like the new, improved fabric fit as it provides more stability so my foot doesn't move around while I'm in motion. I've experienced immense problems with ASICS and most big-named athletic footwear due to their too-narrow design. I've always had bunions and leg issues (shin splints and foot pain) and decided to give zero drop footwear a try and have never looked back. I like the Escalantes because they provide moderate cushioning which is ideal for my environment as I walk on concrete. I don't wear these during my weight lifting sessions as they have too much cushion for weight-bearing activities, but for walking everywhere — they're amazing! The Escalantes will not fix any foot pain you may have — I improved my shin splints and overall lower body issues with consistent strength training, not because I switched shoes. A proper strength training regimen combined with proper footwear have improved my overall quality of life because I no longer experience immense foot pain when I go for long, long walks. Also, due to the wide toe box, my toes have naturally straightened out! No more crooked toes. This happened over the past few years and my feet have felt so much better. Definitely give these shoes a go if you're tired of cramming your feet in something that's too narrow.Non-Runner Lifter

I loved these shoes at first. They were so comfortable, a bit springy, and I loved the stretchiness of the upper material. However, after wearing them for a few weeks I began to realize that my feet were noticeably rolling inward even when standing still. I think this was the combination of the stretchy material and the total lack of arch support. I began developing posterior shin splint symptoms. I prefer running in low-drop or zero-drop shoes. and I've never had problems with this before! I tried an insole, but it just didn't cut it… ended up having to return them. I think these are perfectly comfortable for walking and maybe even short running mileage, but they didn't work for me for any kind of distance training.Cruns

The amount of cushioned shoes flooding the market always made me think where does it end? Having read Born to Run and Born to Run 2 where this show was recommended, I decided to go zero drop. My first 'zero drop' shoes were the Vivo Barefoot and despite a settling in period, I was still left with very sore calves after just a 2 mile run. Fast forward about 11 months and having done most of my marathon training in a cushioned shoe, stuck with it for the actual marathon distance. Straight after the marathon Operation Zero Drop began. This week I have completed 2 runs of about 4 miles each, one on a treadmill and one outside and both times the feedback given by Nurvv tracker is registering a 90%+ neutral pronation with 90%+ forefoot strike. It took a lot of work to get this far, consciously changing the way I ran over the past year, transitioning from heel striking to more forefoot striking (actually more of a whole foot landing but balls of the feet landing just ahead of midfoot) and the difference is palpable. Not only am I faster, I'm much more relaxed when I run now. The shoe itself is very light as compared to the cushioned shoes I had but where Nurvv was telling me I was overprinting in those it was the cushioning actually changing my footstrike/ balance pattern. I am hopefully never going back to fully cushioned shoes. Oh yeah, very little calf pain after both runs (some is expected given calves will absorb more impact in the absence of maximal cushioning). I am very pleased with them and they held up well in rainy conditions, with no heel slip, good grip and very comfortable to wear with a sock like feel. Go a half size up.MuddyBeard

If you're not a runner and experience issues with the narrow toebox of your current pair of sneakers, you should give Altra Escalantes a try. I've been wearing the Escalantes from their first iterations, and I like the new, improved fabric fit as it provides more stability so my foot doesn't move around while I'm in motion. I've experienced immense problems with ASICS and most big-named athletic footwear due to their too-narrow design. I've always had bunions and leg issues (shin splints and foot pain) and decided to give zero drop footwear a try and have never looked back. I like the Escalantes because they provide moderate cushioning which is ideal for my environment as I walk on concrete. I don't wear these during my weight lifting sessions as they have too much cushion for weight-bearing activities, but for walking everywhere — they're amazing! The Escalantes will not fix any foot pain you may have — I improved my shin splints and overall lower body issues with consistent strength training, not because I switched shoes. A proper strength training regimen combined with proper footwear have improved my overall quality of life because I no longer experience immense foot pain when I go for long, long walks. Also, due to the wide toe box, my toes have naturally straightened out! No more crooked toes. This happened over the past few years and my feet have felt so much better. Definitely give these shoes a go if you're tired of cramming your feet in something that's too narrow.Non-Runner Lifter

I loved these shoes at first. They were so comfortable, a bit springy, and I loved the stretchiness of the upper material. However, after wearing them for a few weeks I began to realize that my feet were noticeably rolling inward even when standing still. I think this was the combination of the stretchy material and the total lack of arch support. I began developing posterior shin splint symptoms. I prefer running in low-drop or zero-drop shoes. and I've never had problems with this before! I tried an insole, but it just didn't cut it… ended up having to return them. I think these are perfectly comfortable for walking and maybe even short running mileage, but they didn't work for me for any kind of distance training.Cruns

The amount of cushioned shoes flooding the market always made me think where does it end? Having read Born to Run and Born to Run 2 where this show was recommended, I decided to go zero drop. My first 'zero drop' shoes were the Vivo Barefoot and despite a settling in period, I was still left with very sore calves after just a 2 mile run. Fast forward about 11 months and having done most of my marathon training in a cushioned shoe, stuck with it for the actual marathon distance. Straight after the marathon Operation Zero Drop began. This week I have completed 2 runs of about 4 miles each, one on a treadmill and one outside and both times the feedback given by Nurvv tracker is registering a 90%+ neutral pronation with 90%+ forefoot strike. It took a lot of work to get this far, consciously changing the way I ran over the past year, transitioning from heel striking to more forefoot striking (actually more of a whole foot landing but balls of the feet landing just ahead of midfoot) and the difference is palpable. Not only am I faster, I'm much more relaxed when I run now. The shoe itself is very light as compared to the cushioned shoes I had but where Nurvv was telling me I was overprinting in those it was the cushioning actually changing my footstrike/ balance pattern. I am hopefully never going back to fully cushioned shoes. Oh yeah, very little calf pain after both runs (some is expected given calves will absorb more impact in the absence of maximal cushioning). I am very pleased with them and they held up well in rainy conditions, with no heel slip, good grip and very comfortable to wear with a sock like feel. Go a half size up.MuddyBeard

If you're not a runner and experience issues with the narrow toebox of your current pair of sneakers, you should give Altra Escalantes a try. I've been wearing the Escalantes from their first iterations, and I like the new, improved fabric fit as it provides more stability so my foot doesn't move around while I'm in motion. I've experienced immense problems with ASICS and most big-named athletic footwear due to their too-narrow design. I've always had bunions and leg issues (shin splints and foot pain) and decided to give zero drop footwear a try and have never looked back. I like the Escalantes because they provide moderate cushioning which is ideal for my environment as I walk on concrete. I don't wear these during my weight lifting sessions as they have too much cushion for weight-bearing activities, but for walking everywhere — they're amazing! The Escalantes will not fix any foot pain you may have — I improved my shin splints and overall lower body issues with consistent strength training, not because I switched shoes. A proper strength training regimen combined with proper footwear have improved my overall quality of life because I no longer experience immense foot pain when I go for long, long walks. Also, due to the wide toe box, my toes have naturally straightened out! No more crooked toes. This happened over the past few years and my feet have felt so much better. Definitely give these shoes a go if you're tired of cramming your feet in something that's too narrow.Non-Runner Lifter

I loved these shoes at first. They were so comfortable, a bit springy, and I loved the stretchiness of the upper material. However, after wearing them for a few weeks I began to realize that my feet were noticeably rolling inward even when standing still. I think this was the combination of the stretchy material and the total lack of arch support. I began developing posterior shin splint symptoms. I prefer running in low-drop or zero-drop shoes. and I've never had problems with this before! I tried an insole, but it just didn't cut it… ended up having to return them. I think these are perfectly comfortable for walking and maybe even short running mileage, but they didn't work for me for any kind of distance training.Cruns

The amount of cushioned shoes flooding the market always made me think where does it end? Having read Born to Run and Born to Run 2 where this show was recommended, I decided to go zero drop. My first 'zero drop' shoes were the Vivo Barefoot and despite a settling in period, I was still left with very sore calves after just a 2 mile run. Fast forward about 11 months and having done most of my marathon training in a cushioned shoe, stuck with it for the actual marathon distance. Straight after the marathon Operation Zero Drop began. This week I have completed 2 runs of about 4 miles each, one on a treadmill and one outside and both times the feedback given by Nurvv tracker is registering a 90%+ neutral pronation with 90%+ forefoot strike. It took a lot of work to get this far, consciously changing the way I ran over the past year, transitioning from heel striking to more forefoot striking (actually more of a whole foot landing but balls of the feet landing just ahead of midfoot) and the difference is palpable. Not only am I faster, I'm much more relaxed when I run now. The shoe itself is very light as compared to the cushioned shoes I had but where Nurvv was telling me I was overprinting in those it was the cushioning actually changing my footstrike/ balance pattern. I am hopefully never going back to fully cushioned shoes. Oh yeah, very little calf pain after both runs (some is expected given calves will absorb more impact in the absence of maximal cushioning). I am very pleased with them and they held up well in rainy conditions, with no heel slip, good grip and very comfortable to wear with a sock like feel. Go a half size up.MuddyBeard

If you're not a runner and experience issues with the narrow toebox of your current pair of sneakers, you should give Altra Escalantes a try. I've been wearing the Escalantes from their first iterations, and I like the new, improved fabric fit as it provides more stability so my foot doesn't move around while I'm in motion. I've experienced immense problems with ASICS and most big-named athletic footwear due to their too-narrow design. I've always had bunions and leg issues (shin splints and foot pain) and decided to give zero drop footwear a try and have never looked back. I like the Escalantes because they provide moderate cushioning which is ideal for my environment as I walk on concrete. I don't wear these during my weight lifting sessions as they have too much cushion for weight-bearing activities, but for walking everywhere — they're amazing! The Escalantes will not fix any foot pain you may have — I improved my shin splints and overall lower body issues with consistent strength training, not because I switched shoes. A proper strength training regimen combined with proper footwear have improved my overall quality of life because I no longer experience immense foot pain when I go for long, long walks. Also, due to the wide toe box, my toes have naturally straightened out! No more crooked toes. This happened over the past few years and my feet have felt so much better. Definitely give these shoes a go if you're tired of cramming your feet in something that's too narrow.Non-Runner Lifter

I loved these shoes at first. They were so comfortable, a bit springy, and I loved the stretchiness of the upper material. However, after wearing them for a few weeks I began to realize that my feet were noticeably rolling inward even when standing still. I think this was the combination of the stretchy material and the total lack of arch support. I began developing posterior shin splint symptoms. I prefer running in low-drop or zero-drop shoes. and I've never had problems with this before! I tried an insole, but it just didn't cut it… ended up having to return them. I think these are perfectly comfortable for walking and maybe even short running mileage, but they didn't work for me for any kind of distance training.Cruns

Unless I'm wearing sandals, I've been running, hiking, and working every day in Altra shoes exclusively for a decade now. I put in a lot of miles running both roads and trails. I was waiting eagerly for the Torin 6 to come out and I've now put 50 miles on them. The good – I love the overall fit and cushion of the shoe. At 200 lb I'm a big runner and am looking for a high cushioned zero drop wide toe box neutral shoe that gives me as much cushion and as flexible a sole as possible while maintaining my natural gait. These run and fit awesome. I love the Escalante too, but at my weight, I need the extra cushioning in the Torin. And the Torin 6 is a great overall upgrade from the Torin 5 – better cushioning and wider toe box. EXCEPT… for two key issues. 1) Altra did not address the issue of the pointy tongues that so many reviewers complained about in the Torin 5. I literally have ankle calluses from the Torn 5, and the tongues of the Torin 6 are pointed and rub my ankles while running in the same way. All my other Ultra road and trail shoes have a tongue with a gap in the middle and are softer and lower. Altra, why the big pointed tongues on the Torin? It makes no functional sense. Listen to your customers… so annoying! 2) I had to go through several pairs of Torin 6's to find found a pair that worked due to inconsistency in sizing in different pairs of the same size shoe. This included clear abnormalities in the toebox of R vs. L. I loved the dusky teal color, but tried two pairs and found them both to be noticably narrower than a pair of the same size in white. The wider white shoes fit me better and I sadly sent the teal shoes back. One of the pair of teal Torin's I tried had a blemished fold in the toe box, the other was normal, but both pairs were clearly narrower than the white pair. It was not a lacing issues, as I loosened and retightened all laces several times. This spring I had a similar issue finding asymmetry between R and L shoes in the Mount Blanc. I had to order three pairs to find a R and L pair that matched. Altra has great shoe designs that so many of us have come to depend upon. It makes these issues so much more frustrating. Come on Altra, get the QAQC together!Ryan

I have a lot to say, so bare with me 🙂 I am 43, and a firefighter for over 15 years. I stay fit, and cardio is of upmost importance to me. I will say though, since having kids, my money and priorities weigh heavily towards my kids and not me anymore. I got to try these shoes for free, and I couldn't be more thankful. I tend to buy what's on sale, or what I have always known as far as commercial name brands. They are fine, but tend to wear out quickly, and im replacing them all the time it seems. I didn't know this brand, and I didn't know this brand prior to trying them out, but I can say with 100% certainty, quality matters, and these are quality! I have a wider foot, but most wide shoes are almost too wide. Not these! I feel like my foot is secured nicely, with little wiggle room, and the soles are so soft, its like walking on your favorite foam pillow. These are soft and flexible, and if you are like me and pull on your shoes from time to time, you will love how flexible the material is. I have had a number of shoes that some hard plastic piece tends to poke through in the heal after I wear it down a bit, but that has not happened here. I have a learned a good lesson on taking the extra time to buy something that's quality, and not just what youre used to. I feel I would have never known about these had I not had the chance to try them, so trust me 100% when I tell you these are amazing. No blisters, the shoes are holding up incredible, and they feel as good weeks into wearing them as they did when I first put them on. I hope after reading this you consider trying these out. You will be incredibly pleased, just like I was, and maybe find your new favorite shoe brand!Carrie

Thankfully, even from the first run with the Altra Torin 6 shoes, I felt no foot pain whatsoever. Updated from its number 5 iteration, the Torin 6 shoes debuted this summer with an engineered mesh upper, an evolved molded heel collar, and superb foam in the midsole. In short: If you are a fan of zero-drop shoes and Altras classic FootShape, the Torin 6s will feel like nothing on your feet – except support and comfort. I tested them out for miles on a variety of roads and trails this month. Straight from the box, the Torin 6 looks sleeker than Altra's other trail runners and hikers, but still holds true to the wider toe box. The engineered mesh upper covers most of the shoe, minus the heel and collar, and just a subtle pattern that blends into the shoe's grooved design. The heel and collar fabric is soft and smooth, as is an improved, more plush tongue (compared to previous models). After about a week of testing, I had taken the Altra Torin 6 on a few shorter runs and one longer 12-mile run around the foothills of Boulder, Colo. I used the Torins on pavement and sidewalks and on mostly flat road, though still with some elevation gain. I also should point out that I have run or hiked in zero-drop shoes previously, including other Altras, though not recently. When minimalist and zero-drop shoes became more popular a few years ago, I had run in a few zero-drop shoes from Merrell for both trail and road. I was a little nervous about running longer distances in these Torins, but I had no pain issues whatsoever. From the first time out, the Torin felt light and airy underneath my feet. These shoes gave me a new outlook on running on pavement. So far, I'm confident their cushion and stability will last miles and miles.respecta3554

Shoes exactly as described and shipping was super fast! I'm a size 12 in womens and these shoes fit me feet perfectly! I wasn't 100% sure they would, since I have another pair in mens and it is comparable to a womens 12.5. But they fit great! Lots of space in the toe box and all around comfortable.mustlovequeso

I bought the Altra Vali for my 10 day trip to Peru. I wanted to pack light and only bring one pair of shoes – something that I could walk in, hike in, and just hang out in (that was a little nicer than my dirty running or hiking shoes).This shoe was perfect! They were very comfortable for the plane, walking around Lima and Cusco exploring, going to Machu Picchu, hiking up to Laguna Humantay, and even going out to dinner. As always, my favorite thing about Altras in general is the wide toe box. They are so comfortable that I don’t feel like my feet are stuck in shoes, but instead roaming in nice wide slippers. 🙂 I am a size 7 and bought the size 7.5 and they are a nice fit (I don’t like my toes right on the edge). I would definitely recommend these!Megan

Just received mine from the last drop and have been wearing them the last 2 days. Very comfortable however they do fit slightly tighter than the Altra Duo running shoes I have. I am a big Altra fan and have been running in them long enough to have gone through about 12 pairs. Great shoe and $10 less than the last drop so I might be in for another pair.scotyscooterbug

I have a process for checking out new shoe brands. 1. Buy when I can get a price break. 2. Wear around inside house doing chores for 1-2 hours to see if any problems jump out. This is simply to ensure that I can return them without hassle. 3. If no issues, wear them on a 3-5 mile walk. On this new-brand foray I didn't have any trouble until the walk. At a little over 2 miles I was feeling a slight rub on top of my foot at the large toe first knuckle. I kept going but by 2-1/2 miles it was becoming a sharp pain so I stopped to take a look. I found the front edge of the gator trap/lace reinforcement is cutting into me during the peak bend, just before the forward swing of the leg. I'm glad I didn't run in them. No hard feelings, it's why I buy low and test the way I do. Sometimes shoes just don't work for me. I'll just stick to my Peregrines. [image]Unus

I have several pairs of Altra shoes. The Superior 3.5 appears to have changed since the 2.0. The wider toe box is what makes Altras special. In this case the toe box is not like my other Altras – it is narrower and uncomfortable; even comparing the 3.5 and 2.0 next to each other, and ordering the same size, it is distinctly different. I will be returning it and won't be purchasing this model again. Hoping the other models haven't changed their traditional wider toe box.Susan

These shoes are really comfortable, however the exterior finish of the shoes began scuffing one the first day of light wear around my office. The finish of the toe box to the volor effect/finish on the sole came off revealing a glaring white material underneath. I bought two pair and the finish has begun scuffing on both pairs. For a trail shoe I would have expected stronger durability. My office job (I work in annuities, I wore a pair on a casual Friday) proved to be more of a challenge than the exterior can handle. Will upload pictures.MWAL

Upper: it's fine. I get the complaints that it's hot and doesn't breath. I wear thin and thick socks and I haven't had issues but the upper is thick and isn't the most breathable. Torin, Escalante, and Rivera breath much better. Still, not terrible. The tongue is also far too thick. I can't also understand the complaints regarding heel slip, but if you use the marathon lace system that fixes the heel slippage. Shoe laces are a good length, Altra tends to make them too long. Innovarch is at worst painful and at best useless. When engaged it pinches and is abrasive. Even if it didn't cause these issues it's completely useless. It doesn't help support the arch whatsoever. A better fix would be teaming up with a company like Sole and use their wide zero drop insoles to support the arch. I complete disengage and removed the laces from the Innovarch system and added Sole insoles. The width is fine. I like most have noticed even the standard width as shrunk. I didn't feel much difference in width between the Paradigm and Rivera. It might be that the Rivs were more broken in but the Paradigms are a tad snug. Guiderails are great. This is the best part of the shoe by far. The only criticism I have, is the guiderails should continue through past your arches. The point of Altras is to land in your mid to forefoot. The guiderails only seem to help when you walk or land heavily on your midfoot. Sole: this is supposed to be Altras best foam. I think the Torin is more plush. Give me more plush!PT_Bruiser

I was critical of a few things in my first review that I would like to revisit now that I'm on my second pair. I ran in the Hoka Arahi 6s just to see what the scuttle butt was all about, so I will say this about the Paradigm 6: I now think Altra does a much better job than others with heel slippage. The upper could be better but its fine, maybe better construction. The Arahi seemed stiffer in a good way, more supportive I guess. The Paradigm 6s breath just fine. The only negative I have for the Paradigm is the Innovarch. It doesn't work and at worst is abrasive. I'm switching back because I need my feet to splay, I love the zero drop, and the guiderail is brilliant. The Paradigm 6s relieve pain in my hips, arches, and plantar fascia. 2 things I think need to drastically change Change for Altra in general. I have run in Escalantes/Racers, Lone Peaks, Torins, and Riveras. The cushion. It's no good. The stuff blows out after 100-150 miles. The other is the color schemes. They are just awful. Always the same black, gray, blue with probably one good color choice. The trail shoes have an ok color choice, but the road shoes seem to be going for a much older audience.PT_Bruiser

What can I say?! I absolutely love these sneakers! I bought these shoes for the purpose of jogging/exercise. Normally, when I buy a new pair of sneakers I swap out the insoles for name brand ones. However, when I put these sneakers on for sizing (I bought them online) I was immediately surprised at how well they fit. My heels and ankles felt supported and secure , my heels did not slip out of the shoe. In addition, I have high arches and these sneakers were able to take care of that too! The extra toe room is also a game changer…my toes have room to wriggle and breathe. The extra cushioning on the soles feels like I am running on a rubber track instead of hard pavement. The soles are also super grippy and stick to the road like glue, especially when you are running down hill! I recently ran a 5k race and honestly feel wearing these sneakers made a big difference in how well I did (I placed 3rd for my age group!). I am not a fast runner but I do enjoy it very much and now even more not having to worry about my aching feet all the time…Thank you Altra!Pebbles