Customer Reviews Altra Instinct 3.5

I purchased these shoes because I fractured one of my sesamoid bones in half and the other was imploded (yes, there is no more bone). This was in my right foot. The doctor felt if I purchased a shoe that mirrored my foot's anatomy and re-enforced the big toe that I would be able to run again. So far I've been wearing these shoes for a couple of weeks and I'm happy to report that all of the pain is gone. I've been able to do a couple runs on them and so far so good. Going to start and ramp the mileage up again to see how they do, but I'm confident they will hold up.

Nice fit. I have wide feet and easily pinched toes - even though these aren't sized "Wide", the large toe box makes for a great fit for me. Note that the toe box isn't as wide as older Altra models I've worn, but noticeably wider than some of their other newer models. Also, I didn't realize when ordering, but the outside and back logos are reflective, which is useful at night.

This is the 4th pair I bought which I am using for the treadmill. I bought the yellow, red and blue. Wear them to work. They are the most comfortable shoes I ever bought. Walk a lot at my job. Feels so natural yet supportive for my feet.

These shoes make great walking shoes, Love the extra room in the Toes!

This is my first pair of zero drop shoes and first shoes with a wide toe box. I mostly use them for walking and everyday shoes because they are extremely comfortable. My little toe on the outside of the shoe has plenty of room and no longer gets squished into my other toes. There is also plenty of room for my big toe in regards to height. I've had many shoes that squish my big toe, pushing down on top of it. These shoes don't do that. Another great thing is the ventilation. You can feel air through the mesh top when you walk but there is a small amount of rubber on the toes that helps block water when walking through wet grass. I did have to size up to 15, never had to get larger than a 14 before but that's okay because Zappos is awesome with free returns and exchanges!

I wear only the Altra Instinct 3.5 shoes because they have a wide toe box which doesn't bother my bunion. Also they are very light & comfortable. Buy them 1/2 size larger than usual shoe size. I use insoles with arch support due to tendency for plantar fasciitis but otherwise they are very comfortable great shoes!

I've been running in Altra's since the original Instinct and Lone Peak models were released, and they are my go-to shoe company when I want cushioned shoes. I haven't tried any of the Instinct models since the original, as I liked them so much, I bought extra pairs. When the 3.5s were released though, I decided it was time to try the upgraded version, and I'm glad I did. First, these are without a doubt the best looking Altra shoes I've seen. The yin-yang type design on the front is very cool, and the color combinations (I have the blue/silver) are great. None of that would mean anything if the shoes didn't function well, but fortunately they work very well for my needs. There's actually not as much cushioning as I was expecting (fearing), and that's a good thing. It seems about just right. The trademark Altra wide toebox is in place, and I like the new sole design. Some criticisms I have are: 1- the shoes feel bulky, they actually feel more like trail shoes to me than road shoes. This works when I run a combination of moderate trails/roads, but for a straight road run where i want speed, these shoes feel like they are slowing me down. 2- the heel cup is way too high in the back, and needs to be lowered. The ankle collars could be lowered a bit as well. 3- I don't like the new laces on these shoes at all. Way too thin. My favorite laces on an Altra shoe were the laces on the Lone Peak 1.5. Having said all this, I do like the shoes, and since I have other shoes for when I want to go minimal/fast, if Altra fixes the heel cup issue, I would buy these again.

Altra has changed this shoe. I had a v2.0 it was wonderful I lived in it. Now the 3.5 is a full 1/2 inch more narrow at across the broad part of the foot. Painful! What happened to the wide toe box? It looks nicer but I am not buying it for looks.

Horrible!!! I am a Instinct 3.0 fan running 50-60 miles a week. The 3.5 has a sold plastic cup around the heal giving me severe achilles and heal pain in both feet. I am looking for old stock 3.0. I am a huge Altra fan and run both road and trail (Superior 2.0). Style looks awesome, but the pain is too much.