Customer Reviews Altra Escalante

I've been looking for a replacement for my now discontinued minimalist shoes for over a year. I wanted something lightly cushioned but responsive with the low/zero drop that I love. I had a pair of Intuitions in my rotation but never really loved that model as it felt bulky. Then I stumbled across the Escalante model and they are FAB! I slip them on and they hug my feet perfectly. It look two 5-mile runs to break them in and now I'm logging my long runs in them and feeling great. They are cushioned but still very responsive. The soft upper is breathable and light yet structured enough to make them feel like shoes rather than flappy bits stuck to soles (like some other brands.) This is my first of what will be many pairs of this model.

Seriously love these shoes! This is my second pair of Altras, and I'm in love...again. So comfortable and light weight, and they really do feel like you're wearing socks. I'm VERY tempted to buy a second pair to wear as casual shoes. (I don't like to casually wear my running shoes - keeps the miles down.)

I've owned probably 10 different pairs of Altra shoes over the last several years. This one is my favorite so far! It is incredibly soft and comfortable and looks really nice also. I bought them as running shoes, but I keep choosing them for everyday wear also because they are so comfortable. For running, they are lighter and softer than the last Altras I bought, and I prefer this feel. For everyday wear, I like that I can slip them on and off without tying and untying them (I know, lazy!)

I just purchased a pair of the Women's Escalante in Light Blue. the next day I ran a Marathon. The shoes were amazing. I have my eye on the other colors, particularly the purple.

Really great for wide feet and super comfortable.

I absolutely LOVE the NEW Escalante shoe! At first, I wasn't so sure about the knit design, but it's so much more flexible than any other Altra that I've worn. That coupled with the light weight shoe makes you feel like you are running on air. Definitely puts a spring in your step. Highly recommend!

I committed the cardinal sin of buying these at a race expo and wearing them the next day for a half marathon. I have zero regrets--they felt great. They have a similar wide toe fit to the old Intuition 2.0s (which disappeared in later models), but with a more spring-y feeling and even more comfortable upper. Love 'em.

I've run in almost every brand out there including multiple previous Altra models. Of all of them, this is the most PERFECT shoe I've ever put on my feet. Incredibly responsive, feather light, and cloud-like cushioning without taking away from the barefoot feel. The stretchy upper creates a secure, sock-like feel while still providing plenty of ventilation. The only thing that could make these better is if the women's came out with a red and a green model! I'll definitely be stocking up because I love this shoe so much!

I really do love these shoes. I am a minimalist shoe person, and I don't ordinarily love the amount of sole that these have, but the uppers on these are so soft and stretchy that I am willing to forgive the mushiness. I find myself using these as "therapy" after wearing high-heeled dance shoes, which kill the outer corners of my pinkie toes. No painful pinkies here! I LOVE the blue! I've tried woven shoes from UA and Nike, and like the concept but of course their toes are way too narrow. I hope Altra keeps making woven uppers, maybe with a more minimalist sole.

Wow, just an incredible shoe. My feet feel wonderful in them. There is plenty of space for my toes to spread, which is so important to not aggravate my plantar fasciitis. The sole material is unlike anything I've ever tried...I can definitely tell the difference wearing these in how my joints and legs feel at the end of the day. Also, the design is beautiful...simple and elegant, which is a huge plus in wearing them out and about. My go-to shoe right now. Can't think of anything that would need improving on these.

Have a bunion, tried many other shoes with the most recent Brooks in wide...Not!! I have gone up 1/2 size to account for the expansion just not comfortable. Got the Escalantes 3 weeks ago at a recommendation from my friend. These shoes are wonderful. The Escalante insoles are 6mm, flexible fabric, great for boney structures like a bunion. The best is I can walk, squat, move and my feet don't hurt.

Purchased this upgrade two weeks ago and am thankful I tried them! They are so comfortable to run in from day one. They fit great, the material feels good and the cushion is awesome!

Like many reviewers, I have worn many Altra models over the years...Torin, Intuition, and One...but this new Escalante is AWESOME. I am in love. It is hard to explain, but they are fun...bouncy... Perky! They have enough cushion to feel great workout extra weight...the knit upper fits like a glove... And they look great...thank you for the more 'normal' colors! A perfect ten!

I'm a huge fan of Altra. Between bunion surgery a few years back and current neuromas in both feet, I need a shoe that's wide in the front but still hugs my skinny little heel. I started with the Olympus which were good but I didn't like the funky look and the feel of being on stilts. Next I tried the Superior which I loved but when I ordered my second pair, something had changed and the toe box was too shallow so my toes would hurt. I decided to give the Escalante a try and I think this shoe is as good as it gets for my hard-to-fit feet. They feel so bouncy and light, that I want to just see how high I can jump. The toe box feels super roomy and yet, somehow my foot stays in place and my heel does not slip at all. I love the way my feet can breath. It's like running in a supportive slipper! The only downside is the wacky sizing of Altras but that's nothing new. I usually wear 8.5-9.0 in shoes but I took a 10 in these.

I am not a runner. I was a dancer. I can't run because I have painful joints. And I hate athletic shoes as a whole genre, because I've never found athletic shoes that were comfortable. Or, at the very least, athletic shoes that were not causing some kind of foot, knee, hip, or ankle pain within 45 minutes. But I work in DC, and I walk several miles a day, so it's been a (very expensive) struggle to find comfortable and supportive shoes. Then one day I wandered into a running store in Charlotte, NC and the retailer put these pretty blue clouds on my skeptical feet. I don't even think I asked how much they were before I pulled out my credit card. The first day, I walked over 4 miles, and I could get out of bed the next morning! Not only that, but I was...dare I say it...springy! I'm 26 years old and for the first time, I felt like it. No smooshing of my extraordinarily long toes, no weird pressure points in my heel or ball of my foot. No overcompensation of foamy nonsense "made for people with high arches". Just #CloudFeet. TL;DR: I'm not a runner, and never will be. But I'll never wear another pair of sneakers in my life. 10 out of 5 stars.

Was struggling with my running in a new shoe and went back to my local store to discuss different options and these were recommended. Purchased today and immediately took out for a 5k. Fantastic!! No foot pain at all! So much room for my toes to spread out and be happy! Best run ever! And now I feel more confident about the half marathon I have coming up soon! Love, love, love these shoes!

Fits like a glove (true to size), excellent pavement grip, awesome style, very light weight, easy ride w/ some pep for your step... couldn't ask for more in a shoe.

Love them, but I was surprised that they run on the large size. I wear an 8 in intuitions and these seem to be larger. Not really that big of a deal, but for those of you with sizing questions. They are my 3rd pair of Altras, and I love them. Happy to see Altra making them look more comparable to other running shoes on the market.

I have worn Altra for 5 years but also have a wide collection of many other brands. This is my favorite shoe thus far. The cushion is just enough, super light weight but feels like my foot is secure and the shoe isn't flimsy at all. I love the fit of the new upper material, just perfect. It doesn't constrain my foot in any way yet my foot doesn't slide around or feel unstable. JUST INCREDIBLE IN ALL WAYS! THANK YOU ALTRA!

Love this shoe.. fits great, has a wide toe box that i can move my toes around in... so far, so good..

Hi Altra, You all read my mind. I was running a few weeks ago and I felt like I was running flat - no ooomph. I was running in my Altra One, but I was wishing for something a little different. Later that day I saw an ad for the Escalante and thought this must be more than a coincidence and after reading about these, I knew that they were my next pair. Everything about them seemed perfect and exactly what I was looking for! I just took my new pair out for the most wonderful 5 mile run possibly ever in my life. I thought I may have to ask for "Smiley stickers" next time to pin on the backs of my shoes. I mean I cannot complain about a single thing and these may be the only shoes that I run in for a long time. Is that OK? I know people switch shoes, but these are so perfect that I hope you don't modify them much, if at all, in the future. I have always loved the toe room in your shoes and these look better than some of the other shoes in the toe box. Also the fabric is so amazing that I might wear these to bed. I mean they are more comfortable than my slippers. The feeling of the base of the shoe was just perfect - they have cushioning but not too much and there is a better push off. I know what I'm asking for for my birthday this year and Mother's day and whatever other holiday falls in line... To anyone looking for a perfect mix of comfort and 0mm running shoes - I highly recommend these. I don't want to stop writing about these, but I must. Oh, one other thing - I had no gravel in these shoes! The bottom of the shoes is perfect. I usually get gravel in my other shoes, but the bottoms of these shoes may not attract gravel (yeah!). OK, well, thank you Altra, thank you thank you thank you!!! I'm turning 50 this year and I'm so thankful that I found you and these shoes.

I'm not running yet after my big toe fusion surgery, but I'm gearing up (literally) after spending many hours researching different running shoes while I sat on my couch for a month recovering. After not running for a solid year, I hope to regain my speed using great form and hopefully minimize my vulnerability to injury. I decided Altras would help. After trying this shoe on and "jogging" around the house (I know, pathetic!) I'm sure I was right. They are quite wide in the forefoot and feel just like a slipper. I have a 4 inch scar on the top of my foot and there is no irritation there. Get your normal running shoe size, which you should know is at least a full size up from how you measure. The cushioning feels as you would expect for a moderately cushioned shoe, not too soft but cushy enough, especially mid foot. They are low around the ankle and the heel is snug. Although they are neutral, they feel like they would keep you moving forward and avoid pronation to some degree. Maybe that's a moot point with a shoe like this anyway. You're low to the ground and running with proper form and quick, light steps, right? I wanted to write a review to help those with fit questions even though I haven't run yet. Perhaps I'll add more after I take them to the streets!