Customer Reviews Altra Escalante

PROS:Great cushioning, absolutely excellent, excellent upper and fit. Rubber does not feel "hard" after running 40km, 70km, etc. Can just keep running. So far, durable in every measure - sole, cushioning, etc. PLEASE: Altra, please keep this model for many years! If you want to iterate, as a loyal customer (I only buy altra for some years already) I can suggest that you please make a new model with changes, but keep producing the current one for many years, until people stop buying it for some reason. CONS: Heel cup a bit too tall, had to cut it (as usual with any brands). Sole is a little bit tall - a little bit unstable when walking - and so prone to ankle twisting.

I've been running in Altra since Instinct 1.5, but these are my favorites so far. Wearing them feels like wearing pajamas sewn on to flip-flops - in other words, great. After them, more traditional running shoes seem harsh and constricting. On the road or on the trail they fade away, encouraging my feet to spread out and welcome the ground contact. I wear mine all the time. They have been my most durable Altras. The soles don't wear and the tops don't tear. Over time the sole softens and become more pliable until you finally realize it's time to replace them. You might be bothered by the gel-like feel of the sole. It is squishy underfoot, most noticeable when you are trying to stand and balance on one foot. The soft upper does not offer a lot of side-to-side support. Neither of these bother me while I'm running, especially on pavement, but even running up and down trails on San Bruno mountain. I buy these 1/2 size up.

This is plainly the best shoe there is. It is lightweight but very soft and absorbent, without the unecessary material of other Altras. Very important, it is elegant too, with its sock like fit. The only things that i would like to be improved is the durability (me and my brother have the same issue at the area of the big toe) and the water proofing (unfortunately it is a no no for even a litle rain or water in the streets). May be a no cell version also?.. :-) Bottom line, buy it. You won't regret it.

Hitting lots PRs and seems to be the result of an increase in turnover plus the fact that the shoe is just incredibly fun to run in. Very light and the upper feels great as I run sockless. I'm half a size down from my Instincts. The ego foam is great and wonder if it will make it into some of the trail shoes.

I ran Asics Gel Nimbus's for year. About 5 years ago knee issues forced me to adjust my running style to stirke with my forefoot. I continued using Gel Nimbus but encountered issues with durability as the forefoot area would wear excessively and the relatively high heel forced me to run on the tips of my feet. These shoes are made of a more durable rubber that shows no signs of wear after about 25 km. The zero drop also allows me to strike closer to the middle of the shoe with my foot in a flatter position. They also have more cushioning in the front than the asics, whose cushioning focus is the heel.

Surprisingly great cushioning considering the low profile. The Altra Ego cushioning is even better than Adidas Boost which I've been running in for about three years. Love the big toe box and zero drop. Completely comfortable right from the start. Hope to keep running in these for years - PLEASE don't change too much or discontinue!

Please keep this shoe forever. I've finally found my shoe. I've run 3 times in the last 4 days, after hardily running for the last year, because this shoe makes running fun! I even woke up before my alarm went off on a Monday morning (which I still think is insane) to run all thanks to this shoe. Thank you!!!!

Best ever so comfortable Love their shoes...proud they are made in Utah

I started out with the first instinct and it changed my feet, for the better. After those wore out I tried other models but had a hard time with sizing, to the point of giving up on this brand completely. I saw this escelante and it actually looked better than any shoe they had done previously and it wasn't in wasn't over cushioned, which also turned me off to the brand from their original designs. I have to say the shoe fit to size (pleasantly surprised) and feels great. Only two minor complaints. It is tight across the top of the foot but I can anticipate this material stretching with some wear and don't see it as a major problem. Second thing is the laces are too short. If you have a really narrow foot across the top then neither of these things will likely bother you. I will find longer laces and then I think this will be about as good of a shoe as I have had since the original instinct.

I have had many expensive pair of running shoes. No matter what pair, there is always something that I feel could be better, especially after running 18+ mile runs. These are the most comfortable running shoes I have ever worn. I cannot wait to run my next marathon in these. I LOVE these shoes. I hope they make them for years to come!!!

I don't think I will buy a different pair of running shoes until the Escalante v2 comes out. I bought one pair, loved it so much I bought a second pair, ran the St. George Marathon in them, and haven't regretted a single day. The knit top prevents foot fatigue or toenail loss. The bottom is durable and protected thanks to an actual outsole. The new Altra Ego midsole is amazing and gives so much cushion and bounce. Bottom line: I LOVE THESE SHOES.

I've been running for over 11 years, always with injury niggles here and there. This shoe is incredible, not a single injury issue since I've been using the shoe. No downsides either - as responsive and comfortable as any top line shoe I've run in before.

I have owned the Instinct 3.0 (which was quite good) and the 3.5 (which was just ok), but the Escalate is what I think to be the ultimate culmination of the Altra approach with the zero-drop and "foot shape" toe box. I have done all my long runs (10+ miles) and fast/interval workouts in them, and have no complaints - they are perfect for me.

Very bouncy and still direct feeling. The sock like upper feels like wearing socks only. Amazing pair of running shoes

The Escalante is my favorite Altra road shoe. I think the true successor and upgrade to the one 2.5 is the Escalante with both of them light, flexible, soft and responsive more so with the Escalante. I have the Escalante, Torin 3.0 and the One 3.0 in my rotation. I run barefoot on Mondays, use the Escalante as my race speed and distance training shoe, the Torin for long slow relaxed recovery runs at the end of the week, and the One 3.0 as my track HIIT shoes and speedwork in general. As for the fit, I wear size 12 for all of them with my 11inch feet, wide and thick from years of barefoot Mondays. The size doesn't affect my runs at all in fact it helps that my feet are relaxed and comfortable with the added size specially when it swells on long runs. The fit feels snug but not constricting, and the toe box height though low was compensated by my sizing up. I've heard people say the upper moves too much on tight turns but as for me no problems at all since like I said my feet look like mini-pitbulls wide, thick and muscular. If I had only one shoe to do all sorts of road runs in, these would be it. The only very slight con I can think of aside from the low toe box height, is for speed work on track where I feel the traction and grip of the One 3.0 surpasses the Escalante. Other than that, the Escalante wins hands down in every category. Great job Altra. Thank you for this shoe. Cheers!

I have a condition that affects some older runners. It's a form of arthritis of the big toe that makes it difficult/painful to bend the big toe. This shoe is truly amazing. I recommend it to anyone with this condition. Because of the zero angle, the upper that doesn't press on my foot and the incredible cushioning, I'm able to continue running. It's sooo comfortable! I'm not tilted forward in the shoe, pressing on the big toe joint and impact with the ground feels like I'm running on soft grass. When I run in this shoe, I realize I'd probably not be injured if this shoe existed previously. Also, I've been able to get back to times I thought I'd never attain again. Please keep making this shoe. Don't change a thing! It's a game changer!!!

I have been a serious runner for twenty-one years and have run in a plethora of brands and shoe types. I started running in Altra after a toe injury and found some of their models to be better than others, but still far preferable to those made by other companies. The escalante is the best shoe I've ever run in; it is lightweight but still provides ample cushioning, and more importantly, is durable. I have run on trails and in sand with these shoes on a semi-consistent basis and have noticed zero deterioration other than mileage wear. Get these shoes if you're an Altra wearer.

These are the best shoes I've ever worn for road running. It's like the designer of the shoe made them for my feet. The middle part feels like a sock, the heel is perfect and the toe box means my toes aren't gonna get blisters and stubbed. The sole is incredible, I can't remember wearing a shoe that felt that good. I haven't worn them long enough to tell how durable they are, but so far so good. They aren't so good if you need lateral support like when you play sports that require you to change direction quickly, but to be fair they weren't made for that. Could you make variants of these shoes for other purposes? They are so good. A more supportive version for sports, another cool looking version for casual purposes, maybe even a work shoe. I mean you guys figured it out. I love it.

I've got about 120 miles in the Escalante, and I find myself going back and forth between the One2.5 and these. I'm a very big fan of both. My wife likes that these shoes don't look so obviously wide in the toe box. The rebound in these shoes is unmatched. It's amazing---makes you want to run faster and longer. It's great. They are amazingly comfortable on a long run. That said, there are a few drawbacks. 1. I'm surprised that I wear a 10 in the One2.5 but a 9 in the Escalante. I'm not sure why that is, but it makes me question what size to order when I need a pair of One3.0. 2. Lateral support is lacking with the knit upper, which is fine for road running, but I dare not try to move laterally after a few miles in Alabama humidity. All things considered, I like these shoes very much. I'm still getting used to the knit upper, but the ride and comfort of these shoes can't be beat.

Altra did it right with this shoe. I have 183 miles on my pair so far. My impressions are that this is a flexible yet durable shoe (upper and sole), responsive ride, typical Altra toe box (comfortable), and very little heel slippage. Great shoe. Buy immediately.

Greetings Runners, There may be confounding information in this review as I've become a better runner through time...but these shoes are absolutely incredible. Currently running ~40 miles a week with the usual busy family life, professional existence, etc. Started the year in NB for which I enjoy but read enough about the perks of zero drop & opted to try these. They feel gummy & odd out of the box. These shoes shine when you pick up the pace. I'm telling you-I don't even think about my feet while running as they are that comfortable. I've ordered another pair to rotate. If I had to be critical, they aren't the sharpest appearing shoes but the comforts contained, I could care less. These shoes are business. The real deal. If you haven't tried the brand or this particular style, get your perma-grin ready. Thank you for your time.

I've been running many years with many brands, and mostly with insoles. Last year I ran with Altra Instinct 3.5. In the past weeks I have been running with the Escalante Wow ... The beauty of the shoe is simplicity! The shoe is light, flexible, and very comfortable. Your running style gets better, and you just more enjoy running, I run without insoles. It's a pleasure to run with this shoe .

Thank goodness for Altra's Escalantes! After stopping soccer (played into college) and going on a workout hiatus for a while, getting back into running was not easy! It especially wasn't easy when I couldn't find the right shoes. After years of trying on various women's and men's shoes, afterall I wear size 11 and have very wide feet, I almost gave up on finding good shoes and was just going to continue to push through it... Until I tried on these Escalantes! The women's were still a little on the tight side around my midfoot, but these men's are the absolute best!!!! I typically get knee pain running on the pavement, but didn't feel a thing, and the toebox is incredible! The uppers feel like I'm putting on socks and the cushion is just enough to feel like I'm running on a responsive cloud! I'm actually looking forward to running again!

Yesterday I purchased my first ever Altra running shoes!!! I've been a huge supporter of the Brooks Ghost series but lately I've been looking for something similar but a lot lighter. I found it in the Altra Escalante. I was anxious to get them home and lace them up so I could pound the pavement. I broke them in with a 2 miler and was pleasantly surprised. Today my long run consisted of 16 miles and actually ran 16.3 AND could've kept going! I think I'm in love ! This shoe is very responsive, very cushiony, and very lightweight. I look forward to running hundreds and hundreds of miles in my new go-to shoe

I wanted to wait a couple of months before writing a review so that I had some quality time with the Escalante. I was skeptical when I first heard of them, and the benefits of Zero Drop. But after 2 months of running with them I am a solid convert. Between Zero Drop and the Toe Box I have seen a dramatic improvement in my running. It had been over 3 years since I had gone sub 15 for a 5k. I figured at 55, those days were past. But a couple weeks ago I was able to get to 14:48 and I owe a lot of that to the Escalante. So well done Altra. I will be heading to Bhutan later in the year and look forward to trying out a pair of the Trail Running shoes for that trip.