Customer Reviews Altra Escalante 2

I absolutely loved the original Escalante and went through three pairs. I replaced my last pair of "Originals" with the updated version and am sadly disappointed. The shoe feels narrow and the is much firmer than the previous version. The "Originals" were fantastically comfortable. The new version isn't even close. Altra please bring back the "Original" Escalante.

I use escalantes as my daily training shoe and for workouts and pretty much everything. Ive owned 9 escalantes. Usually getting 600+ out of em, I know what it feels like to run in an altra escalante and love it, never even thought once about switching shoe brands. Also have owned a few superiors. Altra has almost changed the esclante enough to make me look elsewhere. The new version is far more heavy and feels more cushioned which is not what we are looking for in the Altra escalante. also the toe box is not as nice feeling either, not quite sure what altra did to the upper but they put way to much on, the escalante nailed it originally. The racer is nice option but just slightly to firm to be used on most training (my main training shoe now, looking at other brands as well) Return the escalante to its former lightweight glory.

Finally got a chance to try on the Escalante 2 after falling in love with the original. I was absolutely devastated to find everything I loved had been changed. The upper is no longer stretchy and socklike, but there's still no structure in the toe box so the new stiffer upper presses down and caudes pressure on my toenails. The new sole is also very rigid and doesn't bend with your foot the way the original does. It feels like an entirely different shoe. I ended up tracking down a pair of Escalante 1.5 which are much closer to the original, minus the heel cup being cut far too low.

I bought four pairs of 1.0 and two more of the 1.5. With both I was quite happy and raved to everyone how they were the most comfortable show I ever wore. I was even in a hotel in Mexico City where in the elevator the local track coach noticed my shoes with which he was familiar and we talk about how great they were. ALAS, Altra has tightened the shoe to the point that it seems like a totally different model. The heel doesn't have the spring and rocker feel that itnonce did, but the worst part is that fabric has been removed in the toe box for more "stability," but what it has done is make the formerly very comfortable part of the shoe very uncomfortable. I couldn't even wear athletic Sox without it feeling tight. It feels a full size narrower. I returned both pairs to the factory.

it may have better grip, less slippage ( 1.5 was ok for me). But the shoe is too stiff and heavy, and find myself making slapping sound on the ground contact. This did not happen for the 1.5 or the racer. Why not just take the racer and give it a little more cushioning?

I am a long time wearer of both the first edition (2 pair), the 1.5 version (2 pair), and even have a 2018 race version as well. To be fair, these only come in one width, but have always been roomy enough for my wide foot. I truly loved the 1.5 improvements and hoped that the 2.0 would continue the legacy! After adding a bit more stability to the upper (especially in the race version), I was hoping the only thing left to improve would be the heel as that didn't offer as much, especially over time or when the shoes get wet (form of the heel would actually dissipate over time). However, after looking forward and preordering the v2.0 this summer, I was severely disappointed to find out that I couldn't even wear the shoe for even a few steps due to the uppers pushing hard against my first metatarsil of my big toes - not only are the shoes more narrow, but the added padding and formed support (I think they added to give the shoe more structure) has backfired and made my favorite model unwearable! At this point, I've ordered another 1.5 from a discount store on the web and am trying a Topo shoe for the first time. Hopefully, they will identify the issue and come out with a 2.5 that goes back to the more flexible uppers they had in previous models! The Escalante really was an amazing shoe!! The ego sole, nice roomy shape, and very comfortable uppers were the best! So sad to see such an amazing shoe come to an end!

To preface this review, I've gone through five pairs of Escalante 1s and put at least 2,000 miles into them. So I never tried these on in a store. I ordered them online in size 11.5, the same size I have used for the Escalante and various other trail shoes. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked when these arrived and felt about a full size too small. The famous "wide toebox" was also greatly narrowed and felt very constricting. All of the cushy material around the ankle was replaced with a cheap, cardboard like material that actually "crinkled" when I walked in the shoe. Thinking that I perhaps just needed to break them in first, I went for a short jog and ended up with the backs of my ankles rubbed raw from the god-forsaken cardboard like material on the shoe upper. Obviously I returned them, but this was just a disheartening experience. Is this massive drop in quality and completely different sizing a result of TNF acquisition or what? Just felt cheap and shoddy and completely untested; really shook my faith in Altras and I'm going to be looking into other brands after this debacle.

Escalante 1 - great shoe with just right cushioning, responsiveness, fit, that just right foot-shaped toe box that doesn't squish your toes and metatarsals, and light weight. Escalante 1.5 - enter the perfect running shoe for training and racing, period. I'm about to start on my fourth pair of 1.5s. I bought extra just in case the 2.0 fell short. Well, it did, and abysmally so. Hey, Altra, the Escalante 1 was great, and the 1.5 was absolutely perfect, and the reviews proved it. Why did you take something that wasn't "broke" and try to fix it?! You ruined the greatest running shoe ever made by trying to make it fit tight and narrow through the arch and toe box just like the other "big" brands who've been getting it wrong for decades. Go back to your roots! Bring back the Escalante 1.5 with its superb toe box and fit, quit tweaking for tweaking's sake, and sell them every year like hotcakes! The anatomical structure of the human foot isn't evolving every year; so, once you get a shoe that works as well and sells as well as that one did, leave it alone! Please!

These feel like standing on a brick compared to the earlier Escalante versions. Running on these is literally painful and in addition to the soles being hard, there is now an extreme, unnatural taper from the ball of the foot to the toe. You've ruined a perfect shoe. I've bought nothing but Escalante shoes for years. Please bring back the original quality of this shoe and I'll continue buying them.

I found the Escalante 1.0 a few years back and it was love at first try-on. Subsequently, I bought several pairs for my rotation. Then, I actually won a pair of the Escalante 1.5 online. Didn't quite like them as well, but they were still comfortable. When I heard the 2.0 came out, I ran down to my local running shoe store to try out a pair on their treadmill. From the second I got them on, I knew something was amiss. They were narrow, stiff, and missing the cushy & springy sole I loved in the 1.0's. I lasted about 2 minutes on the treadmill. These suck! I ended up getting a pair of the Torin 4.0. They're okay, but they are not my Escalantes. What the heck were you thinking? And why on earth would you get rid of "zero drop" in favor of ... what was it? Balanced cushioning? Oh brother. Don't fart around with a good thing. The Escalante 1.0 was my favorite running shoe ever and now you've ruined it. This is why we can't have nice things. No go back to the drawing board and fix it.

Oh no. What have you done? Prior version of this shoe was fantastic. Now it's narrow, stiff and uncomfortable. I can get that from any shoe maker. Caused discomfort and numbness is first 2 miles. So disappointed.

I have been running with Altra for the better part of a decade. Average four pair of shoes per year, and have run in the Escalante since the beginning. THIS IS NOT AN ESCALANTE. Nothing about the shoe is comfortable. The shoe is narrow, hard and unforgiving. After looking through all the alternate Altra offerings, it looks like they have chosen the wrong direction across the board. Sadly I will be moving on to another manufacturer. Give me a shout when you decide that "fixing" things that aren't broken is not a solid business strategy.

I am 175lb male runner running 20 to 25 miles/wk year round with ramp ups for half iron, half and marathon training. I have run exclusively in Escalantes since the first version. I really tried with this one. 2nd pair and just cant get over the stiffness of the sole, the annoying length of tongue and thought i would welcome a bit more of heel hugging, but I would trade off with something in between. Not sure where to go now.

The upper is cool to me. The look is cool, however this is a very uncomfortable shoe to run in compared to 1.0 -1.5 This shoe reminds me of trying run in a pair of vans.

I ran with the Escalante 1.5s last year. Absolutely loved the shoe but wore it out in a season. Ran my fastest half with them. I just purchased the 2.0 and was shocked at how rigid and uncomfortable they are. They reinforced the knitting where the shoelace starts and it is very uncomfortable. It puts a lot of pressure on the top of the foot. Couldn't imagine running with these. Please listen to the reviews and bring back the 1.5s

I have been running in the Escalante for years. Probably 7 or 8 pairs, between the 1.0 and 1.5. This model has ruined my favorite shoes. The upper, while probably more durable, feels too stiff. The foam feels harder. I ran a marathon in the 1.5 a couple months ago. I can barely run a 5K in these before the outside of my feet go numb. I do not understand how this is the same shoe.

The bounce is gone. The added weight has changed the ride, too. I don't understand the logic behind making light shoes heavier. Bring back the 1 or 1.5, please.

Insole in left shoe is too short leaving a gap under the big toe. Not a fan of the changes to this iteration, thankfully I have some life left in my 1.5's.

I REALLY wanted to like this shoe. I loved the EGO foam of the original Escalante and bought 5 pairs of them. It was the first time a shoe technology felt like more than a marketing gimmick. Unfortunately the upper on version 1.0 and 1.5 felt too loose and sloppy and my foot would slide around in it. So when the 2.0 promised a tighter heel and tighter upper I was hoping for the perfect shoe. They did fix the heel, and the upper is more firm. However, they messed up the midsole, and it feels hard a rock compared to the previous versions That wonderful responsive bounce is not there.. Also, the upper is now too stiff. It might just be a defect in my pair, but the upper where the tongue attaches digs into the top of my toes. After running less than 10 miles in them I have blisters on the top of my left toes. I can't return them because I made so custom modifications but I would if I could.

It really pains me to write this review. I liked the Escalante 1.0 (multiple pairs). I loved the Escalante 1.5 (multiple pairs). I really can't stand the Escalante 2.0. Previous versions felt worn in and ready to go from the first step. I've run 100 miles in the 2.0, and they still feel stiff and unforgiving. Previous versions felt like just the right amount of cushioning for long runs and even marathons. These feel like bricks under my feet. These shoes were supposed to be my marathon shoes (again!), but I don't even want to run 6 miles in them, much less 26 miles. Please, Altra, go back to what you were doing before!

I had been wearing the 1.5 and logged many successful miles in them. When I first put these on, I could immediately tell they were less flexible, almost like running on boards. I thought they would warm up after I broke them in, but alas, the back of the heal dig into my Achilles so much it gave me a mild case of tendonitis. Skip this shoe and get the racer or Torin. By far the worst shoe Altra has put out.

If you like the old Escalante, you won't this. Where do I go with my wide feet now?

Please go back to your older versions! I loved your shoe at war it for years and now it hurts by feet so badly! Please listen to these reviews!

The first version and the 1.5 were comfortable and provided the right amount of cushion. The toe box was extremely comfortable. The new version changed everything that was good in my opinion . I am hoping the 2.5 or the 3 will go back to what made this a great shoe.

Loved the fit of the 1.5. The Escalante 2 is so pinchy across the forefoot p, it's unwearable. In reading reviews of your other styles to find another fit like the 1.5, it sounds like your "improvements" include narrowing all models. You guys talk a big game about foot health and alignment you stay on this path and we're all better off wearing stilettos. Think about returning to your roots. There's no shame in admitting your mistake. Coke did it. Or, at least offer a wide width version so we can go back to wearing our toe socks and making our feet happy and healthy. Thanks!