Customer Reviews Altra Wahweap

I am happily updating my review after spending the past few days in the new Wahweap. The clunkiness I felt at first is now not noticeable at all. Not sure if the soles are more flexy with walking or if I'm just used to them now. Either way, I'm really happy with them. I just spent three full days traveling and walking a lot in the Wahweaps in Colorado, and they felt great - both with and without socks. I plan on these being the only shoes I take on a long trip to Japan in the fall. I guess all I can say is wear them for a few days and see if the initial weirdness of the soles doesn't go away like it did for me.

I really like the fit and feel of these. The best way I can describe them is that they're comfortable but still allow you to feel the ground. I have other Altra shoes for trail running and hiking, so these fill a gap in my everyday lineup. I've had them for a week and they're already the only shoe want to wear when I'm not running.

I use these as casual everyday footwear. Definitely not the softest. But no complaints other than limited color choices.

This is my third review. I was initially super psyched on Altra taking on a minimalist approach shoe. Then I tempered my review after the heel started falling apart. Don't stop trying though!! I still wear my Wahweaps as they fall apart and I just ordered another pair. Don't listen to those who criticized the stiff feel out of the box. That's what gives you stability on rocks..it also breaks in to perfection. I'm on the fence about the hemp. Nice feel when dry, but not great given moisture. Still want to see this in a slip on!

I got these as a nice-looking everyday shoe, but have worn them on basic hikes. The forefoot on these is narrower than the other Altra's I've owned. As is mentioned in other reviews I've read, the heel-toe transition is very clunky at first, but that seems to have softened with use. The siped tread is very grippy on rock; not so much on loose dirt (it's marketed as an approach shoe, so no issue there). The only real complaint I have on the fit is that the ankle section of the upper is cut just a bit too high and rubs the bottom of my ankle bone.

Previously I gave these 5 stars. However, due to long-term durability, I have to drop to 4. After a fair amount of hiking, walking, running, and spelunking in these, the fabric is starting to wear through. Also, the lining did not stay attached to the bottom of the shoe. Still, they are incredibly comfortable and my go-to everyday shoe!

Very comfortable and looks great!

Let me first say I love Altra shoes. I have severe neuropathy, and this is the only brand shoes I like to wear. The extra space makes me feel secure my feet will survive the day. The zero-drop helps with what I call the flop foot. I kist ordered this style, and while I love the look, I have a couple of things I wish were different. One would be a thicker bottom with a little more cushioning. The second would be side support. Don't get me wrong I like the shoe, but it is not something I would run across the airport in. I reserve that activity for my Cycads

I'm sad to say the previous comments are accurate. As I read them I thought they seemed a little picky, but they are spot on. Altra is known for their 0 heel drop but as you put these on it feels almost like the ball of the foot is raised higher than the heel and flaps down as you walk. The comments also said there isn't enough cushion but I like hard shoes I run in mostly Merrill barefoot shoes so the cushion feels pretty good to me. I gave 4 stars cause I think that they just need a little breaking in and they'll be g2g

tl:dr - comfy stylish. but the upper is fragile and wont last as long as the sole I have had these shoes for approx 5 months and here are my thoughts. the good: wide, comfy, nice hard and firm soles which I feel like will last forever. nice and stylish. pairs well with just about all clothing I have. the ok: the rubber toe cap is ok. the footbed is glued in place. I remove all footbed from my shoes as they all hurt my feet with their "support" the not so good: I feel as though this would be a solid choice for casual shoes and not approach shoes. the upper, while comfy, is too flimsy and doesnt feel strong enough to last as long as the soles. it has been a little over 5 months and I already am having tearing in the side of my shoes. I just wear it for work in a office setting. the laces only have grommets on the top most eyelet. when I discovered that, I refused to lace them up fully for fear or destroying the eyelets below. it makes me sad that I paid all this money for an outdoor/casual shoe and it didnt hold up for at least a year of regular use. I have had other canvass shoes that lasted longer before having the outer sidewalls rip. if it wasnt made if hemp, or if the weave was thicker and could hold up a bit longer to wear and tear, I would recommend these to everyone. but seeing as how you wont get a year outta the upper... I can't really say I recommend these for more serious/daily use.

I need to temper my previous review. Still love the concept of these shoes. They are falling apart from the inside out after less than a year of however. Mostly sockless wear around town with some cragging. I'm not sure if hemp is the right material as these things kind of suck with moisture. They get thoroughly soaked by dew and dry very slowly. I also find myself wanting them to slip on and off easier without tying. I want this shoe in slipper form.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer. I really want to love this shoe, but it's complicated. The upper of this new shoe is definitely a home run. It looks awesome, and it is very comfortable. The material lining the inside is soft against my bare feet, and the hemp cloth is flexible but not floppy at all. It is definitely the best-looking "lifestyle" shoe in the Altra line-up. Heck, it even looks better than similar models from Keen and Merrell. The outsole is where Altra missed the mark with this shoe. In short, it has a weird feel. I also agree with the other reviewer that it feels like a cycling cleat. That was exactly my first thought upon trying them out. The transition from heel to toe is clunky and is hard to ignore. Also, because the sole is super flat from side to side, the transition from the outside of the foot to the inside during a step is also abrupt. These transitions are exacerbated by the stiff, dense rubber of the sole. It is also kind of noisy - again, like a cycling cleat. I am hoping things relax a bit as the shoe breaks in. But, because this is dense rubber we are talking about, I am not very hopeful. I am still playing around with the shoe by adding additional insoles (one from an old pair of Altras, and another thicker cushion insole from a different shoe) to give myself more cushion for extended walking and maybe minimize the effect of the sole. There is plenty of room in the upper for supplemental cushioning. Because this is the first generation of this shoe, I am hoping that Altra will LEAVE THE UPPER AS-IS and just tweak the outsole to improve the transition from heel to toe and side to side. It just needs to be smoother and a bit softer. I am going to keep these for a while and try walking longer distances in them with the different insoles. Finally, more color options would be great. Maybe a blue (hint hint). I am selecting "Yes, I would recommend this to a friend" below, but with hesitation for now.

i Have had trouble finding the right balance for Altra shoes for some time. Either the upper is too loose, the shoe is narrow, or the cushion is too spongey. At first glance I knew I wanted these! I loved the casual vibe with the ability to go outdoors with ease. The upper is fantastic and fits perfectly for me. A super win as far as I can see! The problem I fear is the rest of the shoe. I know it is serious rubber underneath, but it kinda feels like a bicycle shoe cleat. Very hard with little cushion but very odd ground feel. Feels like I'm walking on a stiff board. I thought for sure this would have some give because of the stack height, but it is the opposite. I really like the shoe but fear this may be a return due to the stiff sole. Still going to check them out. Definitely a shoe for those not wanting any type of cushion.

The quality control here isn't great. Falls apart in a short amount of time. I love Altras, but it's extremely disappointing to see the life-expectancy of a shoe go down so precipitously.

I've literally had these shoes less than two weeks with minimal wear and the sole is coming away from the toe along the seam. Complete garbage.

I have used this product from October to march as a normal approach shoe, because that was how they were advertised. They are a comfortable shoe but as far as durability they are beyond sub par. The rubber and foam sole do their work just fine, though not too sticky or stiff. The fabric upper is where I have my troubles. I've torn many holes doing normal scrambling. The stitching ripped along the seems with in a couple weeks and the fabric inner came apart in the same time frame. Because of this your cannot walk on a gravel road without getting dirt and rocks in your shoe. Do yourself a favor and do not waste your money on these "approach shoes" they'll stand up to around the house ware but no further...

I returned the shoes after wearing them around the house for two weeks. They were not up to par with Altra shoes I have purchased in the past. They were very light on cushion and support and the ball of my feet would make a clicking sound when the shoe hit the floor. After wearing for 15 minutes my feet would ache slightly. Returned with no issue however. Would not recommend