Customer Reviews Altra Escalante 2

I loved the Escalante 1.5 and this a step back for me. I think I could like the shoe itself but they made the back higher and it digs into my ankles. Wearing it for a couple of minutes in the house drove me crazy.

This its the first pair of Altras I have purchased with the sewn on tape that the laces go through. I have a high arch and need to open the tongue all the way to get my foot in. I can't get my foot because the tongue cannot go up very far. Love all my other Altras and will only try on those without that tape. Just my foot and the style don't mesh. Altra makes great shoes.

Great shoe and really comfortable. Love the toe splay room. My ankles and calves did get a bit sore till I got use to the 0 drop. I've been wearing a 4 mm drop for about 5 years so it was a slight change. I was surprised how much support there is for such a minimal shoe. I Use these to run on gravel and asphalt and they can do both well. Before my Altras, I had to quit running and was plagued with knee issues but wearing the lower drop and 0 drop shoes has allowed me to run again. Usually I wear a size 8 in tennis shoes but needed a 7.5 in these. The most surprising thing was how much my feet feel like I don't have shoes on. Most other shoes I can't wait to get off so my feet can move like they do when I am barefoot. The Altra allows my foot to move like that even when it's protected and supported in their shoe. Great design!

My first pair of Altra and so far I find them very comfortable. I'm a walker not a runner. The heel counter is high but when I retied the shoes with a lace lock, it was not a problem. I have been wearing a size 10 in Brooks and these 10's are tighter. While there is plenty of width at the front of the foot, there's not a lot of depth which could be a problem for some people. As far as style, I was pleased to be able to buy all black shoes.

I think I may have just found my favorite new running shoe! I saw the other review about the back digging into the back of the ankle, and I noticed it while roaming around in my house, but only when standing in awkward positions. I took them for a test run and couldn't believe how much better my feet felt. The wide toe-box is a dream and makes such a huge difference, that I might be able to avoid bunion surgery on my other foot! I ordered a second pair 1/2 size smaller for comparison as these felt a smidge too big. Either way, whichever one fits, I think it will be my new favorite running shoe.

Great shoes. I’m active and have problem feet with 2 painful neuromas, 3 RA nodules, and plantar fasciitis. The neuroma pain was dominating my days, I was wearing HOKA’s and extra padding to try and help relieve the pain, they were not working. Ordered these, out in my custom orthotics and the pain was immediately relieved!! The soles are a little thin, so I ordered a few more Altra’s to try. Hoping they work!

While I ultimately returned these, I would still recommend that you try them if you are looking for a zero drop shoe, plenty of room in the toe box, and some cushion. I get tired of saying, "Why aren't shoes shaped like feet?" These shoes are definitely shaped like feet, albeit it in a little bit of an exaggerated way, as another reviewer mentions. They definitely curve in too much to the inside. My big toe was sitting in the middle of the shoe. A nice change from being squished into a narrow toe box, but I think Altra can take it a liiiittle easier on the curved foot shape. These were firmer than the original Escalante, which made me feel like I was unstable (and walking on a marshmallow). The Escalante 2 did not give me that unstable feeling, but it still offers a nice amount of cushion if you need it. The white is super cute, but the overly shaped toe box makes it look a little goofy. For reference, I wear a 7.5M in Altra and Merrell, and an 8.0 in most other brands of running shoes. I wear a 38N in Birkenstock. I tried a 7.5M in the Escalante 2 and it fit as expected.

These shoes are very uncomfortable, and it seems to me that in general the quality and fit of the Altra shoe gone down. They feel cheap, and therefore way over-priced! There's a very uncomfortable seam at the inside of the foot, and the foot shape is too exaggerated, i.e. it veers too much to the inside.

This is my second pair of the Escalante, my first being version 1.5. As I have learned with all Altra shoes, they run from a half to full size small in comparison with other athletic shoes. This one runs a half size larger. This version is more rigid than version 1.5 which truly feels like slippers. But that nice slipper feel leant itself to easily rolling the ankle if one lands on the foot wrong. The increased rigidity of version 2.0 is still very comfortable but also more stable. Less likely to roll the ankle.

I love the way the toe is made on the shoe as it really does conform to the true shape of a foot. I suffer from metatarsalgia and have pinkie hammer toes. These shoes are so comfortable and I don't have to worry about my toes being squeezed. Good enough arch support, overall a well made shoe, and the tongue area is wide enough with great quality ribbons that are easy to manipulate for fit. I now have three pair of these shoes and can highly recommend. I'm not a runner but do spend a lot of time on my feet.

Total bliss finding these after many failed attempts with other athletic shoes. I love these because they fit my narrow heel, and they don't have elaborate soles or contouring that my generally healthy feet don't need. I also like the zero rise feature. Super comfortable, and I like the subdued, non-neon black and white color scheme. I wear size 8 in street shoes but bought size 8.5 because athletic shoes usually run small. so I marked them true to size (for athletic shoes).

I loved the comfort. It's like walking on air. It has a wide toe box which I need. But, the shoe is so difficult to put on .....even with a shoe horn because the heel is kind of flimsy.

I love Altras in general and I bought these and the Provision 4 to try. These were so narrow that they hurt to put on, so no go, immediately. I got the same size as my very comfortable Timps... these were much narrower. The inconsistency of Altra’s sizing can be maddening.

Great shoe, but not for me! Unfortunately, I really think that if Altra offered wide width shoes, this could be the shoe for me. The wide toe box is great, but without the corresponding midsole width, this is just too uncomfortable for me to run in. I got a HUGE blister from a short, 4 mile run. If you have anatomically flat and wide feet, this shoe is NOT for you, despite reviews saying that it is.

Loved the wide width and the style but that was about it. Only tried the left foot and did not bother with the other. So flat and with no flexibility that I don't see how anyone could run with these. Probably great for standing still or sitting at desk but I could not even trust them for walking. Returned.

I don’t know why people hate these shoes. They’re super comfortable. I love that they’re zero drop and cushioned. I usually wear a 7-7.5 and I got an eight as I like my running shoes a tad roomy.

This is my third pair of Escalantes, over a three or more year period. This iteration is the best. I normally take an 11 in a tennis shoes and that’s what I take in the Escalantes. In a street shoe I take a 10. This shoe runs small. I am not a runner but walk or hike in these shoes all the time. They are a great all-around shoe and with the wide toe box, I can stretch out my toes and be comfortable. They wash well and last a long time. Great to pack as well, as they don’t take up much space. I wish Altra would make a better variety of colors. The turquoise is nice but they could definitely improve on the colors they offer.

Altra shoes are the most comfortable shoes and well matched to healthy footcare.

Super cute shoe! Only have had them one day but so far really comfortable. Good arch support, not a lot of extra shoe which is what I was looking for. Seems to hug my foot and definitely allows your toes to naturally spread out. Almost feels like you don't have a shoe on! Not a lot of cushioning but there is more than their Racer style. Good arch support and it fits true to size. I think the Zero drop is what makes it feel like I am walking around barefoot. So far so good!

This is a follow up review of the Altra Escalante. I like the shoe. But previous versions of the Escalante were very simple, basic and streamlined with ample room for toes. The current update being Escalante 2 has more structure and more design. I like the simplicity of previous versions which were very foot functional. Thanks Zappos for carrying Altra shoes. Altra shoes have saved my feet!

I really like these shoes. I will say that I tried out the Escalante 1.5 and they weren't for me. I found them to be a bit too soft for my preference. The Escalante 2 are firmer, but not too firm. I'd say the sole of the shoe is perfect. The upper is a little stiff, but I definitely got used to it quickly. I wish they would make these shoes in a size 11.5, as that is my size and the 12 was a touch too big for me, but definitely true to size overall.

I had to order these a half-size larger than I usually wear to get a comfortable length. I wish they were just slightly wider. I have high arches, so I had to readjust the laces. (I may remove the strip that holds the laces on top of the tongue.) I replaced the inner soles, which were adequate, with high-quality ones that have excellent arch support. I wear the shoes for throughout the day. They're light and comfortable. They look nice and are relatively unobtrusive since they're all black.

Very odd fitting

I cannot wear these shoes. I don’t know what has changed, but they are far too stiff in the upper. Maybe the tape that the laces run under? Unfortunate change; I love Altra shoes and this would have been my second pair of Escalantes. They are just too shallow; and I do not have a particularly high instep. Even with the laces loosened as much as they could be (and the shoes still tie) after ten minutes I was seriously uncomfortable. Back they will go. Too bad, I liked the look of them. Interestingly, my new Lone Peaks are *fine*. Just got back from a four mile hike. Do better, Altra!

I have worn Altra Intuition for indoor and Lone Peak for outdoor for several years, and they have been great. Intuition is no longer available, so I tried these. Unfortunately, I found the same thing as other reviewers. The shoes are definitely tighter over the toe box, so very uncomfortable for bunions. The think I loved about Altra is the wide, large toe box. If that has changed on all styles, they have really ruined a great shoe. I am returning to try another style. Hopefully, that will be different.