Customer Reviews Altra Escalante 2

I've been running in the escalante for years. The new model is stiff and I've have injuries ever since. I'm beyond disappointed in this new stiff, non forgiving shoe. Why did you change an amazing product? I'm in recovery mode and have never endured an injury since this new model. Running is my sanity and I don't have that right now.

I, like many of the others on here had been buying this shoe for years, but then I ignored the reviews of this new version. DON'T be like me. This shoe is terrible. Too stiff and I get a blister EVERY time I wear them. If you're used to the typical Altra, don't get excited, this is not up to their typical quality.

I have run in escalantes since they first came out. It was a no brainer to buy a new pair. This is NOT the same shoe and I couldn't recommend anyone buying it. Even at 50% off. I wore mine to the gym (usually only for running) for 30 minutes and red marks on both feet in the toe box area.

Have been wearing Intuitions for at least the last 5 years, bought the Escalante because Intuitions are no longer made. I could not get my foot in the shoe at all. Not wanting to waste $100+, I gave them to a friend with much narrower feet. They were uncomfortable on her as well. A waste of money. Hoping Altra makes something similar to the Intuitions!

Stiff around ankle. Created blisters on Achilles. Sole to thick, can't feel the ground.

I loved the 1.0 version! The 2.0 doesn't have enough padding around the ankle. Also a very stiff shoe. Go back to original design!

I recently purchased two pairs of the Escalante 2. I hate them! They are too stiff & the restrict my feet. My feet hurt wearing them. I loved the old style. My feet never hurt with the old style. Please bring back the old style.

Love all the previous models. But these feel too stiff, too narrow. Very painful to run in. Even the soles are hard. I thought they would need a "break in" period, but they are still too stiff.

This newer model is both too tight on top, somehow (weird as it's not really too narrow to me) and also too stiff. I am still wearing my two older pairs, as every time I put on the new shoes I walk around the house for five minutes and then take them off again. I wish I had returned them but it's too late now. Please return to the older sizing/styling/design!

Compared to the previous versions, there is nothing great about this product for my feet. The fabric across the upper forefoot is stiff and does not allow my poor, bunion-hampered toes to move like the previous versions. The toe tongue is not adjustable. My metatarsalgia, rendered mute by the previous versions, raised its ugly cry after my first mile. If I hadn't loved previous versions so well, I would not hate this version so much. But the fact is, the previous versions enabled me to run pain-free again, and this version makes me wonder how much longer I'll be able to continue.

I've been running in the Escalante since the first model came out. Don't get me wrong... this iteration is still a good shoe, but it pales in comparison to its older siblings. I ran my first marathon in the earlier models and I cannot imagine the 2.0 holding up to that level of mileage. Pretty please bring back the 1.5!

This shoe is less deep than before. It hurts the top of my foot, so I constantly (and vainly) try to adjust the laces or tongue to decrease the pain. I am very disappointed that the company changed the shoe.

I have to agree with previous reviews. The older versions of the escalante were my shoe! Got me through several marathons. Loved it so much. Perfect weight, feel, everything. Why on earth for the change? Went to go get new pair and there is no way I'm buying the new version. Stiff and uncomfortable. So disappointed. Was already sad as the Altra one's were discontinued. Please go back to original escalante style.

I've run exclusively in Escalantes for years. I recently ordered 2 pairs. They are both extraordinarily stiff. These are in no way as comfortable as the previous version. I'll keep them for walking around the house, but there's no way I can run in these. Please bring back the previous fabric.

Why Altra, why?! Since the Escalante was released it has been my road running shoe. Perfection for years! It was the only shoe that could sway me from the Altra One that I loved so much. I can't tell you how many thousands of miles I've run in the Escalante, including multiple marathons with straight out of the box shoes, and it's always been blissfully amazing. I've been through probably ten pair? I assumed the 2 would be the same experience, because why wouldn't it? Oh, the sadness. I'm about a hundred miles into this model and it's still a fight. It is definitely a more stiff feeling, but I thought maaaybe they would soften up with some use. Not so far. I am constantly thinking about my shoes while I run because it just doesn't feel right. It's mentally exhausting to be thinking about that on longer runs and not just be able to run comfortably. Aside from the stiffness of the upper (and the soles too?) I have a hard time even describing what it feels like. Almost a slappy feel with each step? Just...not right. I can't decide if it's even worth keeping my pari of 2s in my running rotation in hopes of it getting better. Let's just say I've started stockpiling the 1.5 model in hopes that I can tide myself over until the next model is released, while hoping and praying that they go back to all of the things that made this shoe amazing in the first place, because I absolutely will NOT be buying another pair of 2s.

Three runners in this house that have LOVED the original Escalante and this new one should actually get zero stars. Our go-to shoe for running roads and gravel even. We all needed new shoes and ordered these - when all three of us put them on and all immediately wanted to take them off you know something is wrong. The upper is now completely stiff - unlike the immediate comfort of the original. Also, the location where the tongue attaches inside the shoe rubs against the articulation point of the toes and metatarsals with every step. Don't know what went wrong with the remake of this shoe but we are returning them all.

The reviews that said flappy and heavy, like running on sand, or through mud, or like concrete feet, couldn't have been more accurate. I have a friend that loves his Escalantes 2, I have some altra trail shoes which I love, I figured, maybe I'll be different, maybe I'll love them. NO, DO NOT BUY THIS SHOE! You shouldn't be working HARDER to run than you have to. Get out of here. This is not a running shoe. This is a strength training shoe - as in, it's a workout just to put one foot in front of the other. Great company - terrible shoe design on this one.

My wife loved the 1.0, and I also have a pair and still use it! But this one is just too stiff, the nice thing it had going for it was that you could run long distances in a shoe that felt like a sock. It was very comfortable to wear as a sneaker as well. This is like when a band you like has original music, all of a sudden everyone starts liking them, then once they're mainstream they become like everyone else. I have one business suggestion, go back to the sneaker feel on the 3.0 and you'll get half your user base back.

I have 65 miles in my Escalante 2.0 and they still don't feel broken in. Normally around 20-30 miles is when I start to feel "settled in" to a shoe. But these are just so dang stiff! I feel like I may as well go back to my minimalist no-cushion shoes. I thought I found my Goldilocks shoe in the Escalante, but definitely not with the 2.0 model.

The Escalante, and Escalante Racer, have been my favorite running shoes since the original came out. This is not like the original at all. Much stiffer and narrower in the toe box. I went for a 10 mile run in them, and came back with the most horrible blisters on my big toes that I have ever gotten from a shoe. Most shoes I can manage to run in and get my 300 miles worth, even if they're not my favorite. Not these. Not sure what changed, but it wasn't for the better!

I LOVED THE 1.0s!!!!!! I accepted the 1.5s. I reject the 2.0s. My favorite shoes no longer exist. They have been replaced with this. Why ruin a good thing?? Please bring the 1.0 or the 1.5 back!!!!

I'm disappointed to have to give this shoe a negative rating. I'm a casual runner with neuromas, so I need a roomy toe box in order to run safely at all. Altra shoes have been the best I've found. I loved the Escalante 1.5. I was surprised to find this shoe unusually stiff, smaller in the toe box and tight around the front of the foot. I hope they go back to the drawing board on this one!

Too stiff on the bottom, not digging the upper. The Escalante 2 was not my favorite upgrade.