Customer Reviews Altra Escalante Racer

I've been a life-long Nike, New Balance, Asics "running shoe" customer. Always looking for comfort. I'm 50+ and I don't consider myself a distance runner, but I run several community 5Ks and 10Ks throughout the year for fitness goals. These shoes are game changers for me! Light-weight and comfortable. Roomy toe box. I haven't felt this good running in over 20 years!

I work in healthcare and am on my feet for a lot of the day. This is a great shoe. Light and airy, and I like the cushioning in it while staying within minimalist standards. It's not as hard on my feet as some other brands.

I love this shoe and felt compelled to write another review after reading other comments. This shoe is mesh for specific reasons. When you are running 13 miles, 17 miles or a marathon, your feet get really hot. Secondly, if it rains in a race or during training, people still run or continue with the race. I wore these shoes recently for a half-marathon and it down poured on me. Thanks to the mesh, the shoes didn't hold much water, so my pace was never impacted and finished at an 8:40 clip. I am using these for IRONMAN. I have no idea what the weather is going to be. But if it rains, my shoes will remain lightweight because the mesh allows everything to drain. These are not a Torin replacement. Nor are they supposed to be. I use Torins for recovery run days but I wouldn't race in a Torin, its too much shoe for me.

These are the greatest shoes ever made. I love how responsive they are. Super comfortable for all distances whether 1 mile or 17, I wear them all the time. Plan on wearing these for my first full distance IRONMAN. Super lightweight and airy, perfect for those long hot runs.

These are so comfortable. This is the second pair that I've have owned. I'm thinking about buying another pair in the event that for some reason you stop making these.

I have been on the hunt for my perfect running shoe, and I'm so happy to have landed on these. My only complaint - the laces in the blue pair are way too short (perfect length in the black pair.)

Most comfortable running shoe I found in a long time. Would highly recommend for people with white feet are bunions.

Favorite shoe for tempo runs and races. Have run 17 mile runs in this shoe and love it. Today I ran 8 miles at7:52. I love this shoe, I do rotate it with regular escalate and torins

This shoe is perfect for my long distance runs but the 5.5 size runs a little big for me. It is everything I have been looking for and more and truly no other shoes come close in comparison. Myself along with my feet are in love!

This is a perfect road running shoe to me - has just the right amount of stability and sole thickness. It's so light and breathable. But will you please make more colors? It's been like what - 3 or 4 years since there was any color variation. The purple and gray combo doesn't work for me, especially with off-white laces. Bright yellow or bright pink would be awesome!! ;)

I use this shoe for brisk walking 2 to 4 miles a day. The Escalante Racer sole gives great rebound, better than the Escalante 2.5. It has very little arch, so it frees the feet for a healthy movement from supination at heel strike to pronation at push off. The sole supports that essential movement too. That is the most important thing about the whole Escalante line. The foot movement translates up through the whole body in a balanced way. The Escalante Racers are light and like all Altras they have the right toe box shape. The mesh fabric breathes brilliantly and stays put without stretching, so the foot feels secure yet free. I just wish Altra would put out an Escalante version for walking on soft sand, meaning not mesh but some sort of solid fabric and maybe gators. Or a low boot version.

I purchased the Racer for interval training, tempo runs and racing distances up to a 1/2 marathon. I am so pleased on how they fit and how they perform. Straight out of the box, I did a 7 mile run, had one other run, then two weeks later, I raced a 1/2 marathon, all with no issues. The material is mesh and lighter - as promoted. I choose the black color with purple/pink bottoms. I have a size 9.5 which is my usual size. The tongue is thinner on these but not the same design as the newest Escalantes or Torin - those tongues cut into the top of my foot, but the Racer tongue does not. Some reviews are complaining that these are too narrow, however, I love the fit. I do not have a wide foot, but rather a curved toe box, so I need more room there but not in the the whole shoe. For comparison, Lone Peaks are too roomy for me and the Rivera is slightly too narrow for me. I've worn Escalante, Superior, Torin (too soft for me) and currently use the Provision for training runs and distance. I like that this base feels firmer, as my ankles can roll in a softer shoe. My recent 1/2 marathon was on a rainy day, 23 degrees with the wind chill. On my warm-up, my socks got wet and the wind did freeze my toes; however, once I was racing and the rain stopped, I did not have an issue. Although my feet got wet, the water drained. I knew my toes might get cold but took the risk. If you are in warmer temps, running in the rain will not be an issue (make sure you have good quality socks). They have been fine on other runs. Also, I've been at a 16 mile trail race where a participant wore these and was so happy, with no issues. So happy I purchased these.

I am newer to running but wanted to learn how to run in a zero drop minimal shoe. I wear these with the toe socks and toe spreaders designed to be worn during fttness. I love them. I also like the sole- they give you a good push off th ground. They look snazzy, are comfortable right out of the box and make me enjoy my run/jog time.

I have been running in a 3mm drop shoe and just wanted a change. Researched these. Ordered. Received and ran 3 miles out of the box. Love these shoes. Won't turn back.

Always worried when replacing shoes but just like my Bostons

These are cute as well as comfortable! I have two pair ! I like that Altra shoes give your toes room ! It makes such a difference !

i alternate this shoe with the torin 3.5 (stock pile) and now the XT2. i LOVE the RACER. it has the right amount of firmness in the foam. i would love to see the RACER foam in the next XT shoe (too squishy). maybe call it the XT PRO ;)

i have old chronic injuries and pain. the racer is one of two altra shoes i switch between everyday. the racer has a stiffer mid soul that results in less aggravation of foot and lower body injuries. i hope altra will continue to offer its customers these shoes unchanged for years and years to come.

This is my third pair of Escalantes. I have had the 1.5, the 2.5, and now the Racers. I loved all of them. The racers are so lightweight. They breathe well and are very confortable. I've run in them several times and I'm sure they're making me faster. They are so cute that it's motivating to wear them. Thanks Altra!

My favorite shoe to wear for my fast interval runs and races! Switched to these from Brooks and it solved any previous knee pain I had from running. Will always buy these again.

I love and need the wide toe box. As soon as I put these shoes on I smiled, I could wear them immediately, they fit super well and have never had a problem with them. I also get tons of compliments on them and I love to share, I cannot recommend these shoes highly enough!

The Escalante is the perfect performance shoe for difficult feet. They have no seams to rub against my overlapping toes and bunions. They fit snuggly and comfortably, give plenty of toe space, and allow me to run in comfort.

These shoes are so comfortable! I've taken them on my first couple of walks/runs and I love that there is some cushion, but they're not heavy. They needed absolutely no break in time so that was a bonus!

I have had trouble my whole running life finding a shoe that fits and doesn't rub anywhere. These are great for short distance runs and just wearing around. I will keep buying these.

I run on flat dirt trails.