Customer Reviews Altra Escalante Racer

I've now gone through four pairs of Racers. I keep buying them because they feel great but buy them more often than I'd like because they wear out in the same spot every time. I wear them for fast walking about 35 miles a week and they end up with a hole in the heel - not just worn out - but with a hole I can put my index finger through in its entirety. When they're getting close to done, usually at under 300 miles, I'll actually get rocks and other debris coming through the hole. And although the uppers are incredibly breathable they also let dirt and gravel enter in fairly sizable quantity. Be careful if your road runs involve any dirt or gravel segments. So why keep coming back? I have a Morton's Neuroma and Altra is the only shoe I've found that makes me forget about the neuroma entirely. These shoes are ridiculously comfortable and have amazing road feel.

The escalante racer feels great on foot. I like the breathable knit. Althought the midsole isnt that soft and feels kind of cheap. The shoe needs to be broken in a little when you first get it. That being said I wish it was a little bit more premium feel. I'd love it if they would come out with a updated model of the racer. The racer needs to be updated like the new escalante 3 but keep the breathable knit. I recommend the escalante 3 over this it's midsole it much more cussioned.

since Vanish R and XC have vanished i gave these a try. i found that they offer a bit too much toe room for me and the heal outsole is overly substantial (around its perimeter). i had planned to use them for a recent marathon but ended up going with a more minimal shoe instead. I'll expect i'll get some good training mileage out of them but i'm hoping to see more from the Vanish line.

I love this shoe. The soft, breathable mesh upper is perfect for summer and faster-paced runs. My feet feel locked in and secure without being confined. My toes party in the ample toe box without the hint of bumping or pinching, even when running downhill. The midsole is sufficiently cushioned without feeling bouncy. It's almost not noticeable but does provide sufficient comfort for longer runs on hard surfaces. However, the outsole does wear more quickly than I'd like and noticeably more so than the Escalante 2 or 2.5 sole. At 180 lbs, I'm getting about 300 miles out of a pair before they start to feel different and are relegated to shorter runs. With a more robust outsole, I'd likely get the 500+ miles I have been getting in the Escalante 2.5's. I like the black and lime colorway but do wish the white and red colorway was still available. I keep buying another pair ahead of needing them just in case Altra decides to change the design.

I am normally a size 13 and ordered as such. At least a half size too big. Great shoe otherwise!

great design

It's a great light walking shoe and gym shoe especially in South Florida. The mesh upper is extremely breathable.

I've had the Escalante Racer for 3 days and overall I'm pretty happy with them. They are extremely lightweight, yet sturdy enough and with just enough cushioning to be wearing them all day. My only real gripe with the shoe is the tongue. It slides to the side constantly because it is only attached to the upper near the toes and not over the mid foot. My other pairs of Altra's (HIIT) had this feature on the tongue and it's sorely missing here. Hopefully this will be addressed on the next release.

Great shoes. I only by zero drop shoes because I think they force me to correct my form and they're light. You've got be gentle with them though. A branch or root food rip them open. Great gym and road shoes though.

I love this shoe, looks good, fits well and is perfectly comfortable . Unfortunately it wears out incredibly quickly. Altra needs a new bottom for this shoe. The one on it now is like silly putty soft and although it's soft when striking the ground it also erases the heel from the first time you wear them. You're almost there.

I use the shoes for walking, a lot of which is on rough chip seal pathways. I'm afraid the soles won't last very long like a previous pair of Altra shoes I owned. Part of the problem, however, is my scuffing my feet at times.

Love this shoe except a Design flaw on sole a piece of element that peals even after few days of wear. Please fix this problem

I'm a veteran Pebble Beach Caddie, 24 year's, I just turned 70 last June and a guy in our barn,MJ turned us all on to them, 4-5 years ago, for me, you extended my working career by 10 year's:) thank you so much!

Awesome shoes, would be great with about 5 more mm of added foam and keep around the same weight! Need those higher stack, light weight shoes!

I absolutely love these shoes with one big caveat, the insoles are absolute trash! They're stylish, lightweight, responsive, roomy in the toe box. But after only two months of wearing them every day at work (I'm on my feet all day at work) the insoles are almost completely bottomed out! And Altra does NOT cover this in their one year warranty, Which is a huge bummer, I've had Nikes at this price point last almost two years before bottoming out! I hate having to buy some third party insoles that won't fit as well as the originals I will definitely be buying different altras next with more cushion

I've been running my weekly distance runs in these shoes since November. The toe box is great. I like that it is considered a "minimalist" shoe with very low cushioning but the heel width is too narrow for my foot. I actually end up with pain along the front of my ankle after running in these. My feet have become strong enough to run in my Xeros for distance runs. If Altra made this shoe in their original profile I'd definitely try it again. I might just start using these strictly for walking at work. Kind of a bummer.

Having trouble with the right shoe in the geal area. I am experiencing some heal slip no matter what I do.

I have an earlier version of this shoe in black with the green midsole. I love them so much I've worn them to the ground. I decided to get a new pair, but it doesn't feel the same. The new pair felt stiff out of the box and now require some break in. The laces are too short and it's been a pain trying to color match them. Most glaring change is the addition of a rigid heel counter which I'm not a fan of. Not sure why Altra messed with a great thing.

My original Escalante Racers were perfectI swore I'd never buy a different shoe. These new ones are a downgrade. Stiffer at the heel and overall not as comfortable. Bring back the perfect shoe!

Super narrow! I wear 11.5 in the lone peak, and those are slightly snug in the mid foot, but I could barely get these on my feet. It would be so great if they made this in wide size, or even with the wider toe box. Wearing them around the house I could tell these would be great if they were wide. I had to order another brand for now, but I'm going to keep checking up on Altras for wider shoes. PS stop sending me an email every time I check you website!

My feet feel great running in these but at just 70 miles the soles are really disintegrating. Altra really needs to fix this issue.

Great shoe. But no arch support. To narrow in arch

While I loved the upper and cushioning, after just a few months of running, both shoes have developed obnoxious squeaks. I'm really disappointed as I thought these would be my new favorite Altras.

I've put about a thousand miles between my Escalante 2 and 2.5s. While I like the sole of the Racers the upper fabric doesn't stretch as much as the regular Escalante and as a result doesn't accommodate my foot. I start to have foot pain after a couple miles. Guess I'll try the Escalante 3.

Love the colorway Love the mesh knit I'd buy in every color if it were available in the wider Original Footshape Fit Feet are bulging out the pinky toe side of the soles in the current fit available