Customer Reviews Altra Solstice XT

I actually use this shoe for shorter runs (less than 5 miles) and I like the responsiveness of the midsole but the heel is not form fitting. It almost feels like the heel sits too low on the foot.

Great look and fit. I wear these for brisk walking and doing tai chi. I'm easy on my shoes and have many other pairs of shoes for specific uses so my shoes usually last a long time; except for these--uppers are thin, flimsy, and wearing out after only a few months. They're definitely not worth the cost.

Nice-looking, fit was perfect, soft, and comfortable--but the material covering the toe box is flimsy and is already beginning to wear through after a month of light use--walking, stretching, and Tai Chi. I'm easy on my shoes but should have bought something sturdier. Love the zero-drop and roomy toe box, but overall a big disappointment. Note: had I tried them out in a store, I would never have purchased them.

I used the solstice for some of my faster track workouts in marathon training, and after about 15 uses, the piece right next to the tongue on the outside of the shoe started digging into the front of my upper heel area. Really weird, so I tried tying my shoes differently, but it kept coming up. I wouldn't really recommend these if you plan to run in them, but they were nice for walking around and for gym use.

The shoe just did not work for my foot. The fit was not the same as my other Altras.

The toe area is fine but the mid area strangles my foot. I love the general concept of ALTRA but they have been all over the place regarding quality and more importantly consistent sizing. If I wore a specific size in one model it would be different in another and yet even when a new version of same comes out it may also be a different....very frustrating!

regular wear and tear? it looks like it has a high chance to ripping to my eye. Anyone else? just got the shoes the other day, and questioning if better to return them (also the toe box is good, a tiny bit wider than the Vali's)

This shoe is in a small class of shoes that is zero-drop, has a durable outsole, and has some cushion. For this, I am thankful; however, there are three issues with this shoe a no-go for me. (1) The shoe's upper does not provide sufficient space for the foot, especially around the pinky toe's metatarsophalangeal joint. A wide Nike pegasus in size 9 fits me perfectly, while a Solstice XT in wide leaves that joint red and in pain. Sizing up does not resolve the problem without the shoe becoming too loose elsewhere. (2) The heel is lacking some padding for a more secure fit. (3) The upper requires you to tighten the laces to a point where you feel uncomfortable pressure on the top of your foot. For me, this results ultimately in numbness. Altra - this is a good first iteration of the shoe. Please improve it.

Really wanted to love this shoe. Super light but there is no padding or molded heel to keep you foot secure. If you lace super tight no so bad but then the laces dig in due to the tongue being so thin.

Honestly, the fit was perfect for me, I know some people had problems with heel slippage but it's fit me like a glove. And the liquid rubber cage for just that right amount of stability, it's a thing of beauty, the light airy feeling is 2nd to none, all making for the perfect agility and lifting cross trainer, until you get on the treadmill... then it's a fricking nightmare you can't wait to get off your feet. The mixture of the minimal cushion outsole and full rubber coverage makes you feel like you're constantly being attacked by a concrete floor with every stride on a what should a smooth comfortable treadmill belt. The difference in foot fatigue I get vs running treadmill in just about any other running trainer in my quiver is so far on the wrong side of the comfier spectrum that it makes me not want to run at all... and that's a bad vibe to get from a predominantly run focused company. I feel like the Solstice XT is everything it's advertised to be, but JUST misses the mark as a true cross training shoe when one of the most important aspects or cross training (running) is absolutely dreadful in them. I love EVERYTHING ELSE about this shoe, so I hope to see something with just slightly more Cush under foot in a Solstice XT2 or possibly an Escalante XT with that liquid rubber cage for stability to prevent that sloppy feeling of the first Escalante, and the overbuilt upper feeling of the Escalantes since. Ideally the perfect combo might just be a Solstice XT2 with and ego midsole and some rubber... something fun to run in after hard workouts that still feels agile yet secure.

Just got them yesterday and used them at the gym for the first time. My only concern is how they may wear out quickly but I will update the review once i've really put them to the test. I got the white pair, they don't look as good as I thought in person but that is only my opinion. They feel really light and they I LOVE the flatness of them. I do feel slight pressure in my upper mid foot from the laces but I think they may just have to be completely broken in. I would definitely buy these again, i'm just trying to be helpful for anyone who is on the fence about these shoes. I got a great deal on these shoes, I don't think I would buy them at full price though.

I like the Solstice because they are Altra's best attempt at something fashionable. The regular Solstice also has a good heel hold and is comfortable. I don't like the durability of the originals, though. This more durable model fixes that problem, but then Altra did something to the heel counter that makes them fall off my feet. I also feel that the toe box is narrower than the originals.

Dear Altra, I want to start off by saying I had high hope and loved these shoes for the start. But that quickly changed over the last two months. I have to ask where these shoes actually tested in a gym/ cross training setting? Because I only used these shoes for 20 hrs (times of use+ time) before they really started to shoe how little they could hold up. My soles are hanging off on both shoes and the cushion has begun to wear away from rope climbs. I love the lone peak on my 6 pair and just got another for the season of trail running. I'll put a 100 miles of use on lone peaks with little to no issues of quick ware. I'll say I'm super disappointed with the solstice. I'll keep up with the lone peaks but would never suggest this shoe to anyone. Personal I would love to hear back from someone about this shoe.

Fell apart within 30 days. Contacted Altra, and the want me to send the shoes back just so they can send me another pair. I guess I'll buy some shoe glue and fix it myself.

I had tried these a year ago and they were way too small and tight. I lost some weight and tried these again. It saddens me that this "improved" version of my favourite shoes (the Solstice) us so much worse than the original.

Put faith in them but not so much a return. They rub very hard on my little toe knuckle where the foot box begins to widen. Run a half-size short for my long toes. Hard to clean. Foot bed is soft enough but that's about it. Would be nice trainers for smaller feet height wise.

I love the feel and comfort on of the shoes, i wear them to CrossFit and as my daily footwear. Compared to the HIIT XT2 i would chose these, the XT2 are very stiff, you cannot run more than 50 meters in them because they are so hard. XT2s are a lifting shoe not a HITT or CrossFit shoe. Unfortunately yesterday a part of the sole begun to come apart/unglued which was really disappointing considering Altra makes great trail shoes, but the quality of XT2 and Solstice XT just is not there. Would be interested in knowing how R&D and QC testing is performed on shoes before going into production and what QAQC measures are used during production to assure a quality product is delivered. Really trying to be loyal to Altra but having returned a pair of Spartan MT2 after 15 miles due to seams falling apart, the Solstice XT2 sole now coming unglued, and HITT XT2 tearing at the toes its going to be difficult. The only shoe i have not had problems with is my Superior 4. I would recommend them if you can get them on sale but I would not pay for the full price for them.

I am a huge fan of the original Solstice. I tried to switch to these but they are horrible. Please bring back the original.

This sneaker added a new tension internal stripe toward the toe area that wasn't necessary. On all my other Altra shoes they let the laces do the work? Look closely and you can see it when compared to the other models.

These are a significant improvement to the older shoe. Partly because the seams on the inside of the shoe did not rub hot spots. Plus the stack height was perfect plus the flexibility was ideal! I would have used the shoes for more (not just cross fit) but like most of Altra shoes I could not get a secure heel fitment. Not sure why sooooo many Altra shoes have heel slippage for me. I have tried various sizes and models... the lone peak is the best shoe I have found. Again it is a great looking shoe with great potential, it is just not for me... if you struggle with Altra fitting in the heel, probably best to avoid this shoe or at least try it on in store

Great design. Poor quality. Sole is falling apart after 3 months daily wear.