Customer Reviews Altra Torin 4.5 Plush

This is the best shoe I have owned for running. After changing to a mid/fore foot stride and using this shoe I now run more comfortable, efficient and pain free. I will stay with this brand and buy again as needed. Thank you...

I use the Torin 4.5 Plush primarily for a recovery and everyday shoe. I love it! The Torin 4 is my go-to running shoe, but I can't tie the laces because of my high arch. The Torin Plush solved that problem... I think because there isn't a sewn in tongue like the Torin 4. I said it "feels true to width" because Altra is (was) traditionally a wide fitting shoe without being wide. If Altra made a 2E, the Torin Plush would fit me perfectly. So in reality, the width is a little too narrow for the high arch, wide foot person. I deal with the tighter upper with creative lacing - skipping eyelets or no lacing at all. In comparison to other brands: I need a 4E width in most shoes. This shoe feels like a 2E width shoe. I am forever in the Altra brand because of their toe box... it's practically the only one that fits my paddle feet.

BEST FOR RUNNING

I am a relatively new runner in my early 30's. I'm currently running 12-15miles/week on the road--6 to 7.5 miles a couple times a week. I have low arches and mostly a neutral runner until I fatigue. The Torin 4.5 plush is a very comfortable shoe and pretty responsive especially when I pick up speed. I decided to try it out for the foot shape toe box a zero drop design. I took a couple runs to get adjusted but I pretty much fell in love with them. Great shoes!

This was my third pair of Torins. I was concerned after reading some of the reviews for the 4.5s . My first pair of 3.0s impressed me as did the 3.5s. My 4.5s arrived on Saturday and I wore them around the house trying to get a feel for them. They felt nice. Really nice. The very next day I felt comfortable wearing them in my 1/2 Marathon. New shoes in a race? You bet because of my past experience with Altras. Yes, the shoe has evolved but it still hasn't lost it's toe box. I wound up getting a PR in my 1/2 Marathon the first time out in them! I like how this version provides cushion but also balances it out with a great feel for the landing. I made it through 13.1 miles without feeling like I ended the race just slapping my feet against the ground. I really think this is an upgrade from previous versions.

Full disclosure, I am not a runner. In the past I have made attempts to stick with this soul-enhancing discipline to no avail. I am recommitting now, but I have little real experience to speak from. That being said, I did discover zero-drop, "barefoot" running several years ago and when I was able to push myself to run regularly I did so in Vibram five-fingers. I cannot run in any other type of shoe other than zero-drops. This was a revelation for me back then. Getting back into the groove recently I reached for my old Vibrams but it's getting cold in the NE. And five-finger socks are unbearably annoying to deal with. And let's face it, the shoes themselves are weird looking. Also, some of the toe pockets were not quite flush with the ends of my toes which did lead to some discomfort. I still love my Vibrams in spite of their imperfections but I decided to go to my local running shop and see what they had as a viable alternative. Luckily, they had Altras as their sole minimalist offering. I tried on both the Escalante and the Torin 4.5. The Escalantes were so comfortable that I couldn't tell I was wearing shoes. The Torins were close and offered a bit more support. I found that my foot was able to shift around too much in the Escalantes. (One of the best features of Vibrams is how the shoes lock to your feet like nothing else. I have found with other minimalist footwear that the lightweight uppers allow for too much lateral movement.) The Torins did not present this problem for me during the try-on and so I ponied up the premium cash and took them home. I love these shoes. I can't believe how well they fit my feet. The toe box is incredibly well-formed. The cushion ing is perfect, soft but stable. The bit of extra support in the upper is solid without feeling restrictive in any way. Bottom-line, I can barely feel them on my feet, which I think is the ultimate litmus test for running shoes.

Coming from Hoka, I was looking for something that still had some cushion, but had energy transfer too. I got them yesterday and have 7 miles in so far, but no blistering or hot spots to be noted. Also worth a note, these are my first pairs of Altras. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the toe box, but so far I love it. If you're looking for a soft ride that doesn't feel mushy or a loss of power, this is a good shoe for you.

First experience with Altra. Never ran in a zero drop previously but was intrigued after hearing rave reviews. I primarily run road (avg 65 miles/week) and was looking for a daily trainer for slower paced runs, so I bought the Torin 4.5. Total game changer. Legs feel better after long runs - these shoes are epitome of comfort. The quantic mid sole is $, feels like a tempur pedic (plush with nice energy return) and not pillowy like Hokas. Upper material very comfy/flexible, no issues running in 90 degree heat. Weight is great. These are my go to shoes for 85% or running vol. They're so comfy I also wear them walking around city. Next up is Escalante for tempo, looking forward.

Just got them and they make me want to run. Fall running in AK. Only did a 5k and 10k. 5 on the road, and10 through the woods. Love them so far. I like the room in the front. Keeps the toes healthy. I'm about to order a second pair as back-ups. They look good, too.

I told myself that if i could break 30 minutes for a 5k, I would reward myself with a pair of new running shoes. After some research I found Altra. Toe box width has always been a problem for me (Nike, I'm looking at you). I asked a few runners who i saw wore Altras, and got positive recommendations. So I spent the extra cash fo a pair of Torin Plushes. They are worth every penny. The toe box give my foot the room it needs, while holding my heel/ankle snugly. Feels like my toes can almost reach out and grip the road. Awesome. I've been on these for almost a year, and would absolutely recommend them to anyone with shoe width challenges. I was a New Balance runner for years, now swear by Altra.

This is my first pair of Altras and I like them so much I have bought 2 more pairs. I was interested in the zero drop and expanded toe box. I have typically worn flats or similar types of neutral/light weight trainers in the past so the transition was a smooth one. I do a lot of hill running and the flats/neutral trainers were trashing my achilles and knees. As an FYI I run almost exclusively on concrete/asphalt. The Torin Plush 4.5 has eliminated all of the aches and pains. Plush is a perfect name as this shoe absorbs so much of the force from running up and down hills. They are reasonably lightweight and the upper feels like and comfy almost like a sock. These are my new everyday trainers.

As a newcomer from Hoka world and a person who once damaged the feet with Topo shoes I found Plush as an ideal option for diverse pavement running. My painful arches are protected as never and low drop makes me avoid heel running. Tongue is perfect and wide shoebox saves me. Love these shoes.

Torin 4.5 plush is great! Plush is definitely how I would explain it. The sizing is true to size. Really nice colors and great ride. These are my favorite Torins/ Altra shoe so far. I use this shoe for easy run/longruns. Paces ranging from 8min per mile to 5:50min per mile.

I've run in Torins since the 2.5 model, and when I switched to Altra it was a revelation. The "Altra difference" boils down to zero drop, and the foot shape toe box. I'm a believer in zero drop, only because I've run injury free and the concept logically makes sense. But the foot shape toe box was what really hooked me - the feel and change in mechanics were immediately noticeable and I never looked back. I like the Torins so much that changes from model to model never deterred me from practically buying them on subscription. However, the 4.0 model was not good - I would give it 2 stars. It had three major flaws. 1) Altra made the mystifying decision to release it in a "plush" and a lower profile version, forcing an unnecessary choice on runners (and independent running stores who have to carry a variety of stock). If you want a less plush Torin, get the Escalante Racer, it's great for tempo or track days. 2) It was heavy. I don't fuss over grams, but the tweaks over the years had made the Torin a lot clumsier than competitors (look at the Hoka Clifton to compare weight). 3) The main differentiator - the toe box - had gotten smaller, more "streamlined", and generally less foot shaped. I was so frustrated by this last point that I finally went looking for replacements. But for better or worse, even though the Altra toe box has morphed, there's still nothing out there quite like it. When trying on other shoes next to the Torin 4.5's, the Altra's just feel more "right" to me. So why do I say the Torin is "back on track"? 1) The needless "non-plush" model has disappeared. 2) The shoe is noticeably lighter. 3) While the toe box isn't as good as it used to be, the mesh fabric on the upper is more flexible than on the 4.0 version (that fabric was stout enough to "crease" when flexed) and this creates a little more feeling of space. The tongue isn't puffy at the edges, if you wear no show socks, make sure they come high enough to protect. Back to 5 stars.

I've run in "regular" Torins since it's inception and they've best mostly excellent shoes. I'd been on the fence about the Plush for a while because I've read mixed reviews. I pulled the trigger when these were on sale and boy I'm glad I did. I've only put on about 50 miles but so far they've shown excellent cushioning and comfort. The extra cushioning from the regular Torin is evident and appreciated. I'm a neutral runner and have efficient form. I live in FL so every shoe is hot. Overall, I'm very happy with this shoe. I'll post another review in a few months with another update on how they're holding up.

I originally gave it 3 stars due to foot box creasing downward. Its more notable when walking or jogging at slow speeds. But once you start going the shoes felt great. Light and springy. THere will be a break in period for me, feet tend to get hot but that should go away once i break them in.

Bought the Torin 4.5 Plush after running in Escalantes for the past couple of years and these are a good update. I had tested the Torin 4.0 Plush and thought it was a little heavy and sloppy compared with the Escalante 2.0, but the 4.5 fixed these issues. Feels great across my arch and toe box. Can't wait to put a lot of miles on these shoes. Already 20 miles in and no issues

The Torin 4.5 plush is by far my favorite shoe I've ever tried. The Quantic midsole is super comfortable and plush. It fits like a glove and it's really lightweight. This shoe converted me to Altra from Hoka. Seriously just so comfortable and feels great to wear all day every day. Work, gym, walk, run, this shoe is perfect for any activity.

Altra hi a home run again. This is my fourth pair of Torins and they get better with each upgrade. I love the plush cushioning and breathable upper. I don't know what other reviewers are talking about regarding the toe box getting more constricting. The toe box is still roomy without being sloppy. It fits just the same as my Torin 4.0 pair. In fact, I ordered two sizes to make sure (because of other reviews). I didn't even need to try on the half size up because my normal size fit just great like always. And there's an added bonus to the 4.5 Torins: The laces aren't the length of a Condor's wingspan! They're just right. Thanks, Altra.

I tried Altra about 4 yeara aago and returned them. Aside from looking down at my feet and seeing clown shoes, they were too sloppy in the forefoot when running and you had to absolutely crank down the midfoot to even get it snug. I have wearing Brooks "Pure" line of shoes, but they have started phasing out their 4mm drop shoes claiming people want 8mm. So, I looked at Altra again and I have to say, whoever is in charge of the new styling of their shoes needs a raise. They don't looked like Krusty the clown shoes anymore. Going from 4mm drop to zero has been an easy transition. I know people that have been long time Altra fans say they aren't wide enough anymore, but they have converted back. I have a pretty narrow foot and the toebox feels perfect to me. The midfoot is especially nicer to fit correctly. I see how some may not like the change, but if you are like me and have steered clear of Altra in the past, give the new line of shoes a try. I'm done with Brooks.

Only run one or two five milers per week, but these shoes are extremely comfortable. Thinking about getting another pair just to kick around in.