Customer Reviews Altra Paradigm 6

The original paradigms were great. I loved that I knew what size I was in Altra. Now you've went and changed all the original sizes, that no one has any idea what they're getting when they buy an Altra shoe. I've tried various Altra shoes and they don't match the sizing the site claims they are. Please stop messing with the shoes. If you want to make drastic changes to a shoe, please call it a new model or something like Paradigm-v2. Offer an alternative for people who love the original. Stop alienating the customers who loved and purchased and recommended Altras in the first place. Here is a picture of an insole, from the same shoe size, where the SMALLER one is the Original Footshape according to the Altra website.

I was a big fan of the paradigm 4.5 and 5, so I excitedly got a pair of the 6's and was completely disappointed. The plush and responsiveness is gone. It felt as though the shoe was so soft and had a lot less sole so that my feet landed directly on the ground. I gave them 4 runs and it seemed worse every time. Big disappointment.

This used to be one of my favorite shoes. Unfortunately with Altra changing foot shapes on some of their shoes this has become a casualty. Miss the shoe it used to be.

After a dozen runs in the 6s I threw them in the trash and bought several pairs of Paradigm 5s because Altra no longer offers an original foot shape road shoe. The 5s are so much better than the 6s and I'm not going to run in trail shoes like the Olympus 5 on the treadmill. The 5s also provide far better stability and the upper has a more secure fit than the 6s. Looks like I'll be trying out other brands if Altra gives up on the original footshape for their road shoes

Love the paradigm but the new model doesn't come with the wide toe box as it use to . Will no longer buy or recommend any altra shoe . When you Change things that worked , you lose customers . IF I wanted a diff model I would have bought a diff model !

After years of using Paradigm 4.5's and 5's, I find the Paradigm 6 to be unusable for me because the toe box is too narrow.

A complete and utter change from the paradigm 5. The shoe feels like any other run of the mill over priced shoe. I was shocked when I pulled them out of the box to discover I should have bought multiple pairs of the 5 to last me.

The Paradigm 5 was my favorite shoe ever. I ordered the 6 and immediately I wished I stocked up on the 5. Couldn't you leave the shoe alone and release a new name for whoever wanted this shoe?

I am a long-time runner who has suffered with sesamoiditis for the past two years. The Altra Paradigm allows me to run and walk without pain and is the only shoe that doesn't aggravate my foot inflammation. I owned previous versions and have bought a total of 6 pairs of Paradigm shoes including 4 pairs of the Paradigm 6. This newest version is a big improvement over the previous versions in my opinion in terms of comfort. However the shoe wears out extremely quickly. My experience is that it started to show wear on the bottom sole after only about 20 miles of running and after 50 miles the cushion and insole area feel and look like they have broken down and lost a lot of their structure. One pair has also developed a very loud squeak early on. They are an extremely expensive running shoe and I expect better quality for the price. I'm very disappointed because they are the only shoe I can wear right now for running but I should not have to replace them as often as I do.

I learned to love running in the Paradigm 4.5. Before I tried Altra my feet would hurt because most shoe toe boxes were too cramped. I put 300+ miles on the 4.5s and then replaced them with a pair of Paradigm 5s that I also put 300+ on. Then came the Paradigm 6. Altra introduced some big changes which have led me to stock up on the Paradigm 5s until Altra releases a shoe with their original footshape. The Paradigm used to be an excellent support shoe with a wide toe box, supportive upper, and a fairly stiff sole. The 6 is narrower, has a more breathable but less supportive upper, and has a much more flexible sole. The Paradigm 6 didn't last 100 miles before the cushioning gave out in the left shoe while the right shoe developed a squeak. I noticed an increase in left foot shock value (RunScribe) around 50 miles that slowly got worse until I stopped using them after 80 miles. I ran in my old 300+ mile Paradigm 5s and the asymmetry in shock went away. I've tried to find the Paradigm 4.5, as that version had the best upper, but unfortunately they are pretty much gone. I've purchased a few pairs of Paradigm 5s but not sure what I'll do when I run through them. I hope Altra hasn't given up on the footshape fit that made Altras such amazing running shoes for people with wide forefeet. If you're reading this Altra, please bring back a support shoe like the Paradigm 5 or earlier versions.

The Paradigm 5 was my introduction to Altra. They were perfect for my 12 hour shifts as a bedside nurse. So good, in fact, that I purchased 5 pairs. Whose idea was it to scrap that blueprint for these super narrow, cramped toe box, full size too small, clown shoes. If I didn't want a wide toe box, I'd go back to Nike. Paradigm 6's feel completely different. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Online now searching for Paradigm 5's.

I hope Altra brings back a shoe with real width and support like the Paradigm 5 or Paradigm 4. This new shoe features a lighter more breathable upper but it lacks the wide toe box and stability of the prior models. Altra has racier models so I don't understand why they eliminated the features that made the Paradigm a great support shoe.

I had been running happily in my altra paradigm shoes for years now. I started with the 3.0 and have put thousands of miles on several pairs since. Until the paradigm 5.0.... they totally changed the shoe. Its uncomfortably narrow in the mid sole to the point of leaving blisters after 4 mile runs. To make sure I wasn't crazy or to make sure my foot shape/stride hadn't changed I dug out some older pairs and ran (no issue). Hugely disappointing that they changed the shoe so much. Why ruin a good thing? Why even keep the name the same? Altra if you're listening I'd love to trade in my new door stops for an older pair of 4.5s

I liked these shoes a lot but there was just too much cushioning for me in this particular model. I did get the Olympus 4 shoes which were perfect. Love the wider toe box and the Vibram soles should last a while.

This shoe is very disappointing! I have been using the Paradigm shoes for several years now. The wide toe box saved my feet. The P6 is extremely narrow in the toe box. What's with Altria? The wide toe box is what made Altra the choice for people with wide feet. Why would they suddenly change that strategy? Of course, that question presumes they did it intentionally. I suspect it is more the case they don't really pay attention to what made them a successful brand. Now, they're just like everyone else in the shoe business. Good luck with that!

I use these walking at work in an emergency dept. Have burned up two pair of Paradigm 4.5's prior. IMO they have made these too narrow and the tongue drifts causing constant readjustment. Don't buy the 6. I'm returning mine for a 5 as this new design is too narrow in the mid foot and the tongue flaw is so stupid. It's like they didn't think about this and just left the tongue to float and wander laterally. For the price Altra could have done better. Disappointed and avoid if you have an average foot, these are too narrow in the lateral mid foot. Love the 4.5. Stop trying to change a good thing Altra. The 6 is no bueno and has features that were overlooked for a show this pricey. Try again.

These shoes have given me some of the worst blisters in the arch that I've ever had. I have the lone peak boots, and the solstice for crossfit, both great shoes. I bought the paradigms to try and replace my Brooks Adrenaline however, the paradigms did not work for me. There is a strap that runs along the arch, up the inside of the foot, through a 'sleeve' of fabric. This fabric bunches along the insole causing rubbing. You can run the trap out of the 'sleeve' but then you have the strap edges acting like a seam. I keep trying to find ways to make these work and not blister, but after a handful of runs it's becoming to much of an effort.

IMO the paradigm 5 was the best cushioned altra road shoe ever .. ANNNND in this one the new model they seemed to have decided to make the toe box more narrow & take off the reinforcements from the upper .. and then also make it mesh so it's super duper weakened feeling .. therefore durability will suffer.. my foot didn't feel locked in, couldn't do them.