Customer Reviews Altra Paradigm 6

The previous Paradigm 5 was great. I got the paradigm 6 and Altra seems to have changed to the narrower foot shape. My toe is tight against the side. I had to return.

I love the original foot shaped shoes. This isn't one of them. This shoe is narrow in the middle of the long axis which rubbed on my feet. I do not have wide feet. I stopped noticing the rub after a few miles, but each run I would feel it in the beginning. The reason why I returned them was the corrective design of the shoe. The description says it wont correct if you don't pronate. I do not probate and actually found it very corrective to the point where I was supinating. This caused lots of pain for me in the foot and inner knee. Aches and pains all over the body for several days afterwards. I ran another 8 miles in this shoe that week and had the same problems. For the next run, I went back to my Torins. No pain, and life was good again. Thanks to Altra's great promise to refund shoes if they don't work out, I settled on the Via Olympus.

I bought a size 14 - sneakers are nice, but can't tell how they truly feel/fit because the laces are too short to lace through the 6 eyelets - UI could only lace them through 5 eyelets. I called altra several times - no follow up, besides go buy another pair of laces, they don't offer replacements... I sent them photos - as requested...went into a black hole, as they have no history of my call. Good luck sucker - I can't return these, bc I already wore them once. These will be my first and last shoes from this company - they can't provide a complete product and zero customer service.

I was born with extremely flat feet, and the Paradigm has been the only shoe out of dozens I tried to work right with my feet, and I have bought and worn this shoe through multiple versions--however, Version 6 is squeaky (and I've tried 3 pair of this same version). Love the fit and feel, NOT the noise!!!

I have been wearing Altras for years, I run in the escalante racers and lone peaks. I bought these looking for something with a little more cushion for daily training. They feel clunky and my heel does not feel secure in the shoe. The lacing system does not lock your foot in properly. I also feel like the middle of my foot is getting pinched in comparison to the other altras I own.

I was sold on the Altra brand after buying the Paradigm 5. If the P6 was my first pair, it would have been my last. Not nearly as comfortable or foot friendly as the 5. The P6 is such a let down after the P5.

I have bought and used many Altra running shoes over the years....the Provision, The Torin and the Paradigm models. While Paradigms are my favorite because of the extra cushioning, I have had to switch to Torin when for whatever reason the new Paradigms come out with a much narrower toe box (i.e . 4.0. 4.5...and now the 6!!) Where is the consistency between models lately? The Paradigm 6 is so much narrower than the earlier models and the 5....they need to stop promoting this shoe as "giving your feet more space". Such a shame. Paradigm was my favorite running shoe...but not with the "standard footshape fit". What happened to the "original footshape fir"??? At least there is another running shoe company that offers a roomy, anatomical toe box.....and delivers every time. Sorry Altra, you lost me with your "flip-flopping" on the toe box.

This shoe is not supportive enough. Too soft, and wore out after 5 weeks. No support whatsoever. Too soft, and the cushion runs out right away. I returned them, and bought the Paradigm 5 which is much, much better. Wish they didn't stop making them.

Please make the next paradigm like the paradigm 3 withe the guide rail!! This is the worst shoe I have ever got from you all !! I buy these shoes 2 times a Year.

I agree with the reviews of others regarding the durability of the mesh lining at the heel cup and toe box. I have had to place sheets of mole skin over the holes in the mesh to keep the shoes usable. I have even resorted to wearing Thorlo socks for the extra cushioning to keep the mesh lining intact. I have owned Altras since the first year they were produced. The quality of the shoe construction today bears no resemblance to my first shoes.

First off I must say that I am a huge fan of Altra. I have run in them for 3 years now and even use the boots for hiking. These paradigms have an incredible amount of cushion and response however they have a major flaw. The inside of the shoe has a large seam gap right in the arch area. After running for 6+ miles it starts to rub very very badly and now I have a huge blister in the arch of my foot. This is impeding my ability to train and I am very disappointed. Better luck next time I guess.

I love the comfort of the Paradigm 6, but the left shoe squeaks loudly after only a month or two of wear. I have gone through 3 pairs, returned the 2nd pair and will be returning the 3rd. There must be a defect in the sole, no visible crack, but it seems to squeak at the same spot near the ball of my foot. I have a 4th pair on the shelf but figure it will have the same defect.

I have a pair of paradigm 5's I have about 700-800 miles on. They are wonderful. I upgraded them with a pair of paradigm 6s. This was a mistake. the 6s are smaller and the toe box isn't as big. Not a huge issue. But the biggest issue is the durability. Almost immediately the upper rear cloth started wearing out. In under 100 miles there are holes in both shoes, one about the size of a quarter. Completely unusable now. I've filed a warranty claim and hope they replace them with a pair of 5s. The 5s show no signs of wear in that area.

I use these for lots of walking. The Paradigm 5 was just barely wide enough. Itr was recommended by my podiatrist. The redesign of the Paradigm 6 has changed the shape, and the toe box is not as wide (despite what the chat person told me)--my toes feel pressed together. Why ruin a shoe that was great for people who need a wide toe area, just to make it more like every other shoe in the world? I was thrilled to find your shoes, now I can't wear this. I've tried going up a half size and it doesn't work either.

I wanted to love this shoe until it caused me to stress fracture my left foot, twice. It is toted as a neutral shoe. It's not. The arch side of the shoe is so high that it sent my weight to the outside of my feet. Be advised.

I have been a Paradigm customer for several years. They solved a lot of my foot problems. I ordered and just returned the P6 because the toe box is much narrower than the previous editions. I don't understand why they changed this because one of the attractions to this shoe has always been the wider toe box. But, no longer.

Shoes started squeaking after a week of light use (3 miles in one week). The "cushion" feel faded after a week unlike the experience with the Paradigm 5, which lasted about eight months at 3-10 miles a week. The tongue tends to wander more than the "5" as well, leading to constant adjustment. This corresponds with in crease foot slide and foot discomfort when comparing to the previous generation.

Different sole rubber than 5s. It's cheap foam with no bounce. Horrible for pavement. Got injured.

YOU AND EVERY OTHER COMPANY OVERNIGHT (PROBABLY CHINA) WALKED AWAY FROM DECADES OF SUPORTIVE RUNNING SHOES. WHAT HAPPENED,? 'yOU DESERVE THE PEOPLE THAT TRUSTED THE MAJOR COMPANIES TO PROTECT US, NOT SNOBALL US WITH ALL THIS NONSENSE.-- YOU HAVE LOST OR TRUST, HAPPY NOW and our business. Jake

These shoes are great in regards to fit, comfort and support. The issue is They Don't Last! The tread is bald after 200 miles of walking-not running on nice pavement. A shoe this expensive should last more than 200 miles before it's worthless. The upper is in fantastic shape, but the shoes must be thrown out because it's dangerous now with little tread left-not good.

Please please please bring back the original footbed, this is too narrow. I've used this shoe for years for ultrarunning and now I can't use it because of the narrow footbed. BRING IT BACK