Customer Reviews Altra Rivera 2

My favorite Altra daily trainer/tempo shoe. It's a true do-it-all shoe, long runs, recovery runs, speedwork. Maybe not the best at all of them (prefer the Torin for days when I'm really beat up and for 16+ mile long runs and the Vanish Carbon for big workouts and races) but the Rivera is my go to shoe. Now that Altra sucked all the fun out of the Escalante with the 3, the Rivera is the best riding daily training mileage chewing shoe they have. Firmish not harsh bounce, maybe a bit stiff at first but between a slight rocker and the shoe breaking in it feels great and like an extension of my foot. The width is spot on; my foot isn't wide and the last fits me perfect. Every bit as wide as barefoot shoes by Vivobarefoot and Lems.

The toe box has plenty of room. Training for a marathon, and I think I will stick with this shoe for the duration.

These are light weight. I wish my size came in women's though. Most shoes, including sandals, are uncomfortable due to arthritis, but I can usually wear these all day. I am on my feet most of the day and take fairly long walks. The wide toe area is key.

This is probably my 15th pair of Altras. I have enjoyed many different shoes for everything from Running marathons to ultras. Roads trails and creek crossings. I'm done with my crazy race days and need a daily road/light trail shoe that feels great. This shoe was offered in NARROW and I had to give it a try. I have always had to lace my shoes all the way down as I have a flat arch and narrow width. My ties spread out a lot because I run barefoot and in sandals mixing it up. I think it's called "toe splay" not sure. Any way a wide toe box in a narrow shoe is quite specialized and I love the ride. Great shoe!

These shoes bring a whole new comfort to road running - wider toe box, better support, and great grip. Will buy again

This is my favorite running shoe I've tried. It has the great midsole feel of the first Rivera but the upper provides much better lockdown and feels amazing on the foot. So far I have run 350 miles in them and I think they'll last until 450.

Super bouncy midsole which for me makes them perfect for everyday trainers or 10k-half marathon shoes. I normally wear Torin's or Paradigms for longer road runs but depending on a person's cushion preferences they could use this shoe for longer runs too. I got the first version after having some concerns that they might be too narrow but ended up liking them so much that I was excited to get the 2s. The 2s really feel like the first version but the updated upper really makes them an attractive-looking shoe in my opinion. Lastly these shoes are pretty durable...I could see them lasting 500 plus miles for me and perhaps 1000 plus miles for someone who has better form and is a bit lighter on their feet than I am.

I like these shoes for workout days or quality long run days. I find them to be very responsive and light, but wouldn't really race in them if I'm chasing a fast time. Once I wear out my Riveras, they're my favorite shoe for just walking around.

I don't have wide feet so the Rivera is perfect for me. Wider in the toe box compared to other brands (but not too wide) and a zero drop is exactly what I've been looking for.

The Rivera 2 takes everything that was great about the original, & improves upon it. This is mostly felt in the upper, as the midsole/outsole are seemingly unchanged. The mesh being used feels more durable, provides a better fit, and it looks better (in my opinion). The Ego foam strikes a great balance in being both soft & responsive, the Rivera 2 has quickly taken up a big chunk of my daily training miles. The slim fitting footshape still gives that signature Altra feel, but just a little bit more streamlined.

I was a big fan of the first version of the Rivera, so I was super excited to get version 2 on foot. It has not disappointed! The feel under foot is identical to the first version (soft and flexible), which I love. The upper in version 2 seems to feel more premium and breathable. The slim footshape works well with my foot. It keeps me locked in, while also giving my toes room to splay out.

The Rivera 2 is my go-to for 3-5 mile runs. Good cushioning and Slim Footshape make them COMFY. Lightweight and breathable.

I've run in Altra shoes for over five years, including the "One", Kayente, Escalante Racer, and multiple versions of Escalante, Torin, Paradigm, and now Rivera. While I agree with another reviewer than offering multiple widths of each model would be ideal, I also don't believe that downrating a shoe because it isn't ideal for your personal shaped foot is really helpful. The Rivera 2 is designed for a medium-width foot...full stop. If you need a wider shoe, move to the Torin, they are similar in many regards. I got around 400 miles on my Rivera 1, though they were a bit compressed at the end. The Rivera 2, built on the same platform feels great underfoot. Running mostly on pavement, I no longer buy the Escalante because I need more protection. The Rivera fits the bill perfectly. The upper in the new model is a big step up. My toes usually poke holes in the uppers of shoes with thin mesh, and this new upper offers both better lock-down and appears to be more durable than that of Rivera 1. Cornering in Rivera 2 is better than most Altras, as the upper really holds the foot in place nicely. Huge plus for me compared to the Torin or Escalante. Finally, my only gripe is that the laces are a bit short and could use more elastic to stay tied.

I needed a half size up because my feet are widenot just in the toe boxbut these shoes look super cool and are incredibly comfortable for me. Great for road or (LA) hikes and regular gym shoes. They feel like Brooks but wider.

Unfortunately Altra has sold out. Their "slim" is far too slim, their "standard" is almost good enough but still too slim to truly be comfortable. And they don't seem to offer any in their original width anymore. Nobody else is trying to compete with them in this area, so this is the best we have for now.

a few comments. Comfort wise, they are great. I wish they had a slightly higher stack height. The only issue I have is the laces come undone all day long

I love this shoe as a trainer. It is light, fast enough for workout days, and still has cushion. However, I have issues with the laces constantly. They seem to never be able to stay tied. If the laces were good, this would definitely be the best trainer Altra offers. It isn't really that big of a deal though, you can just replace the laces.

True to width not exactly accurate. My choice was not an option. But, great shoes. Wide feet, yes. A bunion on each foot, yes. These shoes are far from slim fit. They are a feel good shoe for tired feet with the right material that easily wraps over the wide feet and yet there is a balance of outer support. I'm buying another pair before they read this and slim them down.

I think most people that gave bad reviews don't understand this is a gym shoe. I'm into cross training and this shoe fits snug but not to tight so your foot doesn't move around inside the shoe. Only complaint I can give is the shoe strings won't stay tight.

First of all, the "slim footshape" is a total lie. These feel just as wide in the toe as my paradigm and nowhere near as slim as the vanish. There is plenty of room, even for my wide toes. Still, I went half a size up. The return of the puffy tongue is great and gives a much better fit than the thin tongue common on running shoes these days. The foam is stiff. It saves its give for when you impact the concrete. despite far less padding than the vanish (tempo), they are about an ounce heavier. That is the main drawback for these, the weight. Altra has shown they can make a far lighter shoe, but keep it on the vanish for some reason. The tread also picks up rocks, especially when walking. Definitely not suitable for gravel. I switched to these because the Vanish tread was COMPLETELY worn through after about 20 miles. Hopefully, these last longer. If they do, ill give them 5 stars.

Shoe laces seem too slick and come undone if not doubleknotted. Other than that, I love them

These felt pretty decent right out of the box walking around in them in the house. I got these in hopes of finding a good replacement for the Torin 4.5 plush since they have been discontinued (and the new Torin 6 is not a suitable replacement). I took them out running twice... My shins and feet weren't very happy with me, and these runs were only 30 minutes each. I cannot imagine what they would have done to me on one of my long runs. I can't even begin to put into words how disappointed I am and the amount of dismay I've been feeling trying to find something that doesn't cause more pain since Altra retired the Torin Plush. Those Torin 4.5s were the reason I was able to start running again after 10 years of not being able to. And the thought of having to stop running or exercising AGAIN leaves me feeling pretty helpless. I don't know if Altra is listening, but PLEASE bring back those Torin 4.5 Plush! I have no idea what I'm going to do once I can't find random athletic stores online that happen to have them in my size.