Customer Reviews Altra Escalante 3

Worst Escalante yet. I've worn past versions for years, and this one is terrible. Like the Escalante Racer sub-model, this Escalante 3 really should have been released as it's own sub-model instead of replacing the "base" model. The design and fabric choice make this very tight and way less flexible than past versions. Even though the foot shape is technically the same, the toe box feels more narrow. Lacing is very temperamental to get right, otherwise it feels too loose or like you're cutting off circulation. Altra please throw this model in the trash, or at least advertise it as a "Slim" sub-model under the Escalante family, and bring back the real Escalante for the rest of us.

This is my introduction to Altra and the Escalante 3. The shoes felt great in the store, however, after several walks, I noticed that the right shoe was restrictive in width. I had initially thought it was the laces and adjusted accordingly. Unfortunately, that did not resolve the issue, which is frustrating, especially as I do not have wide feet, but do have high arches. My right foot actually felt cold after an hour of wearing them. I really enjoy these shoes as they've reduced my back pain on my walks, and the cushioned sole is wonderful. Sadly, it's an expensive purchase for only having one comfortable shoe. This would have easily been a 5-star review, if not for the 1 shoe feeling too narrow.

Ok. After a few runs, I really liked the upper and they nailed the toe box! BUT, with the change in the midsole geometry comes a way firmer ride. ALTRA, liste to what I am about to say, and you will have the Shoe of the Year for 2023. Use this Upper and the Midsole of the OG Escalante...... There would be ZERO competition! The Escalante used to be a fun to run in shoe with plenty of bounciness and responsiveness without feeling FIRM. This new Escalante 3 has a fantastic upper, excellent toe box and last but it comes with a great disapointment, and that is its midsole. Although they claim it is still EGO, it feels NOTHING like what EVERY Altra loyalist has been asking for. The midsole of the OG Escalante with this upper. Please, change this midsole and don't touch the upper.

Had really high hopes for these. Me: wide feet, neutral runner, 175lbs avg 30mi weekly Pros: wide toe box as usual Outsole is durable and rugged Midsole is bouncy yet firm Heel lock loop is back! Cons: upper is tight, so it runs half a size small Laces always come undone while running Personal takes: I prefer the Escalante 2s over these. I should have listened and went half a size up. Upper feels nice but is tight when locked down. Wished they tried a heel counter, the soft heel makes my foot slide a bit. Use different laces. Bottom line: skip this, stick with the escalante racer.

So I have used Altra for a long time now. Escalante are my go to, but it seems like with every year they are trying to be more like Hoka. If I wanted Hoka then I would buy Hoka. I loved the old lower stack height, the thin and lightweight tongue, and just the feel of the older shoes. I'd still be running in my Escalante 2.5 if I could, but 700 miles wears down the tread. The best thing about the 3 is that the tread is not worn down since they're new! I have about 300 miles on them now and the wear seems to be the same as past models. The tongue is so bulky and forces you to tie super tight to feel secure, when in reality it just puts pressure on specific points of your foot causing the tongue to bulk out between the laces and cause pinpoint pain. This not only looks bad, but is super uncomfortable. The old thin tongue of shoes past was lightweight, breathable, and allowed you to tie the laces evenly, not too tight, but feel secure. My biggest gripe is the stack height. Why does it increas every year? Hoka sells well because they're comfy, but not great for foot muscle usage. I want a low cushion, low stack shoe that allows my foot to do the work. My foot needs the workout, not a shoe. Just because something sells well doesn't mean that it is good for you. Quit following trends and do what Altra did before they sold out to a bigger company. I will be forced to choose a different brand since there is no stack heights less than 25mm other than speed shoes (which are now even getting the stack height increase, smh). Please be yourself, Altra. Don't try to copy other brands. There was so much potential it's origination, but it seems to be a sellout company. Hopefully my mind can be changed in the future. Seems half-size big only because of nice wide toe box.

I've been a long time Altra customer but I'm very disappointed with the build of the escalante 3s. Inside both shoes, near the toe cap, the insides have begun peeling apart after only 24 miles.

Had these for a little over two months. Only taken on 5 runs. Good toe-box, cushion, & heel/toe drop. But tread has already started peeling off. As my first pair of Altras, I wanted to like these.

Like others whom have commented here, I've been running in these since version 1 but the love affair is over and it's left me bitter. These are no longer the shoe that made Altra great. They've become too narrow in the toe box and too stiff, especially in the upper. Version 3 has finalized its transition into a walking shoe more than a running shoe. I don't understand why Altra only offers two designs in the original foot shape now. Neglecting the design they built their reputation on feels like the best indicator that they've lost their way.

The standard fit is too narrow. I wish they made these using the original fit (or make it in a wide like the Paradigms and Torins). Maybe next year??

Escalante 3 is stiffer and tighter fitting than previous models. I'm an under-pronator and need a highly flexible shoe. I can no longer wear this shoe. Unnecessary update from previous models

I gave this two stars because technically it's a shoe and the laces work. I've been running in Escalente's for 7 years. I feel like every update the shoe gets a little worse. I feel like the sole on my most recent pair wore out way too quickly. There is also w really strange toe crease that rubs my foot. The pictures are of a shoe that is about 4 months old and was only used for short distance training runs (no casual wear). Why would a company change something that was such a great product?

The first Escalante was greatlike running with a thickly padded pair of socks with springs on the bottom. Sure, it'd roll under your foot with the slightest degree of a side angle, but otherwise performed beautifully. It quickly became my favorite running shoe. I had high hopes the Escalante 2 would be the same but offer some lateral support. It mostly was and it mostly did. It gave up a lot of that sock-like feel, but I was no longer running on the side of my shoe on side inclines. It felt a bit more rigid and less springy, but they worked well enough. The Escalante 3 adds a padded tongue and feels much less springy. I don't know if it's the tongue or if they changed the last, but my foot no longer fits. The length was great, but the width/volume was not. I loosened the laces as much as I could while still being able to tie them and hoped for the best. A month later and I've given up hoping. They're just too dang tight. Sadly, I haven't found an alternative similar in design/foot shape to the original. This seems to be a recurring story with Altra: they release an excellent new shoe, then spend the rest of its life changing everything about it that made it great.

The fit of the shoe was perfect for a minimalist shoe. It felt great, until I ran about 150 miles in them. The foam was quickly worn down and was no longer pleasant to run in. I'd like to see the foam of the shoes last at least 300 miles, if not 400.

I have run in several versions of Escalante since 2018, competing in several marathons and half marathons and used for daily training. I bought these hoping to run in them for an upcoming race and was disappointed. The forefoot (not toebox) is tight with firm area under the metatarsal heads (ball of foot), and caused discomfort and numbness in toes. This has never happened in any other shoes I have run in. Ran 9 miles in a pair of Rivera 2s this morning that I use as a daily wear shoe and it felt so much better. I will be returning the Escalantes. May try the Rivera 3 and Escalante racer as I have always loved Altra since my first pair.

I was training in the escalate 1s and 2s for a while. The foam in the 3 feels different. It's harder, less bounce, and doesn't have the same lively feel of prior versions.

Altra seems to have identified a number of things that could be improved on the 2.5 but doesn't actually deliver improvements. The new foam guides on either side are so stiff that they hurt my arch and have changed my running form. Because of the awkward way my foot lands to avoid the pain of contact with the overly stiff guides, I have visible wear on the sole of the shoe after only 15miles. The new upper does not breathe at all. The last two weeks it's been in the 40s and 50s during my runs and my feet are sweating. New upper also causes the toe box to feel a lot more confining than the 2.5s. I loved the feeling of freedom I had in the earlier verision but even though the toe box shape is the same that feeling is completely and totally gone in the new version. Altra finally added an extra lace hole but the laces included are too short for my to use it. Really the only actual improvement is the shoe tongue . The 2.5's tongue kept folding over itself. On long runs, the lack of padding combined with slightly swollen feet caused by feet to gone numb sometimes and I'd have to stop to loosen the laces. The new slightly padded tongue was comfortable and avoided the problem of the old version without introducing new problems. I'm going to return the shoe and try to switch to a different brand until Altra fixes the Escalante. I loved the medium cushion, zero drop and free feeling of the older model.

I LOVED the Escalante from the beginning through the 2.5. It was the perfect road shoe - I've gone through half a dozen pairs. The 3 does not measure up. Too much height, and a different shape. It no longer feels responsive and exciting. Altra, please go back.

I love the racers and bought these for my marathon training. I went a half size up and like others have said, I have to tighten them so tight so my heal doesn't move but then my mid foot hurts, bummed

I love the Escalante except the sole is thin. It's also difficult for inserts that are wide enough so I thought the Escalante 3 was going to be perfect for me. But it was very stiff and very boxy. I felt like a shoe for a club foot. So I went back to the regular Escalante and found a proper insert. Escalante original is really an excellent shoe.

I don't really like these shoes. I was looking for a slightly more padded version of my Escalante Racers. These are too much for me. They are too padded, too narrow, and too small. Also, the toe box just isn't deep enough. Hurts my toes with the insoles in. I went up half a size and took the insoles out and now I think they are at least useable. But I would like to see Altra minimize these shoes a bit.

I used to love the Escalante but continued design changes have gone too far. Most recently the padded tongue has made the shoe too tight for my normal size. Also the "half toe cap" was a terrible idea. Please turn back the clock more toward the original Escalante design.

This shoe fees like other more cushioned, commercial big brand shoes. Has very little flexibility, and the toe box fees small compared to what the 2.5 has. I wish you'd make the 2.5 or something more in those lines of minimum cushion/max flexibility like the escalate use to be.