Customer Reviews Altra Escalante Racer

I've been an Altra guy for years, namely because they seem to be the only manufacturer that builds a shoe with a reasonable toe box. I don't know how anyone crams their feet into narrow Nikes/etc when they could be wearing Altras. Granted, Altras aren't always the most attractive shoe for daily wear. A run well over 1000 miles a year, and have for years in Altras. My shoe of choice has been the Paradigm 2.0, but Altra typically can't let a good thing live and continually changes model styling every year. I've been searching for something better. This Escalante Racer fits the bill. It's not as cushioned as the Paradigm, but it wears like a dream, and has enough cushioning to make things worthwhile. It's extremely light and comfortable and should make for a good daily trainer, as well as a really good race-day shoe. Everything else I've worn seems heavy compared to these. I wear 10.5s religiously, but 10.5s in the Racer ran long and floppy in the toe for me. I actually ended up going with 10.0s instead and they fit snug. If I have any complaint about the Racers it's that they run a hair tight in the midfoot for my taste. But for folks that are used to Nikes/whatever, these will probably fit normally. All in all, I'm a fan. These are nice running shoes.

I'm attracted to Altra because of their wide toe box; that's really great for the shape of my feet! Although I'm a trail runner, I can't use Altra trail shoes because they are just too big up front for single-track running over varied terrain. (In fact, the only time I've fallen in twenty years of trail running was when my Altra shoes snagged on something - that happened two different times.) So...I bought these road shoes for their comfort and style. The most important thing to know is that the folks at Altra are serious about "zero drop" and a fairly minimalist approach to footwear. I find that wearing these shoes takes some getting used to - you really have to walk differently, engaging your whole foot and becoming conscious of the fact that you have relatively little cushion, especially in these days of 'like walking on a cloud' athletic shoes. But overall I think that wearing a VARIETY of shoes will be good for the long-term health of my feet.

These shoes feel great and comfortable, Very breathable upper though sometimes you can see your socks (or feet) through the upper holes

Love this shoe! Perhaps a bit pre-mature to say, considering i've only owned them 1 day and run just 7 miles in them, but, when all is said and done, this could possibly be the best running shoe i've ever owned. Perfect blend of comfort, fit, style, well-cushioned, but stiff controlled response that seems to pop off the road just as fast as my foot hits the ground. With that said, no offense to my fellow runners who carry a few x-tra pounds, but I would not recommend this shoe for heavier runners.. Although more than durable enough to serve as a day-to-day trainer, this shoe is clearly more designed for runners who enjoy that minimalist-like feel, with a little extra support, but yet who carry a little more of a slight-of-build frame.

Every pair of Alrta I own, and its about 6 pairs, feel great. I have a hard time wearing any other brand of shoe now. I have a very wide foot, and these are the most comfortable I've ever worn. Altra, please make a dress shoe!