Customer Reviews Altra Solstice XT

Pros: Nice fit, true to size. (no heel slippage for me.) Perfect flexibility Just right cushioning for comfortable use in gym, casual, and running Looks great as a casual shoe (especially all black version) Cons: Big toe could a little bit more room. Toe box ceiling a bit low Neither con is a big deal. I love these shoes. Will but another pair.

I use these shoes for running and walking in the park. They are amazingly light and agile. I sometimes have to look down to make sure I have the laces tied because they are so comfortable on my feet. Great job Altra!

Love these new trainers. Wasn't really a fan of the other clunky looking cross training shoes but these are fresh. They feel great too. Very comfortable and have been perfect for all of my workouts so far. I normally wear the Torin 4s for running which are a lot more supportive but for working out and sprints the Solstice XT is great. No longer wear Nike's when it comes to training or running. Keep it up Altra!

I actually like these better than my Nanos for all most of the WODs we do. Pretty flat and wide sole I can still oly in. obviously better for longer runs than the usual 400m in WODs... Was a bit tight in the forefoot at first and I did have some heel slippage until I switched the laces to caterpy laces.. Probably going to run my next spartan stadion in these. Altra keeps getting better and better

Very comfortable shoes will use these for running and training in gym. I normally wear a 11.5 in Nikes so that's the size I tried but they were a little too big. Got the 11 today and it fits perfectly.

All I can say is WOW - what a great upgrade! I have been training with the Solstice for over a year and love them as they are the best sneakers I have ever owned. The only problem I really had with them was they didn't quite give me the lateral support I wanted when training. I just got my new XTs, problem solved - best sneakers ever. Great product from a great company.

I use the Solstice XT primarily for weight training and some other movements in my Crossfit gym.

This shoe is a solid all-around metcon shoe. Wide toe box is as advertised. Unlike the Nike Metcon 5s I own, these shoes can get you through a 1/2-mile run comfortably. They are also adequately stable for box jumps, squats, deadlifts, c&j, and snatches. The metcons are more stable for those movements, but they are worse to run in, so that is a trade off you would have to decide on yourself. Honestly though, the Solstice XT and a pair of lifters would be much more versatile than Metcons and a pair of lifters. Some improvements that would send this shoe over the top: The laces on these shoes are atrocious (they come undone constantly unless you double knot them). That is easily fixable. I'd love to see the next gen have a more snug fit in the heel. Even with a runner's cinch they have tendency to shift slightly on laterally demanding movements (lateral lunge, Cossack squats, side planks, etc.). Finally, I think firming up the heel a smidgen and creating a firmness gradient (heel/firmer -> toe/softer) would make these even more versatile, but I'm not a heel striker when I run. Excellent shoe, but just short of a do-it-all. If you can only buy one shoe and you care more about squatting and deadlifting, you probably want to go with the Metcons. If you care more about running or plan to buy lifters anyway, get this shoe.

Very comfortable and versatile shoe, but if there is any way to design a tighter heel closure that would be awesome.

I am a distance runner who cross trains with kickboxing. I bought these after my running Solstice's wore out. For cross training buy true to size. For running, buy a half size up (pretty standard for running shoes). It is the running part that seems lacking. A heel lock mechanism for tying the laces would've knocked this shoe out of the park for both running and lifting. The shoe (while running) slips off of my heel, requiring me to tie the forefoot tighter, which puts increased pressure on my foot, increasing discomfort. I LOVED my previous Solstice for running, and I loved them while cross training, even though the sole material is not the best for cross training. I would love to give this shoe 5 stars, but the missing heel lock keeps this shoe from being a true, comfortable cross trainer and runner.

Overall the shoe is good. I use it for the gym/casual wear. Shoe has minimal cushioning, which I like. If you're looking for a more cushioned shoe you're probably not going to like this one. Does fit a little snug on top of the foot, where the shoe laces begin. I could see this being an issue for people with a wider foot or with high arches. The shoe would be improved with more give in that area and another eyelet to get a more secure feel. I would also get rid of the "foot shape" writing on the toe area, it's small but unnecessary.

Ok, now as a long term Altra wearer, here is my review. This is the best crosstrainer shoe Altra has released to date . That being said, it's still not perfect. After the HIIT XT line was a complete failure in my opinion, I was hoping for a shoe I could lift weights in as Well as run in. These are my Crossfit shoe. It is low profile and light weight enough, while allowing just enough support for shorter runs but still giving the support needed for deadlifts, box jumps, weight training etc. if you are looking for an all around all purpose shoe that you could lift some weights in and run on the same workout, this is your best option for now. Now, areas for improvement. Because this is an XT (cross train) shoe, it needs to upgrade the durability to handle functional fitness and crossfit movements better. More rubber or an upgraded material over the toe box to hold up to toe dragging with burpee workouts, a rubber or upgraded material section on the medial side of the shoe in the arch line (similar to that of the HIIT XT) to project the shoe during rope climbs. Basically more attention to detail, and more durability without sacrificing the flexibility and design of the shoe would make for a perfect shoe in the box or for any cross train program. Don't get rid of this shoe, Altra. Just make a few upgrades in the next version! We have over 15 people in the gym wearing these now, and with those upgrades, I could see that number climb at the next release.

Great shoe. on certain movements I feel my foot moving around more than I would like, maybe I should have bought a 12.5 over a 13. For walking day to day they are amazing.

I typically use this shoe to lift in. I have run in it but I recommend using it more for lifting. It does slip in the heel. Wish there was an extra hole to do a runner's loop tie. Other than that, good shoes

Overall I am a fan of this shoe. I love it for bootcamp workouts since it has decent cushioning while being sturdy. I haven't had any heel problems with it, but the midfoot is really tight (I had to re-lace the shoe to leave some midfoot room, which helped a lot). I'm a heavier guy, so running medium / long distance (either outside or on a treadmill) is tough with the lighter cushion. Will keep my Torin 4.5s for those.

I love the look and feel of the Solstice, it is great in the gym and for short runs. Cushion is adequate and feels stable. My only complaint is the low collar or lack of an extra eyelet to look in your foot. I walk right out of these when doing things like sled pushes, cannot get them tight enough to stay on.

I bought this as a minimalist road running shoe and love every minute of it. Will definitely be buying again. Only downside is that it's very slippery on polished concrete floors that some gyms have, so wouldn't recommend if you train on polished concrete.

Fits wonderfully. Super comfortable. Offers just enough support for my mild pronation. Sole peel after one round of discgolf. :(

I love these shoes! My workout consists of running to the park .6 miles away, doing an high intensity bodyweight workout, & running back. These shoes are perfect for it! Only complaints would be (1) when performing jumping type workouts, my feet hurt at times, but I think that is because (2) they seem to run a half size too big. So I'm usually an 11.5, but I wish I got an 11. Feel great otherwise!

I really like this shoe for cross training, walking, and casual wear. They feel nice when doing lunges, box jumps, etc. BUT its been only a few months of moderate wear and the soles are already falling apart.

First and foremost. You have to realize that every foot is a little different just because someone says they're really uncomfortable doesn't mean they won't feel good on your feet. If the shoe is uncomfortable for you it's obvious the shoe wasn't designed for your foot type. Secondly... I've read a lot of reviews saying that this is a good cross training shoe, you should train harder, sorry. I was caught wearing these shoes after a run and had to provide instruction on rope climbs. I climbed the rope no more than 4 times and the sole began to peel on the inside of my foot. I wear other brands of "cross training" shoes and have climbs ropes 100's of times in them without a shoe failure. It's disappointing that this shoe is marketed in suck a way because it is still a good shoe. Finally... I put A LOT of miles on these shoes. Doing 2 or 3 15+ mile runs a week and they're great for that. Obviously there is an adjustment period for people used to wearing high heels. It's really important to run properly follow the instructions that come with the shoes. I have cross trainers and weightlifting shoes, I bought these for running, that's what they're good at.

I've always appreciated Altras design philosophy and felt like their shoe construction is top notch vs other brands. The Soltice XT is a good shoe. It seems to want to be a gym shoe but it still has the running DNA of all Altra shoes. If this is what you're looking for it might be perfect. This is what I don't like about this shoe however. The front toe spring keeps your toes lifted off the ground which isn't good for weight lifting or other HIIT exercises outside of running. I like the shape of the shoe, the way it holds my foot and allows my toes to splay, the outsole width and density (better IMO then past Altra Cross Trainers that were too high off the ground) but I stopped wearing it at the gym because I want my toes planted. Please Altra, make one CrossFit shoe with no toe spring. I think it would be a hit. In the mean time I'm wearing other minimalists shoes from Xero and Vivo.

These shoes fell apart on me with in a week of wear. I bought another pair thinking I just got a reject that made it through qc. Unfortunately the second pair didn't even last as long as the first. The rubber on the bottom debonded after a the third day! Avoid these shoes unless you like wasting money.