Why I’ve Stopped Using Altra Shoes (& maybe you should too)..
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- 5 years ago I stumbled upon Altra shoes and fell in absolute love. However, the last 2 years of this love affair have significantly changed my mind about the brand, forcing me to buy my shoes elsewhere. This video will go into the story of why I'll no longer spend my money on Altra shoes, along with what brand I switched to!
📌 New Shoes
Topo Ultraventure 3: bit.ly/3r3zpJ7
💥 My Outdoor Gear Lists | app.rockporch.com/prflink/cha...
📌 What's been your recent experience with Altra?
ive had the same failure of the rubber delaminating from the foam on my road models like the torn 6 and provision
@@bonesdentrepair696 oh noes! I currently have my first pair of Altra Rivera 3. They play the role as a light shoe vs. my Bondi 7 for longer runs. Bondi's sole shows quite some abrasion at around 200km
@@SuAlfons looking at my Altra out road this is separation of the upper mesh to toe cap reinforcement. I feel they struggle with bonding materials and that becomes the major flaw to pick on. Hope you have a good experience as I love pretty much every pair I own
I was on the Red Team for 4 years and very much like you the quality control went to crap, even after their acquisition with VF, the brand ethos went way off course from where it was years ago. Lastly Injuries due to their zero drop platform I was ignorantly ignoring because I loved them so much.
I recently switched to Speedland and one pair of their shoes have outlasted ALL the Altras I have ever owned. 500 plus miles zero wear at all, and does not feel dead in the cushioning. I can confidently say I can get over 1,000 miles in 'em.
@@alexbralower8443 thanks for the insight Alex! What were the injuries you got from zero drop if you don’t mind me asking? I had some too and couldn’t figure out if it was the shoes or something else
I work at an outdoor store. I can say with all confidence that when good companies get bought out, quality and customer service tank. Yes Osprey, talking about you.
#facts! ^
Yes, my Altra customer service has been wonderful yet I haven't had any real durability issues and I'm not a runner, just a heavy weight hiker. Osprey on the other hand was very impatient and they sounded overwhelmed. You are 💯 correct
lmfao and there i was praising osprey as less schitzo than arctrx because u can't fucking shill it on a paris runway (or can u
And Merrell!
Altra customer service has always been questionable.
Man, this happens to so many brands. We are being sold unreliable and overpriced products with a date of obsolescence that is getting closer and closer each time. It is hard to find anything that is actually meant to last long.
Truly. It's good we can take to social media to talk about this stuff so others don't get duped multiple years in a row like I did.
Maybe NNormal
I have 2 pairs of Vivo Barefoots. 1 is absolutely torn up. Used it for road , trails , treadmills , gym , and casual wear. My second pair I use strictly for gym and casual wear. They both still holding up pretty good though. Only complaint will be the price
NORDA
I wish Toyota made shoes.... Might actually last :)
I wear Altra Olympus for trail running, Altra Via Olympus for road running and Lone Peaks for hiking. No problem with any of the shoes wearing away. Plenty of cushioning in the Olympus shoes my man. Sad to hear youve had your issues. Hope Topo goes ok for you.
Great video, couldn't agree more. I also was a long time Altra fan for the same reasons. Agree, Altra fell off when they got bought out and went to the three foot shape model. My son introduced me to Topo a few year back and I haven't looked back. Good luck, hope they work out for you and I look forward to more great content.
Thanks for the comment on your experience, Stan! What model of Topos are you rocking now?
I'm all in with the Topo brand, lol. I currently have the Ultraventrue3 have had v2. Mtn Racer3, Phantom3 and have had v2. Ultrafly4 and have had v3 and Magnifly4 have had v3. Really happy with Topo and with each of there updates the shoes have only gotten better. Quality built and customer service has been great. I had to get the Phantom3 replaced and didn't have any issues. Contacted customer service sent pics and description of what happened and was offered new pair. Definitely worth a try@@ChadLubinski
As someone who specializes in selling healthier more natural foot wear I feel your pain. Every new shoe Altra releases has been getting harder and harder to recommend to people if they aren't dead set on a zero drop shoe, especially since they keep raising the price on almost every new model they release. I've been finding myself more often than not recommending Topo's trail models as they are a much better deal with the crazy amount of Vibram that they use and on average are cheaper than Altra's. Fun fact about Topo though, the founder of Topo was the co-founder of Vibram back in the day, my running theory as to how Topo keeps the price down but still uses a crazy amount of Vibram is maybe Topo just gets a better insider deal than other brands but I'm just pulling that out of my ass. Anyways I've yapped enough about that, sad to see Altra consistently getting less and less durable and less and less wide as they release new generations of models. Hope Topo steps up and keeps making solid shoes for years to come.
Wow! I had no idea the founder of Topo also is with Vibram...that does make a ton of sense. Thanks for the comment!
VF (Vanity Fair). Look them up. Altra will be transitioning into another useless brand, like North Face. Corpo politics.
I wore Altras for over five years. Once the company sold out to some greedy individuals I had to say I good bye. This whole collapse of what was a great trend setting company really got me wondering about outdoor gear manufacturers and all the huge companies that take over a trade name and then turn it into junk. I have seen it in cycling, paddle sports, clothing, and backpacking. Last summer when I went to my local REI and could not find a pair of Altras worth buying, the sales representative kept praising them and gave me several excuses as to why I should not consider Topos. So I bought a pair of Topo Ultraventure 3s online. After 150 miles I ordered 2 more pairs. So neither Altra nor REI made a sale. Now I am reconsidering any purchases from REI.
Yep, I don’t recommend any Altras to anyone anymore and push them towards LaSportiva and other solid shoes…
Thanks for your recommendations. Crazy thing is that by the time these brands get to Australia, they're all the same price. All far too high. There's not much choice on the other side of the planet.
Your video is a mirror of my experiences. And I moved to TOPOs as well. Waiting got better weather to try them out!
lets goooo!
I'm done with them as well. #1 issue was quality/durability. #2 was weird sizing issues from one version of the same model to the next. #3 was questioning my commitment to the wide toe box.
I ended up with the Saucony Peregrine 13 in wide width. They fit my wide feet perfectly. Very comfortable. Superior traction. Only a 4mm drop. Super light weight. And the cushioning is excellent.
Interestingggg, I'll have to check them out. Thanks for that!
As much as I love Altras wide toe box I have had the same experience with Altra lone peaks completely falling apart and killing my feet after long hikes. The topos you showed ARE great. I just wish they were a little wider.
I hear that! And I was actually pleasantly surprised with how wide the Ultraventures are!
I had the same upper blowouts on my Timp 4s around 150 miles. I used shoe goo hoping to make them serviceable for a bit longer, but eventually both sides were just shoe goo. I'm hoping the Timp 5s upper was changed to fix the problem. I didn't mind the Max Trac soles since I used them as hybrid shoes. Vibram on the 5s is a nice upgrade for strictly trail running.
Thanks so much for this review. I WAS sold on getting Altras for the first time. I only buy zero drop now but never thought Altras would have such terrible durability, and it's consistent with so many people's reviews. I've been using Vibram five fingers and Luna trail running sandals (that use a Vibram Megagrip sole) the last few years, love them both but sometimes feel I just need either more cushioning or protection. The Topo Pursuit seems to be the way to go.. will continue using my five fingers and Lunas (which are outstanding quality and USA handmade) but alternating them with zero drop shoes till I get stronger and more used to them.
🫡🫡
Thank you for saving me from wasting money on the shoes in question. I've had the same experience, especially the bottom of shoes wearing out quickly, with ON Running shoes.
🙌
Hi, nice video. I use Altra road shoes (2 yrs now) with no problems at all. Torin5, Torin6, Paradigm 6, Rivera, over 300km each. I have no issues to report.
For Trail i use Saucony Peregrine 10(for vertical only) and MERRELL Agility 4. Both shoes are Great and i'm fully satisfied. Max traction and great running especially with Merrell !!!
Awesome! You're right...my Altra road shoes have been fine, it's just the trail shoes that have been terrible. Thanks for those other recs
I still use Altra (because I need a very wide toe box due to a bunion, + I need a size 14 in a zero drop, vegan shoe). I haven't had the same quality issues. Do agree with the tread issue and minimal cushioning in the Lone Peaks (which for me is actually one of the features I like about that shoe). Their best shoe was the very first model they made (the Instinct) and it's been downhill from there.
I also recently switched to Topos and so far so good! Comfy with a wide toe box. I loved my Altras initially, but they ended up aggravating an old ballet-induced Achilles tendon issue due to the zero drop. Tried Hokas in between, but also too narrow for my toes. Good luck!
Thanks for this comment! Glad to hear that the Topos are working out!
I used to be all-in with Altras too. Permanently switched when they shrunk their midfoot width. The toebox was fine, but the midfoot became too narrow. On my old Escalantes, I started to get holes around the pinky toe area where the top part of the shoe was glued in with the sole.
Duddde, I wonder if that's why my mid foot is always sore after I road run in the Altras I still have!
Right there with you on this. I've been a dedicated Altra person for years, going back to the Timp 1.5. The Timp 2's were the ideal trail shoe for me and then they completely changed everything with the 4s. I don't mind the 4s but I just don't get what they're trying to do as a brand with their lineup on the trail side.
Unfortunately though I'm someone that really benefits from zero drop and so my options are a lot more limited. I tried some Topo's that were zero drop (Pursuit) but I developed some other issues with them and had to chuck em. I might see if there's a new version and give them a try though.
For the time being I'm basically stuck with Altra and it sucks.
Totally understand benefiting from zero drop, I love that too. Though I gotta say I hardly notice the 5mm drop in the Ultraventures which has been really nice.
haha. timp 5 is a refined 4, as for 123 i thought people hated them cus they were so like, poorman lonepeak or wahtever. don't you want the mt king back but less mud peddy? like the lone peak mids are already flappy as it is not sure if just qc batch problem
My superior 5's and Timp 3's didn't last, but I've had luck with the LP6's. After seeing so many bad reviews of the LP7's, I got as many pairs of LP6's as I could. Still have 2 fresh pairs left but will need to find an alternative to Altra after those are done. Can't wait to see the Topo review. Been interested in those and have a buddy who loves them.
Isn't it crazy how these brands think they have to radically change the shoe every year??? Like, just keep it the way it is!!! Thanks for watching brother!
Same experience here, and as of last summer, my planter fasciitis returned with a vengeance, wearing Lone Peak 6s. I just sent another pair of Lone Peaks back because it literally spikes my pain immediately.
recall these are running shoes, not meant for hiking with 30 lbs. The stress factor of hundreds of miles with a 30 lb pack is not linear as you add weight
They know a large part of their market are thru hikers
Peak Altra for me was the original Solstice: light, wide and durable. I got 700 miles on one pair. I gave up on Altra a couple years ago when all their shoes started getting taller and narrowed. Been pretty happy running Topos ever since--I do wish they had better asthetics for their zero drop models.
I guess I didn't even know they had zero drop!
dude i loved the solstice, so gutted they dont exist or anything close anymore
Agree. Dropped Altra two-years ago for the exact same reasons, grip, lugs, rock-plate, width had narrowed after Lone-Peak 3.5's and durability. Tried Xero, but no rock-plate. Tried Topo Ultraventure-Pro, but got a huge blister due to insufficient-width and a bump in the Right footbed-last. Tried Hoka wide, but same as you, Speedgoat squeezed in little toe and it created a little-toe bunion that took months to undo. Then tried Asics 4E with flat-lugs and no traction. Gonna try Sportiva Wide Raptors next, but not optimistic they'll be wide enough.
great feedback!!
Have gone through 3 pairs of Lone Peaks (3.5, 5, and 6), all of them have lasted me ~500 miles. I wear out my shoes completely though and the cushion and tread were way past their prime by mile 400 on all of them. Just got a pair of 7s since they were on sale, have heard the quality on the 7s are noticeably worse, but haven't tried them yet, so we shall see.
Ha, seems like we are thinking the same thing. I’ve worn Altras exclusively since 2017. The Lone Peaks have been my go to. I have not had to many issues with durability, but I like a bit more cushion. Love the zero drop as well. As I type this I’m wearing the new Topo Terraventure 4. It has a 3mm drop and nice cushion. I’m excited to get back out on trail and put miles on them. No doubt the TOPOS just feel like a better built shoe. Thanks for the video and I hope the TOPOS work out for both of us 👍🏼
Heck yeah brother, thanks for the comment. The extra cushion feels like heaven!!
I also searched for a long time for an ultra shoe fitting my pretty wide forefoot and narrow heel. And after years of testing I now use 3 shoes for running long distances: Salomon Ultra Glide (mixed terrain/alpine), TNF Vectiv Infinite (technical/alpine) and TNF Vectiv Enduris (runnable/rolling). All of them have a drop of about 6 mm. I am now also testing the Adidas Soulstride Flow - seems to be a good candidate for everything up to marathon distance…
Love this!! I might have to try the Salomons...alot of people like those.
Hi. I also gave up on Altra more than one year ago (I considered the timp 4 for a while but in the end...nah). For the last couple of months I´ve been trying other brands. When it comes to durability, cushioning (on the medium spectrum of cushioning but very confortable - more than the amount of cushioning available for the lone peak) and tons of grip, the Peregrine 13 from Saucony (super durable) is the first thing that pops up in my mind. Also the Exodus Ultra 2 would be a great choice for you. The toe box isn´t thaaaaat roomy though but you should definitely give them a try. So, other than the TOPOs, which is definitely a great choice (super ugly though), you might consider the speedmafate 4 (wider than the speedgoats and more responsive due to the ProFly+ layer) and the trabuco max 2 from asics (roomy, super grippy, they are supposed to last more than 600 miles (mine have already 400/450 and look sharp still) and lots of cushioning but in a good way, with that energy return from the FF+ foam).
So yeah, other than the topo´s, I would go for the trabuco 2 (wider toebox) which as a 6mm drop, the mafatespeed (4mm drop) or the peregrine 13/exodus ultra 2 (also 4mm drop). I honestly don´t think you can get much better than these.
Greetings from Lisbon, Portugal.
Epic comment!! Thanks so much for this!
Thank you!!!
I am a TOPO girl and I love them!!! Never been more happy with my shoes!!
yesss, great to hear!
Rocked out Lone Peaks for several years since the LP 4.. Altra shoes almost destroyed my feet.. ended up with pretty severe overpronation issues. Altra's planned obsolescence/ durability issues were also a damn good reason to walk away. Then I went to brooks cascadia 16 for a bit with otc insoles. Next in line is topo, just need to figure out which pair to try.. think I'm gonna get the traverse when it comes out, maybe the trailventure boots or the ultraventure 3 as well.
Interesting...I have severe overpronation issues as well. You think it was the LPs?
I totally agree with you. I bought a pair of Escalante 1.5 5 years ago and only used , say, 70 miles and the traction started to peel off one after another. I then bought Altra Racer for race run and lo and behold same thing happened. Then I bought Altra Provision and shockingly the whole outer sole detached after 3 months. No more Altra!
dang dude! What you switching to?
@@ChadLubinski I switched to barefoot shoes. So far have been enjoying them - 5-fingers shoes.
Same thing here, multiple pairs (everyday, running, and trail) were falling apart after the first 50 miles. Warranty was denied. Sent basically the same email to them as you last year.
unreal!!!
I have used Lone Peaks up through the Lone Peak 6. Mine started to have the same durability issues described here with the LP 6. I switched to the Topo Pursuit; still zero drop, but with a taller stack height (I think 3mm higher than the Lone Peak AND a vibram sole). Only have about 200 miles on them, but they’re looking good so far.
Dang, that's great to hear! I'm gonna have to look at those. I really enjoy the zero drop
I've been wearing a pair of Altra Olympus 4s now for quite a while. I'm not a runner or thru hiker though. I do mostly day hikes but lots of rocky stuff because I'm in Pennsylvania. I really like the Olympus 4. It has a Vibram sole with great grip, great cushion and that wonderful toe box, but the cost of the newer versions is making me look elsewhere. I also plan to check out Topo shoes. I've been looking at the Traverse as a possibility. I haven't tried any on yet though. Can you talk about the fit? With the Olympus I had to go up a size and a half compared to my regular shoes. Thanks for the great info. Have a good week!
Hey Charlie, thanks for the comment! The fit on my Topos are exactly what I wear for my Altras at size 11. I think you'd be good to order the same size you would for Altras
@@ChadLubinski Thanks!!
It's funny cause I'm kind of recent convert to Altra. Now I'm not hiking or doing trails, I'm just doing a lot of walking (and more recently running) for weight loss on pavement. I went with New Balance and I couldn't get them to last past 100 miles, I was just wearing away giant craters in the outsole. The black rubber part would disappear and the white foam would just disintegrate away to the point it would kind of make a suction noise against the ground when I walked. I have pretty wide feet and noticed that all the extra wides were never really wide enough. I had trouble getting Altra's to fit until I realised I needed to size up. The current pair I'm in now are at 150 miles + and I still have a lot of black rubber on the outsole even though it does have obvious wear signs on them. So I actually have more of a positive view on them compared to other stuff I've tried.
nice!!
I bought a pair of timps 4 and happened exactly the same, thinking to buy an escalante because I like the 0 mm drop, do you know another brand apart from topo? thanks
Topo has a zero drop model too but I've always wanted to try the On Cloud shoes
I was a big Altra fan also but I have also switched to Topo. I have the Spectre, Ultraventure 3 and mountain racer 3. They are sooooo comfortable. Love them!
How’s the mtn racer??
Thanks for sharing your objective experience.... Hard to find in here....
you got it!
I've had and still have l Altra shoes ..The latest one is the Altra Olympus 5 GTX.. I used them for hiking solely but fortunatly had no durability issues and already walked man, many miles in them though I'm taking all the feedback serious . The lacing system of the latter sucks though, laces being too short and it's hard to get the laces in them.
I have wide feet and it does worry me that this brand has so many durability issues..
I purchased TOPO mtn racer 3 and they feel VERY reliable on any other surface then concrete ( which I take during winter times). On concrete they don't feel comfortable but they excele in slippery and muddy terains instead..Do any of you know whether the Topo Ultraventure is more versatile ??
Great question. I would say the Ultraventure's weakness is the shallow lugs, so I'd probably bet the Mtn racer would be better for slippery/muddy conditions!
I'm right there with ya, dude! My favorite pair of sneaks I've ever had was the Timp 1.5's. Super comfortable (mainly width for my wide feet), never really had any issues with blow-outs on the handful of pairs I purchased and went through. The biggest issue I found with them though, and is pretty characteristic of Altra is that the outsole just wears way too freakin quick! Fast forward to now, I've given Altra another chance with the Timp 4, since the previous versions between the 1.5's and 4's went super narrow and wouldn't fit my feet comfortably. I love these 4's and they're holding up fairly well in the durability category, but once again, the outsole is wearing so quickly. I've probably only got 20-30 miles on them and the ball of the foot lugs are nearly worn off already. What the heck?!? I did see that the Timp 5 now has a Vibram Megagrip outsole and they have kept the same width, so I may end up giving those a shot to see how the outsole holds up. If I do pick up a pair of them and have any issues though, I'm probably going to abandon the brand entirely. In the interim, I did just purchase the Topo Traverse on the recommendation of some folks at REI and a local outfitter. I'm really looking forward to getting some miles in on them and I love the width and not needing to go with a dedicated "wide." I definitely think they're going to be winners though and they really are like Hoka and Altra had a baby, with the best of both worlds. Hopefully they'll be able to withstand the abuse the Utah terrain is known for... I guess only time will tell!
Right on man, let me know how those work for you. I've been loving my Topos thus far!
i recommend Salomon X Ultra 3 - i have 450 hiking kilometers in them and about 2000 km of walking since 2019 to the present day. there are still almost flawless. of course, they are 340 grams per shoe but for me it has been the absolute best thing if you re not looking for a trail running shoe. next best thing would be some La Sportiva, the Ultra Raptor 2.
Sooo many people like Salomons...i may have to give them a try. Thanks!!
The Olympus was a sturdy line. NB Hierro 2 and 3 were so good
I recently got the altra via olympus 2 just as a shoe for work/standing/walking. It’s the only thing that fit my feet. That and the Torin 7 are probably their best 2 shoes, too bad about the issues with trail shoes. I will give topo a try as well
nice! Glad those are working for you!
I love Altras. They’re extremely comfortable and I love that they design with women in mind. They show wear quickly, but I find it’s mostly cosmetic and doesn’t stop me from being able to use them. I got a year out of my torin 5s before they got a hole in the toe and I needed new ones. Not a big deal, but I am also used to women’s shoes (and clothing) lasting for a lot less than a year, so I guess it’s relative. The company seems dedicated to improving its quality and design, and they’re fairly new compared to some brands. Hopefully they will listen to their customers and their quality will get better. But zero drop, extremely comfortable, and designed for natural feet? I’m team Altra.
👍🏻
That's interesting, I missed a lot apparently. Back In 2012, I ran a 6-day race in New York wearing the original ultra Instinct.
I knew that early durability wasnt great, and things did improve for a while. I did a trans-con going into 2013 wearing primarily altras, but after falling off running and a bad injury, I'm just getting back to running and aomehow missed the company having sold.
Back in the day i exchanged alot of emails with Golden Harper and was happy to support his brand.
I might be trying some other brands out soon.
My biggest concern is that I wear a size 16 and this will be my first ever hike. I am training this year and spring 2025 will be my first hike. I will be almost 56 then and I'm 6ft 5in and about 15 pounds shy of 400. That's the reason for the year training. But my shoe size is a big concern.
size 16? Dang! And they'll swell on the hike so you'll probably need a bit bigger
I wore the Olympus 5 once to a coffee farm and the upper shredded to bits. Ridiculous. I’m with you.
UNREAL!!!
I recently tried Topo Pursuits and could run in them. The arch support was too high causing pain after 5 min of wearing them in the house. Do all Topos have that same high arch? I loved the feel and fit otherwise, but they might not be an option for my foot type.
honestly, I dont know. I only have used two different models and I'm not the best when it comes to understanding shoes
I basically have flat feet and don't like the feel of high arch shoes. I haven't tried the Pursuits but I did just get the MT5 and the arches don't bother me at all.
I just switched back to my old pair of Lone Peak after putting some Topo MTN Racer 2's through their paces. Topo externally holds up WAAAAAAAAAAAY better, but the midsole just flattens out so quickly. It feels like after 200 miles Topos turn into pucks while Altra's turn into dust. Doesn't help both are expensive lol.
Hahahahaha this is a great assessment
My favorite Altra is the King Mountain 2.0, and they discontinued it :( . I noticed the tread wears fast on my Lone Peak 6s, I'll probably go to Topo Pursuit after this
This has been my experience as well but in the mid-height models the Lone Peak 3.0 Neoshell Mid has been my holy grail shoe for 6 years for both hiking and trail running. I like the mid-height stability and protection and its was and has been the perfect all-arounder. They were water resistant, not waterproof but that's a minor gripe as I can't expect much from such a light shoe that is not GTX. In my case I tried the LP 4.0 Mid after wearing out two pairs of the 3.0 and it was okay but started to go narrow so I bought 2 more pairs of the 3.0 on closeout at the time and enjoyed them for 2 more years. As those last two pairs wore out I ordered and returned 6-8 shoe models trying to find something comparable in fit and comfort and weight in a mid height. Having no success, luckily this past Fall I setup an ebay search and scored a virtually brand new old stock pair of the 3.0 for $50 and was overjoyed not having found anything to match the lightweight, ankle stability, open toe box and zero drop of the 3.0 shoe for trail running since it was originally launched around 2017.
I have since bought and tried every version of the Lone Peak "all Weather" since it changed names and got a line # restart and I have returned them all for cheap quality and poor fit out of the box. I too switched to Topo and the Trailventure 2 Mid Waterproof 2 months ago. Solid and lightweight. The Vibram sole is grippy on wet roots and rocks but not as sure footed on loose stuff. It was comfortable with a true foot shape out of the box and is a great fast hike shoe but the 3mm drop and stiff sole makes it unsuitable for running. Additionally the slick laces make it difficult to synch down the way you want. It also uses an E-Vent liner for waterproofing and it is VERY VERY hot. Great for winter hiking but I imagine will be unbearable in the spring and summer. Wondering if the non-waterproof version of the TV2 Mid might solve the heat and stiffness issues, as I heard it doesn't have the same sole and composite shank as the waterproof version.
Damn you need to a channel to review stuff haha good feedback!
Been there done that so I know what you've gone through, but I've tried a pair of Topo's MT-4 which is there Altra Outran equivalent, but it did not agree with my feet at all I can't even go 20 meters in them then I have to go back home and put on something els. For the winter I tried Saucony Ride 15 TR GTX and have been pleasantly surprised as I've warn them about everyday for the past 3 months and only the one shoe is starting to show a bit of ware after km1369, but I'll see what Altra has to offer for the Sumer over here. and just for a update the new Timp 5 have Vibram soles and they have removed those drainage holes which in my opinion only made midsole worse in the Timp 4
Great feedback.. thanks!
Hi, could you recommend shoes with wide toe box that are more affordable? Not exactly for running, just a normal daily use on concrete.
I would try finding a previous years model if Topo shoes
I'll look it up, thanks
Any other zero drop brands with minimal padding you would recommend?
Some of my friends have been recommending this: bit.ly/3RSSFUd
Spot on Chad... Altra's have gotten cheap. But I never buy full priced. Poshmark, Merci and wherever, @ about $60/pair, new-secondhand make them still doable for me. But Interested in what youll find as a replacement. My asks: No-drop, wide natural shaped toe box, comfort and durable. So far Topo only matches one-two of those asks
Right! I was actually very surpised at how roomy Topo's toebox is...very comparable with the TIMPs
I agree, durability has gone down will price has really gone up. I am looking for alternate brands. It is a shame given that I have been wearing Altra’s for over 10 years. I recall when a small store near me just started to carry them and nobody knew about Altra. No my local ultra running store stopped carrying Altra and picked up Topo.
funny how that works!! hope you find something!
Sounds like the Norda 002 is exactly the shoe you are looking for. Ultra durability, cushion, small drop, extremely grippy. Just pricey , and apparently they can run a bit warm with the dyneema . The Norda 001 might be worth looking at as well.
thank you for this!!
picked up some old stock but new Timp 2's before my PCT thru in '22. When they inevitably failed before the 500 mile warranty I sent them home and tried a warranty claim when I finished. I was denied any sort of reimbursement due to the age of the design and shoe. I then used lone peaks with decent results and then Olympus 4's and now 5's that have both developed holes where the upper meets the sole close to the ball of the foot. I do love the cushion of the higher stack shoes and zero drop/toe box of altras, but the durability at this price point is disappointing
Great assessment, thanks for this comment. Do you think you'll be switching brands?
I was going to purchase my first Altra shoes but I kept seeing issues with sole separation and durability issues in general. I finally settled on a pair of Topo Pursuit.
how you like them?
had the same issues.
moved on to Topo UltraVenture Pro and have not looked back
🙌 stoked to get more miles in them
Their own website has failure reviews though
started with superior 2 and now im on superior 6. durability has been a huge issue from the start.
tried topos but they where to stiff in the heel and midsole and had a tiny bit of an arch in them witch i hate so keept going back to superiors.
no idea what i could try next.
when i was on salomon, hoka NB and sacony i had major problems with plantar and tightness in calfs and pain in my knees,
after geting used to my superiors i havent had any issues with any of that.
Dang...how long are the Superiors lasting for you now?
@@ChadLubinski we have super short season for running here. I go through 2 pairs per 4 months.
So only 2 pairs per year :p
Hello have ypu made the TOPO review yet. Curious to see if they were actually better
yes sir! czcams.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/video.html
I feel your pain. I bought some Olympus 5 and loved but the uppers basically ripped apart after 200 miles. I also can’t afford a new pair of shoes every couple of months. I just bought a pair of Hoka Stilson 7 lets see how they work out. That’s for the vid
Thanks for the comment! How are the Hoka's doing?
I bought my first altras last year. The last pair also. All semed good at the start, no problem when I was trying them, but during longer hike, right shoe started giving me blisters. I thought maybe my sock was wrinkled or something, since left one was fine, so I gave it another try later. Same problem. Turned out there is hard edge where the sole is joining the rest of the shoe and this is of course becoming hot spot during longer use. Left shoe is fine, so it must be quality control problem, not just that my feet would be weird or something.
I have 4 pairs of altras, but only one of them is a hiking shoe. It is the Olympus and it does have a vibram sole. It works quite well but in spite of having a Gore Tex upper, somehow water's coming in through the front in the left shoe - the right one is alright though... I've only worn them on two hikes but they're not too bad.
Then I have the Escalante 3 as a daily sneaker. I wear barefoot shoes in summer but I'm getting cold feet very easily so they've been my livesavers from November though February. They are super comfortable and really almost fun to wear, however they're not very durable since the inner padding will show holes very quickly. That said I bought a second pair, just because I like them that much.
Last pair is the Escalante Racer, which is a good running shoe. Besides some cosmetic wear they seem to be quite durable which is also a plus. What I hate about them though is that given their minimalist design they are unjustifiably heavy. For comparison. In my size (US 9.5) they weigh in at 223g which is 10g heavier than both, my Hoka Mach 4 and my Asics Noosa 14 which are both non minimalist, bulky running shoes. It's ok and I wear them a lot - but it always amazes me, how heavy they are....
Amazing feedback… thanks Johan!
Will there be any difference if I buy the women's model according to the actual size of the men's model? For example, the men's US10.5 corresponds to the women's US12. I see that the inner length is the same. Can I choose this way?
Great question...I'm not sure about that! Might want to contact them directly.
@@ChadLubinski All right
I work at REI and our store had a lot of Altra wearers in 2019. That has definitely tell switched the last few years. A lot of us are now in Topo, I personally use the MTN Racer with the slightly less cushioning than the Ultraventure. I have still kept all of my old Altra which I love but the new ones keep leaving me wanting more. #reiemployee
I've heard those Mtn Racers are pretty good! How do they compare to the Ultraventure?
2mm less stack height than the Ultraventure and a more aggressive tread. I kind of compare it to a sturdier Lone Peak while the Ultraventure is the same for the Timp@@ChadLubinski
I recently bouthg two pairs of Topos - jogging and forest running. So far so good.
I avoided Altra because of the reviews stating low durability. The sole looks not durable enough for me and I much prefer to sacrifice some stiffness, weight and comfort for proper logs like on my TERRAVENTURE 3.
Awesome!! So great to hear they're holding up!
I live in Japan, where warranty support for outdoor gear is pretty poor across the board due to the Byzantine distribution system with far too many middlemen. That said, I have not found anything in zero drop shoes that checks all the boxes for me. But I can only walk and run in zero drop. So I still have several pairs of Altras that I rotate through. My biggest complaint--aside from the real durability issues that I find in most other shoes and usually can repair with Aquaseal--is the ledge that sticks out behind the heel. It wasn't a problem until I went on a string of long road trips and my achilles insertion became super painful from driving even though I did not have an injury. I realized pretty quickly that I had to drivebarefoot, at least on my right foot. This led eventually to a diagnosis of Anklyosing Spondylitis, a degenerative autoimmune disease that affects the spine and SI joints as well as peripheral joints, especially heels. So I can't really blame Altra for that, though I don't like that design and have cut the ledges off because they add nothing to the running experience for me. I am also disappointed that since being bought, Altra has abandoned the fit philosophy that made them so popular. My understanding is that the only shoe with the classic Altra fit is now the Lone Peak. They have become a narrow shoe company making mostly road shoes, neither of which satisfy my needs. Finally, for me, they have too much squish. If I am hiking the squish is no problem. But I hate it for running. My main running shoes now are Merrill Trail Gloves and I also have a pair of Lems that are too soft for running. Call me Goldilocks but I know what I like and what my body responds best to. I'll continue wearing Altras for walking and limited running. There are better options for me as far as running is concerned.
Great feedback!
as far as Altra and my running shoes in general, the Mont Blanc boa's and the vanish carbons are my favorite shoes ive worn to date. (speedlands being up there as well).
nice!
I do a lot of gym/pt work in whatever daily shoes I happen to have, so I typically build up miles pretty quick just walking around, classes, going to the gym, etc.
Been using Nike for most of my life, not any particular style but sometimes it would just be whatever is cheapest, other times something typically lighter weight that felt good to run in. Every single shoe (less maybe one pair somehow) would blow out at the pinky toes, the toe box is just too narrow on nearly every shoe and with limited selections of wide-box shoes (especially of the running variety) I just couldn't find a pair that lasted more than a year between torn uppers and poorly glued bottoms.
Then I tried saucony, bought a pair of endorphin speeds which felt great to run in, very springy and high cushion, but had several major issues that made me not want to get them again; they were the shortest lasting shoes I've ever owned, basically completely wrecked around 6 months. The foam they used just breaks off in chunks, leaving large holes and haps in the bottom that rocks and pebbles end up getting stuck in and I can feel while running. The traction is some of the worst I've ever had, even a small amount of frost on the asphalt would lead to me slipping and falling multiple times during a run. Lastly, the uppers were completely blown out on the pinky toe area by month 5, and the middle of the sides were gone by month 7, I kept using them on/off for only timed runs and they were completely unusable by month 12.
Then came altra, which was recommended after meeting with a running coach who would practically die for the brand. Bought a pair of Escalante racers and was much happier with them than the saucony ones. Used them for 18 months as my daily shoes, holes in the uppers appeared around month 12 in the mid-foot area on the outside (not the usual pinky toe area at least) and while the traction has gotten worse over time, it's still certainly more usable than the saucony pair. Probably still one of the longer lasting pairs of shoes but at a steeper cost (x1.5-x3 more than a usual pair of nikes) but for overall comfort and fit, I'll still probably stick with altra for my next pair just because I've got wider feet that like to shred uppers really quick, especially when most modern shoes are these thinner materials that just don't last, but I dislike the feel of heavier shoes that now feel like cinderblocks on my feet. Probably going to go with the fwd experience or torin 5 hoping they have a bit better durability, but overall compared to other shoes, I'm still content with how they lasted
Great feedback. I have noticed that my Altra road shoes last WAY longer than any of my trail shoes...so there's that.
Yes, exactly...my Altra soles are falling apart, meaning the tread peeled off in 2 weeks! Was sent new ones and less than a month those soles started peeling off.
I give up.
same!
I had the same happen with my Altra Paradigms. The traction material started to peel away and didn't have much use before doing so.
unreal!!
I finally have to give up Altra too. I’ve worn them exclusively for ride and trail for several years but every new model is worse than the last. They destroyed everything I loved about them when I first found the brand. The toe area material is so hard and tight now they don’t even feel like wide toe box shoes anymore 😢
Agreed. I don't understand why shoe companies have to act like they're a car maker where they have to radically tweak each year's model.
My 1st pair was Lone Peak 6. Traction was pretty bad, but the shoe was super comfy. I'm still using it as everyday shoe, the outsole is completely flat now. So the durability was ok. Now i have the Olympus 5 and LP7. Traction on LP7 is much improved, but still far from Vibram. I have more miles in the Olympus and it's holding up well. LP7 is barely used and the welded upper is coming off.
In general i would say the shoes are well made, but they those welded uppers won't hold up. My 1st wide toe box shoe was Inov-8 and the rubber started peeling off after a month. Sent them back, got my money back and bought Altra.
Just looking at the Altras however, i don't think those are heavy duty shoes. For light trails yes, but in complex rocky terrain the might perish in no time. They're made mostly for lightness and breathability and that's what i like. For now i'm sticking with Altra but might try Toppo just for fun.
Great feedback!! Thanks for watching
My Altra Superior 5’s lasted just a few 7 mile runs and that was that!
unreal!
Started the Florida Trail in Olympus 4s and within 200 miles they were pancakes...so bad that I left my backup brand new pair in my garage and grabbed a slightly used pair of Timp 3s that I had. The Timp 3s were great, went through that pair and another to finish out the trail, but I really should have moved to a 3rd pair or something for the last hundred or so. With that I thought the issue with Altra was just the Ego foam midsole vs the Quantic foam. Of course Altra then seemed to decide to go with the Ego foam midsole everywhere and when complaints started they moved to Ego Max...which really just seems to be a rebranding. Then the Vibram soles started to disappear. My beloved Torins started going flat but I got a fresh pair of Torin 6 for under $90...180 miles later "canary in a coalmine" left knee started hurting. I have a pair or Timp 4s, I've started using the Topo Athletic shoes, and so far they seem so much better so the Timps are just sitting there...oh, don't use the Topo Athletic boots...the boots were horrible torture devices...maybe 2nd or 3rd iterations are better, but after my experience, I'm not trying them. So yeah...another loyal Altra user that's bailed on the brand.
Thanks for this, Scott. I'm glad the Topos have been working for you thus far!
I have a weird left foot to fit comfortably in a shoe. Brooks Adrenaline worked for awhile but the more recent model changes have made them no good anymore. Via Olympus model has changed my road running life- comfortable long runs, no need for orthotics. Yes, I agree they aren't as sturdy as my old Brooks but I am happy with the fit etc... I haven't tried the newer model yet. You can pick up the old model for around $60-80 right now so I am stocking up until the newer model gets cheaper.
$60-80 is a good deal
If people have Sierra stores in their areas, check there. I've found Escalantes, Via Olympus, Catamounts, Wave Runners, Adrenalines, Ghosts etc... there for $60 or less. Whenever a new model comes out, it seems like retailers/suppliers dump there old stock there, But you have to check regularly as new stock comes in daily in limited numbers.
@@77thincoats82 great tip!!!
Btw what's the grey shirt you wearing? fit awesome!
Yo! Idk it’s actually a Lululemon shirt that my roommate gave to me cuz he couldn’t fit into it anymore haha
My first pair of Torin 7’s ripped through the heel cup to the plastic/hardened cardboard heel cup at 150 miles. At 220 miles I had a hole on the medial forefoot. I bought a second pair in a wide. The heel cup is better but the forefoot has the same hole developing. It’s at the bend point of the shoe from my toe off. I’m on the cusp of giving Topo another try. I wasn’t impressed with their early models but the cyclone 2 and new Atmos both seem promising. The new Altra designs look slick. I want to try the new FWD and the Provision 8’s look nice too. But looks are worth nothing if 140$ shoe rips at 150 miles.
well said! Thanks for the comment!
I was a merrell moab wearer for years. When they had a major shakeup their shoes went to pot. I went to getting seriously easy but heavy miles out of them to barely being able to get a month out of them. Altra was great at first - and then the same. Ive recently after a very long period tried them out again. Their sizing is different per shoe, the foot box or inability to get that originally wide on any shoe is a problem. I wear a 10 in every show but in Altra its a 11.5. Im current looking for yet another shoe brand.
Thanks for the feedback, Wade! Hope you find one soon. Been really liking my Topos so far (200 miles).
Here's my review:
czcams.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/video.html
@@ChadLubinski I watched it immediately afterwards.
@@WadeSmart haha!!
Got 400 miles on my Lone Peak 7s before all traction was gone. It lasted pretty well. My Torin 5s however, didn't last 100 miles before the soles began delaminating. Tried the Olympus 5s and although marketed as their most cushioned shoe, it was the worst/stiffest no-cushion shoe ever. 20 miles on my new Topo ultraventure and pretty happy with them. Way more cushion than the LP, wished it was zero drop though.
YES! That was my exact experience with the Olympus 5's. EXTREMELY stiff!
Torin 7 (wide version)... Super soft most comfortable to have found since Altra started.
I am no shoe designer or engineer but I had a concept where soles were replaceable and the main core or chassis was a solid yet flexible structure and would last for years. The shoes would slide on rails on a framework at the base of the shoe…..nothing came about this and this idea came to me 20 years ago.
I've had terrible trouble with Altra consistency from shoe to shoe, pair to pair. I purchased several pairs of the Torin 5 because the 6 didn't fit the same, so I just stocked up on the clearance sales. Unfortunately every shoe fits differently even though they are the same size. It's frustrating because I love the wide toe box and the zero drop. Durability has been an issue as well - the insole seems to wear out long before the rest of the shoe. I'm going to have to find a new shoe...
Gosh this resembles my experience so well. Such a shame...could've been a long lasting, great brand for years if they just figured out the durability and taking care of their customers.
I just realized that the Lone Peak 6 Wide is at least half a size bigger than the regular Lone Peak 6. The Wide is not only wider but longer, and I was wondering why my LP6 Wide seems so huge compared to my Escalante Racer. 🤷
Just bought a pair today. Like walking on a cloud with traction. They need more colors. Please do a black on black
oooo black on black would be dope!!!!
This year I had Timp 5 which lasted 180km (all of which in winter through snow and mud, plus one competition in trail half-marathon) and tore in the same place as Your Timp 4 (refunded) as well as Torin 6 - same story, 280km, also refunded by the retailer. On the other hand my Rivera 5 lasted a whooping >900km of running (paces of 4:00-6:00min/km and distances od 12-30km) and a bit of walking before I retired them into the trash can. So I got myself another pair of Rivera 5 for everyday runs, and a pair of Vanish Carbon, for occasional tempo training - yes, I know Vanish will not last long 😢
nice!!!
My first altra was ok, second and theirs altra lasted just 200 to 300 miles. Currently looking for another trail runners but would be nice if Topo can do this model zero drop instead 👍
(3 altra pairs in 2 years)
Yeah if they came out with just one zero drop model it would be game over!
Not only has their durability gone down, but it seems like the newest versions are reducing the toe box splay. I just bought some Torin 7s and the toe box is considerably smaller. It looks like they took away room for the big toe to splay inward.
Don’t understand why brands need to redo a perfectly good shoe every year
I'm buying the new Altra's Timp 5 with vibram's Megagrip sole! Let's see how they perform
I stocked up on my favourite Altras, the Torin 4.5 and paradigm 6. Both very durable. My first Altra shoe Timp 1.5 blew out like that but since then i have been fine with the Timp 2s and Olympus 4 where both durable. I agree that their outsoles should all be vibram. Mont Blanc and Olympus have great grip.
Another thing with some road shoes, like Rivera, Escalante racer and now the Altra FWD have a very soft outsole compound that scuff off efter one run in high wear areas. They want to bring in more people with the FWD. Ut use a shit outsole like that for 150? In all fairness it does not scuff except where you land first but it is not a good look still. I really love Altra and i think i have picked out the modell that have proven more durable. But they need to fix up ASAP or they will siffer greatly i think. For that price, make them all durable.
Love it..thanks for the comment!
Big Altra fan. Olympus 4s have been my go to trail runners for three years but have heard about issues with the Olympus 5s. Not really sure why Lone Peaks have been so popular, they have no cushion.
I think they were just really popular in the thru hiking community but you’re right, my feet would ache at the end of each day due to the low cushion
I switched to Topos a few years ago and haven't looked back. Looks like VF purchased them in 2018.
I like Altra's comfort, but I can't say the same about its quality (mediocre construction, sole on non-Vibram models with little grip); but there aren't many options for wide feet like mine. Alternatives? Asics has served me, Adidas too and I'm trying Inov-8 and the wider model from La Sportiva (Jackal II).
As a wide feet fan myself, I really think you'll like these
czcams.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/video.html
Altra timp 5 and Olympus has vibram. Also 3 shoes with 4mm drop soon out. I've had some issues but in the conditions that the Altras are not ment to be used as those are trailrunners. Not mountain boots. I always have some shoe glue with me for small rips. The Olympus hiker mid has gone trough crazy rocks in Norwegian mountains and lot of via ferratas in Dolomites. I've had to do a small glue fix but again it's not a mountaineering shoe
nice!
Bought the Altra Olympus 5s and the treads peeled off after 30 miles. Turns out it was a common thing. Ended up getting the Hoka speedgoat 5s wide
absolutely ridiculous!
I had been an Altra fanboy too, mainly because of their toebox shape suiting my feet. However, after my second pair of Olympus 4 also started to have deterioration of the uppers at the outer edge, near my little toe, within probably the first 30 miles of use, matching what had happened to the first pair, I am now done with Altra. They ain't cheap, so I expected more. Also, the outsole lugs wear down pretty quickly. I will try any other brands with a similar toebox shape, so that leaves only Topo I guess?
Topo has been the best replacement I've found so far. They're very similar to Altra, just alot more durable!
I switched to Topo after the Lone Peak 4s were garbage. Wore ultraventure 3s on the CT this summer. Made the whole trail on 1 pair and they still have some miles left on them.
now that's what I like to hear!!! wahoooo!! 🙌
Ive had the same experiences with Altra. My timp 4s lasted 170 miles.. their durability is absolutely terrible. I want to try the topos.
Yes! I highly recommend the one in my description. Also hear good things about the Mountain Racers
Thinking of trying Salomon but they look a bit narrow. Used Altra exclusively for the past few years but have noticed the build quality dropping.
yup, exactly why I don't use Salomon either
I bought 5 extra pairs of Altra Olympus 4 when I heard Olympus 5 falls apart within 100 miles. Hope they realise their mistakes and sort their shit out, or gives me time to try another brand 🤔
Smart!! Such a shame we actualy have to resort to doing that tho