I bought these as everyday shoes to help with plantar fascitis based on needing a wide toe box and minimal drop/less upward toe box and they have helped massively. Padding is minimal but I'll be using these for plyometrics too as they feel so solid.
Exciting update to a shoe I havent run in since the 3.5 and yes, I ran up to 50milers in that one 😊 My hybrid for dry trail is now the stoneguard from my old 3.5s in my old Escalante 1.5s😂 works a dream ❤
Superior 4 was the best. Escalante racer seems truest to that spirit. I'm still struggling with the superior 5 because it's just a little too short, don't want to size up, and I think the whole shoe has gotten too supportive which disrupts the fast and tactile and natural feel that really peaked with the superior 4. Fingers crossed the 6 is more neutral and maybe a few mms longer
Great video as always. But I feel since version 3.5, the Superior has been on a steady decline morphing into a almost a road shoe. The upper material is has gotten less durable and overall just not a rugged minimal trail running shoe anymore.
Lots of our customers are starting to buy this shoe as a road runner/everyday shoe. Hopefully, Altra fully redesign the Superior 7 when it gets released. It would be nice if the Superior had more meat for the trail.
I like the last version. The 5 held up well I'm SoCal dry and crumbly trail/mountains. Looking forward to the update max track and the nicer clean, minimalist, look. Wasn't a great slippery wet rock performer so hopefully that's remedied with the new outsole.
@@RunMoorethere are other models with more meat! I sure hope they dont change this one because its THE ONLY option available out there for "barefoot" runners with foot injuries. I got an injury on one of my toe joins that feels almost as bad as morton toe but i can only run on flat flexible shoes so I suddenly had to stop running and even walking was painful. After 6 years in minimal shoes I couldnt find anything to wear, not even to work untill I tried these. They had been sitting in the box brand new because i didnt like their stiff ankle material and low toebox, but necessity forced me to give them a second shot since they never sold on ebay and i removed all the insoles and tried again. The stiffness broke in 2 full days of wear and now they feel great! I wear them all day for everything. Still not enough ground feel for me to trust them as i did my vffs but way better than any other option out there and just padded enough that my joint doesnt hurt. Just did my first trail race today after 9 months away and zero pain, zero slippage in mud, rocks, grass, no blisters, what more do you whant?
We're hoping that for the Superior 7, whenever it may release, that Altra does a complete redesign of the shoe. There are changes we would like to see that would make the shoe better for us and our customers.
Absolutely love the 5 it's just so light but with a bit of cushion, zero drop, tons of toe splay room, breathable etc, maybe not the most durable build but I'm light at 160-170 lbs 6'0 and nimble so they are my babies if I wanna move around on the trails, when I eventually tear em up I'll be getting another pair or grabbing the 6 just to try and the 5 might be non purchasable by then....I don't run run I just love challenging hikes so these are awesome for that you can def all day these at a rugged walk kinda day
Old video so I don’t know if you’ll see this but I’ll ask anyways I’m mostly a barefoot shoe style runner but I had the fives. I think they were five or 4.5 I can’t remember and when they got wet, the upper would just get bigger in my foot was sloppy as can be and sliding all over the place plus I didn’t have the grip was horrible like wet rock wall rainchanged a little bit a little softer that might help. What about the top is the upper changed so when it gets wet, it doesn’t turn into a sponge or a structure.
This looks like it could be the shoe I've been looking for for years... low profile, lightweight, wide toe box but not such a wide heel like Lone peaks or Hokas, minimum drop (or maybe even none?) for maximum contact... hell yeah. Now I just need to find a good sale for them.
The road equivalent to the Superior would be the Escalante 3. They are both in the lightweight cushion category. The Escalante has a slightly higher stack height of 24mm compared to 21mm, which gives it more cushion. In our experience, the Superior feels softer compared to the Escalante, even with 3mm less stack height. You could always use the Superior as a road shoe, but if you are looking for a designated road runner, the Escalante is your best bet.
@@RunMoore Thanks for the reply. I'm actually just looking for a shoe while I'm at work. I'm on my feet all day. I use both the superior and outroad currently. Much prefer the fit and feel of the superior, I would just prefer a more smooth service sole.
I have put a few hundred miles on my escalante. I have a 25k spartan race coming up. I am in between this and the timp 5. I have a somewhat narrow foot and think I would prefer the standard foot shape. Thoughts?
i have been running in the superior 5 and just loving the comfort of the stretchy upper but the durability of said upper have been terrible. used 2 pairs of the 5s with same issue with the upper breaking along the edge where the stretchy material meets the midsole. the 5s have had the best feel on foot out of any shoes i owned but the durabillity just left alot to be desiered. then i got a pair of the superior 6 hoping the durability has been fixed and it looks like it has BUT the upper is waaaay less stretchy and that makes the mid foot to restrictive and it makes it feel narrow to the point they dont work for me at all. RIP Altra Superior.
Question now I’m the lone pig. I have the size down my normal size. It’s just sloppy as could be and too long. Does this fit the same? My issue is I will run in a lot of minimalist barefoot type stuff but when I hit like a race that gives me like gravel or flat fryer fire road that a real sharp and stuff it’s no fun, I was thinking about this or just those races where my barefoot shoes aren’t enough is sizing correct because now I have a pair of that I wear for work and those are true so with these be also true size cause I’d be ordering them because my retailers don’t have these in stock
Altra hasn't disclosed the midsole technology of the new Superior 6 in our catalog; however, we have reason to believe that it is the same lightweight Quantic foam as the previous generation.
I loved my superior 4.5 but found the 5.0 lightened up almost too much and I missed the more secure structure the 4.5 had. Would you say the 6 is still more like the 5?
I did a 50k trail ultra in my superior 5s. Personally these offered adequate cushion for me/didn’t have any issues, and I wouldn’t want to have any more separation from the ground.
The Superior 6 is a good walking shoe. It is lighter on cushioning. If you plan on doing longer miles, we recommend trying the Lone Peak. It has a shorter stack height, like the superior, however, it feels comparable to a maximum cushion shoe.
For me, the Superior 6 didn't fit any narrower, and the sizing felt identical to the Superior 5. I also haven't had any complaints from our customers who have gotten the Superior 6. However, everyone's experience is different. I recommend trying a pair on if you have the chance.
I have the superior and it’s good. Although I prefer the LP. And I know I’m gonna get killed for this but I’m not a fan of the burrito style tongue. Sorry everyone. Don’t hate me. Lol.
”Well I ran a 100 miles in it😵💫” 😂😂
Dayuuum!
I love absolutely everything about the Superior 5. I'd love to give these a try. Will definitely be hitting the trails more this summer.
I bought these as everyday shoes to help with plantar fascitis based on needing a wide toe box and minimal drop/less upward toe box and they have helped massively.
Padding is minimal but I'll be using these for plyometrics too as they feel so solid.
Good to know! 🙂
Hey I hiked 26 miles in this shoe! 😂 All day long. And my feet were the least tired part of my body
Exciting update to a shoe I havent run in since the 3.5 and yes, I ran up to 50milers in that one 😊 My hybrid for dry trail is now the stoneguard from my old 3.5s in my old Escalante 1.5s😂 works a dream ❤
Steve, has Altra ever explained the difference between the Quantic midsole material vs. EGO/Max? Can't wait for your Torin 7 reveal/review.
FYI, just confirmed via Altra's website that the Superior 6 now sports the Ego midsole.
The superior 5 had my favorite altra upper. The soft mesh that wraps the foot burrito style is perfect. I would love to see that on other models
I love feeling nim-bile 😄
We love the lightweight and minimal feel of the Superior!
Ooh it's finally here! Been a long time coming, excited to check this one out.
We're excited about this new update too!
The lone peak is like I shall call if mini me 🤣🤣
Superior 4 was the best. Escalante racer seems truest to that spirit. I'm still struggling with the superior 5 because it's just a little too short, don't want to size up, and I think the whole shoe has gotten too supportive which disrupts the fast and tactile and natural feel that really peaked with the superior 4.
Fingers crossed the 6 is more neutral and maybe a few mms longer
Thanks for the review. Just got my first pair of altras. Going for my first run on them today. 🙌
Thanks for supporting the channel! We hope you like your Altras as much as we do!
Great video as always. But I feel since version 3.5, the Superior has been on a steady decline morphing into a almost a road shoe. The upper material is has gotten less durable and overall just not a rugged minimal trail running shoe anymore.
Lots of our customers are starting to buy this shoe as a road runner/everyday shoe. Hopefully, Altra fully redesign the Superior 7 when it gets released. It would be nice if the Superior had more meat for the trail.
I like the last version. The 5 held up well I'm SoCal dry and crumbly trail/mountains. Looking forward to the update max track and the nicer clean, minimalist, look. Wasn't a great slippery wet rock performer so hopefully that's remedied with the new outsole.
@@RunMoorethere are other models with more meat! I sure hope they dont change this one because its THE ONLY option available out there for "barefoot" runners with foot injuries. I got an injury on one of my toe joins that feels almost as bad as morton toe but i can only run on flat flexible shoes so I suddenly had to stop running and even walking was painful. After 6 years in minimal shoes I couldnt find anything to wear, not even to work untill I tried these. They had been sitting in the box brand new because i didnt like their stiff ankle material and low toebox, but necessity forced me to give them a second shot since they never sold on ebay and i removed all the insoles and tried again. The stiffness broke in 2 full days of wear and now they feel great! I wear them all day for everything. Still not enough ground feel for me to trust them as i did my vffs but way better than any other option out there and just padded enough that my joint doesnt hurt. Just did my first trail race today after 9 months away and zero pain, zero slippage in mud, rocks, grass, no blisters, what more do you whant?
I was hoping to see a more gnarly grip. I’m missing the King MT, and hoping Altra will design a new version
We're hoping that for the Superior 7, whenever it may release, that Altra does a complete redesign of the shoe. There are changes we would like to see that would make the shoe better for us and our customers.
Absolutely love the 5 it's just so light but with a bit of cushion, zero drop, tons of toe splay room, breathable etc, maybe not the most durable build but I'm light at 160-170 lbs 6'0 and nimble so they are my babies if I wanna move around on the trails, when I eventually tear em up I'll be getting another pair or grabbing the 6 just to try and the 5 might be non purchasable by then....I don't run run I just love challenging hikes so these are awesome for that you can def all day these at a rugged walk kinda day
Old video so I don’t know if you’ll see this but I’ll ask anyways I’m mostly a barefoot shoe style runner but I had the fives. I think they were five or 4.5 I can’t remember and when they got wet, the upper would just get bigger in my foot was sloppy as can be and sliding all over the place plus I didn’t have the grip was horrible like wet rock wall rainchanged a little bit a little softer that might help. What about the top is the upper changed so when it gets wet, it doesn’t turn into a sponge or a structure.
This looks like it could be the shoe I've been looking for for years... low profile, lightweight, wide toe box but not such a wide heel like Lone peaks or Hokas, minimum drop (or maybe even none?) for maximum contact... hell yeah. Now I just need to find a good sale for them.
I love the fit and feel of the superior. Is there an Altra road shoe that is similar to the superior?
The road equivalent to the Superior would be the Escalante 3. They are both in the lightweight cushion category. The Escalante has a slightly higher stack height of 24mm compared to 21mm, which gives it more cushion. In our experience, the Superior feels softer compared to the Escalante, even with 3mm less stack height. You could always use the Superior as a road shoe, but if you are looking for a designated road runner, the Escalante is your best bet.
@@RunMoore Thanks for the reply. I'm actually just looking for a shoe while I'm at work. I'm on my feet all day. I use both the superior and outroad currently. Much prefer the fit and feel of the superior, I would just prefer a more smooth service sole.
I have put a few hundred miles on my escalante. I have a 25k spartan race coming up. I am in between this and the timp 5. I have a somewhat narrow foot and think I would prefer the standard foot shape. Thoughts?
If you compare sup 6 with escalate 3 how’s the width in the toe box?
i have been running in the superior 5 and just loving the comfort of the stretchy upper but the durability of said upper have been terrible.
used 2 pairs of the 5s with same issue with the upper breaking along the edge where the stretchy material meets the midsole.
the 5s have had the best feel on foot out of any shoes i owned but the durabillity just left alot to be desiered.
then i got a pair of the superior 6 hoping the durability has been fixed and it looks like it has BUT the upper is waaaay less stretchy and that makes the mid foot to restrictive and it makes it feel narrow to the point they dont work for me at all.
RIP Altra Superior.
Question now I’m the lone pig. I have the size down my normal size. It’s just sloppy as could be and too long. Does this fit the same? My issue is I will run in a lot of minimalist barefoot type stuff but when I hit like a race that gives me like gravel or flat fryer fire road that a real sharp and stuff it’s no fun, I was thinking about this or just those races where my barefoot shoes aren’t enough is sizing correct because now I have a pair of that I wear for work and those are true so with these be also true size cause I’d be ordering them because my retailers don’t have these in stock
What is the midsole made of? Last one was quantic.
Altra hasn't disclosed the midsole technology of the new Superior 6 in our catalog; however, we have reason to believe that it is the same lightweight Quantic foam as the previous generation.
I loved my superior 4.5 but found the 5.0 lightened up almost too much and I missed the more secure structure the 4.5 had. Would you say the 6 is still more like the 5?
Yes, the Superior 6 is more similar to the Superior 5 than the 4.5.
Is it longer than the superior 5?
What are your recommendations for Ultras in Altras???
I did a 50k trail ultra in my superior 5s. Personally these offered adequate cushion for me/didn’t have any issues, and I wouldn’t want to have any more separation from the ground.
Is it a good shoe for the walk?
The Superior 6 is a good walking shoe. It is lighter on cushioning. If you plan on doing longer miles, we recommend trying the Lone Peak. It has a shorter stack height, like the superior, however, it feels comparable to a maximum cushion shoe.
How is the width in comparison to version 5? I have read version 6 is narrower with less volume. Would be problematic for me.
For me, the Superior 6 didn't fit any narrower, and the sizing felt identical to the Superior 5. I also haven't had any complaints from our customers who have gotten the Superior 6. However, everyone's experience is different. I recommend trying a pair on if you have the chance.
I have the superior and it’s good. Although I prefer the LP. And I know I’m gonna get killed for this but I’m not a fan of the burrito style tongue. Sorry everyone. Don’t hate me. Lol.
So; it's quite low profile, heading towards barefoot really ????? At 21 mm ???? Anything above 10mm is heading in the opposite direction.