I’d love to see you compare Altra shoes, like Rivera, Escalante & Torin on where you see their roles, like everyday trainer, classes, would you chose one over the other for say 10k, 1/2 marathon, marathon.
Have all 3. Torin: recovery/long run. Rivera: do it all daily trainer. Escalante: also a do it all daily trainer but flatter and less cushion. Escalante and Rivera are a bit redundant in a sense but will appeal to different people. RIP Escalante Racer. 😢
My favorite shoe! The only thing I'd be slightly wary of is the stiffness. Since the flexibility is one thing I've always loved w/ the escalante line. I think I'll want to grab another 2.5 if it goes on sale......before I upgrade to the 3.
I can honestly say I had zero concerns about flexibility or stiffness during my initial break-in run this morning. I skipped the 2 and 2.5, so I can't speak to how they felt relative to the 3, but I'm a huge fan so far. Your call, but I think it'd be worth your giving them a shot!
Hands down the shoe I’m most excited about this year… feels so good. Definitely gonna be my everyday trainer. Ego is sick, got over 2000 miles on my OG Escalantes and the 3 feels so much more responsive and protective.
Apprehensively excited about this. Like someone else said, I’m nervous about the stiffness you mentioned, Steve. Really hoping Altra hasn’t screwed up my favourite shoe, otherwise I’ll be buying up all the 2.5s I can get my hands on (my feet on?). Thanks for another great review, Steve.
The 2.5 was a great improvement over the 2, but I still feel the 1.5 was the sweet spot. I'm curious how the 3 is going to do compared to the 1.5. Great video!
I’m with you the 1.5 was the sweet spot! 2.5 was better than 2.0 but not nearly as good as 1.5. If 3 is closer to 1.5 I may end up buying a few pairs in case they mess it up again with the next version
Yeah every version since 1.5 has been worse, basically too stiff and tight. It’s a small price to pay to allow some sideway motion of the feet inside the shoes when cutting corners in favour of allowing a really flexible and soft shoe. They should just make a reissue of the 1.5 IMO.
@@h_lundstroem I'm IMPATIENTLY waiting for the day they do a reissue of the 1.5! I will probably fill my entire guest room with all the ones available in size 12 across the different running shoe sales platforms 😂. Especially If its the original fit too!
Escalante 1.5 was my first altra, and I managed to get a pair recently which I still love. by contrast, the 2 was so terrible, I did not try the 2.5 and comments on weight and stiffness here fail to get me excited I'm afraid
Another great review, Steve. I Love Escalante and in fact I’m sat here wearing my original 1.0s as they are still looking and feeling great. And the 1.5 is still my go to road shoe, although I now have a Torin6 too after watching your review. This 3 looks great though when my 1.5s retire.
I feel like every shoe I love continues to add weight with each update. This was the same thing that happened from the original Hoka Clifton. Keep them light! Guess I should try the racer.
I've run in the Escalante 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and the Escalante Racer. They destroyed the shoe with the 2.0. Horrible shoe. They got back on track with the 2.5. Now, with the 3.0 which is stiffer and heavier, what the heck are they thinking? How do you improve a shoe by making it stiffer and heavier? Gonna have to stock up on the 2.5's.
I wish we had more women's colors to show as well, they hadn't been shipped when we were filming, but the Navy/Coral is our store's favorite women's color right now. Thanks for watching!
we need this kinda stable wide outsole and more upper volume roomy toebox(like paradigm style) but we also need flexible lower stack height light shoe. so we just need a wider and more stable 22-25mm height with more roomy daily fit upper or lower stack height lightweight paradigm 5 . snuggish midfoot fit, stiffness and bulkiness is not the way. just bring us the ultimate shoe altra, everybody is looking for it. wider feet people deserve lighter stable comfort. a side note: i dont prefer white midsole color, it spoils the overall look coherence, just prefer darker tones.
Perfect timing! I’m in the market for a pair of Altras to replace my aging (and very sadly discontinued) Kayentas. I cut my zero-drop running teeth in several pairs of the Escalante 1.5, so I’m super psyched to give the 3 a shot after skipping the last few versions, albeit feeling a little cautious about the stiffness you mentioned. Still hopeful, though. Also, thanks for taking time to pass along your thoughts! I’ll be sure to respond to this comment once I’ve had a chance to get some miles in with a pair of these.
@@RunMoore Happy to report I got a 6k break-in run in with my new 3s this morning - and they felt fantastic! A couple initial thoughts post-run: • They've pretty noticeably gained weight since the 1.5, but I'll consider a worthwhile trade-off for the added underfoot rubber. Seriously, these things grip for days! I have no doubts that the outsole will easily last at least the 400-500mi that my 1.5s did. • It legitimately feels like they built these shoes around my feet. I realize we all have different preferences, but I definitely have no concerns about width or flexibility from my end, even with my relatively wide forefoot and strong, highly flexible feet. • I'm a U.S. Size 12 across the board but was swimming in the 12s I originally ordered (easily two thumbs' width between my toes and the end of the shoe). At least for me, going down a half size was perfect. Everything else I'd have said, you already did in your video, so no need to repeat! Also, thanks to the Run Moore team for their work in getting my shoes sent. I'll definitely be back in the future!
Thanks for the review, i had bought my first ever Altra, Escalante 2.5, after watching your detailed review. Would you please tell us below things as well? 1) the heel support in Escalante 3? Is it tough or kind of sloppy like in 2.5? 2) will it work good for tempos, intervals and speed sessions?
Another exciting review, Steve. I LOVE my Escalante 1.5s, i grabbed a second pair in sale whilst they were still around and just started the second pair. the first pair i use with the stoneguard from my old Superior 3.5s for dry trails! versatile as you say 🙂 The 3 looks a great shoe but i guess in comparison to the 1.5 it will be heavier, stiffer but more padded?
That's my experience so far, too. It's noticeably heavier than the 1.5 but still strikes a great balance between cushion level (both in the upper and the midsole) and dialed-in fit. I'll take the added weight in exchange for the additional outsole rubber, though!
My big problem with that model here in the South was breathability Any news if they’re going to keep the racer I’ve heard rumors that the racer is gone I would still love them to bring back to Vannish-r
I have two pairs of the Escalante 3. One of them I wear as casual sneakers and I have the other one for slow running. They are still fun to run in but lets face it - they are heavy. I really love the way these shoes feel but I wouldn't try to set any records in this shoe. I also wouldn't wear them on long runs because as a 2023 running shoe, they are heavy. I mean, they are almost 100g heavier than e.g. Asics Tri Noosa 14 of the same size. I still hope altra keeps making them because these are my casual sneakers I still want to buy 3 years from now - yes - that's how much I like them. Unfortunately, altra apears to be letting me down with the Escalante Racer..... they are only still available in the least fun colorway and I think these are the last ones that will ever be made... it's such a shame.
as long as it isn't too sloppy in the upper - my biggest peeve with the 2.5 - its a great casual shoe and ok for the occasional run but so disappointing when you want to do some pacy workouts. No doubt we will see it here in six months or so ... disadvantages of living at the edge of the world - thanks for the review Steve .. do you ever get feedback from your in-store customers on the shoes you sell .. say after 3 months or so ??
It feels like this version has a little less wiggle room in the upper than the 2.5, which will probably cut down on that sloppy feeling. We often get feedback from customers, it helps us inform people in the future!
Thanks for the review! I see Altra is using a new 3-tier scale for their Footshape fit now, and this one is shown as "standard", which is a little slimmer than "original". I tried on some Escalante 2.5s that felt pretty close to my old Altra Ones (which I really loved), do these still have a pretty roomy toebox like the Escalante 2.5? Or did they slim it down a little?
I'm honestly wondering why they changed the tier for the 3. I have an average-width midfoot and relatively wide forefoot, and I can say that the 3s are the perfect width for me. Zero concerns about width from my end.
Great review!! I'm curious, I have a pair of Rivera 1s, which is a UK 9.5 and really fits well. Does the Escalante 3 fit more or less the same as the Rivera, or should I go down 0,5 seeing as the Rivera is supposedly a little bit narrower?
The Altra Rivera fits a pinch shorter and a little narrower. The Escalante 3 has Altra's Standard Footshape toebox, while the Rivera has the Slim Footshape toebox. The Escalante 3 fits true to size and the Rivera runs short.
The E2 was too stiff. Was like a board and the upper was too rigid. The 2.5 went too far the other way and was too flexible with too much stretch in the upper. Hoping the E3 lands somewhere in the middle. To me, this looks like it should be called the Escalate 2.6, not necessarily a bad thing. I'll buy it as soon as it hits.
I work at a big box store, and the floor is straight up concrete, with no give. I'm in love with Lone Peaks, but was wondering if this would be considered the "road" alternative to Lone Peak/trail shoes. Any help is appreciated!
thanks for the update about the new shoe. how does the sizing and width compare to the previous escalante 2.5? altra seems to be going more and more narrow and the escalante 2.5 was one of the last shoes of theirs which is still wide enough for me, hoping they've maintained the fit on the new version. thanks
Hi Steve, I was thinking about picking up a pair of Altra’s for my Elliptical due to the foot shaped toe box. Do you think this would be a good model for that?
I wrestle with this question. Ignoring the toe box the Rivera is lighter and better cushioned with a slight rocker. The Escalante 3 is flatter and firmer and better for the gym. Not a question of which is better, more a question of which type of IPA do you prefer.
So on the previous models of the Escalante, I had found that the front of the toe box was short, even when I went up a 1/2 size. I measure a 10.5 and the 11 was still short. I bought the 12, which seems crazy. It was a little to loose on the sides, but the toe box was long enough. I was wondering if the toe box on the 3 is any longer so that I could buy the correct size of 11 for a better fit all around.
Interesting. How does the ride compare to the Escalante 2.0? A lot of people didn't like the firmness of the 2.0. I did. I didn't migrate to the 2.5 for that reason. I found the 2.5 too mushy. Instead I went with the Racer because it was more responsive. Also, how would you compare it to some other lower drop shoes like the Saucony Kinvara 13 or other shoes in the 0-4mm drop zone with similar stack heights?
I'm really unsure which Altra shoe i should use. For the last half year i've been running in the Paradigm 6 (most cushioning) to be on the safe side. Because i'm dealing with shin splints and other issues below the knee. On the other hand i love running more barefoot, so with less stack height like Escalante versions. It's unclear to me which sole thickness is best for injury prevention
Not all Hoka models run the exact same size, but these run true to size, which tends to be about half a size larger than the Clifton. Ex: a 7 in Clinton would likely be a 7.5 in the Escalante
Hi Steve, The length of my feet is exactly 29.5cm which is a US size 11.5. When I buy the Escalante 3, do you think I should get a size 11.5, or do you think I should go half a size up and get a US size 12?
I love the concepts that Altra has done with running shoes.....yes there is a 'but'......I have a 5E foot and Altra makes only one width. Too bad for me.
Looks like the stiffness is from the full rubber outsole. The old ones had bigger flex grooves on their outsole. Personally, I use this shoe casually and in the gym, so I am excited to hear that it is more stable and stiffer.
Hi Steve, The Altra website says that the Escalante 3 is a "standard fit", but in this video, you said that it is "original Width". Do you have confirmation from Altra whether it is the Altra standard fit or the original fit for the Escalante 3?
How would you compare the 3 to the 2 in terms of width? The 2 was definitely a little snugger than all the other escalantes. I didn't love it, but it was okay. Thanks!
Is the standard width (widest of the new 3)wider than the 2.5? And is the material on top stretchy for my pinky toe that likes to stick out even on the 1.5 and 2.5. I love that stretchy material.
Hi, do you think these would be OK for a mixture of road and light trail such as dry dirt tracks and canal towpaths which have lots of small gravelly stones? I don't think Altra have a 'door to trail' low to moderate cushioned shoe? A dedicated trail shoe would be overkill for the light trail I think, especially as about 30% of my run tends to be on the road.
You said these are the original width but I thought I heard they’re the new standard fit? I was disappointed in that so I hope they are original. Anyone know for sure?
We are asking our rep because the Altra b2b catalog we ordered from says original fit, but the general Altra site says standard. However, comparing the shoes directly, the Escalante is wider than other standard fit shoes, like the Provision.
Does anyone know if the Altra Escalante 3 and the Torin 6 shoes have enough width and space to comfortably wear toe spacers like the CorrectToes, inside of the shoes?
It depends on the width of your spacers, but typically, yes. The Torin is a little wider than the Escalante so it would likely be your best option, although it runs a little small so try a half size up from your typical shoe size.
@@RunMoore Steve, do you think that the Torin 6 normal version will be wide enough to use with toe spaces, or do you think that I will only be able to use toe spacers effectively with the Torin 6 wide edition?
The Clifton probably fits the widest, although the Bondi is available in the widest options (it goes up to 4E). If you're referring to the Fresh Foam More v3, yes, it does have a rocker in the midsole.
Can anyone explain why in the hell Altra ditched the Quantic midsole? Their Ego midsole is concrete compared. I've hoarded 6 pairs of the torin 4.5 plush because it's the last of Quantic
the real issue is any review you do is going to be more of an advertisement than an actual review just because of the structural incentives involves. I still like watching your "reviews" but I understand that they aren't actually reviews. When the new version comes out you'll be more comfortable to give the previous model some actual criticism albeit very mildly. If you disagree, please link me to any review you've ever done where you said, this is not a good product, don't buy it. I would bet your response to this would be something like, if it's not a good shoe then we won't carry it in the first place, which is a fair point but doesn't entirely absolve the contradiction.
The racer has a lower stack height and weighs a little less. That's really it. The midsole technology between the two is the same, just a little more slimmed down and speedy feel but no more bells and whistles on the tech side.
@@RunMoore I have been using Vivo stealth 3 for a couple years and for a couple years I do get soreness on calves and Achilles after running (every now and then). I've taken the leap of faith and got myself a racer and been using it about 5 times this week. I can definitely say that I can run a couple more miles with this but at the same time, might right foot started that feeling like just before you get pins and needles after running for 2-3 miles. It actually feels like my sock has moved and folded underneath the foot even though it's not it. (Hope I'm making sense). As soon as I stop for a rest (30 secs or so), that feeling is gone and I can run again. Sock definitely not folder underneath my foot. Any idea why?
The Escalante is a pretty good road racing shoe, it's very light and bouncy. One of our store regulars ran a 17-minute 5k in Escalantes as a 54-year-old!!
For now, it is the Escalante. It has the lowest stack height and lowest arch of their collection. I wish they had one even more flexible and lower stack height though. I think a super duper minimal shoe would be good for their lineup.
meh. Nothing will ever compare to Escalante v1.0 for me. The rest is utter crap. V1 was perfect, you just had to maybe size down a bit and you had yourself a fantastic shoe.
Yikes…almost 10 ounces. All sounded pretty good until I heard that. Looks like I’m gonna be sticking to the Rivera as my workout shoe; they officially killed off my use case for the Escalante. Or maybe buy up a few pairs of Escalante Racers while I still can? I know the Vanish Tempo is coming but I don’t see much use for getting both the T and the C. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Thanks for pointing this out. I assumed the Escalante was always going to be the lightest shoe. But nope. You're right. The new Rivera is lighter than the new Escalante. Oh...now I'm torn. I loved the Escalante 2.5 so much more than the Rivera 1. The Rivera just felt bulkier, but now? Who knows...
I have less allegiance to the Escalante than I do the Escalante Racer. The Escalante Racer always felt to me like what the Escalante should be. The Racer is a much better fast day shoe than the regular Escalante to me. It’s easier for me to go faster, especially when beat up, in the Rivera vs the Escalante, and that’s why I like the Rivera as a replacement for the Escalante. The Escalante I feel is trying to be both shoes without really being as good as either. But now they’re killing off the Racer (Vanish Carbon is nice tho) so even though it at times feels like more shoe to me than the Escalante it also is easier for me to go faster in than the Escalante. Torin is a better long run shoe than either.
@@soofitnsexy The 3 has just a tad bit more cushion, so it depends on how you feel about that. SO far the people in store who have tried it have enjoyed it.
The Escalante was my introduction into zero drop shoes. It's absolutely amazing and such a difference between your standard 8mm drop.
I’m looking at this as a first timer into the zero heel to toe drop. Did you go straight to zero or change it gradually?
I’d love to see you compare Altra shoes, like Rivera, Escalante & Torin on where you see their roles, like everyday trainer, classes, would you chose one over the other for say 10k, 1/2 marathon, marathon.
👆🏻this
Agreed
Oooh let’s do a collab Steve😉
We will add that to the list!
Have all 3. Torin: recovery/long run. Rivera: do it all daily trainer. Escalante: also a do it all daily trainer but flatter and less cushion. Escalante and Rivera are a bit redundant in a sense but will appeal to different people.
RIP Escalante Racer. 😢
My favorite shoe! The only thing I'd be slightly wary of is the stiffness. Since the flexibility is one thing I've always loved w/ the escalante line. I think I'll want to grab another 2.5 if it goes on sale......before I upgrade to the 3.
Hopefully, you love it!
I can honestly say I had zero concerns about flexibility or stiffness during my initial break-in run this morning. I skipped the 2 and 2.5, so I can't speak to how they felt relative to the 3, but I'm a huge fan so far. Your call, but I think it'd be worth your giving them a shot!
Nice! Price went up $10. Also see they changed the sole of the shoe. Looks somewhat similar to the Torin. Thanks Steve! Keep 'em coming! 😃👍
Thanks for watching!
Hands down the shoe I’m most excited about this year… feels so good. Definitely gonna be my everyday trainer. Ego is sick, got over 2000 miles on my OG Escalantes and the 3 feels so much more responsive and protective.
We are excited too!
Apprehensively excited about this. Like someone else said, I’m nervous about the stiffness you mentioned, Steve. Really hoping Altra hasn’t screwed up my favourite shoe, otherwise I’ll be buying up all the 2.5s I can get my hands on (my feet on?). Thanks for another great review, Steve.
Thanks for watching!
The 2.5 was a great improvement over the 2, but I still feel the 1.5 was the sweet spot. I'm curious how the 3 is going to do compared to the 1.5. Great video!
You'll have to test it out!
I’m with you the 1.5 was the sweet spot! 2.5 was better than 2.0 but not nearly as good as 1.5. If 3 is closer to 1.5 I may end up buying a few pairs in case they mess it up again with the next version
@@onyotseagbese97 We hope you like them!
Yeah every version since 1.5 has been worse, basically too stiff and tight. It’s a small price to pay to allow some sideway motion of the feet inside the shoes when cutting corners in favour of allowing a really flexible and soft shoe. They should just make a reissue of the 1.5 IMO.
@@h_lundstroem I'm IMPATIENTLY waiting for the day they do a reissue of the 1.5! I will probably fill my entire guest room with all the ones available in size 12 across the different running shoe sales platforms 😂. Especially If its the original fit too!
Great info! This is my FAVORITE shoe! These shoes are scarce right now...so I am looking forward to these being available soon!
Escalante 1.5 was my first altra, and I managed to get a pair recently which I still love. by contrast, the 2 was so terrible, I did not try the 2.5 and comments on weight and stiffness here fail to get me excited I'm afraid
Another great review, Steve. I Love Escalante and in fact I’m sat here wearing my original 1.0s as they are still looking and feeling great. And the 1.5 is still my go to road shoe, although I now have a Torin6 too after watching your review.
This 3 looks great though when my 1.5s retire.
We appreciate the support! When you try out the 3s let us know how you feel about them.
I feel like every shoe I love continues to add weight with each update. This was the same thing that happened from the original Hoka Clifton. Keep them light! Guess I should try the racer.
I've run in the Escalante 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and the Escalante Racer. They destroyed the shoe with the 2.0. Horrible shoe. They got back on track with the 2.5. Now, with the 3.0 which is stiffer and heavier, what the heck are they thinking? How do you improve a shoe by making it stiffer and heavier? Gonna have to stock up on the 2.5's.
Excited about this shoe (wish you'd shown some colors for ladies). Great review that really let me know what's different.
I wish we had more women's colors to show as well, they hadn't been shipped when we were filming, but the Navy/Coral is our store's favorite women's color right now. Thanks for watching!
Exactly what I am looking for. Would be great
Thanks for a great review, can't wait to try it. escalante 2.5 is definitely my favorite altra (yes, I also run in torin and rivera)😎
We hope you like it, thanks for watching!
Just got my first ultras and I bought these, so I hope they’re good
the rubber sole tread looks like it will grip in the damp/wet better then the v2
Definitely seems like a more substantial outsole!
I loved the Altra escalnte 2, wide and soft for roads. Anything like that available, I do not mean nd if it is not an Altra shoe.
we need this kinda stable wide outsole and more upper volume roomy toebox(like paradigm style) but we also need flexible lower stack height light shoe.
so we just need a wider and more stable 22-25mm height with more roomy daily fit upper or lower stack height lightweight paradigm 5 . snuggish midfoot fit, stiffness and bulkiness is not the way.
just bring us the ultimate shoe altra, everybody is looking for it. wider feet people deserve lighter stable comfort.
a side note: i dont prefer white midsole color, it spoils the overall look coherence, just prefer darker tones.
Perfect timing! I’m in the market for a pair of Altras to replace my aging (and very sadly discontinued) Kayentas. I cut my zero-drop running teeth in several pairs of the Escalante 1.5, so I’m super psyched to give the 3 a shot after skipping the last few versions, albeit feeling a little cautious about the stiffness you mentioned. Still hopeful, though.
Also, thanks for taking time to pass along your thoughts! I’ll be sure to respond to this comment once I’ve had a chance to get some miles in with a pair of these.
You will have to update us after giving them a shot!
@@RunMoore Happy to report I got a 6k break-in run in with my new 3s this morning - and they felt fantastic!
A couple initial thoughts post-run:
• They've pretty noticeably gained weight since the 1.5, but I'll consider a worthwhile trade-off for the added underfoot rubber. Seriously, these things grip for days! I have no doubts that the outsole will easily last at least the 400-500mi that my 1.5s did.
• It legitimately feels like they built these shoes around my feet. I realize we all have different preferences, but I definitely have no concerns about width or flexibility from my end, even with my relatively wide forefoot and strong, highly flexible feet.
• I'm a U.S. Size 12 across the board but was swimming in the 12s I originally ordered (easily two thumbs' width between my toes and the end of the shoe). At least for me, going down a half size was perfect.
Everything else I'd have said, you already did in your video, so no need to repeat! Also, thanks to the Run Moore team for their work in getting my shoes sent. I'll definitely be back in the future!
@@Josiah.McGuckin So glad you liked it!
Thanks for the review, i had bought my first ever Altra, Escalante 2.5, after watching your detailed review.
Would you please tell us below things as well?
1) the heel support in Escalante 3? Is it tough or kind of sloppy like in 2.5?
2) will it work good for tempos, intervals and speed sessions?
Another exciting review, Steve. I LOVE my Escalante 1.5s, i grabbed a second pair in sale whilst they were still around and just started the second pair. the first pair i use with the stoneguard from my old Superior 3.5s for dry trails! versatile as you say 🙂 The 3 looks a great shoe but i guess in comparison to the 1.5 it will be heavier, stiffer but more padded?
That's what we think so far, I am looking forward to getting more feedback from customers.
That's my experience so far, too. It's noticeably heavier than the 1.5 but still strikes a great balance between cushion level (both in the upper and the midsole) and dialed-in fit. I'll take the added weight in exchange for the additional outsole rubber, though!
.5 numbering system was when they only updated the upper portion of the shoe and kept the same midsole.
My big problem with that model here in the South was breathability
Any news if they’re going to keep the racer I’ve heard rumors that the racer is gone I would still love them to bring back to Vannish-r
I have two pairs of the Escalante 3. One of them I wear as casual sneakers and I have the other one for slow running. They are still fun to run in but lets face it - they are heavy. I really love the way these shoes feel but I wouldn't try to set any records in this shoe. I also wouldn't wear them on long runs because as a 2023 running shoe, they are heavy. I mean, they are almost 100g heavier than e.g. Asics Tri Noosa 14 of the same size. I still hope altra keeps making them because these are my casual sneakers I still want to buy 3 years from now - yes - that's how much I like them. Unfortunately, altra apears to be letting me down with the Escalante Racer..... they are only still available in the least fun colorway and I think these are the last ones that will ever be made... it's such a shame.
The 1.5 was the best. I’m still waiting for the 1.5 in a new form.
as long as it isn't too sloppy in the upper - my biggest peeve with the 2.5 - its a great casual shoe and ok for the occasional run but so disappointing when you want to do some pacy workouts. No doubt we will see it here in six months or so ... disadvantages of living at the edge of the world - thanks for the review Steve .. do you ever get feedback from your in-store customers on the shoes you sell .. say after 3 months or so ??
It feels like this version has a little less wiggle room in the upper than the 2.5, which will probably cut down on that sloppy feeling. We often get feedback from customers, it helps us inform people in the future!
Thanks for the review! I see Altra is using a new 3-tier scale for their Footshape fit now, and this one is shown as "standard", which is a little slimmer than "original". I tried on some Escalante 2.5s that felt pretty close to my old Altra Ones (which I really loved), do these still have a pretty roomy toebox like the Escalante 2.5? Or did they slim it down a little?
Yes, it still has the wide toebox of the 2.5, although the upper material is not as stretchy as the 2.5.
I'm honestly wondering why they changed the tier for the 3. I have an average-width midfoot and relatively wide forefoot, and I can say that the 3s are the perfect width for me. Zero concerns about width from my end.
@@Josiah.McGuckin Good to hear.
Great review!! I'm curious, I have a pair of Rivera 1s, which is a UK 9.5 and really fits well. Does the Escalante 3 fit more or less the same as the Rivera, or should I go down 0,5 seeing as the Rivera is supposedly a little bit narrower?
The Altra Rivera fits a pinch shorter and a little narrower. The Escalante 3 has Altra's Standard Footshape toebox, while the Rivera has the Slim Footshape toebox. The Escalante 3 fits true to size and the Rivera runs short.
great review! thanks for the info. I supinate a bit and it really impacts my left foot. I have the 2.5s. Are the 3s a bit wider?
The 3s are about the same width as the 2.5, if you supinate, the Altra Provision would be a good model to look into.
The E2 was too stiff. Was like a board and the upper was too rigid. The 2.5 went too far the other way and was too flexible with too much stretch in the upper. Hoping the E3 lands somewhere in the middle. To me, this looks like it should be called the Escalate 2.6, not necessarily a bad thing. I'll buy it as soon as it hits.
It's it good for Morton's Neuroma
I work at a big box store, and the floor is straight up concrete, with no give.
I'm in love with Lone Peaks, but was wondering if this would be considered the "road" alternative to Lone Peak/trail shoes.
Any help is appreciated!
thanks for the update about the new shoe. how does the sizing and width compare to the previous escalante 2.5? altra seems to be going more and more narrow and the escalante 2.5 was one of the last shoes of theirs which is still wide enough for me, hoping they've maintained the fit on the new version. thanks
The length and width fits are the same as the 2.5, however, the upper material is a little less stretchy than the previous version.
For marathon training (40-50 miles per week on roads/sidewalks, including long runs up to 20 miles), do you recommend Escalante 3 or Torin 6?
Hi Steve, I was thinking about picking up a pair of Altra’s for my Elliptical due to the foot shaped toe box. Do you think this would be a good model for that?
Would this be a good workout shoe? Meaning: can i train plyometrics and HIIT in it?
The Escalante line is great shoe to use for plymotreics and HIIT in. Probably one of the better is not the best option for those kind of gym days.
@@RunMoore Perfect. That's literally all i needed to read. Thank you, so very much!
Does it make sense to buy the Escalante 3 when you already have the Rivera 2? Or are they to similar?
These two versions are pretty similar, with the Rivera offering just a little more cushion.
I wrestle with this question. Ignoring the toe box the Rivera is lighter and better cushioned with a slight rocker. The Escalante 3 is flatter and firmer and better for the gym. Not a question of which is better, more a question of which type of IPA do you prefer.
@@1980fack1025 Great point!
Why are the shoes $154 and not $140 on your website?
There was a syncing error when we uploaded the shoes to our site. It has been fixed!
So on the previous models of the Escalante, I had found that the front of the toe box was short, even when I went up a 1/2 size. I measure a 10.5 and the 11 was still short. I bought the 12, which seems crazy. It was a little to loose on the sides, but the toe box was long enough. I was wondering if the toe box on the 3 is any longer so that I could buy the correct size of 11 for a better fit all around.
It fits the same as the previous model, although we have found the 2.5 to run very true to size.
Is it a good shoe for long training runs? And also for a full marathon?
Interesting. How does the ride compare to the Escalante 2.0? A lot of people didn't like the firmness of the 2.0. I did. I didn't migrate to the 2.5 for that reason. I found the 2.5 too mushy. Instead I went with the Racer because it was more responsive.
Also, how would you compare it to some other lower drop shoes like the Saucony Kinvara 13 or other shoes in the 0-4mm drop zone with similar stack heights?
The Escalante 3 is definitely a little firmer than the 2.5. It is also much more responsive than the Saucony. Kinvara or the retired Virata
Hey . . . Any WORD on the RACER, new version ? ? ?
I have a pair of olympus 4, will the same size escalantes fit my feet as well?
I'm really unsure which Altra shoe i should use. For the last half year i've been running in the Paradigm 6 (most cushioning) to be on the safe side. Because i'm dealing with shin splints and other issues below the knee. On the other hand i love running more barefoot, so with less stack height like Escalante versions. It's unclear to me which sole thickness is best for injury prevention
How is sizing? If you compare to Hoka would it be the same size? Thanks
Not all Hoka models run the exact same size, but these run true to size, which tends to be about half a size larger than the Clifton. Ex: a 7 in Clinton would likely be a 7.5 in the Escalante
How does the upper on the 3.0 compare to that of the Racer? I live in a really hilly area and I found that my foot slid forward a lot in the 2.5
Hi Steve,
The length of my feet is exactly 29.5cm which is a US size 11.5.
When I buy the Escalante 3, do you think I should get a size 11.5, or do you think I should go half a size up and get a US size 12?
12 your toes will thank you
Hows the fit/support compared to the torin 6?
I love the concepts that Altra has done with running shoes.....yes there is a 'but'......I have a 5E foot and Altra makes only one width. Too bad for me.
The Altra Torin comes in a wide version that is equivalent to a 4E from other brands.
Looks like the stiffness is from the full rubber outsole. The old ones had bigger flex grooves on their outsole. Personally, I use this shoe casually and in the gym, so I am excited to hear that it is more stable and stiffer.
Hopefully you will love it!
Have you tried the escalate racers? Even better for the gym.
@@landonp.4073 Thye are great shoes!
Looks like the Escalante 3 is similar to the Torin 4 (my favorite Altra shoe). How is the ground feel compared to the Torin 4?
It is similar, thanks for watching!
Hi Steve,
The Altra website says that the Escalante 3 is a "standard fit", but in this video, you said that it is "original Width".
Do you have confirmation from Altra whether it is the Altra standard fit or the original fit for the Escalante 3?
We have not gotten a straight answer from Altra on this, their website and dealers catalog contradict each other
@@RunMoore I will contact Altra directly myself and let you know what they say.
@@prabdeeppanesar35 Please let us know if you get a definite response, we have talked directly with the company and are still unsure
After two years this is the update? heavier shoes.. Just a disappointment!
Definitely would go on the Riviera 2 .
How would you compare the 3 to the 2 in terms of width? The 2 was definitely a little snugger than all the other escalantes. I didn't love it, but it was okay. Thanks!
The 3 is the same width as the 2.5, with the small caveat that the upper isn't as stretchy so it seems slightly more narrow
@@RunMoore Awesome. Thanks so much!
Is the standard width (widest of the new 3)wider than the 2.5? And is the material on top stretchy for my pinky toe that likes to stick out even on the 1.5 and 2.5. I love that stretchy material.
It is the same width as the 2.5, with the distinction that the new upper material is not quite as stretchy as the 2.5.
They screwed it all up on the #2.. corrected it on the 2.5… Let’s hope this isn’t super stiff
Agreed and even then I don't feel like the 2.5 was fully fixed. I still feel the 1.5 was the sweet spot.
You'll have to try it out!
Honestly I think it’s about as stiff as the 2. It’s definitely stiffer than the 2.5.
Hi, do you think these would be OK for a mixture of road and light trail such as dry dirt tracks and canal towpaths which have lots of small gravelly stones? I don't think Altra have a 'door to trail' low to moderate cushioned shoe? A dedicated trail shoe would be overkill for the light trail I think, especially as about 30% of my run tends to be on the road.
check out the new Altra Outroad. I think what you described here is perfect for the outroad!
@@zulkhaireesulaiman8575 awesome, thanks for the heads-up, I just had a look and you're right it could be the ideal shoe.
You said these are the original width but I thought I heard they’re the new standard fit? I was disappointed in that so I hope they are original. Anyone know for sure?
We are asking our rep because the Altra b2b catalog we ordered from says original fit, but the general Altra site says standard. However, comparing the shoes directly, the Escalante is wider than other standard fit shoes, like the Provision.
Does anyone know if the Altra Escalante 3 and the Torin 6 shoes have enough width and space to comfortably wear toe spacers like the CorrectToes, inside of the shoes?
It depends on the width of your spacers, but typically, yes. The Torin is a little wider than the Escalante so it would likely be your best option, although it runs a little small so try a half size up from your typical shoe size.
@@RunMoore Thank you very much for confirming Steve. I greatly appreciate it.
@@RunMoore Steve, do you think that the Torin 6 normal version will be wide enough to use with toe spaces, or do you think that I will only be able to use toe spacers effectively with the Torin 6 wide edition?
How does the width compare to 2.5??
It keeps the same width but does not have as stretchy of an upper material as the 2.5.
Is it actually heavier than the Rivera?
Yep, I think they always were and now even more so! The Rivera is an unsung hero, just wish they'd make it look a bit nicer.
@@MattGirvanNZ Thanks!
Hey Steve. WHich hoka shoe fits the widest? also, do you know if the New Balance Fresh foam v3 has a stiff rocker like the bondi 7?
The Clifton probably fits the widest, although the Bondi is available in the widest options (it goes up to 4E). If you're referring to the Fresh Foam More v3, yes, it does have a rocker in the midsole.
It's 25mm.
for a review, might not be a good isea to cover half the shoe with your hand. Hiding something?
Can anyone explain why in the hell Altra ditched the Quantic midsole? Their Ego midsole is concrete compared. I've hoarded 6 pairs of the torin 4.5 plush because it's the last of Quantic
The Ego midsole is more responsive and more durable, although you are right that it is not as plush.
Unfortunate to see the Escalante is heavier than the Torin. I want to stick with Altra, but their last few releases have pushed me away.
Hey Steve. Other then hoka brand. Anyone one there making stiff forefoot rockers ? Looking for a wide fit running shoe with stiff rocker
the real issue is any review you do is going to be more of an advertisement than an actual review just because of the structural incentives involves. I still like watching your "reviews" but I understand that they aren't actually reviews. When the new version comes out you'll be more comfortable to give the previous model some actual criticism albeit very mildly. If you disagree, please link me to any review you've ever done where you said, this is not a good product, don't buy it. I would bet your response to this would be something like, if it's not a good shoe then we won't carry it in the first place, which is a fair point but doesn't entirely absolve the contradiction.
Do you ship to the Philippines?
As of right now we only ship to the 50 states, US Terrorities, and APOs, FPOs, and DPOs.
how is it versus the escalante racer,?
It definitely weighs more and is not as flexible or responsive as the racer.
Any idea if an XT version is in the works?
Solstice XT is Altra’s cross trainer
@@1980fack1025 thanks confused the two, they look so similar
how is this compared to racer please? thanks
The racer has a lower stack height and weighs a little less. That's really it. The midsole technology between the two is the same, just a little more slimmed down and speedy feel but no more bells and whistles on the tech side.
@@RunMoore I have been using Vivo stealth 3 for a couple years and for a couple years I do get soreness on calves and Achilles after running (every now and then). I've taken the leap of faith and got myself a racer and been using it about 5 times this week. I can definitely say that I can run a couple more miles with this but at the same time, might right foot started that feeling like just before you get pins and needles after running for 2-3 miles. It actually feels like my sock has moved and folded underneath the foot even though it's not it. (Hope I'm making sense). As soon as I stop for a rest (30 secs or so), that feeling is gone and I can run again. Sock definitely not folder underneath my foot. Any idea why?
The upper looks warm. Is it as dense as it looks?
Yes, the upper has always been dense like this. Get the racer if you really want a breathable shoe.
Get the racer while you can…it’s being discontinued.
It is relatively dense but is not as warm as it looks in my experience.
@@1980fack1025 Thanks for the heads up! The Racer is my favorite Altra.
It's good for running a 5000 Meter under 20 minutes?
The Escalante is a pretty good road racing shoe, it's very light and bouncy. One of our store regulars ran a 17-minute 5k in Escalantes as a 54-year-old!!
@@RunMoore woooow with the escalante 2.5 or with the Racer?
What the new Rivera should’ve been.
발가락을다쳐 불편을겪는 내가 지난 6년간 두컬레를 신었는데 그 신발을 구하지못해서 짜증이난다
알트라신발은 넘좋다
Which is the most barefoot altra shoes?
For now, it is the Escalante. It has the lowest stack height and lowest arch of their collection. I wish they had one even more flexible and lower stack height though. I think a super duper minimal shoe would be good for their lineup.
meh. Nothing will ever compare to Escalante v1.0 for me. The rest is utter crap. V1 was perfect, you just had to maybe size down a bit and you had yourself a fantastic shoe.
First to comment!! Yaayyyyyyye 😐😐😐
Yikes…almost 10 ounces. All sounded pretty good until I heard that. Looks like I’m gonna be sticking to the Rivera as my workout shoe; they officially killed off my use case for the Escalante. Or maybe buy up a few pairs of Escalante Racers while I still can? I know the Vanish Tempo is coming but I don’t see much use for getting both the T and the C. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Why, is the racer being discontinued or something? That to me is their best shoe but maybe I prefer less cushioning.
@@rashb3994 Yes, being discontinued. Not sure when but it is being discontinued
@@1980fack1025 Dang. Okay thanks!
Thanks for pointing this out. I assumed the Escalante was always going to be the lightest shoe. But nope. You're right. The new Rivera is lighter than the new Escalante. Oh...now I'm torn. I loved the Escalante 2.5 so much more than the Rivera 1. The Rivera just felt bulkier, but now? Who knows...
I have less allegiance to the Escalante than I do the Escalante Racer. The Escalante Racer always felt to me like what the Escalante should be. The Racer is a much better fast day shoe than the regular Escalante to me. It’s easier for me to go faster, especially when beat up, in the Rivera vs the Escalante, and that’s why I like the Rivera as a replacement for the Escalante. The Escalante I feel is trying to be both shoes without really being as good as either. But now they’re killing off the Racer (Vanish Carbon is nice tho) so even though it at times feels like more shoe to me than the Escalante it also is easier for me to go faster in than the Escalante. Torin is a better long run shoe than either.
awesome...how is the toe box is there enough room for the big toe?? thnks
Yes, the Escalante is still a nice wide Altra like the previous model.
@@RunMoore just got the esclante 2.5 here in nyc love it...is the 3 superior? Im a light runner nothing serious...thanks
@@soofitnsexy The 3 has just a tad bit more cushion, so it depends on how you feel about that. SO far the people in store who have tried it have enjoyed it.
@@RunMoore thanks so much!!nothing wrong with a bit more pillow!!
@@soofitnsexy Quite agree!
Fit on the 2.5 was simply awful.