Altra Escalante 4 Review - The update we've been waiting for
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Are you feeling nostalgic for the classic Escalante?
Throw your questions in the comments, and let me know what you think of the new Escalanate 4!
To read a full review of the Escalate 4 or any other foot-shaped or barefoot shoe, visit barefootrunrev....
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I love the Lone Peak 8 on the trails. For my road shoe, The Torin 7 is okay (had to go up half a size). But I really want to try out this shoe as a road running alternative.
Keen to hear your review for the Altra Escalante Racer 2.
I think this would be a good pairing with the Lone Peak. The Escalante Racer may be a bit firm in comparison. But it's a great training tool either way. I love them.
Enjoyed 👍
Thanks
Which trail shoe from Altra would you say is closest to the Escalante 4? Got the escalante 4 as my first Altra and like it. Considering a trail equivalent now...
@@ryped89 for me it's the Altra Superior. Although they are not quite as soft as the Escalante 4. For me that's ok, I like that on a trail. If you want a similar stack height the Lone Peaks can work, they're just a little deeper in fit. I hope that helps!
Any thoughts on Escalante 4 vs Magnifly 5?
I've not personally tried the Magnifly 5, but I've tried ST's in the past, and Terraventure's. I'm really not a fan of the pronounced arch support they all had. From what I've heard that's true across the whole range.
Because of that I decided not to review any more of their range. (I've only got so much time and money 😀 )
In generally, I noted that Topo's seemed to be a little wider in the midfoot, and had a little more depth than most Altra models. And the build quality seem to be better overall which I think would translate to a longer lasting shoe.
I hope that helps a little! :)
@@barefootrunreview thanks!
I tried a Topo today and immediately felt the high arch support. Escalante 4 felt perfect in comparison.
Great review! Compared to Rivera 4, what's the big difference above the more stack in Rivera?
For style, in your opinion which is more suitable for everyday wear, Escalante 3, 4 or Rivera 4?
The main difference between the Escalante and the Rivera is the fit. The Rivera's more narrow, and "fitted". The upper on the Escalante is more flexible and wider in the toe box.
For casual I'd love to recommend minimal shoes. :) but if you still need some cushion, the Escalante 4 is a good choice.
This was super helpful! Thank you so much. I've worn barefoot shoes in my everyday life and a bit weightlifting for almost 3years now (Vivos, Wildlinge, Groundies, Feelgrounds), but I want to start running again, after a 6 year break. I'm unfit and am aprox. 5-10kg over my ideal weight. Are these Altras a good choice to start? I feel like my Vivos give me not enough cushioning, since I run mostly on the street and in the woods.
@@Moscririna you could start with any option. Vivo or Altra. Using a minimal shoe may mean you have to build up a little slower due to the extra forces your body may not be used to on the feet and lower legs, but at the end of the day, when starting to run again, building slowly is good no matter what shoes you're wearing. I have a course on my website if you want to check it out, otherwise I have a ton of advice too that may help. barefootrunreview.com good luck!
@@barefootrunreview Thank you so much, I ordered the Altra and will check out your website. ❤️
how does the responsiveness of the escalante 4 compare with the racer? I sustained an injury to my ankle 2 years ago and have suffered with instability, the racer was excellent with giving stability and ground feel without being harsh, but I'm skeptical of the esc. 4 being too soft/spongy
I suggest sticking with the Racer 2. For me the Escalante 4 is soft. Sometimes I did feel like I was rolling around on the midsole, especially when I got tired.
@@barefootrunreview having to move from the Racers in the upcoming winter months unfortunately. the mesh upper means my feet get really cold as I use them for daily casual use, my foot can't tolerate conventional footwear
I've just ordered Escalante 3s, do you have any recommendations that boast the same sweet spot between responsiveness and softness as the Racer and without the problems mentioned with the Escalante 3, be it Altra or otherwise
would greatly appreciate it
I just got those, but it looks like they are not wide enough for me. Also, from what i compared sizes 10 vs 11 they have the same insole width, so that's weird. Currently I'm waiting for the escalante racer 2, because according to runrepeat they should be wider. What is your experience? Also do you have any other WIDE recommendations?
Which point of the shoe is not wide enough? I find the midfoot to be a bit snug.
Just note that measuring via the insoles is not an accurate way of measuring the shoes, as they may use the same insole across different sizes. Maybe as you've found.
Personally I've found the Escalante 4, and Escalante Racer 2 to be a very similar width, but with a bit more depth in the toe box. Overall, the sizing is similar, it's the feel where they differ the most.
For wider options, I would suggest Bahe Revive, Lems Primal, but these are more minimal than the Escalante, so you'll have to decide if that works for you.
I hope that helps!
@@barefootrunreview For me it's the transverse arch / just before the toes start + my pinky really wants freedom. Thanks for the recommendation i will check the Lems, they somehow did not pop up on my radar. I hope it will not be too minimal :)
As for the insoles, the length is different, it's the with that was the same. Maybe it changes for other sizes but the width on 10/11 looked the same
Thanks for help!
No worries.
@@TimJohnson-x1o considering we've mentioned companies use the same insoles in different sizes means we can use insoles to compare the size of shoes as you've found.
That being said. I understand what you mean by Altras not being wide. The question is. At what point are the shoes wide. If we're talking about the midfoot, they are not. If we're talking about the forefoot and toe box, then yes they are. A simple visual check will shoe you the difference in toe boxes when comparing with Hoks and New Balance like you mention.
And that brings to the point that Foot Shape, does mean wide. It means more room in the toe box, and less taper on either side of the toes. You do not see that in conventional shoes like new balance and hoka.
What do you think?
@@TimJohnson-x1o No idea how good/bad that data is, what they publish looks quite good. What I can confirm, escalante racer 2 is the widest shoe I could find (with cushioning). Checked quite a bit, including, Hoka, Topo, NB (1080 2e was my previous one). What is interesting racer 2 in 11 is even wider than an escalante 4 in 11.5. The only one that might be better is flux, but didn't try it.
It's funny, because Altra claims that this is a return to the "Original" foot shape, but, especially given this different materials, it feels much tighter on my foot than the 2.5 or even the 3
The materials on the 2.5 were VERY flexible (too much in my opinion), so I can see why this felt more loose. Although I'm confused that the 3 would feel more loose. Even though the shape of the shoe is similar, the upper materials were stiffer and more fitted, this lead to a more shallow shoe too.
Where do you feel the tightness specifically. Maybe there's an aspect we're missing that you've found.
@@TimJohnson-x1o I generally, ignore the "FootShape" Altra advertises with, I believe it adds more to the confusion that it does to help.
And with that, I think the Escalantes have been made with the same "shape" all this time, but what's changed is the upper and the midsole material.
> But I heard the made 4 much firmer in the midsole, which.. it's like why?
Where did you hear this? I'd consider the 4 much softer than the 3. But maybe not as soft as the 2.5.
Haven't tried the escalante but this is also true w/ the escalante racer 2. While the sole is more "cushiony"(not a fan really, I like the OG racer ground feel) than the OG racer, the upper of the new racer 2 is definitely tighter resulting to a restricting feeling when running.
I have an Escalante 3 that I worn out on the pinky side because I can spread my pinky really far apart. I found I don't need as much room for my big toe. My feet sit on the outer side of the toe box while there is plenty room on the inner side of the toe box. If I try to align with the toe box, the mid and rear feet won't fit. Do you have any recommendations that have similar stack height as Escalante 3?
@@yuanjiuli9167 if you've worn through the upper of the shoe, I would guess that you're rolling over the outside edge of the shoe, i.e. supination. Do you feel that's the case?
A more balanced option would be the Escalante Racer 2, giving a more solid platform. But at the same time a secure upper that stops your foot from moving around in the shoe. That could be a good option.
@@barefootrunreview I do not have supination. My mid foot stays perfectly in the shoe. My outside toe can spread out at almost 45% and I have a small big toe. I prefer shoes with less support. I find a lot of shoes with support has pronation tendency. If a shoe's upper is too rigid, I will get callus for my pinky. I just want a shoe that has more toe room for pinky not so much for the big toe.
@@yuanjiuli9167 arh ok. My mistake. I'd struggle to suggest options with cushion, but if you look at more minimal options, Realfoot and Softstars could be great options for you.
@@barefootrunreview ok thank you
What insole do you suggest to get some more depth? I tried these and my true to size felt a bit snug. I tried sizing up and then they were too long.
I usually say, any insole that you have hanging around. Most altra insoles are around 4mm thick, which is quite thick for a insole. I use some Xero Shoes insoles normally, and I know you can buy them directly from Xero Shoes if you need them.
I hope that helps!
In Altras I often just remove the insole altogether! Not sure if great for the shoe, but has worked great for me.
@@zollox97 interesting. Because most of the foot beds in Altras are a rubberised tacky material, I've never tried them insole-less. I was worried about rubbing. What distances are you running in them?
@@barefootrunreviewrunrepeat measurements have most of Altra near the 5.5mm mark. That's thick, I tried swapping out my Racer insole for more toe height but the ride changed somewhat with my thin insole from other minimalist shoes
5.5mm! 😮 I've not measured them to be that thick, but they are thicker than most. I have found they, or the midsole doesn't pack out after 50km though, so sometimes it's worth pushing through. But for me. Fit comes first for sure!