@@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
Ultimately one maximizes shareholder value by producing the very best product for runners by runners. This is the ideal and the truest form of capitalism. When can argue that "crony capitalism" is a substantial problem in the world now. However, throwing around "maximizing shareholder value" as a negative indicates you've been suckered into some form of Communism.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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 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.
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 CEO of Vibram USA back in 2001, 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
I’m a long time Altra wearer and Thru Hiker. I share your pain. I tried Topos a couple of years ago on the CDT. Loved the durability but could not adjust to the way the toe kicks up. When I’m standing barefoot my toes do not kick upward so I don’t want my shoes to force that position. Caused toe blisters for me. If Topo would fix that, I’d be wearing Topos.
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.
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.
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.
fwiw, I use shoe goo too build up the wear on the soles of my altras. I walk for exercise mainly on pavement and the shoe goo helps the shoe last longer when I get uneven wear on the sole.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sad to hear! My lone peak 6 (wide version) are still holding up pretty good after 2 years and hundreds of km. I use them for walking and hiking. No running. (I'm no pro athlete. I just like to walk and hike.) The only thing that is almost gone now is the grip on the outsole. Walking on snow in the mountains this year was not the best feeling. It's by far the best shoe I ever bought. It took me a bit to get used to them, but I can walk in those shoes nonstop without my feet ever getting tired. I hope my new LP 7 (wide) will hold up similarly good and will not fall apart like your shoes :D Good look with your new shoes. I hope they'll serve you well!
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 😢
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.
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.
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.
I am a senior and I hike hilly, semi- rugged, semi-rocky coastal chaparral trails about 12+ miles/week for exercise. I have had Lone Peak 4, 5, 6, and 7. I know my trails well, and I replace the shoes when they start to lose grip and slip on certain downhill slopes. That happens when at least a couple lugs on the bottom get worn nearly smooth. I am getting around 350 miles out of a pair. The shoes have been OK but I'm not a through hiker. Still, I am interested to try zero drop shoes of similar or better comfort that may grip better or last longer. I have had only minor injuries so far from slip-falls, but with so many big rocks around, it could easily be much worse if I took one to the head.
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
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.
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!
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.
I was using superiors for a long time, and had no durability problems. I also used the Instinct and the Escalate on the road. I was unhappy with how quickly prices had been going up, so I tried the Topo ST-4, which were the shortest lived shoes I've ever had. I was only putting about 10 miles/ week on them and the outsole rubber under the Ball of the feet pealed off after only a few months. I am now using the Riviera for road running with good results now. On trail I really prefer very low stack heights to reduce ankle turns. I don't like how much stack heights have gone up on the superiors, so I'm using Merrell trail gloves on trail.
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
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 🤔
Ive had the same experience with Altra. Ive had two pairs and they are great for fitting the natural foot shape but also super expensive. I paid 230 for the shoe and after about 15 city walks of verty little distance the glue was separating on the bottom and sides and the fabric was ripping. I dont have wide or odd shaped feet. They replaced them but ive had the same experienfe unfortunately. Really bums me out as i was relieved to finally find a natural shaped shoe. Ill try topo. Thanks !!
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.
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: th-cam.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/w-d-xo.html
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.
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
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.
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!
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. 🤷
Ive had two pairs of lone peaks i dont remember what generation, but between the two ive gotten close to i think five years out of them. The second pair im still wearing i started wearing around 2022, and now the bottoms where my foot puts pressure are bald and my pinky toe is starting to go through the fabric on one side, i applied a little super glue around the edge at a few spots where it started to separate but i felt it was minor. To be fair i dont wear them everyday, i am usually wearing work boots, considering that they probably do wear out kinda fast. I have a new pair that is a generation or two newer that i got in 2022, and ive only worn then like three times. Like i said i normally wear boots, im military, and i bought a pair of boots last summer, wore them on their first field op in july, and from then on only used them for the field or pt runs, but not daily, other then one time for about 2 months due to the training we were doing. I should mention we are in the field every other week most of the time, they have a large hole in them right above the ankle, and ive basically superglued the sole back on because they seperate pretty bad around the edges where they attatch to the leather. They are probably the least durable approved boots, but i have put alot of miles on them in alot of terrain that is really bad for leather boots. What i think im trying to say is if i was wearing my altras im not sure if they would have held up but at the same time other than the tread they might have, maybe im putting to much trust in them. But if i were to go with a different trail running shoe i would still want the zero drop and i need the wide toe box (as i said even with these my pinky toes is starting to poke out) and i would personally not want more cushion, because i dont want to be walking around on a mattress, i would like the try a pair of barefoot shoes, my only concern in they actually have no cushion, the lone peaks have a little, and i run on pavement more than i would like to.
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.
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
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
Same experience with Altra quality going downhill.. I am 71 and do trail hiking and treadmill walking. Topo has become my go to for both. I love the option of a 4-5 millimeter drop, and mid level cushioning they offer.
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 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.
In exactly one year , this past year , June - June ,I hiked 1,100 miles in my lone peak 7’s . And also used them as grass cutters . They’re still all in one piece and In relatively good shape only I’ve walked the tread off for real . They are by far my favorite shoes I’ve had . I just bought the Olympus 5 a week ago for my trip back to Sedona next month. I’m definitely going to be seeing how they compare and what the durability is. A friend told me Topo has a good zero drop wide toe shoe 🤷🏻♂️ I’m wearing Altra until I personally am dissatisfied.
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
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
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.
This is the same type of stuff that happened to me and my brooks. I had one pair I bought in Oct 2023 to wear out casually and another pair of trail running I got in April 2024. Bottom traction gone, sides blown out, inside padding ripped etc etc. I emailed brooks once before they replaced and then the 2nd time they said no, so yeah now looking for a new brand, glad I watched this video! Thanks!
I have the Altra Timp 5 and have had no durability issues at all. Ialso own a pair of Topo Ultraventures, on which the sole is showing noticeable wear after only a couple of hundred K. For road running I've recently purchased the Altra Olympus 2
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
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.
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
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 !!!
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.
I bought the women’s version of the Mont Blanc…great bargain in a blokes size! Talking to someone on a run, who knew someone who worked for them, said that the man’s and women’s last is the same.
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).
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!
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.
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).
You should definitely try Inov8 - their wide fit shoes also have a similar shape to Altra, as you know it’s not just the width, it’s the shape that gives room for your big toe. Also, Inov8 are always grippy - way more grip than any Altra.
I have had issues with durability on inov8. Went through 3 pairs of each under 100 miles and tremendous wear on the outsole. Not sure if you’ve had the same thing??
I just recently got into running and have wide feet and like the zero drop. I have the escalante 4 and have less than 120 miles on them and the heel hook is starting to tear on the inside and the sole is going bare. I bought them in may of this year. I'm looking at other brands as well one being the Topo. Glad I came across this video and see I am not the only one.
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.
I also purchased a pair of topo athletic ultra venture shoes was extremely happy with them. With my insoles, they built like a glove and I really like the feel however after about 300 miles have worn down to the point and I struggled to not fall on circles steep trails going downhill. I’m just using them flat trails I have trade them and a pair of Oboz Katabatic wind low shoes. Please have a little less toe room and they are hot, but my feet feel great after a lot of miles. let’s just my experience. I hope other people can chime in as well.
Switched to Topo mtn racer 3 after blowout and traction (lacking) of timp4, my Topo are 300 miles new and still have more traction than a brand new lone peak!, I’m certain Topo will absorb the Altra community once folks are tired of wearing out their kicks after 3 hikes at their local trail.
Wow, it's like this video was custom made for me. I too am a fan of Altra, however now having owned a pair of their boots and also the lone peaks I can see they're not wearing well. I"m not using them for hiking, just walks, around the house, work and general use. I tried Hoka and Brooks, supposedly they have a wider toebox but nope, it rubbed my big toe and was a non starter so I bought another pair of Altras. There's also a company called Lems that does foot shaped shoes, however they seem to have nothing with much cushioning, it's like foot shaped seems to go along with "barefoot" for most companies and that's not going to fit my needs on rocky terrain or for general use. I'm going to take a look at the Topos, for me zero drop isn't a requirement either although I'm happy with it. Thanks for making this video, I almost didn't click but glad I did.
I've had 2 pairs of Timp 4s, now looking for the third pair. They last about a thousand km for me and I find them much more comfy than the Timp 5 (got rid of them very quickly). I still have the Ultraventure 3, but I don't use them very often, as it's nowhere near the agility of the Timp 4. One man's meat is another man's poison.
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…
Thank you for this video. Seeing the different user feedbacks I hesitated to take a new pair of Altra (I don't have as many miles as you on the counter but I am à fan of this brand). Having a forefoot stride I think that 4mm can suit me so I will test the Experience Flow (in addition to my Superior) which seems to have good feedback otherwise I will test Topo (I hesitated to buy a Hoka wide but the toe box seems narrow).
100% agree with your comments about Altra. I have been using Altra Timps for years but my Timp4 shoes were completely blown out with large holes on the side panels after less than 200 miles. I still decided to give them another chance and bought a pair of Altra Timp5 shoes. There are clearly design changes including Vibram soles but the shoe design is much narrower, including the toe box. I just got a pair of Topo Athletic shoes. The fit is wide, the shoe feels like a stronger design and I am excited to try this out on trail
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
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.
I am not a trail runner as I never have thought that going past beautiful scenery quickly was a thing to do... but hey, I get that might be something people are into. What I dont get as a 70 year old who appreciates a good running shoe or a good trail shoe, is how anyone could look at any of those shoes and consider them as worth even considering for doing the job of what is essentially a barefoot hiking boot at speed: A common run of the mill hiking boot we'll say from the likes of Columbia, is made for a purpose and is tough and heavy for a reason and it is also right in the same price range as the shoes have found faulty. To me it stands to reason that if you want to approach rugged hiking and climbing at speed that you would have to be spending roughly double what you are spending to even approach being able to pay for the engineering required to reduce weight, provide zero drop, and a wide toe box, while still offering durability and protection required in a shoe being asked to essentially climb and hike at speed over great distances. In cars, we balance our tires and if we dont we never really notice them out of balance at low speed, but as speed increases, the car begins to bounce because the forces speed puts on the tire are entirely different than those that occur just driving around town. With these ideas in mind and just using what I consider to be 6 decades of common sense there is no way I could look at your second set of peeling shoes when new and remotely consider them suitable for the kinds of tasks your videos show???: I just dont know how anyone who interfaces with their physical world each day and learns lessons from it for a couple decades could look at any of these shoes and reasonably believe they were going to do even 100 miles of the pounding grinding use over rocks, grit, gravel, dirt, mud, and a whos who of abrasive materials. A mile is 63,360 inches. 200 miles in 30" steps is 422, 200 steps. If someone told you to take your new shoe and apply it to 60 grit sandpaper at a speed of 10 mph for 422,200 repetitions would you really expect the soles of what you bought to survive that??? My primary interest is staving off a return of neuroma which is how I happened upon your video. In now a year of looking I have not examined one pair of shoes under $200 I would consider suitable for my goals (every day walking and an occasional rails to trails adventure or camping trip), which damn sure means none of what i have seen would hold up to what you are doing. In my experience you will have to up your budget, strap on some more weight, or reduce your expectations, for you to feel satisfied. In that same pool of experience, I think it would be wise for Altra to morph from the corporate development phase where they are basking in the euphoria that comes with having developed a comfortable shoe, and get down to the serious business of making one that is re-engineered for the kind of durability that Kevlar and Carbon and similar Fibers could provide. Its one year after you uploaded this and I think we still all have a bit of a wait before the 1000 mile comfortable near barefoot trail shoe arrives.
@@oldschoolcars3318 Thanks. The point of the video is that there’s brands out there that charge less (or the same) and do more. Altra *used* to have the durability needed and even at a lower price. Then they got bought out and have cheapened their warranty to loyal customers that were buying their shoes for years.
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....
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.
@@ChadLubinski on the first pair they did. The upper came off the sole with 30 miles. I went with Temps and the side blown out with 17 miles that was considered regular wear and use.
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/n.gif)
📌 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
When "for runners by runners" gets replaced with "maximizing shareholder value" as a mission.
Ultimately one maximizes shareholder value by producing the very best product for runners by runners. This is the ideal and the truest form of capitalism. When can argue that "crony capitalism" is a substantial problem in the world now. However, throwing around "maximizing shareholder value" as a negative indicates you've been suckered into some form of Communism.
@@SeanHayesParleysIs the truest form of capitalism in the room with us right now?
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 :)
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
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 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.
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 CEO of Vibram USA back in 2001, 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.
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 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.
Try New Balance More Trail X v3 ... wide fit.
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.
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!
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
What if you weigh 30lbs more?
@@ChadLubinski Shin Splints waiting to happen!
@@unknownKnownunknowns the only time i've got shin splints with these is mile 83 in a 100 mile run
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!
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!
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!!!
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’m a long time Altra wearer and Thru Hiker. I share your pain. I tried Topos a couple of years ago on the CDT. Loved the durability but could not adjust to the way the toe kicks up. When I’m standing barefoot my toes do not kick upward so I don’t want my shoes to force that position. Caused toe blisters for me. If Topo would fix that, I’d be wearing Topos.
Just get tyr.
tyr?
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!
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?
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!!
fwiw, I use shoe goo too build up the wear on the soles of my altras. I walk for exercise mainly on pavement and the shoe goo helps the shoe last longer when I get uneven wear on the sole.
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
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.
🫡🫡
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
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 am a TOPO girl and I love them!!! Never been more happy with my shoes!!
yesss, great to hear!
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 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?
Sad to hear! My lone peak 6 (wide version) are still holding up pretty good after 2 years and hundreds of km.
I use them for walking and hiking. No running. (I'm no pro athlete. I just like to walk and hike.)
The only thing that is almost gone now is the grip on the outsole. Walking on snow in the mountains this year was not the best feeling.
It's by far the best shoe I ever bought.
It took me a bit to get used to them, but I can walk in those shoes nonstop without my feet ever getting tired.
I hope my new LP 7 (wide) will hold up similarly good and will not fall apart like your shoes :D
Good look with your new shoes. I hope they'll serve you well!
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.
Altra Torin 7, lasted less than 2 months just as a city walking shoe. The side mesh started ripping apart.
unreal!!!
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 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.
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 am a senior and I hike hilly, semi- rugged, semi-rocky coastal chaparral trails about 12+ miles/week for exercise. I have had Lone Peak 4, 5, 6, and 7. I know my trails well, and I replace the shoes when they start to lose grip and slip on certain downhill slopes. That happens when at least a couple lugs on the bottom get worn nearly smooth. I am getting around 350 miles out of a pair. The shoes have been OK but I'm not a through hiker. Still, I am interested to try zero drop shoes of similar or better comfort that may grip better or last longer. I have had only minor injuries so far from slip-falls, but with so many big rocks around, it could easily be much worse if I took one to the head.
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
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!!
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!
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 was using superiors for a long time, and had no durability problems. I also used the Instinct and the Escalate on the road. I was unhappy with how quickly prices had been going up, so I tried the Topo ST-4, which were the shortest lived shoes I've ever had. I was only putting about 10 miles/ week on them and the outsole rubber under the Ball of the feet pealed off after only a few months. I am now using the Riviera for road running with good results now. On trail I really prefer very low stack heights to reduce ankle turns. I don't like how much stack heights have gone up on the superiors, so I'm using Merrell trail gloves on trail.
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 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
Ive had the same experience with Altra. Ive had two pairs and they are great for fitting the natural foot shape but also super expensive. I paid 230 for the shoe and after about 15 city walks of verty little distance the glue was separating on the bottom and sides and the fabric was ripping. I dont have wide or odd shaped feet. They replaced them but ive had the same experienfe unfortunately. Really bums me out as i was relieved to finally find a natural shaped shoe. Ill try topo. Thanks !!
thanks for watching!
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!!
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:
th-cam.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/w-d-xo.html
@@ChadLubinski I watched it immediately afterwards.
@@WadeSmart haha!!
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!
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
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.
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.
My Altra Superior 5’s lasted just a few 7 mile runs and that was that!
unreal!
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
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. 🤷
Ive had two pairs of lone peaks i dont remember what generation, but between the two ive gotten close to i think five years out of them. The second pair im still wearing i started wearing around 2022, and now the bottoms where my foot puts pressure are bald and my pinky toe is starting to go through the fabric on one side, i applied a little super glue around the edge at a few spots where it started to separate but i felt it was minor. To be fair i dont wear them everyday, i am usually wearing work boots, considering that they probably do wear out kinda fast. I have a new pair that is a generation or two newer that i got in 2022, and ive only worn then like three times.
Like i said i normally wear boots, im military, and i bought a pair of boots last summer, wore them on their first field op in july, and from then on only used them for the field or pt runs, but not daily, other then one time for about 2 months due to the training we were doing. I should mention we are in the field every other week most of the time, they have a large hole in them right above the ankle, and ive basically superglued the sole back on because they seperate pretty bad around the edges where they attatch to the leather. They are probably the least durable approved boots, but i have put alot of miles on them in alot of terrain that is really bad for leather boots. What i think im trying to say is if i was wearing my altras im not sure if they would have held up but at the same time other than the tread they might have, maybe im putting to much trust in them. But if i were to go with a different trail running shoe i would still want the zero drop and i need the wide toe box (as i said even with these my pinky toes is starting to poke out) and i would personally not want more cushion, because i dont want to be walking around on a mattress, i would like the try a pair of barefoot shoes, my only concern in they actually have no cushion, the lone peaks have a little, and i run on pavement more than i would like to.
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 wore the Olympus 5 once to a coffee farm and the upper shredded to bits. Ridiculous. I’m with you.
UNREAL!!!
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
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!
Same experience with Altra quality going downhill.. I am 71 and do trail hiking and treadmill walking. Topo has become my go to for both. I love the option of a 4-5 millimeter drop, and mid level cushioning they offer.
glad you're still getting after it!
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 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!
In exactly one year , this past year , June - June ,I hiked 1,100 miles in my lone peak 7’s . And also used them as grass cutters . They’re still all in one piece and In relatively good shape only I’ve walked the tread off for real . They are by far my favorite shoes I’ve had . I just bought the Olympus 5 a week ago for my trip back to Sedona next month. I’m definitely going to be seeing how they compare and what the durability is. A friend told me Topo has a good zero drop wide toe shoe 🤷🏻♂️ I’m wearing Altra until I personally am dissatisfied.
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
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!
This is the same type of stuff that happened to me and my brooks. I had one pair I bought in Oct 2023 to wear out casually and another pair of trail running I got in April 2024. Bottom traction gone, sides blown out, inside padding ripped etc etc. I emailed brooks once before they replaced and then the 2nd time they said no, so yeah now looking for a new brand, glad I watched this video! Thanks!
thanks for watching!
I have the Altra Timp 5 and have had no durability issues at all. Ialso own a pair of Topo Ultraventures, on which the sole is showing noticeable wear after only a couple of hundred K. For road running I've recently purchased the Altra Olympus 2
@@johnrothwell4362 how much did Altra pay you for that review
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.
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.
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
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?
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 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.
👍🏻
I bought the women’s version of the Mont Blanc…great bargain in a blokes size!
Talking to someone on a run, who knew someone who worked for them, said that the man’s and women’s last is the same.
The Olympus was a sturdy line. NB Hierro 2 and 3 were so good
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
th-cam.com/video/9fHajWCyQsE/w-d-xo.html
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'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 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!
Love the feel of my Solstice but they wore out in 6 months. Going to try Topo.
You should definitely try Inov8 - their wide fit shoes also have a similar shape to Altra, as you know it’s not just the width, it’s the shape that gives room for your big toe. Also, Inov8 are always grippy - way more grip than any Altra.
ok awesome...thanks for that rec!
I have had issues with durability on inov8. Went through 3 pairs of each under 100 miles and tremendous wear on the outsole.
Not sure if you’ve had the same thing??
Which Inov8? And how wide? 4E wide? 6E maybe?
I just recently got into running and have wide feet and like the zero drop. I have the escalante 4 and have less than 120 miles on them and the heel hook is starting to tear on the inside and the sole is going bare. I bought them in may of this year. I'm looking at other brands as well one being the Topo. Glad I came across this video and see I am not the only one.
ridiculous!
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.
I also purchased a pair of topo athletic ultra venture shoes was extremely happy with them. With my insoles, they built like a glove and I really like the feel however after about 300 miles have worn down to the point and I struggled to not fall on circles steep trails going downhill. I’m just using them flat trails I have trade them and a pair of Oboz Katabatic wind low shoes. Please have a little less toe room and they are hot, but my feet feel great after a lot of miles. let’s just my experience. I hope other people can chime in as well.
Agreed, the grip wears fairly fast on them. I just got some Mtn Racers and the grip looks substantially better
Try some Lems. Much more durable but they retain the zero drop and splay. Plenty of models too, mostly focused on trail use.
Switched to Topo mtn racer 3 after blowout and traction (lacking) of timp4, my Topo are 300 miles new and still have more traction than a brand new lone peak!, I’m certain Topo will absorb the Altra community once folks are tired of wearing out their kicks after 3 hikes at their local trail.
Agreed man! Glad they're working for you
Wow, it's like this video was custom made for me. I too am a fan of Altra, however now having owned a pair of their boots and also the lone peaks I can see they're not wearing well. I"m not using them for hiking, just walks, around the house, work and general use. I tried Hoka and Brooks, supposedly they have a wider toebox but nope, it rubbed my big toe and was a non starter so I bought another pair of Altras. There's also a company called Lems that does foot shaped shoes, however they seem to have nothing with much cushioning, it's like foot shaped seems to go along with "barefoot" for most companies and that's not going to fit my needs on rocky terrain or for general use. I'm going to take a look at the Topos, for me zero drop isn't a requirement either although I'm happy with it. Thanks for making this video, I almost didn't click but glad I did.
@@robwasnj thanks for the comment Rob. Hope you find something that works for you soon!
I've had 2 pairs of Timp 4s, now looking for the third pair. They last about a thousand km for me and I find them much more comfy than the Timp 5 (got rid of them very quickly). I still have the Ultraventure 3, but I don't use them very often, as it's nowhere near the agility of the Timp 4.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
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.
Any other zero drop brands with minimal padding you would recommend?
Some of my friends have been recommending this: bit.ly/3RSSFUd
Thank you for this video. Seeing the different user feedbacks I hesitated to take a new pair of Altra (I don't have as many miles as you on the counter but I am à fan of this brand). Having a forefoot stride I think that 4mm can suit me so I will test the Experience Flow (in addition to my Superior) which seems to have good feedback otherwise I will test Topo (I hesitated to buy a Hoka wide but the toe box seems narrow).
Appreciate the heads up - I was thinking about trying them (I've got a naturally flat foot and need something w/o arches)
100% agree with your comments about Altra. I have been using Altra Timps for years but my Timp4 shoes were completely blown out with large holes on the side panels after less than 200 miles. I still decided to give them another chance and bought a pair of Altra Timp5 shoes. There are clearly design changes including Vibram soles but the shoe design is much narrower, including the toe box. I just got a pair of Topo Athletic shoes. The fit is wide, the shoe feels like a stronger design and I am excited to try this out on trail
yes! very surprised on the wide fit. Definitely rivals Altra.
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!
Torin 7 (wide version)... Super soft most comfortable to have found since Altra started.
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 am not a trail runner as I never have thought that going past beautiful scenery quickly was a thing to do... but hey, I get that might be something people are into. What I dont get as a 70 year old who appreciates a good running shoe or a good trail shoe, is how anyone could look at any of those shoes and consider them as worth even considering for doing the job of what is essentially a barefoot hiking boot at speed: A common run of the mill hiking boot we'll say from the likes of Columbia, is made for a purpose and is tough and heavy for a reason and it is also right in the same price range as the shoes have found faulty. To me it stands to reason that if you want to approach rugged hiking and climbing at speed that you would have to be spending roughly double what you are spending to even approach being able to pay for the engineering required to reduce weight, provide zero drop, and a wide toe box, while still offering durability and protection required in a shoe being asked to essentially climb and hike at speed over great distances. In cars, we balance our tires and if we dont we never really notice them out of balance at low speed, but as speed increases, the car begins to bounce because the forces speed puts on the tire are entirely different than those that occur just driving around town. With these ideas in mind and just using what I consider to be 6 decades of common sense there is no way I could look at your second set of peeling shoes when new and remotely consider them suitable for the kinds of tasks your videos show???: I just dont know how anyone who interfaces with their physical world each day and learns lessons from it for a couple decades could look at any of these shoes and reasonably believe they were going to do even 100 miles of the pounding grinding use over rocks, grit, gravel, dirt, mud, and a whos who of abrasive materials. A mile is 63,360 inches. 200 miles in 30" steps is 422, 200 steps. If someone told you to take your new shoe and apply it to 60 grit sandpaper at a speed of 10 mph for 422,200 repetitions would you really expect the soles of what you bought to survive that??? My primary interest is staving off a return of neuroma which is how I happened upon your video. In now a year of looking I have not examined one pair of shoes under $200 I would consider suitable for my goals (every day walking and an occasional rails to trails adventure or camping trip), which damn sure means none of what i have seen would hold up to what you are doing. In my experience you will have to up your budget, strap on some more weight, or reduce your expectations, for you to feel satisfied. In that same pool of experience, I think it would be wise for Altra to morph from the corporate development phase where they are basking in the euphoria that comes with having developed a comfortable shoe, and get down to the serious business of making one that is re-engineered for the kind of durability that Kevlar and Carbon and similar Fibers could provide. Its one year after you uploaded this and I think we still all have a bit of a wait before the 1000 mile comfortable near barefoot trail shoe arrives.
@@oldschoolcars3318 Thanks. The point of the video is that there’s brands out there that charge less (or the same) and do more. Altra *used* to have the durability needed and even at a lower price. Then they got bought out and have cheapened their warranty to loyal customers that were buying their shoes for years.
LOL was sitting here thinking about how my ultras are hurting my heel and this pops up on my feed. TH-cam is in my head.
I am still sitting on 5 unworn pairs of the best altra running shoe, Torin 4.5 plush. When those are done I may move to Topo
Haha good move stocking up
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!
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.
🙌
Since the buy out I had three pairs of Altra. None of them made it to 100 miles.
were you able to get a warranty out of them?
@@ChadLubinski on the first pair they did. The upper came off the sole with 30 miles. I went with Temps and the side blown out with 17 miles that was considered regular wear and use.
@@JuanMeneses36 Yup, that's the sad reality of their "warranty" now. I'm sorry that happened to you!