We hope you like orange, because that’s the only color this shoe comes in for both men and women.
TESTING OUT SPRINGY SHOES FULL
This is a favorite of our minimalist runners who like to feel the trail while maintaining full protective elements and quick responsiveness.īest for: Skyrunning, fast movement over technical terrain, races up to 50K
When in place, it offers excellent protection from rocky impact, but some of our testers prefer to remove it for better ground feel and closer connection with the midsole compound. One cool feature that remains is the removable StoneGuard insert allowing users to modify the weight-to-protection ratio. Altra quietly removed the longstanding heel rudder that many runners either didn’t like, or didn’t understand. We found the outsole to be best suited for dry or damp conditions, as super muddy trails seemed to cause more sliding than others we’ve tested. On the outsole, Altra uses MaxTrac rubber that has great durability, and about 40 shallow lugs that provide an angled grip. The heel box is scooped out low for comfort around the ankle bones, but can be a source of debris entry if you’re not wearing gaiters. An additional rear eyelet on the medial side helps anchor the rearfoot, and our testers like the overall locked-in fit of this system compared to other burrito-style tongues. The uppers have been completely redesigned and are now in a wrap-around style that is attached on the medial side with external fabric loops for the laces, traditional eyelets and a low bulk gusset on the lateral side to keep out debris. One of the lowest profile shoes in Altra’s lineup gets sleeker in 2019, with a significant decrease in weight thanks primarily to a new Quantic midsole compound that we found impressively responsive for a relatively low platform.
Best for: Moving fast and light without compromising protection tempo runs or races up to 50K