On the flip side, if a “performance” style fit is up your street, this change may appeal to you. Innerflex Is this the first Altra with toe spring? What’s toe spring? It’s the ramping up of the shoe at the end, making your toes sit higher than the foot. That doesn’t sound zero-drop, does it? But with a stiff midsole like this, you inevitably require some toe spring. Imagine trying to run with a plank of wood on your foot. It’d be super unnatural because you’d have no toe-off; that’s what the toe-spring is trying to solve. Founded on a philosophy of promoting natural movement, Altra running shoes are distinct for what they don’t have–a lot of fancy features and technology promising to cure all of your running problems.

David: The Altra Escalante is a minimalist road running shoe that has a very natural feel to it. The shoe uses a 0mm drop platform, meaning there is no difference in height between the heel and the forefoot. The shoe has moderately flexible design to it and a comfortable knit upper. For some this will be a walking shoe/running shoe double and for some it could even be a speed work shoe. The Escalante 3 is the fifth version of the Escalante, as Altra go up in 0.5’s. In that time there have been a few changes but the essence of the shoe has remained. The Escalante 3 is still a Zero Drop shoe with a broad rounded toe box. The fit is very similar to the Escalante 2.5. There is a little bit more width and height in the toe box. The upper is still an engineered mesh, which has a lovely soft feel. This gives the Escalante it’s slipper type feel. In the past, Altra used to boast about their innerflex technology. These little cutouts ran horizontally across the ball of the foot and toes.

Anatomy of a Shoe

The upper is where most runners note the biggest shift from previous versions. The knit upper feels a bit more tightly stitched for enhanced snugness. Runners appreciate the shorter laces and an additional eyelet that was missing from the Escalante 2.5. With a firmer midsole, you’re naturally being pushed into the final ankle and foot position at a faster speed. Stability:B (Neutral, zero drop shoe with minimal stability features; nice improvement in upper stability due to overlays) At the forefoot, the midsole of Altra Escalante 3 sits at the average (111.5mm vs 111.8mm). At the heel, it is narrower than the average, almost 6mm! (Escalante: 82.8mm, average: 88.7mm) Personal: B (Solid fitting shoe with good comfort. Versatility does extend into casual wear. Running is smooth and fun, though my calves can get a little sore. Can't run too fast in them.)

In this latest iteration of its signature line, runners have noted a bit more robust knit upper; a firmer, cradle-like EGO midsole; and a wider outsole that makes the shoe a tad heavier.DPT/Footwear Science: A+ (Altra Escalante 3 is the flagship for what a natural feeling shoe is for me) And even though the exterior of the midsole looks very different, underfoot, it still feels pretty similar. However, staying true to the minimalist nature of Altra products, there is not a lot of fancy technology that runs the risk of breaking down at an expedited rate. With that said, the philosophy behind Altra shoes is that their minimalist design allows your body to activate and develop its own stability mechanisms. By designing shoes that allow the foot to move naturally, runners are (in theory) able to find their correct path of motion and develop the foot muscles that will help prevent injuries caused by pronation. Sizing