View source for Altra Paradigm 4.0

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Paradigm 4.0 Review}}
The Altra Paradigm is a well cushioned, but it's not quite a [[Maximalist]] shoe. It aims to be like the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]], but with [[Altra]]'s zero drop and a human shaped toe box. There's a lot to like about the Paradigm, even though it doesn't match the [[Hoka Clifton]] for lightweight cushioning (but then, nothing much does.) While not as softly cushioned as some shoes, it does have a reasonable level of bounce from the TPU midsole, and so far, appears to be quite long-lasting (see update below.) My only real quibble with this shoe is the padding around the ankle opening which extends too far down, so the Paradigm doesn't quite grip the heel in the way running shoes normally do. I've rated it as "Highly Recommended."   {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Altra Paradigm 4.0-outside.jpg|Altra Paradigm 4.0 outside
File:Altra Paradigm 4.0-top.jpg|Altra Paradigm 4.0 top
File:Altra Paradigm 4.0-bottom.jpg|Altra Paradigm 4.0 bottom
File:Altra Paradigm 4.0-inside.jpg|Altra Paradigm 4.0 inside
</gallery>
=Characteristics=
* '''Cushioning'''. The midsole of the Paradigm uses Altra's EGO foam, which is TPU based like the great [[Altra Escalante]]. TPU foam has more bounce, and is much longer lasting than traditional EVA foam. While the Paradigm has some of those characteristics, it's not as bouncy I had hoped. It's also not quite as soft and cushioned as I had expected, and is quite a bit firmer than the [[Hoka Clifton]]. It's not even quite as softly cushioned as the Escalante, which is a little surprising. Having said all that, the Paradigm is still a remarkably comfortable shoe, just not quite up to the standards of a [[Maximalist]] shoe. I feel like the Paradigm should be a few ounces lighter, as its cushioning-to-weight ratio is a little off the mark.
* '''Drop'''. Like all Altra shoes, the Paradigm should be zero drop, and my measurements showed that it is remarkably close. 
* '''Structure'''. This shoe is made of a single type of foam which is painted at various levels to make the shoe look a little more structured. There is no variation in foam density within the midsole to interfere with your biomechanics. Remember that zero drop doesn't mean a flat sole, and there is a modest bulge under the arch that could irritate the plantar fascia, though it never caused me any issue. The heel is cupped, which provides a little passive stability, but mostly ask to keep your foot centered in the shoe.
* '''Flexibility'''. The Paradigm is reasonably flexible for shoe of this thickness. The gaps in the outsole help a little, and the flexibility tends to increase over the first few miles as the foam breaks down and softens.
* '''Outsole'''. The Paradigm has harder rubber over most of the contact surface of the sole. This reduces the wear on the outsole; see updates below for details on how it holds up over the miles.
* '''Shape'''. The shoe is the classic Altra shape, which follows the outline of the human foot much better than other makes. This gives it a broader toe box, but I find there is less height for my toes than I'd like, but I didn't have to [[Shoe Modifications| cut the toe box open]]. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
* '''Upper'''. The upper is a modern, seamless woven material that's very slightly flexible, and lower friction than many uppers. I found it to be quite comfortable, and reasonably breathable. The ankle opening is nicely padded, but here in lies one of the few real flaws in the Paradigm. In every shoe that I can ever remember testing, the padding around the ankle opening is a ridge that holds the rear of the shoe on the heel bone. For the Paradigm, this padding around the ankle opening extends nearly to the insole, so while this is nicely padded, it really doesn't hold the rear of the shoe in place very well. This didn't cause me any significant problems, but it was rather disconcerting, and a little less comfortable than would otherwise be the case.</br>[[File:Altra Paradigm 4.0-backlit.jpg|center|thumb|300px|The forefoot, backlit to show some of the weave pattern.]]
* '''Tongue'''. The Paradigm has hybrid tongue/sock liner. It's a little hard to describe, but there is a slightly thicker weave where a traditional tongue would be, and then thinner, elasticated sides sown into the rest of the upper that go part way along the tongue. This sown in section ends at the fourth eyelet up, where the tongue becomes a traditional free section of material. I found this hybrid approach worked really well, and I hope to see it more often. The tongue is unpadded, but stiff enough to provide some protection to the top of your foot from the laces.
* '''Lacing'''. The flat laces work well and remained tied. 
* '''Heel counter'''. The Paradigm has no noticeable heel counter, just the shape of the upper.
{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}
=200 Mile Update=
[[File:Altra Paradigm after 200 miles.jpg|center|thumb|300px|After 200 miles]]
After 200 miles, there is a small amount of wear on the outsole. I tend to be rather gentle on my shoes, and the level of wear is very slight. There's a small amount of erosion under the ball of the foot and on the extreme back outside edge of the heel. The insole has compressed little, which is not surprising given how fragile most insoles are. As you would expect for a TPU foam midsole, there is very little compression so far. After 200 miles, this seems to be almost no change in how the Paradigm feels under foot.
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
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