Revision as of 09:25, 28 September 2017

The 3.0 version of the Altra One fairly radical change from its predecessors. Although this update looks superficially similar, it's overcome the great weakness of its predecessors, and it no longer wears out like it's midsole is made of chocolate. Sadly, it's also no longer as softly cushioned, light, or comfortable as it once was. Don't get me wrong; the One v3 is not uncomfortable, nor is it unusually hard or heavy, but it has lost that "favorite slipper" feeling it used to have. The biggest problem the One v3 has, and it's a huge problem, is the Altra Escalante. Why would you buy The One 3, when the Altra Escalante is the same weight, better cushioned, longer lasting, and more comfortable? (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

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  Altra The One 3-top

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  Altra The One 3-outside

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  Altra The One 3-bottom

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  Altra The One 3-inside

1 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The One 3 has reasonable cushioning, similar to the Hoka Hupana or the Hoka Tracer, and it's actually the same weight as the Hupana. This is a reasonable weight-to-cushioning ratio, but nothing like as good as the earlier versions of The One.
• Drop. In theory Altra shoes are zero drop but I measured a 5mm drop unloaded, but that changes to zero drop when worn.
• Structure. This shoe uses single density of foam, and there is little in the way of "pronation control" to interfere with your biomechanics. There is a slight rise under the arch, though it didn't cause me any problems. The heel is cupped a little, which keeps your foot centered in the shoe without overtly interfering with your biomechanics.
• Flexibility. The One v3 is flexible, though far less so than its predecessors. There are still some grooves in the sole, but then not as deep. Nonetheless, this is still a nicely flexible shoe.
• Outsole. There is very little hard rubber outsole, just a few patches that are a little tricky to make out on the pictures. However, the foam midsole is now a lot more hard-wearing, and it's standing up to the mileage far better than its predecessors. Outsole, just a couple of tiny patches of the extreme front and rear of the shoe.
• Shape. The shoe is the classic Altra shape, which follows the outline of the human foot much better than other makes. It has a broad toe box, and while in the toe box doesn't quite have as much height as I would like, it's a better than most other Altra shoes.
• Upper. The upper is reasonably thin and unpadded in the front, morphing into a thin layer of padding below the ankle opening. The ankle opening itself is nicely padded.
• Tongue. The One has a classic tongue, but attached on one side to keep it positioned, which I like a lot. It has minimal but adequate padding.
• Lacing. The laces work well and remained tied.
• Heel Counter. There's really nothing you could justify calling a "heel counter", which is nice.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Altra One 3 at Zappos Buy Altra One 3 at Road Runner Sports Buy Altra One 3 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Altra One 3 at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Comparisons

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

2.1 Altra One Predecessors

Here's a visual comparison of the predecessors to the v3.

Altra The One 3-top	Altra The One 3-outside	Altra The One 3-bottom	Altra The One 3-inside
Altra The One 2.5 top	Altra The One 2.5 bottom	Altra The One 2.5 inside	Altra The One 2.5 outside
Altra One2 top	Altra One2 bottom	Altra One2 inside	Altra One2 outside

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Altra One 2.5 at Zappos Buy Altra One 2.5 at Road Runner Sports Buy Altra One 2.5 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Altra One 2.5 at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

3 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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