Revision as of 10:32, 19 July 2016

There's a lot to like with the Torin 2.0, but there are some important caveats as well.

• Like all Altra shoes, the basic shape matches the human foot, which is a huge improvement over virtually every other shoe on the market. Unfortunately, the toe box is really low volume, so I had to expand the toe box to make more room.
• The Torin is zero drop and runs remarkably neutrally, never trying to screw around with your natural biomechanics.
• My biggest complaint is the weight. While the Torin is less than 10 ounces, you can get a similar level of cushioning from shoes weighing vastly less.
• The midsole foam is quite rigid, so the Torin is less flexible than it should be. This rigidity does not appear to result in longevity, and I have concerns with how long the exposed midsole patches will last.

I've rated the Torin as "worth considering", but you'll have to decide for yourself if the pros outweigh the cons. (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.)

Altra Torin top	Altra Torin bottom
Altra Torin inside	Altra Torin outside

1 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The Torin is too firmly cushioned for its weight, giving less cushioning than the Asics Gel Hyper Speed while weighing 50% more. Surprisingly it only provides the same cushioning as the New Balance RC5000‏‎v2 but is 2.4x as heavy! Like most shoes, the Torin does soften up quite a bit as it gets warmed up, so you may notice quite a difference over the first couple of miles of a run. If you're after a massively cushioned shoe, then the Hoka Clifton offers a far softer ride while weighing slightly less.
• Drop. Altra shoes are marketed as zero drop, and I actually measured the Torin as slightly negative drop (forefoot thicker than heel), though loaded this was only 1mm.
• Structure. The Torin uses just one density of foam, and doesn't attempt to manipulate or interfere with your natural biomechanics. This neutrality and unobtrusiveness is one of the things I like about the Torin. There is a slight rise under the arch, but I don't think this is enough to irritate your foot and trigger plantar fasciitis.
• Flexibility. The Torin has moderate flexibility, which is about what you'd expect from a shoe this thick. It's similar to a Hoka, and more flexible than many traditional shoes like the Asics GT 2000. There are some groups in the midsole that help with flexibility, but the midsole foam seems surprisingly rigid. I suspect that without the grooves the Torin would be like a plank of wood.
• Outsole. There's a good layer of harder rubber outsole over nearly the entire sole of the shoe. There's a gap in the outsole near the smaller toes, which is an odd choice, and I found some initial signs of abrasion after only 50 miles.
• Shape. The Altra Torin is one of the few shoes truly designed to fit the human foot, but like many Altra shoes the toe box is way too low. I found the Torin made my little toes hurt until I expanded the toe box. I stuffed a small towel into the toe box, and then used a hairdryer to heat the area up, which expanded the toe box nicely and dramatically improved comfort. One of the toe box overlays, seen in my pictures as a green line and a red blob, does it restrict the expansion a little. This overlay seems particularly pointless and irritating, but the result is still a vast improvement .
  
  

  Using a hairdryer to expand the toebox.
• Upper. The forefoot is quite soft even though it's unpadded. There is a tiny bit of stretch in the upper and it's moderately breathable. The rear half of the upper has a tiny bit of padding which leads into the board, soft padding around the ankle opening. I found this makes the shoe quite comfortable and I did not notice the seam.
• Tongue. The Torin has a traditional style of tongue, but it's so to the upper on the inside edge. I find this is the ideal approach to a tongue, as it stays nicely in place, without the fit issues you so often get with a tongueless upper. The tongue is nicely padded and protects the top of your foot from any lace pressure quite effectively.
• Lacing. The traditional flat laces stayed tied.
• Heel Counter. The Torin has a fairly rigid heel counter, but the thick padding protects your foot.

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 Torin at Zappos Buy Altra Torin at Road Runner Sports Buy Altra Torin at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Altra Torin at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Altra Torin

How Altra Torin compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Altra Torin compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Altra Torin compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Altra Torin compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 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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