Revision as of 11:16, 4 December 2019

The Altra Escalante is a wonderful shoe, and has been my top pick for all round running shoe since its creation. The Escalante one of the few shoes that using TPU foam rather than the traditional EVA foam. This TPU foam should (and does) last much longer than EVA foam, but it also can feel quite a lot bouncier. I was a little disappointed by the Saucony Freedom which seemed a little dead in its responsiveness, whereas the Escalante has a really nice spring to its feel. The upper is a nice, stretchable material, though it's not terribly breathable. The toe box shape matches the human foot, but like many Altra shoes, I find there is not enough height in the toe box. The cushioning-to-weight ratio is great, as should be the case with TPU. The Escalante is one of those rare shoes that makes you want to go for a run, or to run further, even when you know you're too tired. Putting it on after wearing other shoes gives me a sense of comfort and excitement. I rated the Escalate as "best of the best" and is my highest rated all round running shoe. There is also a lighter weight version of this shoe, the Altra Escalante Racer, which is becoming more appealing now this version has grown a little heavier. There's also the previous Altra Escalante 1.5, which I prefer overall if you can still find them. (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.) (Sorry, no photos. I've worn my pair out pretty badly after some 800+ miles.)

1 Changes with version 2

The 2 iteration has gained a little weight, something that doesn't seem justified by the firmer, stiffer sole. It's still light shoe, but lighter is always better, all things being equal. The increase in weight has increased the difference with the Altra Escalante Racer, and made the Racer version more appealing. Personally, I'm getting the Racer as my next primary shoe, but I think many runners will appreciate the extra cushioning of this bigger version. The upper has been improved a little, but not in a way that I noticed much; it's a minor improvement rather than a radical change.

2 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The Escalante uses expanded TPU beads instead of the more usual EVA foam. That's the technology that's found in the Adidas Energy Boost and Saucony Freedom and it's a relatively new technology. The idea is that TPU provides more spring than EVA foam and it lasts longer. The Escalante is better cushioned than the Boost, and quite a bit lighter. Like the Boost, it has the springy, bouncy feel that makes TPU cushioning so attractive. The level of cushioning is actually up there with the massively cushioned Hoka shoes, and it's virtually the same as the Hoka Odyssey. The Escalante provides this level of cushioning with a midsole that is much thinner (25mm compared with 45mm in the Odyssey), so you don't have the stilt effect that can create additional stress on the ankles. Other than being nicely springy, I didn't find the cushioning was strange or unusual, unlike the Freedom that was just slightly weird. The Escalante has a moderately thick insole, but it seems to be rather more resilient than some shoes I've tried.
• Drop. Altra always claim issues a zero drop, but typically I find they're out by just a few millimeters, not that anyone without a measuring rig would notice. I found that overall, the Escalante felt very natural under foot, and the almost zero-drop is part of the success.
• Structure. There's nothing about the Escalante to interfere with your running form. The midsole is slightly higher under the arch, but this shouldn't be enough to make contact, or create pressure that could irritate the plantar fascia. There is no medial post or other structures that would try to limit pronation.
• Flexibility. The Escalante is quite flexible, and the forefoot is springy; I'm not sure if that really improves running economy, but it certainly doesn't hurt. The gaps in the rubber outsole allow the forefoot to bend evenly, rather than causing a crease in a specific area.
• Outsole. As you can see from the pictures above, the Escalante has harder rubber outsole under most of the sole of the shoe. This hard rubber actually protrudes a few millimeters, so I've seen no evidence of midsole abrasion at all. The shape of the sole does not create any stone traps.
• Shape. The shape of the Escalante means that there is relatively little reason to cut open the toe box. When looking from above, the shape of the shoe matches the human foot reasonably well, though like all Altra shoes it's a little exaggerated. If you look at the shoe from the side, there is not quite enough headroom, and I cut the toe box open. I didn't do that with previous versions, but I've become more aware of the importance of allowing the toes to rise up during landing to prevent plantar fascia issues.
• Upper. The upper part of the Escalante is mostly seamless, and quite stretchy. It's thick material but reasonably breathable.
• Tongue. The Escalante has a traditional styled tongue. There is no padding in the tongue at all, but the material that used seems to spread the forces fairly well, so I don't think many runners will have an issue with the laces irritating the top of the foot.
• Lacing. The Escalante has flat laces that work reasonably well and they came undone mid-run.
• Heel Counter. The Escalante has no discernable heel counter, which is great.

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 Escalante 2 at Zappos Buy Altra Escalante 2 at Road Runner Sports Buy Altra Escalante 2 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Altra Escalante 2 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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