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=Comparisons=

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

The Instinct 2 was softly cushioned, which made it a remarkably comfortable shoe, even though it wasn't up to the cushioning-to-weight level of shoes like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. Each subsequent iteration has made the Instinct firmer, though the change from the [[Altra Instinct 3| Instinct 3]] to the 3.5 is quite small. The Instinct 3 is lighter than the 2, though the 3.5 erodes some of that advantage. The other noteworthy change is in sizing; a size 10 Instinct 2 is the same size as a size 10.5 Instinct 3, while the 3.5 returns to the original sizing.

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{{FastBlr|altra/instinct-2-1078|1078|Altra Instinct 2}}

The [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] provides more cushioning in the heel than the Instinct and similar cushioning in the forefoot, even though the Hyper Speed only weighs about two-thirds as much as the Instinct. This makes the Hyper Speed the clear winner, over the Instinct 3.5. (The Hyper Speed is far from uncomfortable, but when my feet are tired and beaten up, the softness of the Instinct 2 was welcome, but that's not the case with the Instinct 3.)

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{{FastBlr|asics/gel-hyperspeed-6-192|192|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 7}}

The [[Hoka Clifton]] is the best [[Maximalist]] shoe by far, combining massive cushioning with light weight. The Instinct is the same weight as the Clifton, but it offers far less cushioning. What the Instinct does offer is a shoe designed for the human foot, plus a little more padding in the upper. I would choose the Clifton every time over the Instinct, except those occasions where I didn't want to cut the toe box open. This would be in ultras where I'm walking a lot and having problems with debris getting in the openings. (That said, check out the Altra One below first.)

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{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 2}}

I like to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the [[Asics GT 2000]]. The GT 2000 is heavier than the Instinct, and has slightly more cushioning, but the two shoes could not be farther apart in their use of [[The Science of Running Shoes]]. The Instinct doesn't try to interfere with your stride, or encourage a heel strike like the GT 2000. Comparing how the two shoes feel, the Instinct is like running barefoot on a well cushioned track, while the GT 2000 is like running in a wooden clog. The Instinct is a clear demonstration of what's wrong with traditional running shoes and how they should be created.

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