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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Escalante 1.5 Review}} The Altra Escalante is a wonderful shoe, and has been my top pick for all round running shoe since its creation. The Escalante..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Escalante 1.5 Review}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}} (Sorry, no photos. I've worn my pair out pretty badly after some 800+ miles.)
=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.
=Characteristics =
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:shape}}. The shape of the Escalante means that there is relatively little reason to [[Shoe Dissection| 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.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper part of the Escalante is mostly seamless, and quite stretchy. It's thick material but reasonably breathable.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:lacing}}. The Escalante has flat laces that work reasonably well and they came undone mid-run.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Escalante has no discernable heel counter, which is great.
{{FastBlr|Saucony/type-a6-597|597|Altra Escalante 2}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}} (Sorry, no photos. I've worn my pair out pretty badly after some 800+ miles.)
=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.
=Characteristics =
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:shape}}. The shape of the Escalante means that there is relatively little reason to [[Shoe Dissection| 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.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper part of the Escalante is mostly seamless, and quite stretchy. It's thick material but reasonably breathable.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:lacing}}. The Escalante has flat laces that work reasonably well and they came undone mid-run.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Escalante has no discernable heel counter, which is great.
{{FastBlr|Saucony/type-a6-597|597|Altra Escalante 2}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}