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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Escalante Review}}
The Altra Escalante is a wonderful shoe. It's one of the few shoes that using TPU foam rather than the traditional EVA foam. This TPU foam should 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. It's also quite close to being zero drop, and unusually is actually slightly negative drop, with the forefoot higher than the heel. 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 right up there with the [[Hoka Clifton]], a remarkable feat. This is the best cushioning to weight ratio I've seen in a TPU midsole shoe, in spite of the weight savings Saucony put into the upper on their Freedom shoe. 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, and I regret that the need to test other shoes means I have to put them to one side for a while. I rated the Escalate as "Highly Recommended", and it came close to being a "best of the best." So far, the Escalante has shown few signs of wear, and I'll do a formal update after 200 miles. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Escalante has only a slightest hint of a heel counter, and unless you probe carefully you're unlikely to detect it. While I'd rather there was no heel counter at all, this is one of the more benign designs.
{{FastBlr|Saucony/type-a6-597|597|Altra Escalante}}
=Update after 240 Miles=
I've really enjoyed my first 240 miles in the Escalante. It's been a truly wonderful shoe to run in, and I've been struggling to move on to the other shoes I need to test. Not only has the Escalante proved to be remarkably well cushioned for its weight, the springiness of the TPU foam has made it feel remarkably responsive as well. I cut open the toe box at 150 miles which greatly improved the comfort for my toes, but I doubt if many runners will have to do that. I have had reports of the toe box upper causing other runners some issues, so I'm not alone in having issues. I've also had a report of one runner finding the tongue a little too thin so the laces irritate the top of their foot. Otherwise I've heard only good things from the running community. As you can see from the photo below, there is very little wear on the outsole, and the upper shows no signs of abrasion either. There is a tiny bit of midsole compression under the ball of the foot, but it's so minor it's hard to detect. There's a little bit more compression of the insole under the ball of the foot, but at the 200 mile mark it's not enough for me to consider [[Replacement Insoles]]. So far, the Escalante is living up to the longevity promise of the TPU foam, and is one of my favorite running shoes.
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|[[File:Escalante Sole.jpg|none|thumb|300px|There's no noticeable wear on the outsole.]]
|[[File:Escalante Forefoot.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Even a close up of the forefoot reveals only a hint of abrasion.]]
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|[[File:Escalante Upper.jpg|none|thumb|300px|The only sign of wear on the upper is a slight creasing of the shoe where it bends.]]
|[[File:Escalante Insole.jpg|none|thumb|300px|There is a bit of compression in the insole, but it's quite minor when compared with other shoes.]]
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=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
