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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Escalante Racer Review}} I love the Altra Escalante and consider it a wonderful shoe, and the "Racer" version has many of the same features that made..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Escalante Racer Review}}
I love the [[Altra Escalante]] and consider it a wonderful shoe, and the "Racer" version has many of the same features that made its heavier sibling so great. The similarities include the same TPU foam midsole, that has more bounce and longevity than the traditional EVA foam, the [[Altra]] shape that's designed for a healthy human foot, and a good cushioning-to-weight ratio. Overall, the Escalante Racer is an Escalante that's a bit lighter and thus a bit less cushioned, which is just what you might expect. While I think the original Escalante is a little better for most runners, the Escalante Racer is an outstanding shoe that's well worth considering. I wouldn't think of it as a "racing" shoe in the sense of a slightly compromised, ultralight shoe like the long departed [[New Balance RC5000]]. It's a comfortable shoe that I'd be happy running in for a 50 miler, and maybe longer. I prefer the Escalante Racer over the [[Altra Solstice]], but only very slightly, as both are similar weights and cushioning. One minor downside to the Racer is that it comes in Marathon Race editions, currently Chicago or Boston, which might put some folks off if they've not run those races. I rated the Escalate Racer as "highly recommended". {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Altra Escalante Racer-top.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer top
File:Altra Escalante Racer-outside.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer outside
File:Altra Escalante Racer-bottom.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer bottom
File:Altra Escalante Racer-inside.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer inside
</gallery>
=Characteristics =
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Escalante Racer 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]], as well as its larger sibling. The idea is that TPU provides more spring than EVA foam and it lasts longer. The Escalante Racer has a springy, bouncy feel that makes TPU cushioning so attractive. Altra rate the Racer's cushioning as "light", which I think it a little harsh. It's not a massively cushioned shoe, but it's comparable the [Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] and not that far behind the [[Hoka Clifton]].
* {{H:drop}}. Altra always claim issues a zero drop, and the Racer is as close as it gets.
* {{H:structure}}. Like its big sibling, there's nothing about the Escalante Racer 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 Racer is slightly more flexible than the Escalante, but I can't tell the difference when running. 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, and there is not quite enough room for the smallest toes. If you look at the shoe from the side, there is not quite enough headroom, but that wasn't too much of an issue with the Escalante or Escalante Racer. In fact, I feel like the Racer has slightly more toe box height than the Escalante.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is different on the Racer from its Escalante sibling. It has woven holes that improve breathability slightly. I found the upper extremely comfortable, and while some of the weight saving comes from less patting around the ankle opening, it's still more than enough.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Escalante has a traditional styled tongue, and unlike the Escalante it's not sown in at all. There is no padding in the tongue at all, but the close spacing of the laces seem 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 nicely, and I never had them come untied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Escalante has no heel counter to cause problems.
{{FastBlr|Saucony/type-a6-597|597|Altra Escalante Racer}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
I love the [[Altra Escalante]] and consider it a wonderful shoe, and the "Racer" version has many of the same features that made its heavier sibling so great. The similarities include the same TPU foam midsole, that has more bounce and longevity than the traditional EVA foam, the [[Altra]] shape that's designed for a healthy human foot, and a good cushioning-to-weight ratio. Overall, the Escalante Racer is an Escalante that's a bit lighter and thus a bit less cushioned, which is just what you might expect. While I think the original Escalante is a little better for most runners, the Escalante Racer is an outstanding shoe that's well worth considering. I wouldn't think of it as a "racing" shoe in the sense of a slightly compromised, ultralight shoe like the long departed [[New Balance RC5000]]. It's a comfortable shoe that I'd be happy running in for a 50 miler, and maybe longer. I prefer the Escalante Racer over the [[Altra Solstice]], but only very slightly, as both are similar weights and cushioning. One minor downside to the Racer is that it comes in Marathon Race editions, currently Chicago or Boston, which might put some folks off if they've not run those races. I rated the Escalate Racer as "highly recommended". {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Altra Escalante Racer-top.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer top
File:Altra Escalante Racer-outside.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer outside
File:Altra Escalante Racer-bottom.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer bottom
File:Altra Escalante Racer-inside.jpg|Altra Escalante Racer inside
</gallery>
=Characteristics =
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Escalante Racer 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]], as well as its larger sibling. The idea is that TPU provides more spring than EVA foam and it lasts longer. The Escalante Racer has a springy, bouncy feel that makes TPU cushioning so attractive. Altra rate the Racer's cushioning as "light", which I think it a little harsh. It's not a massively cushioned shoe, but it's comparable the [Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] and not that far behind the [[Hoka Clifton]].
* {{H:drop}}. Altra always claim issues a zero drop, and the Racer is as close as it gets.
* {{H:structure}}. Like its big sibling, there's nothing about the Escalante Racer 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 Racer is slightly more flexible than the Escalante, but I can't tell the difference when running. 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, and there is not quite enough room for the smallest toes. If you look at the shoe from the side, there is not quite enough headroom, but that wasn't too much of an issue with the Escalante or Escalante Racer. In fact, I feel like the Racer has slightly more toe box height than the Escalante.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is different on the Racer from its Escalante sibling. It has woven holes that improve breathability slightly. I found the upper extremely comfortable, and while some of the weight saving comes from less patting around the ankle opening, it's still more than enough.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Escalante has a traditional styled tongue, and unlike the Escalante it's not sown in at all. There is no padding in the tongue at all, but the close spacing of the laces seem 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 nicely, and I never had them come untied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Escalante has no heel counter to cause problems.
{{FastBlr|Saucony/type-a6-597|597|Altra Escalante Racer}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
