How to Choose Running Shoes

Looking for a connected underfoot feel for training days, races and long runs? The men's Altra Escalante 4 road-running shoes offer lightweight comfort however you like to put in the miles.
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Imported.
View the Altra Escalante Product LineView all Altra Men's Road-Running ShoesBest Use | Running |
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Running Shoe Support | Neutral |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 0 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 24 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 24 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Engineered mesh |
Midsole | Altra EGO foam |
Outsole | Rubber |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 3 oz. |
Gender | Men's |
7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
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U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
UK | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
EU | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51.5 |
Foot Length (in.) | 9.8 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 13 | 13.4 |
Altra’s unique FootShape™ toe box and zero to low shoes are built to place your foot in a natural position, with a stable and confident foundation to run on. When fitting, be sure to allow a full thumb’s width in front of your toes. If your feet are used to cramped toe boxes, Altra shoes may feel a little big at first. Give your toes some time to get used to the newfound wiggle room.
Altra offers a range of FootShape fits:
Original Fit: The fit that started it all, Original is the roomiest of the 3 options from Altra.
Standard Fit: The most common fit from Altra is right in the middle of Original and Slim.
Slim Fit: The slimmest-fitting Altra option still allows room for your toes to spread out naturally.
IS THIS SHOE TRUE TO SIZE? The product Features above will provide a suggestion if Altra advises you to size up or down in this particular shoe. If no such note exists, please order your regular size.
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I've had several prior pairs of these (purchased myself) and they are pretty hard to beat in terms of comfort and just healthiness for your feet. This pair I would say is an improvement over the previous ones. The only difference I really notice is instead of a thick cushiony tongue now it is that woven fabric which I prefer. They are great for running, walking, and just wearing around. My only criticism is I'm not a big fan of white woven type shoes especially for running because I tend to get them dirty so fast and it really shows. I would go for a light gray or something for a lighter color. I haven't washed them yet but I suspect they would survive at least one or two gentle/cold cycles.
I’ve been using these shoes for the last month for a variety of activities, and I love that they are very light weight, comfortable, and natural feeling shoes under foot. These are not my favorite for running - I prefer more cushion - but I find them excellent for gym days, walking, and general wear. The style is unique with the asymmetrical and wide toe, but I think it works well with the uniform colors and they feel stylish for wearing with shorts out and about. I would not choose white again - the woven nylon picks up dirt/stains quickly and being in the Northwest rain/mud is frequent.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I wore these shoes everyday for a few weeks and my feet feel great. I have wide feet and these shoes have proper space for my width needs. They're also nicely supportive and light as a feather. I would buy these again and again.
These shoes are quite a bit different than my normal running shoes; I like them, but they will not replace what I currently use (Asics Kayano or Asics GT-2000). Good: light, a lot of cushioning, shape of the shoe is a better match to natural foot shape (it looks kinda weird compared to traditional shoe shape... I did not notice the shape making any siginificant difference for my running... your mileage may vary...) Bad: I prefer a more structured shoe even though that tends to increase weight. A nit: the shoe laces are "slick," I was always afraid of the knot coming undone unless double-knotted. I do really like these shoes for everyday use, they just won't replace my current running shoes.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First impressions out of the box wow good looking shoe. As an avid athlete i almost didn't want to wear these outside. The black on white pops! Nice wide toe box as ive come to expect from Altra. Low drop makes it feel as if you are sitting back in your heels and at first seems odd but as soon as you start running in these shoes you notice right away the foot position it puts you in and how comfortable it actually is. Hands down would recommend as a a runner or as a daily shoe as it is very comfortable for both. I received this product for free in exchange for a review which in no way influenced my opinion as i am picky when it comes to shoes...just ask my wife..
These shoes are just okay. I think they need to be reviewed from a few vantage points to give them a fair shake. Foot type (as with most running shoes) really plays a big role in whether you will like them. I am a 180-lb heavy-foot strike runner who typically needs a cushion shoe. My footstrike is fairly neutral, and I have been a runner my entire life. That said, these shoes are absolutely not for someone who needs a cushion shoe. They feel very firm, not cushionless—just firm. The zero heel drop is an issue for me, as someone with tight calves could experience a greater risk of shin splints due to the angle your foot strikes (according to my non-medical background understanding). This wide toebox isn't a problem, and it is sort of nice not to be restricted—but it can feel a bit "loose" in the front, so if that is a problem, I would keep looking elsewhere. (See top-down photos to get a feel for what I mean) The shoes construction is aces. Brilliant in construction - the tongue has no cushion but isn't floppy and formless like some others can be. It hugs your foot and rests nicely on the bridge where you lace them. I genuinely like the shoe's feel, but with my weight and impact, I need something else. I wore them on a few runs of roughly 3-4 miles and realized they weren't for me. After that, I decided to use them at Disney World for two days (about 15 miles of walking), and then while on a cruise, I used them as my everyday shoes and ran in them for five short runs on the ship. They held up wonderfully during those iterations. So even if this isn't for you as a running shoe (Which, frankly, Altra claims they're for short, fast runs or everyday wear), it's not a bad option for kicking around and giving the flexibility to cross-train in. The zero heel drop and wide toe give an excellent cross-training platform. While I personally won't be buying these again, they're not a bad shoe. You just should be a lighter runner who doesn't need as much material between you and the ground.
Bough these shoes two months ago, the tip of the rubber sole started peeling away. I've only used them to work out and casual walking. I submitted a request to the warranty dept and they denied it. Emily said it was wear and tear. This is the last pair of Latras I'll ever buy.
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These shoes just about check every box I needed. When I first got them I thought they would just be running shoes, but they are 'cool' enough to wear to weekend BBQs or gatherings. I got the white version and even while attending some of those 'tame' events, the soles seems to scratch and scuff so easily. Some of my pictures show black scratches, which I know are my fault, but I wasn't expecting this much damage from pushing a stroller through the zoo for 4 hours. I know this is what I am asked for with white shoes, but it just seemed like any contact meant a black scuff or something that I needed to clean off. The pictures are actually from after I cleaned them after the zoo trip. In terms of feel, the read or heel area is INCREDIBLY comfortable, but as you get to the toes/ball of your foot, they seem to just be normal comfort level. The heal is very soft and squishy for running, which is great, IMO. The laces stay tied even on longer runs or continued stress. They feel very light compared to some other runners I have, too. One other items that bugs me with all white shoes is the difference in white from the rubber soles and the 'body' fabric. The 'body' fabric has a very slight yellowish tint to them - you should be able to see this in the 'above' picture on the toe area. In terms of traction and 'grippy-ness' of the bottom of the shoe, they could use a little more grip. Another picture shows how they are relatively flat. I know these are running shoes, but any slope on wet pavement or grass and I would be a little concerned and have to slow down running speeds. Overall, they do the trick and I just love how soft they are on the heel. I would like to see them in a grey color to avoid the visuals of scuffs and scratches, though.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I really liked them, I've been using them for 7 days, I go to the gym and I like to run outdoors and they are very comfortable and light. Before I used the Nike Free Metcon 4, but I feel more comfortable with the Escalante 4...
This is my first pair of zero-drop shoes. They run a little bit on the smaller side. The first few miles on them my calfs were on fire, but after about a few days of running on them i got used to the way these run. They are super light and extremely comfortable. I personally love the bigger toe box and the minimalist aspect of the shoe. I tried these after running the past year on some adidas boston 12s, and the escalate 4s feel like a huge upgrade.