Altra  Paradigm 8 Road-Running Shoes - Women's

I had a 6. 5 W in Paradigm 7. I loved them! I was sad to hear they made the cushion softer with Paradigm 8 but with my wide feet, I enjoy the space, 0 drop and stability. I was extremely disappointed when shoes arrived they were smaller, tighter. My custom-made orthotics, which fit perfectly in the Paradigm 7 I can barely get in an out with the Paradigm 8. Why would you change your actual shoe size?? It is visible to the naked eye. And of course to my poor toes.

After reading the negative reviews, I decided to go try on a pair of Paradigm 8 at my local running store. Glad I did before ordering. The 8 is just awful. They seem narrower, toe box smaller and the cushion isn’t quite the same. I have 2 pairs of the Paradigm 7 and they are absolutely, hands down the best shoe I have owned. I own 6 pairs of Altra’s and use each one for different activities. You guys really screwed up a good thing by making the changes to the 8. Please go back and make the Paradigm 7 again. Guess I’ll have to start looking at other brands. Take these reviews to heart and quit changing a good shoe!

FINALLY made the Paradigm like it was before! Had Paradigm 6’s and loved them. Did not like the Paradigm 7’s and returned them. Now buying my 2nd pair of Paradigm 8’s in case Altra ruins it again in the 9’s. Please keep making these Paradigms the way they’re supposed to be!

My first pair of altras. I used to wear brooks in wide, but haven’t been happy with them over the past 5 years or so. I tried on several pairs of stability shoes and these were the winner. I did not need to order a wide, regular size accommodated my flipper shaped bunion feet. Definitely a winner for wide feet if you’re ok with minimal heel toe drop.

My podiatrist laid out some specific requirements I needed in purchasing shoes to help my recently diagnosed foot problems (fallen arches, hammertoes, over pronation and a couple of other issues). She said the shoe MUST have a wide toe box and zero heel drop. My physical therapist recommended the Altra Paradigm 8. After wearing a pair for 3 months, the improvement was so noticeable, I ordered my second pair in a different color. The only thing I don’t like is the puffy, padded shoe tongue…it just looks bulky.

I loved the 7's. They were the most relief I've had in years. I have multiple foot issues. The 7's wore out and I could only find the 8 to purchase. So I did, the toe box height is way too short. They squish both my big toes from the top down which causes me severe pain. I need the wide to accommodate a bunion, but I think they are a little too wide. They do relieve my heel pain. But overall, I'm going to send them back. Too much $$ to not love them and to suffer toe pain and again.

These shoes have helped my feet feel better. I have bursitis and tendinitis in my feet, and these shoes have been reducing my pain. I also have the Paradigm 7's, which were working pretty well, but the 8's are doing more for my pain. I use these shoes as my everyday shoes and I don't run. I also have the Lone Peaks but they don't have enough cushion or stability. Altra, please make more shoes with the GuideRails. I need some waterproof hiking boots/shoes for a trip to Alaska.

I loved the Paradigm 7s. The wide option fit my feet perfectly and were the only shoe I could find that had a wide enough toe box and didn’t add to any of my foot issues. The 8s are physically smaller in all directions. I compared my 7s to my 8s and I ordered the exact same size and width. The 8s are smaller in length and width, squish my feet, and are generally uncomfortable. Extremely disappointed in these and will be returning them.

These are the best Paradigms yet. I have no back pain wearing these shoes and they feel amazing! Like previous Paradigms you will need to size up a 1/2 size. The most comfortable walking and standing on your feet all day show I have ever owned in my life and I am in my 50's. People complain of heel slippage. I have very narrow heels and it does slip a little bit but you just tighten the upper shoe strings and it fixes the issue.

Paradigm 8 Wide in Black. I have wide feet and very low arch. The cushion is awesome in all areas. I have inward overpronation and this is my first shoe with guide rails to correct this and have support. It took me couple of days to get used to the rails. At the beginning I felt some moderate pain in my left arch as the guide rails don't let you do the inward overpronation. I started wearing the shoes for 30 minutes for a walk, then next day an hour, until I was able to reach almost 8 hours between walking and seating. The left arch pain went away as I got used to the rails. So, I kept the shoes. They are what I needed for all day support. I tried the new Torin ST for support , but Paradigm 8 felt better, maybe because of all the cushion. I would buy another pair in a different color, but the other options for wide doesn't include the light blue. I hope Altra makes light blue an option for wide shoes.