Altra  Escalante Racer 2 Road-Running Shoes - Men's

I've tried other wide toe box zero drop shoes and they always lack cushioning. The soles on these shoes are sooo comfortable though with a solid amount of cushion. I bought them for work about 2 months ago and haven't come home with sore feet yet! On top of that I decided to go on my 5th hike up to Crazy Horse wearing these and this is the first time I came home with absolutely no toe pain!! My feet literally felt like I sat around all day. Like I honestly can't believe it took me this long to find this shoe, soooo worth it!!! One thing that was surprising though was how breathable these are, like you can literally see the color socks through the top of the shoe. I wasn't sure if I'd like that or not but they're very sturdy and I do love feeling of the wind on my feet when I walk. These shoes are 10/10.

I had the best experience with the Escalante Racer original. I've had two pairs of Racer 2s since then, and unfortunately they aren't as good. The Racer 1 was supple without being squishy. Right out of the box, these are so stiff! I feel like they're not approaching the original ground feel until they're maybe 50+ miles into their lifespan. As another review noted, they're narrower through the toe than the original as well. I'm about to buy pair number three of these because I want something more plush than a barefoot shoe and there isn't a better option. I have to do it now because I need the extra time to actually make these feel like a shoe I want to wear before this year's pair are worn out. But it's frustrating to know what Altra left on the table for folks that want performance and ground feel at the same time

I have to concur with other reviewers, that the Escalante Racer 2 does not have the immediate comfort as the original Escalante Racers did. The sole feels significantly stiffer. I wish I had stocked up on the old model before the replaced it.

I have loved these Altras! Nice and lightweight but still feel very stable.