Altra  Experience Flow 3 Road-Running Shoes - Women's

I have been a long-time fan of Hoka and had about 8 pair I rotated out. I kept having issues with my toes having blisters rubbed on them but could never find a wide in my size of the Hoka to try. I was in a store in Alabama about 2 months ago and saw the Altra Experience Flow and decided to give them a try on. That was all she wrote. I have already purchased a second pair, this snazzy daydream color, and for work (medical field) as well as walking/running, these are my go to shoes. I haven't worn any of my Hoka shoes since buying these. Now I just need more colors so I can build up my selection of Altras to rotate! The wide toe box is GENIUS!

Sizing feels off, had to send back because they feel like they are about a half size too big. They definitely feel much bigger than the Flow 2 which fit perfectly.

I really like these shoes! I tried the Escalante 5 and liked it for its original width toe box, but I wanted a little more padding. I tried these Experience Flow 3’s and they work great! They have the standard width toe box and medium cushioning. Wish there was an option for the original toe box and medium cushioning in a running shoe but I didn’t find one. I’ve worn the Olympus before and liked them, but started to feel like they were maybe a bit too much cushioning and a bit bulky. I’m also very thankful I can find women’s shoes that fit (size 12) instead of having to resort to wearing men’s shoes.

I used to trail run in Altra years ago and left when I felt the quality diminishing. Fast forward a few years and I now run both trail and road. I came back to Altra looking for a cushioned-yet-zippy road shoe, as I wasn't finding anything I liked at similar shoe companies. 62 miles in, I am pleased so far with the Exp Flow 3. I'm 122 lbs with average volume feet and a forefoot strike; I run about 16-20 miles a week. They required zero break-in, and feel plush on the feet without losing the feel of the road. Running in these truly feels efficient and effortless; I've actually shaved a few seconds off of my normal pace. I'm now considering the Exp Wild trail shoes. I'm glad to be back, Altra!

Altra continues to disappoint me. I own 20 pairs of older Altra shoes - my 2 favorite models have been discontinued: Provison (especially version 5) and Rivera (version 3). I now need a little rise, so thought the Flow might be perfect. However, the size 9. 5, my usual size, was too short with my toes touching the end of the shoes. Both little toes rubbed the side of the toe box, and the heel was too wide/loose. All this was evident as soon as I put them on. I'm about to give up on Altra. I am happy for an RN that I introduce to Altra - they fit his wider, flatter foot in the wide sizes, and he purchased 7 pairs! They just no longer have a shoe that works for me. Glad I have something of a stockpile of previous models.

I started wearing Altra Lone Peaks in 2017 while doing the PCT. I used Lone Peaks after that, for all hikes and climbs other than in Winter. 2020 or 2021 I moved into a similar shoe that had Vibram soles, as the one issue I had with Lone Peaks was traction on wet, slippery terrain. Now that Altra has put a Vibram sole on the Lone Peak, there is no better trail shoe! I've climbed many 14ers, done long treks in rugged mountains and trail less desert canyons, tackled technical 4-5 class rock work and miles of river walking in my Altras, and I've yet to experience a blister. Just completed the North Circle Loop in Glacier, with days of steady rain and thunderstorms. Enjoyed the overgrown forest trails and rocky mountain passes with confidence in my feet wearing my latest pair of Lone Peaks.

I've run in Altra shoes for years and loved them, but I was starting to feel like logging all my miles in zero drop was putting too much strain on my joint and tendons. I wanted to try their low-drop line but was unsure how it would go. The Experience Flow 3 hits the perfect spot. It still has all the natural fit features that make Altra beloved, but the slight drop and rocker shape make for a smooth and supportive ride. I feel SO GOOD running in these shoes. Would recommend them to a wide variety of runners.

I’ve been a longtime Altra fan and loved my original Experience Flow shoes, so I was excited to upgrade to the Experience Flow 3. Unfortunately, the 3 feels completely different on my foot and caused significant heel pain. I switched back to my original Experience Flows and my feet immediately felt good again. I’m disappointed with the changes made to the 3 and really wish they had kept the fit and feel of the original.

I’ve been wearing Altra for years, including the Escalante and original experience flow, which I loved (had bought multiple pairs). I tried the experience flow 2 and absolutely hated them. They gave me extreme heel pain, and they were incredibly narrow and gave me blisters. I returned them. I am finding that for some reason you guys keep making more versions of shoes, but they continue to get worse. Please stop changing things that are already great. I’m about to give up. :(

I love these shoes! I work on my feet, and these shoes still felt great after standing for 12 hours. The wide toe box and zero drop base make a big difference.I bought a size 8.5 instead of my usual size 9.