Introducing the new Escalante 3. This Altra classic gets a style refresh with an all-new modern look. These design updates offer an improved fit for your foot with our updated, sock-like upper material and added elastic throughout. Versatility meet comfort with this road shoe favorite with our Altra EGO foam midsole and our Standard FootShape Fit designed to take you from your morning run to your morning meeting.
Introducing the new Escalante 3. This Altra classic gets a style refresh with an all-new modern look. These design updates offer an improved fit for your foot with our updated, sock-like upper material and added elastic throughout. Versatility meet comfort with this road shoe favorite with our Altra EGO foam midsole and our Standard FootShape Fit designed to take you from your morning run to your morning meeting.
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The lowest price for Altra Escalante 3 Running Shoes White Black - 42.5 right now is $207.97.
Prices last updated 5 Mar 2025.
Altra Escalante 3 Running Shoes White Black - 42.5
Introducing the new Escalante 3. This Altra classic gets a style refresh with an all-new modern look. These design updates offer an improved fit for your foot with our updated, sock-like upper material and added elastic throughout. Versatility meet comfort with this road shoe favorite with our Altra EGO foam midsole and our Standard FootShape Fit designed to take you from your morning run to your morning meeting.
Introducing the new Escalante 3. This Altra classic gets a style refresh with an all-new modern look. These design updates offer an improved fit for your foot with our updated, sock-like upper material and added elastic throughout. Versatility meet comfort with this road shoe favorite with our Altra EGO foam midsole and our Standard FootShape Fit designed to take you from your morning run to your morning meeting.
Last updated at 05/03/2025 09:21:25
originally posted on altrarunning.com
As I was considering buying these, I read quite a few negative reviews so after using them 10+ times and LOVING them, I thought I better write a review.I have been runner for 35 years and have done many endurance, ultra-endurance events including multiple Bostons. These shoes are AMAZING. After 10 runs in them and I'm blown away. Why?- the amount of foam/stack is about perfect for good road feel but still providing comfort (did 20k this morning, they were great)- very light- roomy toe box (I've never owned a shoe like this before) and the forefoot, toe splay comfort is exceptionalI've seriously been missing the boat on these, wish I would have discovered decades ago. I also bought a pair of Altra Lone Peak 7s for trail and same feedback, I'm blown ... MoreAs I was considering buying these, I read quite a few negative reviews so after using them 10+ times and LOVING them, I thought I better write a review.I have been runner for 35 years and have done many endurance, ultra-endurance events including multiple Bostons. These shoes are AMAZING. After 10 runs in them and I'm blown away. Why?- the amount of foam/stack is about perfect for good road feel but still providing comfort (did 20k this morning, they were great)- very light- roomy toe box (I've never owned a shoe like this before) and the forefoot, toe splay comfort is exceptionalI've seriously been missing the boat on these, wish I would have discovered decades ago. I also bought a pair of Altra Lone Peak 7s for trail and same feedback, I'm blown away.Can't recommend highly enough.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
There are so many issues with this update, it's really tough to know where to begin. They've sew the tongue into the upper, which makes it nearly impossible to widen the fit for those of us who have larger volume feet. They've also made the shoe fit much less volume, which then makes the tongue design terrible. The length is still correct. Which means you either have to use a shoe that's too long, or deal with a narrow and tight fitting upper. This shoe has felt like butter on my feet the last several iterations, but this shoe feels stiff. It's almost like they reduced the stack height and increased the density of the midsole. I've probably used over 15 pairs of escalantes over the years, but there is really no way I can use this shoe. Gonna be a while before I buy ... MoreThere are so many issues with this update, it's really tough to know where to begin. They've sew the tongue into the upper, which makes it nearly impossible to widen the fit for those of us who have larger volume feet. They've also made the shoe fit much less volume, which then makes the tongue design terrible. The length is still correct. Which means you either have to use a shoe that's too long, or deal with a narrow and tight fitting upper. This shoe has felt like butter on my feet the last several iterations, but this shoe feels stiff. It's almost like they reduced the stack height and increased the density of the midsole. I've probably used over 15 pairs of escalantes over the years, but there is really no way I can use this shoe. Gonna be a while before I buy another Altra.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
Altra has continued its fall from greatness with the Escalante 3. If you are new to the brand, I can understand how these shoes feel amazing compared to other big brand shoes, but Altra has lost what made them unique and attractive. These shoes are cheap, stiff, and overly supportive.I originally purchased a pair of the original Escalantes in August of 2017 and I still remember the feeling when I first tried them on: The original Escalantes felt like I was wearing a pair of slippers and walking on clouds. I didn't feel like I was wearing a pair of running shoes. They were flexible, wide, and supple and the top was soft, flexible, and breathable. They allowed my foot to spread out to its natural shape, and move like a foot should move, similar to the barefoot trend ... MoreAltra has continued its fall from greatness with the Escalante 3. If you are new to the brand, I can understand how these shoes feel amazing compared to other big brand shoes, but Altra has lost what made them unique and attractive. These shoes are cheap, stiff, and overly supportive.I originally purchased a pair of the original Escalantes in August of 2017 and I still remember the feeling when I first tried them on: The original Escalantes felt like I was wearing a pair of slippers and walking on clouds. I didn't feel like I was wearing a pair of running shoes. They were flexible, wide, and supple and the top was soft, flexible, and breathable. They allowed my foot to spread out to its natural shape, and move like a foot should move, similar to the barefoot trend in running. But compared to barefoot shoes, the original Escalantes also provided enough cushion to protect my feet from rocks and gravel and allow me to run long distances without overly stressing my feet, tendons, and joints. I changed my running style, from heal striking to mid-foot/fore-foot striking when I purchased these shoes and was able to cut over a minute off every mile. When I saw that Altra had been sold in March of 2018 to VF Corporation my first though was "Oh no! They're going to ruin the brand." I immediately got online and ordered a second pair of original Escalantes before it was too late. Time has proven my fear correct: ever since then, the new and "improved" Escalantes have only been a worse iteration of the originals. I tried on the 1.5s, and the 2s, and compared to my original Escalantes, they were terrible and I sent them back.Along with the new, narrower "standard" foot shape, the Escalante 3s have a stabilizing ridge running down both sides of the sole, which causes the shoe to feel even. The shoe inserts are nearly identical when physically stacking the original on top of the new one, but it is these stabilizing bars that causes the shoe to feel narrow. I understand Altra's reasoning behind the bar - they were trying to keep your foot on top of the sole of the shoe. Altra tried different approaches with the 1.5 and 2 with their hard plastic bit running down the outside of the shoe. The originals were great without any sort of stabilization. Yes, your foot can slide off the sole which causes extra wear on the upper - visible by the holes in the exact same place on my original pairs of Escalantes - but the shoes still last plenty long. Each pair of my original escalates has over 1000 miles on them.The Escalante 3s are stiff and uncomfortable. I never encountered any hotspots or blisters while using the original Escalantes. With the 3s, I have had blisters and hotspots on the balls of my feet. This could also be due to the cheap insets provided with these shoes. After maybe 50 miles, I went to put my shoes on and thought I had gotten some dirt or grass in them. I took them off to clean them out and noticed that it wasn't dirt, but it was the insets pilling up and breaking down. I took out these cheap inserts and put in my original Escalante inserts with 1000+ miles on them, and the shoes felt better - no more blisters or hotspots on the balls of my feet. Unfortunately my old inserts didn't solve the stiff and uncomfortable problem of the 3s.The uppers on the 3s are stiff and have stabilizing bars through the fabric. Again, I think this is an attempt to keep your foot on top of the sole of the shoe, but the result is a less comfortable, stiffer upper.I used to rave to anyone I could about how amazing Altra shoes, specifically the Escalantes were, but I haven't been able to do that since the originals. I don't recommend you purchase these shoes. Altra, if you are listening to your long-term fans and supporters, please bring back the original Escalantes with all of their "imperfections" and stop your fall from grace. You had something near perfect and are running in the wrong direction.
| Sole | FootPod |
| Sole thickness | 24mm |
As I was considering buying these, I read quite a few negative reviews so after using them 10+ times and LOVING them, I thought I better write a review.I have been runner for 35 years and have done many endurance, ultra-endurance events including multiple Bostons. These shoes are AMAZING. After 10 runs in them and I'm blown away. Why?- the amount of foam/stack is about perfect for good road feel but still providing comfort (did 20k this morning, they were great)- very light- roomy toe box (I've never owned a shoe like this before) and the forefoot, toe splay comfort is exceptionalI've seriously been missing the boat on these, wish I would have discovered decades ago. I also bought a pair of Altra Lone Peak 7s for trail and same feedback, I'm blown ... MoreAs I was considering buying these, I read quite a few negative reviews so after using them 10+ times and LOVING them, I thought I better write a review.I have been runner for 35 years and have done many endurance, ultra-endurance events including multiple Bostons. These shoes are AMAZING. After 10 runs in them and I'm blown away. Why?- the amount of foam/stack is about perfect for good road feel but still providing comfort (did 20k this morning, they were great)- very light- roomy toe box (I've never owned a shoe like this before) and the forefoot, toe splay comfort is exceptionalI've seriously been missing the boat on these, wish I would have discovered decades ago. I also bought a pair of Altra Lone Peak 7s for trail and same feedback, I'm blown away.Can't recommend highly enough.
There are so many issues with this update, it's really tough to know where to begin. They've sew the tongue into the upper, which makes it nearly impossible to widen the fit for those of us who have larger volume feet. They've also made the shoe fit much less volume, which then makes the tongue design terrible. The length is still correct. Which means you either have to use a shoe that's too long, or deal with a narrow and tight fitting upper. This shoe has felt like butter on my feet the last several iterations, but this shoe feels stiff. It's almost like they reduced the stack height and increased the density of the midsole. I've probably used over 15 pairs of escalantes over the years, but there is really no way I can use this shoe. Gonna be a while before I buy ... MoreThere are so many issues with this update, it's really tough to know where to begin. They've sew the tongue into the upper, which makes it nearly impossible to widen the fit for those of us who have larger volume feet. They've also made the shoe fit much less volume, which then makes the tongue design terrible. The length is still correct. Which means you either have to use a shoe that's too long, or deal with a narrow and tight fitting upper. This shoe has felt like butter on my feet the last several iterations, but this shoe feels stiff. It's almost like they reduced the stack height and increased the density of the midsole. I've probably used over 15 pairs of escalantes over the years, but there is really no way I can use this shoe. Gonna be a while before I buy another Altra.
Altra has continued its fall from greatness with the Escalante 3. If you are new to the brand, I can understand how these shoes feel amazing compared to other big brand shoes, but Altra has lost what made them unique and attractive. These shoes are cheap, stiff, and overly supportive.I originally purchased a pair of the original Escalantes in August of 2017 and I still remember the feeling when I first tried them on: The original Escalantes felt like I was wearing a pair of slippers and walking on clouds. I didn't feel like I was wearing a pair of running shoes. They were flexible, wide, and supple and the top was soft, flexible, and breathable. They allowed my foot to spread out to its natural shape, and move like a foot should move, similar to the barefoot trend ... MoreAltra has continued its fall from greatness with the Escalante 3. If you are new to the brand, I can understand how these shoes feel amazing compared to other big brand shoes, but Altra has lost what made them unique and attractive. These shoes are cheap, stiff, and overly supportive.I originally purchased a pair of the original Escalantes in August of 2017 and I still remember the feeling when I first tried them on: The original Escalantes felt like I was wearing a pair of slippers and walking on clouds. I didn't feel like I was wearing a pair of running shoes. They were flexible, wide, and supple and the top was soft, flexible, and breathable. They allowed my foot to spread out to its natural shape, and move like a foot should move, similar to the barefoot trend in running. But compared to barefoot shoes, the original Escalantes also provided enough cushion to protect my feet from rocks and gravel and allow me to run long distances without overly stressing my feet, tendons, and joints. I changed my running style, from heal striking to mid-foot/fore-foot striking when I purchased these shoes and was able to cut over a minute off every mile. When I saw that Altra had been sold in March of 2018 to VF Corporation my first though was "Oh no! They're going to ruin the brand." I immediately got online and ordered a second pair of original Escalantes before it was too late. Time has proven my fear correct: ever since then, the new and "improved" Escalantes have only been a worse iteration of the originals. I tried on the 1.5s, and the 2s, and compared to my original Escalantes, they were terrible and I sent them back.Along with the new, narrower "standard" foot shape, the Escalante 3s have a stabilizing ridge running down both sides of the sole, which causes the shoe to feel even. The shoe inserts are nearly identical when physically stacking the original on top of the new one, but it is these stabilizing bars that causes the shoe to feel narrow. I understand Altra's reasoning behind the bar - they were trying to keep your foot on top of the sole of the shoe. Altra tried different approaches with the 1.5 and 2 with their hard plastic bit running down the outside of the shoe. The originals were great without any sort of stabilization. Yes, your foot can slide off the sole which causes extra wear on the upper - visible by the holes in the exact same place on my original pairs of Escalantes - but the shoes still last plenty long. Each pair of my original escalates has over 1000 miles on them.The Escalante 3s are stiff and uncomfortable. I never encountered any hotspots or blisters while using the original Escalantes. With the 3s, I have had blisters and hotspots on the balls of my feet. This could also be due to the cheap insets provided with these shoes. After maybe 50 miles, I went to put my shoes on and thought I had gotten some dirt or grass in them. I took them off to clean them out and noticed that it wasn't dirt, but it was the insets pilling up and breaking down. I took out these cheap inserts and put in my original Escalante inserts with 1000+ miles on them, and the shoes felt better - no more blisters or hotspots on the balls of my feet. Unfortunately my old inserts didn't solve the stiff and uncomfortable problem of the 3s.The uppers on the 3s are stiff and have stabilizing bars through the fabric. Again, I think this is an attempt to keep your foot on top of the sole of the shoe, but the result is a less comfortable, stiffer upper.I used to rave to anyone I could about how amazing Altra shoes, specifically the Escalantes were, but I haven't been able to do that since the originals. I don't recommend you purchase these shoes. Altra, if you are listening to your long-term fans and supporters, please bring back the original Escalantes with all of their "imperfections" and stop your fall from grace. You had something near perfect and are running in the wrong direction.
I've known about Altra for a while now but finally gave them a real chance after the founder, Golden Harper, was interviewed on The Coach Paul Show podcast. Coach Paul and Golden raved about the Escalantes, and I'm very glad to have tried these shoes.Prior to trying the Escalantes my runs were basically just 2-4 mile jogs around the block, just enough to get in a workout and call it a day. I was running because I always have, but I mostly dreaded each mile. Anything more than 5 miles would typically result in back pain for a few days. I figured I was just getting old.But the Escalantes completely reignited my enjoyment of running. I'm now running more miles more frequently, and the Escalantes are a huge reason for that. I've found these incredibly comfortable, ... MoreI've known about Altra for a while now but finally gave them a real chance after the founder, Golden Harper, was interviewed on The Coach Paul Show podcast. Coach Paul and Golden raved about the Escalantes, and I'm very glad to have tried these shoes.Prior to trying the Escalantes my runs were basically just 2-4 mile jogs around the block, just enough to get in a workout and call it a day. I was running because I always have, but I mostly dreaded each mile. Anything more than 5 miles would typically result in back pain for a few days. I figured I was just getting old.But the Escalantes completely reignited my enjoyment of running. I'm now running more miles more frequently, and the Escalantes are a huge reason for that. I've found these incredibly comfortable, and the zero-drop has basically forced me to focus on my form in a way that I never had before... and I no longer have back pain! Even after a number of 8-mile runs, my back still feels good.So I would definitely recommend these if you are on the fence. That being said, I did not wear the previous versions of this shoe and you can see a number of reviewers claim the shoe is too narrow or too stiff. I agree I would like a little more room in the toe box, and I think these are indeed a little stiff. For me, these are simply areas for improvement, but I can absolutely understand why someone used to a prior version would see this update as a regression. I'm hopeful that the next version will only improve upon what I think is a great shoe!
I have have had Escalantes for years and they have been one of my favorite running shoes. The new Escalante 3 is a major departure in the Escalante line so much so that they should hve been given a new model name. What is different? The E3 uppers are thicker and stiffer making them hotter and less flexible. The sole of the E3 feels stiffer and it is a tad narrower, which when combined with the stiffer uppers, makes the shoe feel much narrower, in fact too narrow for me. To some these new features may be welcomed, but for the Escalante fan club, probably not. I did return the shoes not for the differences though as I was willing to give them a chance. I returned them because the toe cap on the E3 combined with the stiffer uppers caused a major crease in the toe box ... MoreI have have had Escalantes for years and they have been one of my favorite running shoes. The new Escalante 3 is a major departure in the Escalante line so much so that they should hve been given a new model name. What is different? The E3 uppers are thicker and stiffer making them hotter and less flexible. The sole of the E3 feels stiffer and it is a tad narrower, which when combined with the stiffer uppers, makes the shoe feel much narrower, in fact too narrow for me. To some these new features may be welcomed, but for the Escalante fan club, probably not. I did return the shoes not for the differences though as I was willing to give them a chance. I returned them because the toe cap on the E3 combined with the stiffer uppers caused a major crease in the toe box which rubbed on my toes... not very comfortable on any run than perhaps to the mailbox and back. I do have a pairs of Escalante Racers, which are not really a great alternative, IMO. Hopefully the E4 will bring back the features and comfort of the Escalante. UGH.
This is, I think, my fourth pair of Escalantes. It's the only version 3 that I've bought though. I absolutely loved, unconditionally, the first three. There was still a lot that was good about this shoe, but the fail points were catastrophic.One of my shoes wound up with the dent in the toe box that other reviewers have complained about. It felt so much worse than it looked in the pictures; it made walking uncomfortable. I tried to get used to it but never could. Going down stairs was particularly bad. I didn't use these for running, but I could imagine getting a blister pretty quick, where the toe box dent rubbed my toe. So, yeah, one star because one shoe was basically unwearable.The cushioning in the sole was what I loved most about the earlier Escalantes. ... MoreThis is, I think, my fourth pair of Escalantes. It's the only version 3 that I've bought though. I absolutely loved, unconditionally, the first three. There was still a lot that was good about this shoe, but the fail points were catastrophic.One of my shoes wound up with the dent in the toe box that other reviewers have complained about. It felt so much worse than it looked in the pictures; it made walking uncomfortable. I tried to get used to it but never could. Going down stairs was particularly bad. I didn't use these for running, but I could imagine getting a blister pretty quick, where the toe box dent rubbed my toe. So, yeah, one star because one shoe was basically unwearable.The cushioning in the sole was what I loved most about the earlier Escalantes. Wearing them, it felt like I was walking on a cloud. That was not the case with Escalante pt. 3. I haven't checked to see if any changes were made to the sole, but these were definitely not as instantly comforting and inviting as older models. I stand a lot at work, and the older models held up all day long. I never though about my feet. But with these, my feet got sore after only a couple hours into the day.Other people have complained about the tongue or the uppers. I had no problem there and though that these uppers might have even been a slight improvement. And I loved the old shoes, so a slight improvement is a pretty good achievement.
I had been using Escalantes since the beginning, but the shoe has slowly drifted away from the original offerings. Maybe it's VF Corp, but who knows?The Escalante 3 looks snazzier than ever, but the shoes is tighter than it's predecessors. No Altra running enthusiast wants a "standard foot shape" or we'd be buying Hokas!The 3 feels small and my toes are crowded even with my thinnest socks. The shoe has a funny crease near my big toe, which has never happened in the past. The midsole has held up and durability has not been an issue (though I've only seen tears in my Lone Peaks after much abuse).Overall, I haven't been enthusiastic about running in these and I switched to a unnamed competitor brand, T___ A_______ and I have been much happier. I still love my ... MoreI had been using Escalantes since the beginning, but the shoe has slowly drifted away from the original offerings. Maybe it's VF Corp, but who knows?The Escalante 3 looks snazzier than ever, but the shoes is tighter than it's predecessors. No Altra running enthusiast wants a "standard foot shape" or we'd be buying Hokas!The 3 feels small and my toes are crowded even with my thinnest socks. The shoe has a funny crease near my big toe, which has never happened in the past. The midsole has held up and durability has not been an issue (though I've only seen tears in my Lone Peaks after much abuse).Overall, I haven't been enthusiastic about running in these and I switched to a unnamed competitor brand, T___ A_______ and I have been much happier. I still love my Lone Peaks, but I'm sure Altra will be acquiesce to investor pressures and put those on the "standard foot shape" platform in time too.If Altra offers a daily runner in the "original foot shape" platform, I'll be back, but it seems like they're phasing it out year to year.
I love Altras. After my first pair they are the only brand of shoe I've bought for the last 5 years. I've owned multiple pairs of every previous escalante. I can see some of the improvements they made with the upper and they do seem like they might be more durable however cushioning and the sole on these is awful.One of the best parts about previous escalante's was you could actually feel the road and there was still plenty of cushion. The escalante 3 must be twice as thick on the cushioning and it's too stiff which creates this weird stiff bouncy feel that creates this feeling of being unbalanced and no sensation of what the terrain feels like. I hate them. I have been trying for weeks to break them in and get used to them but I put them on and 2-3 hours later I ... MoreI love Altras. After my first pair they are the only brand of shoe I've bought for the last 5 years. I've owned multiple pairs of every previous escalante. I can see some of the improvements they made with the upper and they do seem like they might be more durable however cushioning and the sole on these is awful.One of the best parts about previous escalante's was you could actually feel the road and there was still plenty of cushion. The escalante 3 must be twice as thick on the cushioning and it's too stiff which creates this weird stiff bouncy feel that creates this feeling of being unbalanced and no sensation of what the terrain feels like. I hate them. I have been trying for weeks to break them in and get used to them but I put them on and 2-3 hours later I have to take them off and change back to my old pair that the soles are coming loose on because my back and calves and shins hurt so bad from fighting with the unnatural cushioning. I'm constantly feeling like I'm trying to catch my balance which is why I think is part of why they make everything hurt lol. It's like the bottom of the shoe is curved. Whoever made this design choice is used to a very different type of shoe and has made a terrible revision. I can see how any of you who like lots of cushioning might like these but this is not what the shoe was like ever before. It's too bulky and too great a deviation from previous versions. Most of the positive reviews to me look like people who are new to Altra.I'm very disappointed and after trying really hard to get used to them I am returning my pair because they are unusable. Hoping I can find some pairs of the 2.5 somewhere or I'm going to have to change to a different shoe.
I've been wearing Escalante's from the beginning but not any more. All versions were great until the 2.5's and even worse with the 3.0's.The toe-box is not as wide and my toes felt cramped as most have stated. Of course the standard Altra reply is, "we'll send your comments to our technical department". Since there are so many complaints since the 2.0's, I don't think their technical department cares at all.But the deal breaker for me was the addition of holes in the outsole. My very first run in them was on wet roads after a light rain, maybe 35 degrees out. After 5 minutes, I notice the bottom of my feet were getting cold, or so I thought. After a mile I realized my feet weren't cold but they were getting wet. A mile later, I realized my socks were actually ... MoreI've been wearing Escalante's from the beginning but not any more. All versions were great until the 2.5's and even worse with the 3.0's.The toe-box is not as wide and my toes felt cramped as most have stated. Of course the standard Altra reply is, "we'll send your comments to our technical department". Since there are so many complaints since the 2.0's, I don't think their technical department cares at all.But the deal breaker for me was the addition of holes in the outsole. My very first run in them was on wet roads after a light rain, maybe 35 degrees out. After 5 minutes, I notice the bottom of my feet were getting cold, or so I thought. After a mile I realized my feet weren't cold but they were getting wet. A mile later, I realized my socks were actually getting wet. At mile 3, the bottom of my socks were very wet and I could feel them squishing inside. At the end of my 4 mile run, my feet were soaked. I removed my socks and wrung the water out of them. Then I removed the innersole and everything was saturated. Then I examined the soles and noted tiny holes all over the bottom which were part of the design. I'm not sure the reason for the holes but maybe to shave weight? When you look at the photos of these shoes, you do not see these holes. These holes are not mentioned on the Altra site. With it being winter in the Northeast where I live, I often have to run on snowy or wet roads. These shoes are not compatible. Of course Altra will forward my comment to the appropriate department. So glad they had a 30 day "tryout" policy.
So I have used Altra for a long time now. Escalante are my go to, but it seems like with every year they are trying to be more like Hoka. If I wanted Hoka then I would buy Hoka. I loved the old lower stack height, the thin and lightweight tongue, and just the feel of the older shoes. I'd still be running in my Escalante 2.5 if I could, but 700 miles wears down the tread. The best thing about the 3 is that the tread is not worn down since they're new! I have about 300 miles on them now and the wear seems to be the same as past models.The tongue is so bulky and forces you to tie super tight to feel secure, when in reality it just puts pressure on specific points of your foot causing the tongue to bulk out between the laces and cause pinpoint pain. This not only ... MoreSo I have used Altra for a long time now. Escalante are my go to, but it seems like with every year they are trying to be more like Hoka. If I wanted Hoka then I would buy Hoka. I loved the old lower stack height, the thin and lightweight tongue, and just the feel of the older shoes. I'd still be running in my Escalante 2.5 if I could, but 700 miles wears down the tread. The best thing about the 3 is that the tread is not worn down since they're new! I have about 300 miles on them now and the wear seems to be the same as past models.The tongue is so bulky and forces you to tie super tight to feel secure, when in reality it just puts pressure on specific points of your foot causing the tongue to bulk out between the laces and cause pinpoint pain. This not only looks bad, but is super uncomfortable. The old thin tongue of shoes past was lightweight, breathable, and allowed you to tie the laces evenly, not too tight, but feel secure.My biggest gripe is the stack height. Why does it increas every year? Hoka sells well because they're comfy, but not great for foot muscle usage. I want a low cushion, low stack shoe that allows my foot to do the work. My foot needs the workout, not a shoe. Just because something sells well doesn't mean that it is good for you. Quit following trends and do what Altra did before they sold out to a bigger company. I will be forced to choose a different brand since there is no stack heights less than 25mm other than speed shoes (which are now even getting the stack height increase, smh).Please be yourself, Altra. Don't try to copy other brands. There was so much potential it's origination, but it seems to be a sellout company. Hopefully my mind can be changed in the future.Seems half-size big only because of nice wide toe box.
| Sole | FootPod |
| Sole thickness | 24mm |
