When you think “Altra,” you may think “zero drop”—but the brand is more than just that. The best Altra shoes include chunky, max-cushion sneakers, fast racers, and more.
And don’t forget the brand’s signature wide, anatomically shaped toe box (a podiatrist favorite). “If we wear the typical shoes, which have a tapered toe box, it’s like if someone is squeezing your hand all day. Eventually, your hand is going to get stuck in that position,” Dr. Don Pelto, DPM, a podiatrist at Central Massachusetts Podiatry, tells SELF. “It can cause forefoot pain, bunions, neuromas, and hammer toes.” Not so with Altras, he adds.
Ready to branch out and try something new, or add another pair to your Altra collection? We rounded up the best shoes from the brand, with help from Dr. Pelto and other experts, for happier, healthier feet.
What is heel-to-toe drop?
A shoe’s heel-to-toe drop is the difference in height between the forefoot and the heel—it’s usually measured in millimeters. Most sneakers have a heel-to-toe drop somewhere between 8 and 12 millimeters. That means there’s more cushioning under your heel, so your foot is tilted forward.
Zero-drop shoes, on the other hand, have no height difference between the heel and forefoot, so your foot is flat. “This design can facilitate a more natural heel-to-toe gait and reduce excessive heel striking,” Dr. Saylee Tulpule, DPM, a podiatrist with Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, tells SELF. “It’s intended to help align the feet, back and hips.” It can also relieve pressure from the forefoot and provide relief for those with any forefoot conditions, Dr. Jenifer Perez, DC, a sports medicine physician and chiropractor, tells SELF.
Most Altra shoes are low- or zero-drop. If you’re not used to the feeling, these shoes can be tricky to walk or run in. New to this kind of sneaker? Wear your Altras for just a few minutes at first, then slowly work your way up to give your body time to adjust.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Torin 8,
$170$119 - Best Low Drop: Experience Flow 2, $140
- Best for Trails: Lone Peak 9, $140
- Best for Stability: Experience Form, $109
- Best for the Gym: Solstice XT 3, $130
- Best for Racing: Vanish Carbon 2, $240
- Best Minimalist: Escalante 4, $130
- Best Max Cushion: Olympus 6, $175
- Best Low Drop for Trails: Experience Wild 2, $140
- Best for Hiking: Lone Peak 9 Waterproof Mid, $180
In this article
Shop the best Altras
Low drop, high comfort.
Best Overall: Torin 8
For a do-it-all zero-drop shoe, you can’t beat the Torin, Altra’s signature road running shoe. It’s a moderately cushioned trainer that earned the seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), meaning a panel of podiatrists has confirmed that they’re designed to keep your feet healthy.
Dr. Tulpule agrees and says the Torin is her top pick for daily running and walking, with its comfortable 30 millimeters of cushioning and soft, smooth ride. Plus, the design is wide foot-friendly: “It contours to the shape of the foot, so your forefoot is going to have more freedom of movement,” Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, a podiatrist at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties in Ohio, previously told SELF. “If you have a wider foot, your toes won’t be pinched.”
It’s also a great shoe for anyone who’s new to zero-drop kicks. “It’s a nice, middle-of-the-road, comfortable shoe that appeals to a lot of people,” confirms certified running coach Amanda Brooks.
Materials: Jacquard mesh, foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular and wide | Weight: 8.4 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Best Low Drop: Experience Flow 2
Recently, Altra added low drop shoes to its offerings, which can be less intimidating that flat, zero-drop shoes for beginners. The brand’s latest model, the Experience Flow 2, is a comfy daily trainer that can do it all.
“For anyone who’s new to the natural foot shape, it’s very similar to many shoes that are on the market. But it’s going to give you that natural shape and drop you down a bit lower,” says Dr. Perez. “So, it’s a great shoe for that transition—if you’re going from something more traditional and you want something more natural, but you only want to change a little bit at a time.”
I tested the Experience Flow 2 on roads and packed dirt trails, and loved its soft, bouncy ride and all-around comfort. It felt similar to some of my favorite top-tier daily trainers from other brands, like the Brooks Glycerin or the Hoka Clifton—just with a lower drop and way more room for my toes to spread out.
Materials: Engineered mesh, foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 7.05 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 mm
Best for Trails: Lone Peak 9
When runners and podiatrists love a shoe, you know it’s good. Altra’s bestselling trail runner, the Lone Peak 9, not only has an APMA seal of acceptance, but also a ringing endorsement from trail runner Julie Tower-Pierce, who previously told SELF that the shoe is her “gold standard” for trail running shoes. “They are mind-blowingly awesome because of their wide toe box, traction, and funky color schemes,” she says.
The Lone Peak is also a favorite of Dr. Tulpule and SELF editors. We’ve loved the technical trail running shoe for years, with our testers noting that the Lone Peak is comfortable, lightweight, and responsive on the trails. Heads up: If you’ll be traversing particularly wet or tricky terrain, try Altra’s waterproof or Vibram rubber outsole version of the Lone Peak.
Materials: Ripstop mesh, foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular and wide | Weight: 9.3 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Best for Stability: Experience Form
If you overpronate (meaning your feet and ankles roll in when you walk), you might need some extra support and stability in your shoes to keep your body aligned correctly. Go for Altra’s Experience Form—it has a low, 4-millimeter drop that Dr. Tulpule says makes it a good transitional shoe.
Dr. Perez agrees: “It has that support and that hug around the heel,” she says. “Having a shoe that has those traditional features, but with a wider toe box and lower heel-to-toe drop, is really powerful because it helps support you where you need it, but doesn’t compromise the function of the foot.”
Materials: Engineered mesh, EVA foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 7.8 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 mm
Best for the Gym: Solstice XT 3
Altra is a great brand to shop for multipurpose gym shoes—their kicks are already more similar to flat, stable cross-training shoes than chunky, cushioned running shoes. Our favorite: The Solstice XT 3, which is designed to feel extra stable during lateral (side-to-side) movements. Another APMA seal of acceptance winner, this shoe also has a breathable mesh upper (no more swampy feet) and a padded heel collar (bye-bye, blisters).
The Solstice is one of Dr. Perez’s go-to shoes even beyond the gym. “I work all day long in that shoe, and it’s a great solution for me when I know I’m going to be doing a lot of walking,” she says.
Materials: Engineered mesh, EVA foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 7.8 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 mm
Best for Racing: Vanish Carbon 2
FYI: We don’t recommend wearing zero-drop shoes for a race if you’re not used to them. But if you’re already a low drop loyalist, try the Altra shoe that’s built for speed: The Vanish Carbon 2. This super shoe (meaning it has a carbon plate, a high stack of bouncy foam, and a lightweight design) can help you zoom through 5Ks or marathons.
Dr. Paras Parekh, DPM, a podiatrist based in Chicago, agrees: He previously told SELF that the Vanish Carbon is the best choice for zero-drop fans who need a super shoe, adding that it has worked well for many of his patients.
Materials: Mesh, foam, rubber, carbon fiber plate | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 5.8 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Best Minimalist: Escalante 4
With 24 millimeters of cushioning underfoot, the Escalante 4 is far from a true barefoot shoe. But compared to some super cushy running shoes out there, it’s on the minimalist side—which Dr. Perez says can help keep your feet strong and healthy. She wore the Escalante on a trip to Tokyo where she was walking long miles every day. She says they gave her some extra support on days she needed it the most (read: tired feet threatened to ruin her trip).
Materials: Engineered knit, mesh, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 7.5 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Best Max Cushion: Olympus 6
Yep, zero-drop shoes can be majorly cushioned too. Case in point: the Olympus 6, a cushy trail runner with 33 millimeters of plush foam underfoot. Dr. Tulpule is a fan of all that padding, saying it makes the Olympus an ideal hiking shoe. The fact that it has a super-grippy rubber outsole only makes it an even stronger contender for the trails.
Just know that that high stack can be both a plus (more protection!) and a minus (potentially more instability) on rugged terrain.
Materials: Engineered mesh, EVA foam, Vibram rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 10.95 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Best Low Drop for Trails: Experience Wild 2
Like its sister sneaker, the Experience Flow 2, the Experience Wild 2 is ideal for those who are Altra-curious or new to zero-drop shoes. But this pair is made for the trails, with a grippy outsole, a protective upper, and even the ability to attach a gaiter.
Bonus: Dr. Tulpule says the Experience line is more friendly to those with plantar fasciitis than other Altra shoes, thanks to its slightly higher heel-to-toe drop. Plus, the sole’s slight rocker shape helps your foot roll forward as you walk or run without changing the way you move, Dr. Perez says.
I’ve logged some miles in the Experience Flow 2 and love its light but protective feel. It’s not the best choice for technical trails, but it’ll work well if you encounter some pavement during your route.
Materials: Mesh, EVA foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5.5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 8.8 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm
Best for Hiking: Lone Peak 9 Waterproof Mid
Dr. Perez says her Colorado-based patients love this high-top version of the Lone Peak for hiking. She adds that the latest version has an upgraded upper that’s even better suited to standing up against the elements. Fully waterproof, the Lone Peak 9 also has a grippy outsole for tackling tough terrain, a rock plate for protection underfoot, and the seal of acceptance from the APMA.
Materials: Recycled polyester mesh, foam, rubber | Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Regular | Weight: 15.95 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
What to consider when choosing Altras
Most shoes have a toe box that gets narrower in the front, which can squish your toes together—and that can have a big impact. “You’re putting your feet in a disadvantaged position by taking those joints out of alignment,” she says. “Then, if you’re using the shoe for long-distance walking or running, you’re adding a lot of mileage to those joints—which is basically like opening and closing a door 10,000 times a day knowing it’s crooked.”
Altra shoes are known for their anatomical shape, meaning the brand’s shoes are shaped like your foot (which typically gets wider at the toes). Dr. Perez says this wide toe box also promotes better stability and can help with forefoot conditions like bunions, hammertoes, and metatarsalgia.
There’s a misconception that Altra shoes run wide. Most of the brand’s pairs are pretty standard width-wise, unless you’re ordering a wide size. “The wide toe box is similar to a lightbulb, where it’s widest at the toes,” says Dr. Perez. “Versus a wide size shoe is going to make the shoe wider at the midfoot.”
While an Altra shoe may feel too big in the toe box at first, it should still fit you well in the heel and the midfoot.
Altra shoes can have a range of cushioning, from the minimalist Escalante to the cushy Olympus. Dr. Perez’s recommendation? If you’re new to the brand, keep the cushioning similar to what you typically wear, so that you’re not changing up too many factors at once.
How we picked these shoes
To choose the best Altras, we put some of their most popular pairs to the test, walking and running in them for miles on roads and trails. Then, we asked podiatrists and other experts for the models they’re always recommending to their patients. We also checked the APMA’s database to find Altra shoes that have received the organization’s seal of acceptance for their foot-friendly designs.
Frequently asked questions
Are Altra shoes good for your feet?
Yes, all the experts we spoke to agreed that Altras and their wide toe boxes are good for foot health. Other zero- and low-drop shoes have similar benefits, but may not be right for everyone (more on this below).
How do Altras compare to Hokas?
Altra and Hoka are both high-quality running shoe brands that podiatrists love. But where Hoka is known for its chunky, max-cushion shoes like the Bondi, Altra’s calling cards are its low (or zero) drop and anatomical toe box. Bottom line: Both brands are great. The right choice for you just depends on what you’re looking for and what works best for your body.
Who should not wear Altras?
Zero-drop shoes aren’t for everyone. People with acute Achilles issues may want to avoid them, says Dr. Perez, since they put more load on that tendon. Limited ankle mobility and tight calves can also be a challenge with zero-drop shoes. But Dr. Perez says that as long as you can bring your knees forward in front of your toes while standing barefoot, you should have enough dorsiflexion to wear zero-drop shoes.
That said, Altra also offers low-drop models, like the Experience Flow 2 and the Experience Wild 2, which may work better for more people.
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