Why do my new Altra shoes fit differently?

While Altra is almost 15 years old as a company, it’s still among the youngest brands in running shoes. It began in 2009 when a couple guys felt that the running shoes they could buy at their local store were hindering their natural gait. They wanted a balanced shoe (that is, zero-drop) and a roomier toebox.

14 years later, not everyone is sold on Altra’s model, but it has carved a permanent space for itself in the performance shoe world. For those of you who love Altra, you may have noticed that, when it comes to the shape of the shoe, not every Altra shoe is made the same. We’ve had devoted Altra fans walk away disappointed that a new model is “too slim” in the toebox. Or, we’ve had customers who, never interested in Altra before precisely because of the roomy toebox, find that they love the newest model because it “fits like a normal shoe.”

So what’s happening here? Has Altra strayed away from its core values? Or is every other brand getting wider, making Altra seem not so special anymore? The answer is actually rather simple, and it’s a natural outflow of Altra’s growth as a company.

While Altra has retained their “Footshape Fit” (that is, a roomier toebox), they have divided that fit into three categories: Slim, Standard, and Original.

Slim is shaped more like a classic running shoe, but it still rounds out in the toebox, providing extra space for your toes to splay. This is found in their Rivera 3, Outroad, and their road racing shoes.

Standard is their medium fit, landing somewhere between Slim and Original. This shape is found in many of their daily training models, like the Provision 7 and Torin 6. This fit will definitely feel roomier than your average running shoe.

And Original sticks to the tried and true early days of Altra. This is your classic Altra shape, and it’s found in models like the Lone Peak 7 and the Via Olympus. These are the shoes that will often fit even those who often wear a wide in other brands.

With this shift, Altra is able to better meet the preferences of a broader group of runners and walkers. There are plenty of athletes with slimmer feet that want a zero-drop shoe, but who don’t need the space that a classic Altra shoe provides. And many of us will do just fine with the space provided by their Standard fit.

So whether you’ve been a longtime Altra devotee, or you’re considering trying its shoes out for your next pair, you’ll likely find a pair that works for you. Check out this link to see a visual representation of Altra’s different fits.

What We're Wearing: Shoes (Tiffany)

What shoe are you currently running in and what were you running in before this shoe?

My go to shoe for my runs right now is the Altra Torin 5. I love it! I had long been a fan of lower drop shoes but had never heard about Altra until I started working at Terra last summer. I love the more “natural approach” to their shoes with the zero millimeter drop (there is no height difference between the heel and the ball of the foot) and the footshape of their shoes. I have an extra bone on the outside of my feet so the more generous toe box gives my feet the room they need to stay comfy and I swear the zero drop helps my gait. My most consistent running shoe before the Torin was the Saucony Kinvara with some short runs in my On Clouds. I still love both of those shoes but the On Cloud specifically isn’t really designed for a ton of consistent running (their other shoes are, though!) and my Kinvara was just at the end of its life so I was happy to try something new.

My beloved Torin 5s!

What have you liked/loved about the shoe?

I love the Torin specifically because it is both an insanely cushiony shoe that retains a healthy amount of spring. This makes it feel (to me, at least) light, fast, and nimble, while still giving my feet a TLC experience with cushion. I also really like that it’s a cushiony shoe that doesn’t have a super tall stack height.

Anything you don't like about the shoe?

The one thing I don’t like about this iteration of the Torin is the tongue is stiff at first and rubs the ankle before it softens up. I try to warn everyone about it so that they aren’t taken to off guard because the shoe is great enough to stick with in spite of that! If you know that it will happen you can prep for it with slightly higher socks until you’ve broken them in. I know that they have fixed this issue for the next version but they won’t be coming out until the end of the year.

Who would you recommend the shoe for?

Anyone who wants a light and fast shoe that also needs cushion for longer miles or anyone who could use some TLC for their feet. This is a great shoe if you have a half or full marathon on the horizon and need cushion to get you through training and race day injury free. It is also is excellent for anyone who needs a cushiony shoe to stand in for work, someone who has problems with their wider feet, or just someone who is curious about Altras and what this footshape and zero drop thing is all about.

On Cloudstratus

What shoe are you planning on running in next?

I would love to snag a pair of the On Cloudstratus next. I had a chance to test out the Cloudstratus during a demo run and I loved it. It has a firmer cushion than the Torin but is also great for longer miles. I am also interested in testing out another Altra, maybe the new Provision 6 or the Escalante or honestly just going with another Torin. I would also love a pair of New Balance 1080s. They are both awesome and are soft as pillows!

What advice would you give someone who is looking to venture out and try a new shoe or brand?

Be open minded and willing to try something new! Feet utilize 29 different muscles and it can be good for them to be strengthened by switching between different shoe types (research backs this up! Runners who have multiple pairs of shoes are 39% less likely to get injured). Come in and talk to us about your needs and goals and we can give you a variety of options to test out based on where you’re at. Also, if you’ve ever bought a cheaper shoe at a department store or TJ Maxx or something, don’t let your experience with a brand that sells cheaper models of their shoes sway your opinion on the quality of their actual running shoes. For instance, New Balance sells a lot of cheaper sneakers that aren’t under their running shoe line. If one of those didn’t serve you well, it’s because it wasn’t designed to.

Anything else you would like to share?

One last piece of advice… while you want to love how your shoes looks, don’t let perceived style sense keep you from getting in the right shoe for your needs. It is better to have healthy and happy feet than a pair of shoes that are your preferred color but are too small, too big, or aren’t going to meet your needs. (Speaking to myself as much as anyone!)