Facts
Product Discontinued by Manufacturer. Altra Escalante Road Running Shoe - Mens has been discontinued by Altra and is no longer available. Our product experts have helped us select these available replacements below. Equipped with powerfully plush Altra EGO™ midsoles, the men's Altra Escalante 1.5 running shoes provide a perfect balance between energy-returning, push-off power and springy cushioning. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
- Update: Altra Escalante 1.5
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.- €160
- Women: 182g
- Women: 0mmThe height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
- Women: 25mm
- Women: 25mm
- Women: Standard, Wide
- Feb 2017
Rankings
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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90 / 100 based on 36 expert reviews
- VerifiedMark ClementsLevel 4 expert97 / 100 |RunRepeatJustin Helbing
Altra Escalante: The (almost) perfect running shoe
Having been an Altra fan from the very first Torin of the line, the brand has been a breath of fresh air in the technical running shoe community.A shoe line that embraces the zero drop and minimal concept with a full spectrum of cushioning options to help runners of all ability levels and gait patterns transition to a, “less is more” approach of running with an emphasis on gradual improvement in form and posture.race shoe but one that can be neutral toned and comfortable enough for casual wear and the daily grind at work.Here’s how it held up from my usage as a daily marathon trainer and shoe for work on my feet all day in the healthcare field.Upper & Fit
The upper is a first for Altra with a woven fabric and a very flexible feel. Combined with Altra’s signature foot-shaped toe box, this seemed like a match made in heaven for those looking for natural foot mechanics and freedom of movement.Initially, the fit felt a bit tight on the sides and low in terms of toe box depth, but after just one or two short jogs the knit upper seemed to relax considerably, especially in terms of the feel on the top of the foot.I felt like this shoe fit very true to size (I measure on a 10 and usually wear 10.5 as I chose in this model). I would caution anyone thinking about sizing up as you may end up swimming in the shoe, especially at the bridge of the foot and arch area, leaving you prone to blistering and irritation.In addition to creating a great fitting upper, the fabric and matched tongue material feels great even to the barefoot (important for those looking to transition into more minimal fare). Even the laces have a smooth feel and patterning that seem to hug the foot in all the right places through the medial arch.The heel collar of the shoe is much plusher than any other Altra I have owned and the counter is almost non-existent, which may turn off some runners looking to stabilize excessive pronation, but for the purpose of the shoe, it fits well with the concept.Most importantly, the construction of the material inside the heel collar is tough as nails. I have run in this shoe for 400+ miles and have been wearing it as a work shoe since its retirement from my running rotation 3 months ago and it is still not breaking down or developing the dreaded tunnel in the padding that I am used to seeing at the end of life from most of my shoes.This is crucial for distance runners and casual all day wearers to prevent irritation in the heel and rearfoot as the foot expands throughout the course of the day or workout.Midsole and Insole Cushioning Systems
If there is one small detail in this shoe that keeps it from perfection, the Indian flaw, it would have to be the feel of the midsole and the low midsole to outsole coverage ratio.Altra debuted its new proprietary cushioning foam, the Ego, in this shoe and it does have some good points. In terms of feel out of the box, the Ego material (and a peculiarly beefy insole) have a very soft feel, and this has stayed pretty consistent over the lifespan of the shoe.It also exhibits supreme flexibility without compromising on shape retention that, when paired with a roomy and flexible upper material and last, allows for wonderfully organic foot mechanics and freedom for one’s toes important to those practicing POSE Method, Chi Running, or any other number of programs designed to bring you one step closer to greater efficiency of gait.Having said that, for a company that makes its name on responsive cushioning and feel underfoot, the Ego material feels overly mushy at times and is so pliable that the midsole material often makes contact with the ground in stance phase THROUGH the gaps in the outsole and has formed wear patterns in the midsole at the forefoot.At times (see photo below) I have even had to pick gravel or wood chips from out of the midsole after runs on B level roads and trails.For those looking for a daily trainer that like a plush and luxurious ride, this tech is worth every penny for the shoe (MSRP $130). For folks who enjoy more feedback from their stride, it is impeded considerably for the first few hundred miles in this shoe.The insole itself and the drainage system of the shoe is quite impressive despite its girth. Even on longer runs and treadmill workouts in humid conditions, the moisture ports on the bottom of the insole combined with the woven upper seemed to keep the shoe relatively dry for the short runs and damp but manageable on long-distance jaunts.Most importantly, this keeps the shoe from having that soggy feeling or squishy sensation that can turn a great workout on its head quickly.Outsole & Durability
The durability of this shoe may be the best I’ve seen since the old workhorse Kayanos and Trances of yesteryear without the weight and clunkiness that accompanied them (only 8.2 oz. listed for Men's size 9).As previously mentioned, I have logged over 400 miles in this shoe and countless others roaming the halls of the facility in which I work and the cushioning, upper and outsole have kept up to the task admirably.The rubber compound grips the road and tracks well as it does carpet and tile floors, even in wet conditions. It does not perform well over grassy areas and does tend to bog down in the mud, but as a designed road shoe its versatility in that arena does have its limits.Most impressively, the shoe has seen very little wear in tread depth up to this point in the shoe. By the time most of my trainers have reached this point, there is usually an outsole pad that is coming unglued, or has worn to almost the midsole, but not with this model.In fact, the previously mentioned wear pattern showing through the midsole is much more noticeable than any wear on the outsole.For this reason, the only room for improvement would be to see better strategic coverage of outsole material placement to avoid the above-listed issues. In the same way, the woven upper (which as a general rule can be susceptible to snags, rips, and holes over time) is pristine.An added bonus that I’ve noticed is that the shoe is easy to clean despite the white sole even with the crosshatches of texture to the midsole and the woven fabric seems to hold its color and tint quite well even after hours in the sun and exposure to various fluids/staining liquids like gatorade, sweat, mud, and dirt.Style
While this model is still a first for Altra, it clearly wins the seal of approval for versatility and style. Although previous Altra models have looked bulky and awkward at times with the foot shaped toe box and oversized midsole, this model almost feels streamlined and sporty by comparison.It also has more colorways than you can shake a stick at with special editions for Boston and Running Warehouse along with more than 6 other basic color combos ranging from neutral grays and blacks to Green Bay green and gold and special edition Hot pink with black and heather colored streaks.There is a little something for everyone looking for WOW or well-to-do. There is now even a special edition racing version for this year’s Boston Marathon as well. For those who are looking for a shoe to go out on the town in jeans and a t-shirt, then head out for a nice evening tempo run and get up in the morning ready for the workday, this shoe can really do it all.Pros
- Lightweight yet supportive for the long haul (400+ mile tread and cushion life)
- Well above average durability and comfort
- Affordability for in-class features
- Above average breathability and moisture management
Cons
- Midsole not as responsive as other Altra models (could use a tweaking, especially in terms of midsole to outsole coverage ratio)
- Low toe box may initially irritate runners with larger feet
Overall Take
While I very rarely purchase the first model of any shoe, the Escalante has made me seriously reconsider that policy.It is by far the most durable and comfortable Altra I have ever owned and has been the most versatile shoe I’ve seen in years. I can’t wait to see the sequel.This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing. - VerifiedMary BourneLevel 1 expert85 / 100 |RunRepeatMichelle Rogerson
Altra Escalante - I really want to love them but I’m still not quite converted
The concept of Altra shoes is very attractive. Altra aims to make shoes that allow your feet to work more naturally. There are two main aspects to this.Firstly, their shoes have a trademarked FootshapeTM toe-box, this is rounded rather than the tapered shape of traditional trainers. Their shoes also have a zero-drop platform, your forefoot and your heels are the same distance from the ground.This again is different from traditional shoes where your heels tend to be slightly higher. For women, Altra adds a third benefit that shoes such as the Escalante are designed around a female foot – rather than just make men’s trainers a bit smaller.This all sounds good time me. I do worry about that continuing to squish my feet into snug trainers might have long term consequences. I do have wide feet and the beginnings of a bunion (too much information?) and would like to stop it getting worse. I was also keen to test out zero-drop shoes.With these things in mind, I started to look into the brand. I decided to try the Escalante mainly because I liked the look of them more than the other models – they seemed less bulky and came in nicer colours (I know this shouldn’t matter by hey ho).More importantly of the Altra models, these seemed closest to my usual favourites (Adidas Adizero Boston Boosts). That is, they are described as light and responsive but with some good cushioning.So, how do they look and fit?
There are no two ways about it, Altras are different! Looking down at my Altras, I can’t help but wonder whose foot the Foot shape toe-box is shaped to. There is a lot of extra space around my toes, at the end of my toes.I sized down from my usual UK5 (in e.g. Adidas and Saucony) to a UK 4.5 but still the forefoot seems quite baggy and the shoes ‘look’ big. I do feel quite self-conscious in them when I’m at the gym.More of an issue for me is the Escalantes seem quite wide around the heel. They seem very secure around the midfoot but I felt as though my heel is too roomy to move around – this makes me feel less confident when I’m running in them– particularly around twisty routes or very uneven surfaces.How do they feel?
Plush. The cushioning is noticeable as soon as you try them on. They feel a treat for your feet. They are not ‘pillowy’ just very very comfortable.They are also extremely light. But, I do seem to notice what my feet are doing more in these shoes. This is probably because the new shape takes some getting used to.I notice that my toes seem to hit the top of the toe-box a lot – this hasn’t caused any hot spots or blisters, it is just distracting. I think my toes are just wiggling because they don’t know what to do with the new found space.Most importantly, what are they like to run in?
Fun. The first time I ran in the Altras I was all smiling. They are very springy which you especially notice when you pick up the pace.I have used them on road runs and the treadmill and some light trails (hard packed paths with the odd stone) and still found them comfortable.On faster tempo runs you get a good springy return from each bounce making you feel like you have more energy. However, on easier runs I didn’t get the same feedback and my legs feel heavier.Are they my new favourite shoe?
As much as I want them to be, because they are good fun to run in, they still seem to be my experimental shoes. I mostly wear them on the treadmill where I don’t have to worry about corners or gradients and on shorter, tempo runs.I haven’t trusted them to run more than 6 miles or so and I still haven’t trusted the Escalante for any races or for any quicker 5ks or hard track sessions for which in theory they should be ideal. I keep falling back to my trusty favourites (sorry bunions!).Would I recommend them?
Yes, but you do really need to try them out for fit and feel and be prepared to persevere with them while you get used to the drop and shape. I have read that some of the issues with the baggy toe-box and heel lockdown have been improved with the Escalante 1.5 so they might be a better option.This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
Updates to Altra Escalante
- The fully-cushioned Zero DropTM platform and the FootShapeTM toe-box work together symbiotically for an enhanced cushioning and efficient adaptability to changing foot movements.
- The Altra EGOTM and the InnerFLEXTM layer in the midsole are responsible for the impressively softer feel and an advanced cushioning experience users have in the Altra Escalante.
- The FootPodTM technology further improves the shoe’s flexibility through its strategic metatarsal mapping.
Altra Escalante size and fit
The Altra Escalante has a standard running length and comes in the standard medium width of D and B for men and women, respectively. Also, its decidedly wider toe-box makes it suitable for runners with wide feet and those who just want natural toe-splay to be accommodated.
Outsole
The Altra Escalante utilizes the FootPodTM technology in its outsole for efficient mapping of bones and the runner’s foot-tendons. This technology, which is also used in the Escalante 1.5, results in an increased natural flexibility and responsive movement.
Midsole
The fully-cushioned Zero DropTM midsole is an optimal combination of soft cushioning and light weight. It ensures weight balance from the heel to the forefoot region, thereby allowing the runner to perform more efficiently on the roads.
The Altra EGOTM provides the kind of cushioning that wins the hearts and minds of people in no time. This durable and soft material provides a responsive and springy underfoot experience.
The InnerFLEXTM enables the shoe to adapt itself to the shape of the foot for better flexibility and efficient movement during long distances.
Upper
The Engineered Mesh is a lightweight material that has a construction that’s similar to woven cloth. It’s flexible and soft. So, not only is the coverage breathable, but also smartly designed to give agreeable fit and flexibility during runs.
This Altra running shoe uses the FootShapeTM toe-box which lets the user’s feet relax and spread out in a manner that is both natural and potentially comfortable.
The padded collar locks the heel in place and prevents the foot from exiting the shoe accidentally.
A traditional lacing system helps the upper in wrapping around the foot securely.