The ride, as you can probably guess, is a natural one. On brand with other models, the toe splay is some of the widest in the business, and the ride is somewhat firm. I did notice after a few runs, however, that the flexibility increased, and the shoe became more enjoyable with a ride more worthy of the floral and feral printed upper. David: The Altra Escalante is a low riding running shoe that has some cross over into daily wear as well. The shoe has a level 0mm drop platform with an ever so slight heel bevel and toe spring. For the most part this is a moderately flexible design that lets you do whatever you want with your mechanics. The shoe feels very similar to a traditional racing flat with a tad more cushion. The mechanics are very neutral throughout. From a "barefoot" mechanic standpoint, this is probably the closest option in the last year. Everything feels pretty natural throughout and there is a small bounce from the rigidity of the forefoot. The outsole traction is decent as well and you can take this on reasonably footed dirt and grass if you wanted to. The shoe has a light and nimble feel to it despite being 9.0 ounces. You definitely have to have some calf strength to be running in this shoe with a flat and low riding geometry. This is about as neutral as shoes come. Not a bad thing by any means, but something to keep in mind. In Summary I really enjoy regular miles in the new Altra Escalante 3 and for me it’s a light, everyday training shoe that allows you to run with good posture and provides that very important room for natural foot function.

It perfectly balances the lines between “just enough” and “not too much.” There is enough EGO foam in the midsole to provide sufficient cushioning as the miles add up, as well as strategically placed outsole rubber to keep the shoe from getting destroyed by sharp objects. This year's Torin and Escalante are in roughly the same weight class, although the Torin offers four millimeters more cushioning material and is also equipped with EGO Max TM . As far as moderate, longer distances are concerned, the Torin clearly has the edge. For short, faster units, I would still rather reach for the Escalante. Both shoes tested in size EU 45. Looking at our caliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's toebox comes in at 98.8 mm. This makes the Escalante 3 the same as the average. The tongue is also quite padded, contributing to the shoe’s secure feel. And don’t forget the FootShape toe box for which Altra shoes are known, giving ample space for the toes to splay during runs. The Altra Escalante started life in the middle of the barefoot running craze and was very popular because it offered a broad rounded toe box and Zero Drop with some cushioning. This week we’ve reviewed the latest Altra Escalante 3. A lot of runners using barefoot shoes found that they liked the more natural way these shoes let you run, but on long runs and over months of training they were getting sore feet. The cushioning in the Escalante stopped the sore feet and therefore became the go-to shoe for a lot of runners looking for a shoe that allowed your feet to function.

The upper is where most runners note the biggest shift from previous versions. The knit upper feels a bit more tightly stitched for enhanced snugness. Runners appreciate the shorter laces and an additional eyelet that was missing from the Escalante 2.5. The shoe also features extra padding around the tongue and heel area, making for a soft wearing experience. Stability

Conversely, you’ll sink into the squishiness with a softer foam, and normal pronation will not occur as much. My first interesting option is a new shoe from Xero Shoes. The Nexus Knit. It actually feels a lot like an old Escalante. I’d just buy a 1/2 size large cause it first a little short. And it’s just a tough heavier. Otherwise, super interesting. To perform the analysis, I use University grade measurement pods to estimate ground reaction force, peak impact force, pronation angle/speed, and much more.

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All that spare room has a positive effect: the feel of the Escalante 3 is very comfortable from the get-go. I don't feel even the slightest bit of pressure anywhere, and the familiar EGO TM midsole hasn't lost any of its comfortable characteristics either. Although I didn't really run in the Escalante 1, I still used it as a walk-aorund shoe for a long time. I imagine our test subject today will make just as phenomenal a walking shoe. First, though, it's a matter of putting the Escalante 3 through its running paces! Stability:B (Definitely a neutral shoe but a good job here. Outside of some flex in the upper material and a sidewall that does not do much, the shoe is still decently stable for a neutral shoe.) My opinion on pronation is to strength your feet instead to promote natural movement. And that starts with walking around barefoot, and can progress into foot strengthening exercise, and possibly some barefoot running. But this process should be performed super slowly!