Altra Escalante 3 Running Shoes - AW23

Product Information

As for the pronation question, In my opinion, this is mostly a marketing ploy from the shoe industry. Some pronation is natural, it allows our feet to absorb impact, and create forward propulsion. After wearing heavily structured shoe, or using orthotics for a long time, you feet become naturally weaker, causing higher levels of pronation which become problematic. 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. Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor:Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup 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. Conversely, you’ll sink into the squishiness with a softer foam, and normal pronation will not occur as much.

These updates will appeal to a broader range of consumers, but did they alienate the Escalante super fans in the process? The results are somewhat mixed. On the downside, the toe box is not as wide, and extra cushioning in the midsole makes the shoe heavier and more narrow. Skechers Persistence - A beginner friendly shoe for daily training, featuring a forefoot H Plate for pop As can be seen in the pictures, the platform has become a bit wider, which is another stabilizing factor. If you've been paying close attention so far, you'll notice that the Escalante 3 has significantly more rubber material overall. As the heaviest material in a shoe obviously, this will affect the weight of a shoe. Weighing about 20 grams more than its predecessor, I wouldn't necessarily call our test object a lightweight anymore, but rather a middleweight.The Escalante 3 is not a stability shoe. There are no GuideRails or any other built-in features that help prevent pronation. Like I’ve said before, I’ll likely be replacing the insole in the 3.0, just to give the shoe a little more volume and let those toes move. The standard advice is to go with a softer foam if you tend to supinate (rolling outwards from the midpoint) because the amount of pronation will reduce and lessen the chance of rolling an ankle. Personal: B (Solid fitting shoe with good comfort. Versatility does extend into casual wear. Running is smooth and fun, though my calves can get a little sore. Can't run too fast in them.)

The midfoot does taper in, and that may not be for everyone. I believe this is what Altra refers to when they say “slim” fit. From the toe box, the shoe tapers inwards towards the midfoot, resulting in a “fitted” feel. I have a relatively average to wide mid-foot, and it can still work for me, and that’s because the upper is forgiving and doesn’t cause too much constriction. Interestingly, the midfoot area felt similar to the Lone Peak…. the widest “original” fit from Altra 🤔. Altra redefined the shape of the shoe a bit, widening it in the midfoot to make it feel a bit more stable. This increases the versatility of the shoe and allows it to be used for running and the occasional gym workout. The Escalante 3 is built on Altra’s original last with its signature FootShaped toe box, making it the widest and most roomy Altra option.

What You Need To Know

DPT/Footwear Science: A (A great job of implementing natural feeling shoe and minimalist footwear for running and beyond) This change to the feel of the Escalante is like the change in the Altra Superior 4.5 to Superior 5. The Altra Superior is in my opinion the trail version of the Escalante. The nimble, responsive feel of the older shoe has been tweaked to a more cushioned type of feel. Here is a link to our article on the Superior changes: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-superior-5-vs-altra-superior-4-5/

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.) We feel like the word "natural" best describes the Altra Escalante 3's performance. It is low to the ground and is not overly soft. There is nothing extra about it.Looking at the upper at the forefoot, it's again around the average (98.8mm vs 98.5mm). At the heel, it is much narrower: 66.6mm compared to 75.7mm.

Again these differences could be due to the age of my Escalante 2.5. But with the omission of the innerflex groves and the stiffer upper, I genuinely think there’s been a shift towards a firmer ride. Due to its density, the Escalante's knit is unfortunately not very breathable, which is a problem in the heat of Germany’s southwest (up to 38 º C this year so far). If you need an upper that hugs the heel and midfoot tightly, the Escalante 3 is still not your shoe, although it offers much more support than its predecessors. All in all, we're talking about an upper that excels in comfort but makes certain sacrifices in functionality. Ego debuted in 2016 on the Escalante and King MT. Compared to traditional EVA foam, it’s formulated to provide a springier feel and more durability. Ego Max debuted in fall 2021 on the Torin 5 and the Paradigm 6. It’s made from compression-molded EVA and tuned for a softer feel than Ego, but it isn’t as responsive. Ego Pro is Altra’s top-shelf foam, and it’s made from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) formed in a supercritical fluid process. The result is Altra’s lightest and most responsive cushioning material, and it debuted on the Vanish Carbon racing shoe.I received a very colorful version, dubbed the Altra Escalante 3 SE, and my print-happy friends and family members were all over the wild cheetah and daisy combination. I’m more of a solid color kinda girl, but the review goes on. Besides, it’s nice to venture outside of your comfort zone here and there.