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Altra

Superior 3.5

Superior 3.5
Trail · Neutral
Very good (88/100)

Shoe details

Weight
9.2 oz
Release
2017 Q4
MSRP
$110

Ratings & Reviews

Very good (88/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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Scores better than 82% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Very good (88/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (88/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 82% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Exceptional (97/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (97/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Very good (84/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (84/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 72% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Good (75/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (75/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 48% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Average (69/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Average (69/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 28% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Average (65/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Average (65/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 19% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

33%

1/3

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 82% of 2,617 running shoes.

Very good

Trail Shoes

Scores better than 89% of 399 trail shoes.

89%

Altra

Scores better than 89% of 132 Altra shoes.

89%

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Altra Superior 3.5
Altra Superior 6
HOKA Speedgoat 6
Superior 3.5
Superior 6
Speedgoat 6
Current shoe
Best comfort
Lightest / Newest / Best overall
Shoe properties
Type
Trail
Trail
Trail
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.2 oz M
9.1 oz M
8.6 oz M Lightest
Stack
—
21/21mm
37/32mm
Drop
—
—
5mm
Release
2017 Q4
2023 Q2
2024 Q2 Newest
MSRP
$110 Lower MSRP
$130
$155
Best price
—
—
$79.88
Ratings
Overall
Very good (82%)
Good (77%)
Excellent (97%) Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (95%) Best comfort
Very good (85%)
Very good (86%)
Cushioning
Bottom tier (19%)
Bottom tier (<1%)
Excellent (97%) Best cushioning
Durability
Below average (28%)
Average (47%)
Very good (86%) Best durability
Appearance
Average (48%)
Below average (40%)
Good (76%) Best appearance
Value
Good (72%)
Above average (67%)
Very good (86%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

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Reader Ratings

5 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 5 written reviews

Superior is Superior

Anonymous runner · Aug 9, 2019

5/5

Overall

This is my catch-all running shoe for distances less than 12 miles. I have a pair I do treadmill runs on and another couple for trails. They're exactly what I've been wanting in a running shoe: comfy, wide toe box , decent cushioning (a bit too minimalist for really technical/rugged trails), and light. The soles and cushioning do seem to break down a little too quickly (300ish miles) which is a bummer, but it's still worth it to me to buy them over and over again.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Love It

Anonymous runner · Jul 29, 2019

5/5

Overall

I love the Superiors. Wish the uppers lasted longer and that the laces were a bit longer, but I run in them on any surface, for any distance. They fixed my feet!
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

Altra Superior 3.5 review

Anonymous runner · Jul 7, 2019

5/5

Overall

The 3.5 is my favorite Superior. I always take out and discard the removable rock plates, so this review is for the shoe without them. Amazing ground feel, great cushion, great lateral stability. This is my trail workout / intervals / race shoe. The new Superior 4.0 is a reinvention in a way people will love or hate - sometimes both at once - but either way is so markedly different than the perfect 3.5s that it feels like a different line of shoe. Anyway, for the 3.5s, I wish I could wear them forever.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Altra Superior 3.5

Anonymous runner · Aug 10, 2018

4/5

Overall

Great shoe, but doesn’t hold up for high mileage training. Wouldn’t recommend for any one running more than 50 mpw.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
3/5

Great trail shoe

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

4/5

Overall

This shoe gets better as the trails get more technical. Great traction and stability, and the low to ground profile helps avoid rolled ankles. The cushioning is not quite minimal, but plenty for moderate duration runs on the trails.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5