Altra Superior 3.0

Name: Altra Superior 3.0
Brand: Altra

Trail · Neutral · 9.3 oz

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Altra Superior 3.5 replaced it

How it ranks

The Altra Superior 3.0 ranks above most trail shoes in our data. Comfort and value are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 3 runner reviews and 7 other rated shoes in the Superior product line. Another 9 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

Current estimate: Good

84/100

Overall

Good 84

Comfort

Good 87

Value

Good 85

Durability

Below average 70

Appearance

Below average 69

Cushioning

Bottom-tier 52

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

44/100

Low 44

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.

What runners say

“Past versions have fallen apart before 200 miles, blowing out on both sides of the forefoot.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

“Tears in the upper at 350-400 miles — early wear for a shoe expected to last 800+ miles.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“Mid-foot and heel fit snugly before the shoe spreads into the roomy toe box.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“Full price of $110 is too high given consistent durability issues.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

“I have experienced less pain from Morton's neuroma since I started wearing them.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“Never have to worry where I step.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Speedgoat 1

“Good balance of cushion and protection with decent weight.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

20% 1/5

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers like the roomy toe box with a snug midfoot and heel.
One reviewer with Morton's neuroma reports months without pain since switching to it.

Cons

One of three reviewers rates the cushioning 2 out of 5, the lowest mark anyone has given it.
One reviewer says past versions blew out on both sides of the forefoot before 200 miles.

Superior 3.0 rates 84. This shoe has low certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Altra Superior

Each dot is one version of the Superior, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

90 2016 84 2017 85 2018 76 2019 84 2021 85 2023 80 2025 87 2017

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Superior 3.5

2017 · 5 reviews

87 Good

60 Confidence
Superior 7

2025 · 0 reviews

80 Good

38 Confidence
Superior 6

2023 · 5 reviews

85 Good

39 Confidence
Superior 5

2021 · 5 reviews

84 Good

53 Confidence
Superior 4

2019 · 2 reviews

76 Decent

17 Confidence
Superior 4.0

2018 · 2 reviews

85 Good

23 Confidence
Superior 3.0 This shoe

2017 · 3 reviews

84 Good

44 Confidence
Superior 2.0

2016 · 3 reviews

90 Good

55 Confidence

Reader Ratings

3 ratings

5/5 2

4/5 1

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.3 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $110

Runner reviews

Write a review

Sure Landing Shoe

5/5

Overall

I run in this shoe on surfaces from dirt road to rugged trail and never have to worry where I step. Some of these trails have bare rock that when wet can be troublesome but I put little thought into where I step traction wise.

Goatherder97 · Sep 30, 2018

65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Speedgoat 1

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 2/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Altra Superior 3.0

4/5

Overall

The Superiors are some of my favorite trail shoes. Not max cushion or protection, but a good balance of both with a decent weight. My BIG issue with these shoes is durability. Past versions of the shoe have basically fallen apart before 200 miles, blowing out on both sides of the forefoot. So far I have about 150 miles on this shoe, so it's either on the verge of falling apart or it's improved. It still looks to be in good condition, so I hope it's improved, but winter is easier on trail shoes than summer. I also use this shoe on the road on particularly icy or snowy days. The price would be fine if the durability were better, but given the consistent durability issues with past versions, the full price of $110 is too high. I got mine on significant discount or I would not have bought them again. I like almost everything else about this shoe aside from the problems with durability.

curtbentley · Jan 29, 2018

50 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Altra Superior -- Great shoe

5/5

Overall

Though part of the reason that I bought the shoe was for the foot-shaped toe box, initially, all the space up front felt strange. I have noticed that I have experienced less pain from Morton's neuroma since I started wearing them. It's actually been a few months since I had any pain. I do like how my mid-foot and heel fit snugly before the shoe spreads into the roomy toe box. For me, appearance is nearly irrelevant in purchasing a shoe. I decided on which model I wanted and then sought the best price. This is only the second time that I've spent over $90 on a pair of running shoes. Prior to this, I had just been buying whatever is on sale and sometimes buying some Saucony XC flats for $30 or so. Some years I have done nearly all of my training runs in XC flats. The only down side that I've had with the Superiors is that there are some tears in the upper. I have about 350-400 miles on them so far, but as someone who regularly puts 800+ miles on a pair of shoes before retiring them, that seems pretty early to be showing such wear. I expect to wear out the soles -- not the uppers. Initially, I thought maybe I had just caught the right shoe on something to tear it, but now the left shoe is starting to tear in about the same place (on the inside of the shoe above and maybe slightly behind the ball of the foot -- along the border of the blue Altra stripe. Still, I plan to buy more in the future since I have really liked these shoes. I have yet to run on trails in them, but I do most of my running on gravel roads and they work well for me. I'm not the most consistent runner. I am currently picking up running again after a few years of barely running. So, I'm not bothering to compare to my last shoe.

Anonymous runner · Dec 27, 2017

40 mpw training for a half marathon