Great for XC or soft surfaces
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 21, 2020
80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kilkenny XC8 Flat
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Altra Vanish-XC
Track spike · Neutral · Road
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock.
How it ranks
The Altra Vanish-XC’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 3 runner reviews so far, with brand history and external ratings also informing the score.
Current estimate: Good
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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
0 Very low
Based on
Each rating combines our runners’ ratings, the brand’s track record, and external ratings. This shoe has no earlier versions, so we start from how the brand’s other shoes rate. As more of our runners rate a shoe, their ratings carry more of the weight. The bars show roughly how much each source contributes.
- Brand rating
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Feels like they are more cushioned than they appear, but the cushioning is snappy”
“Minimalist design that strengthens your feet but enough cushioning for daily easy runs”
“They were very quick to fall apart under trail conditions”
“Has a spacious toe-box but does not seem sloppy”
“The perfect, extremely light weight and comfortable shoe for pretty much any distance”
“Unique open mesh that is soft against the feet but also quite tough”
“Not a single blister”
“Would be better if they had spikes”
“Feels good under foot and is responsive like a racing shoe should be”
“These shoes make you want to run fast”
“Grippy rubber waffle pattern that has held up great”
“Without getting caked full of mud”
“Seems like they will have a longer life than most racing type shoes”
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Nov 2.
Pros
- Reviewers describe firm, snappy cushioning that suits racing on grass and dirt.
- One reviewer covers 50 miles of a twelve-hour race in them, in sleet and mud, without a blister.
- Another puts 300 miles on a pair used on grass and dirt roads.
Cons
- Cushioning averages 3.0 out of 5 across the three reviews, the lowest of its six dimensions.
- One reviewer finds the grip only just enough in mud, and another wants spikes in it for cross country.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Release
- 2019 Q2
- MSRP
- $80
Runner reviews
Favorite shoe right now.
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 4, 2020
25 mpw
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Best all around running shoe I have ever used for racing
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 30, 2019
35 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Altra Vanish-R
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 2/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Altra Vanish-XC In Context
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Altra Vanish-R 1 runner
- Saucony Kilkenny XC8 Flat 1 runner