Altra Paradigm
Every version of the Paradigm we track, compared on ratings, specs and current price.
The score is the median Better Shoes Rating of the line's shoes, out of 100. The average product line scores 76, and the Paradigm scores above 33% of the lines we track.
Rating by version, oldest first
Each dot is one version of the Paradigm, placed by its rating and release year.
Release year
See our analysis of whether a new version is usually as good as the one it replaces.
| Version | Released | Weight | Stack | Score | Change | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altra Paradigm 8 In stock | 2025 | 8.6 oz (men's) | 32/32mm · 0mm drop | 60 | -6 | — | $170 MSRP |
| Altra Paradigm 7 | 2023 | 9.0 oz | 30/30mm | 65 | -5 | 3 | — |
| Altra Paradigm 6 | 2021 | 9.8 oz | 34/34mm | 71 | +4 | — | — |
| Altra Paradigm 5.0 | 2020 | 10.8 oz | 31/31mm | — | — | — | — |
| Altra Paradigm 4.5 | 2019 | 9.8 oz | — | 67 | -11 | 4 | $150 MSRP |
| Altra Paradigm 4.0 | 2018 | 9.8 oz | — | 78 | 0 | 4 | $150 MSRP |
| Altra Paradigm 2.0 | 2017 | 9.4 oz | 31/31mm | 78 | +1 | 1 | $130 MSRP |
| Altra Paradigm 3.0 | 2017 | 9.3 oz | — | 77 | +4 | 3 | $130 MSRP |
| Altra Paradigm 1.5 | 2016 | 9.1 oz (men's) | 25/25mm | 73 | — | 1 | $130 MSRP |
9 shoes
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
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Altra
Paradigm 860 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 1 review · Confidence 39/100
v8 (2025) · Daily trainer · Stability · 8.6 oz (men's) · 0mm drop · 32mm stack
Zero drop on a 32mm platform at 8.6 oz.
Durability 60$90 $170 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:34 AM UTCOverall60Cushioning82Comfort73Durability60Value59Appearance57Confidence39Buy it now
Other retailers
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Pros
Zero drop on a 32mm platform at 8.6 oz.
The one reviewer so far rates cushioning 4 out of 5 while marking it down elsewhere.
Cons
The one reviewer so far rates durability 1 out of 5 and says it is falling apart.
The Paradigm 7 before it scores 65 on six reviews, against 60 for this version.
It lists at $170, above the $150 median for daily trainers on sale.
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Altra
Paradigm 765 Below average Below average · 6 reviews · Confidence 63/100
v7 (2023) · Daily trainer · Stability (Moderate) · 9.0 oz · 30mm stack
Cushioning draws 4.8 out of 5, the highest mark of any dimension, and reviewers use it to rack up daily miles.
Durability 67Overall65Cushioning92Comfort90Durability67Value58Appearance50Confidence63Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Cushioning draws 4.8 out of 5, the highest mark of any dimension, and reviewers use it to rack up daily miles.
The zero-drop platform on a 30mm heel stack is the main draw for reviewers who want it.
Cons
Appearance draws 3.3 out of 5 across six reviewers and value 3.7, the lowest marks of any dimension.
One reviewer says it does not feel especially fast.
The Paradigm 6 before it scores 71 against its 65.
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Altra
Paradigm 671 Decent Decent · 2 reviews · Confidence 29/100
v6 (2021) · Daily trainer · Stability (Moderate) · 9.8 oz
A 34mm heel stack gives a tall, well-cushioned platform, and both reviewers so far rate cushioning 5 out of 5.
Durability 63Overall71Cushioning90Comfort86Value69Durability63Appearance57Confidence29Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
A 34mm heel stack gives a tall, well-cushioned platform, and both reviewers so far rate cushioning 5 out of 5.
It scores 71 against 67 for the Paradigm 4.5 it replaced.
Cons
Durability draws 3.0 out of 5 in the two reviews so far, far below every other dimension.
At 10.3 oz in the men's build it sits in the heavy weight band.
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Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
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Altra
Paradigm 4.567 Below average Below average · 4 reviews · Confidence 43/100
2019 · Daily trainer · Stability (Moderate) · 9.8 oz
Reviewers praise the cushioning, and rate it 4.8 out of 5.
Durability 63MSRP $150
Overall67Cushioning89Comfort84Value70Durability63Appearance58Confidence43Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Reviewers praise the cushioning, and rate it 4.8 out of 5.
Reviewers like the roomy toe box and the zero drop platform.
Cons
Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.5 out of 5, and one reviewer finds the soft sole wearing out quicker than most.
One reviewer finds the knit upper stretches out by a size and a half, holds water, and that the Stabilpods on the sides cut into their legs.
The Paradigm 4.0 before it scores 78 on four reviews.
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Altra
Paradigm 4.078 Decent Decent · 4 reviews · Confidence 33/100
v4 (2018) · Daily trainer · Stability · 9.8 oz
Reviewers single out the thick Ego midsole for recovery and long runs, one at over 1,200 miles.
Durability 83MSRP $150
Overall78Cushioning95Comfort93Durability83Value68Appearance58Confidence33Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Reviewers single out the thick Ego midsole for recovery and long runs, one at over 1,200 miles.
It scores 78 against 75 for the Paradigm 3.0 before it.
Cons
Reviewers call it heavy and unsuited to fast tempo work, and one says it felt like running in bricks for the first 20 miles.
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Altra
Paradigm 2.078 Decent Decent · 1 review · Confidence 17/100
v2 (2017) · Daily trainer · Stability · 9.4 oz · 31mm stack
It scores 76 against 72 for the Paradigm 1.5 before it.
Durability 71MSRP $130
Overall78Cushioning92Comfort90Durability71Value67Appearance58Confidence17Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
It scores 76 against 72 for the Paradigm 1.5 before it.
The one reviewer so far rates comfort and cushioning 5 out of 5.
Cons
Scores across the Paradigm line have fallen from 78 for the 4.0 to 65 for the 7.
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Altra
Paradigm 3.077 Decent Decent · 3 reviews · Confidence 44/100
v3 (2017) · Daily trainer · Stability · 9.3 oz
All three reviewers rate cushioning 5 out of 5, for long runs and recovery days.
Durability 80MSRP $130
Overall77Cushioning93Comfort92Durability80Value72Appearance59Confidence44Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
All three reviewers rate cushioning 5 out of 5, for long runs and recovery days.
Reviewers report a roomy toe box and a true-to-size fit.
One reviewer has about 1,000 miles on a first pair with little sign of wear.
Cons
Averaging 9.2 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.
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Altra
Paradigm 1.573 Decent Decent · 1 review · Confidence 18/100
2016 · Daily trainer · Stability · 9.1 oz (men's) · 25mm stack
It scores 72 against 65 for the later Paradigm 7.
Durability 71MSRP $130
Overall73Comfort90Cushioning90Durability71Value68Appearance60Confidence18Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
It scores 72 against 65 for the later Paradigm 7.
The one reviewer so far, a midfoot striker, calls the toe box amazing.
Cons
Durability and value each draw 4 out of 5 in the single review so far.
