5/5
Overall
John Maynard · Jul 9, 2023
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 15
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Altra Escalante
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.1 oz · 25/25mm stack · zero-drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Altra Escalante 1.5 replaced it
How it ranks
The Altra Escalante ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Comfort and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 41 runner reviews and 6 other rated shoes in the Escalante product line.
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
98 Very high
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Our ratings
- Brand rating
- External ratings
What runners say
“Canceled the surgery when I was able to run in the Altra Escalantes.”
“Stepping into the Escalante felt like feet had just burst out of jail and experienced fresh air. That toe box!”
“The ego midsole has the perfect amount of spring that makes you feel like you can keep running forever.”
“4 weeks in I was up to 40 miles a week without any flare.”
“The upper feels as if you're wearing a sock, but is snug and supportive where you need it.”
“Most Altras feel clunky, but the Escalante midsole is fantastic. Very springy and very durable.”
“The midsole provides plenty of cushioning, but performs like a racing flat.”
“Logged 700 miles on a pair. No rips in the upper, good wear on the tread.”
“Over 500 miles in first pair with little or no loss of spring in the midsole.”
“Had pain in toes and on top of foot, and this has been fixed with the Altras.”
“The knit upper is very comfortable but actually too stretchy, making it hard to get a secure fit for faster runs.”
“Foot slips around at higher speeds and causes hot spots on the balls of my feet.”
“Has an extremely loose heel and tends to bottom out at faster paces.”
“After 250 miles the cushion had lost its responsiveness.”
“When you turn a sharp corner, the mesh upper will give and you'll feel your foot slide on the sole.”
“The foot moves around almost off the platform, potential ankle roller!”
“Turning corners at speed can be challenging as outer toes sometimes slip off the side of shoe.”
“The shoe isn't as durable as desired for how expensive it is.”
“Ran about 400 miles in it, then retired it due to excessive outsole wear.”
“Not a lot of support in the upper, so taking sharp corners is a no-go.”
“This is a workhorse training shoe.”
“Takes a little time to adapt to the zero drop.”
Prefer this shoe over another
65% 17/26
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers praise the wide toe box and the sock-like knit upper.
- Light at 7.2 oz, with a midsole reviewers call soft and springy.
- Four runners report 500 miles or more before retiring a pair.
Cons
- Thirteen reviewers say the stretchy upper lets the foot slide sideways when cornering.
- Seven reviewers find it insecure on gravel, trails and uneven ground.
- Three reviewers see outsole wear by 250 to 400 miles.
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
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Altra Escalante
Each dot is one version of the Escalante, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2020 · 5 reviews
79 Decent
81 Confidence
-
2018 · 17 reviews
93 Excellent
93 Confidence
-
2026 · 2 reviews
90 Very good
68 Confidence
-
2024 · 7 reviews
83 Good
82 Confidence
-
2022 · 15 reviews
75 Decent
88 Confidence
-
2019 · 12 reviews
82 Good
89 Confidence
-
Escalante This shoe
2017 · 41 reviews
81 Good
98 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 7.1 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 7.2 oz · Women's 6.9 oz
- Release
- 2017 Q2
- MSRP
- $130
- Stack
- 25/25mm
- Drop
- 0mm
Runner reviews
one of the few zero heel drop shoes I can find
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 13, 2019
15 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Altra Escalante
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019
20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Great shoe, very comfortable and breathable, surprisingly cushioning
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 10, 2019
8 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Love this shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 28, 2019
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Altra
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Altra Escalante In Context
More on the Altra Escalante
- Altra Escalante 5
- Altra Escalante 4
- Altra Escalante 3
- Altra Escalante 2.5
- Altra Escalante 2
- Altra Escalante 1.5 next version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Saucony Kinvara 8 3 runners
- Altra One 2.5 2 runners
- Altra Torin 3.0 2 runners