Escalante review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 6, 2019
50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 9
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Altra Escalante 1.5
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.4 oz · 24/24mm stack · zero-drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Altra Escalante 2 replaced it
How it ranks
The Altra Escalante 1.5 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and value are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 17 runner reviews and 6 other rated shoes in the Escalante product line.
Excellent
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
93 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.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Plush enough for easy runs but light and responsive enough for fast training and racing.”
“Love the room in the toe box. Toes can splay with each step.”
“The toe box is AMAZING, they are a dream to run on even ground.”
“Excellent mid-distance trainer with enough cushion for long runs but light and responsive for fast intervals.”
“Great for wide feet, neutral training, distance racing, or plantar fasciitis.”
“Can run for several hours with absolutely no foot pain.”
“You can feel the road but still feel cushioned.”
“Extra toe space is relaxing after miles in toe-strangling shoes.”
“EGO foam is light and thin but provides great cushion feel.”
“Nothing holding foot on platform; you slide off with quick turns or cuts.”
“Perfect for minimalist distance runners seeking cushion with midfoot strike.”
“Works best for forefoot runners; lacks cushioning for other strike patterns.”
“Not something to run 10–15 miles in on day one if you're used to high-heel shoes.”
“Upper material isn't breathable; shoe gets very hot during speed work.”
“Sore calves and hamstrings are natural with zero drop, but subside after a few weeks.”
“Little arch/ankle support; requires own strengthening work.”
“A bit sloppy on the trails.”
“Not much lateral stability; your feet provide it.”
“Doesn't perform well in trail running.”
“Upper is flexible and light but gets soaked quickly in rain.”
“Ankle lockdown is a bit lacking.”
Prefer this shoe over another
62% 13/21
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers repeatedly praise the wide toe box for letting toes splay.
- Light at 8.2 oz, and reviewers use it for easy running and fast training alike.
- Two reviewers say heel hold is better than on the original Escalante, which scores 93 on forty-one reviews.
Cons
- Several runners find the foot slides in turns and on uneven ground.
- Zero drop, and reviewers warn of calf soreness while adapting to it.
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
-
Escalante 1.5 This shoe
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
-
2017 · 41 reviews
81 Good
98 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 7.4 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 8.2 oz · Women's 6.5 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q2
- MSRP
- $130
- Stack
- 24/24mm
- Drop
- 0mm
Runner reviews
Altra Escalante - lightweight comfort
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 6, 2019
35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Altra Provision 3.0
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Escalante 1.5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 6, 2019
40 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 4/5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 5, 2019
30 mpw came from the Saucony Kinvara 7
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Better than the 1st Version
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2019
50 mpw
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- 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 1.5 In Context
More on the Altra Escalante
- Altra Escalante 5
- Altra Escalante 4
- Altra Escalante 3
- Altra Escalante 2.5
- Altra Escalante 2 next version
- Altra Escalante previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- On Cloudflow 1 1 runner
- Altra Torin 3.0 1 runner
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 1 runner