Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

Altra Instinct 2.0

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 10.2 oz (men's) · 19/19mm stack · zero-drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Altra Instinct 3.0 replaced it

How it ranks

The Altra Instinct 2.0 ranks below most 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 13 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Instinct product line.

Altra Instinct 2.0

Decent

73
Overall
73
Comfort
79
Cushioning
72
Value
71
Durability
62
Appearance
49
Confidence

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.

See the product line's history

Confidence

87 High

87

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.

  1. Product line track record
  2. Our ratings
  3. External ratings

What runners say

“It doesn't curve at the top. This allows your feet to splay out naturally and your toes have room to be a bit mobile.”
4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31
“Zero drop allows me to find a good running form quickly and the huge toe-box is exactly what my foot-shape needs.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw
“Incredibly soft shoe, perfect for mileage runs and long runs.”
4/5 Full review 82 mpw training for a half marathon
“The shoes can be a bit slippery in the rain (on concrete) and slick in mud as well.”
4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31
“A little too squishy for speedwork or racing.”
4/5 Full review 20 mpw came from the Inov-8 Road-X 233
“The mesh on top of the shoe has torn, though only the outer layer—the real mesh is still intact after about 150 miles.”
4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31
“The mesh on the upper has ripped on the sides due to a lack of flexibility/forgivability.”
4/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a half marathon
“The toebox is built to D width, so contrary to first glances the shoe itself is not a wide shoe.”
4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31
“My toes can splay and forefoot is not cramped.”
4/5 Full review 20 mpw came from the Inov-8 Road-X 233
“This shoe is lacking in the response area.”
4/5 Full review 82 mpw training for a half marathon
“Got holes in the mesh upper pretty easily.”
5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Precision 13
“Like the wider toe box and durable full carbon sole better for high mileage.”
4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon
“The contour arch is annoying for my flat feet.”
4/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a half marathon
“Just feels sort of like a clown shoe.”
3/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 980
“The shoes remained functional past 600 miles.”
4/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a half marathon
“Very roomy. Lots of cushion.”
3/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 980

Prefer this shoe over another

33% 3/9

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.


Pros

  • Reviewers value the wide toe box that lets the toes splay naturally.
  • Reviewers use the zero-drop ride for base and long runs, and the one who rated cushioning gives it 5 out of 5.

Cons

  • Appearance draws 2.4 out of 5 across thirteen reviewers, the lowest mark of any dimension, with one calling it a clown shoe.
  • Several reviewers report the mesh upper tearing fairly early.
  • Reviewers find it too soft and unresponsive for faster paces.

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.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Instinct 2.0 rates 73. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Altra Instinct

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

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Instinct 4.5

    2018 · 3 reviews

    84 Good

    70 Confidence

  • Instinct 1.5

    2012 · 12 reviews

    62 Below average

    83 Confidence

  • Instinct 4.0

    2017 · 3 reviews

    87 Good

    69 Confidence

  • Instinct 3.0

    2015 · 7 reviews

    79 Decent

    84 Confidence

  • Instinct 2.0 This shoe

    2014 · 13 reviews

    73 Decent

    87 Confidence

Runner Ratings

13 ratings
5/5 6
4/5 6
3/5 1
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
10.2 oz (men's)
Release
2014
MSRP
$105
Stack
19/19mm
Drop
0mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 11–13 of 13 written reviews

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Sep 1, 2014

45 mpw

Comfort
4/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
3/5

4/5

Overall

Good Shoe. Would like it to have the softer ride of the Brooks Flow. And, I wouldn't mind a +2mm heel to toe increase, not drop. It would help it feel more natural. Love the Brooks Flow 2, but like the wider toe box and durable full carbon sole of the Altra better for high mileage.

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

55 mpw training for a half marathon

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

5/5

Overall

Zero drop allows me to find a good running form quickly and the huge toe-box is exactly what my foot-shape needs.

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

50 mpw

Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Reference shoe
Newest
Lightest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
10.2 oz (men's)
—
9.9 oz Lightest
Stack
19/19mm
—
40/35mm
Drop
0mm
—
4mm
Release
2014
2025 Newest
2022 Q3
MSRP
$105 Lower MSRP
—
$165
Best price
—
—
$95
Ratings
Overall
73 Decent
—
99 Exceptional Best overall
Comfort
79 Decent
—
99 Exceptional Best comfort
Cushioning
72 Decent
—
99 Exceptional Best cushioning
Durability
62 Below average
—
97 Exceptional Best durability
Appearance
49 Bottom-tier
—
75 Decent Best appearance
Value
71 Decent
—
77 Decent Best value rating
Specific shoe

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