ADRIENNE: If you like the Escalante line, you’ll like the Escalante 3. If you like wild prints, you’ll like the SE version I received. Again, Altra is a brand that knows who it is, and the Denver-based company has created another trainer that’ll satisfy the needs of natural runners everywhere. Due to its density, the Escalante's knit is unfortunately not very breathable, which is a problem in the heat of Germany’s southwest (up to 38 º C this year so far). If you need an upper that hugs the heel and midfoot tightly, the Escalante 3 is still not your shoe, although it offers much more support than its predecessors. All in all, we're talking about an upper that excels in comfort but makes certain sacrifices in functionality. Altra redefined the shape of the shoe a bit, widening it in the midfoot to make it feel a bit more stable. This increases the versatility of the shoe and allows it to be used for running and the occasional gym workout. The Escalante 3 is built on Altra’s original last with its signature FootShaped toe box, making it the widest and most roomy Altra option. Based on our lab numbers, we see that the heel scored 1/5 for stiffness. Given that 5/5 would mean the stiffest heel out there, this means that this is a VERY soft heel. Compared to the average for all our shoes, which is 2.9, embrace yourselves: it's as soft as it can get.

Ultraspire Fitted Race Belt:The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist. (Also recommend the Naked belt) Basically, the Altra Escalante 3 is just what Altra fans are looking for. Let’s get to the specifics. The GoodSkechers Persistence - A beginner friendly shoe for daily training, featuring a forefoot H Plate for pop Andrea:I think the Escalante 3 is the best version yet of the shoe. By improving the stability of the upper and making the midsole a little firmer, Altra has improved on what was already a great shoe. From my perspective, the only thing Altra could do to further improve it would be to refine the upper so it is a little thinner and lighter. Otherwise, I am really pleased with the update and look forward to putting many more miles on the shoe. With a firmer midsole, you’re naturally being pushed into the final ankle and foot position at a faster speed. At the end of the day, if you are looking for an upper that excels in comfort and support, the Escalante 3 is ideal. However, if lightweight breathability is your primary focus, then it will not be as strong an option as some other products. Midsole Looking at our durometer measurements, the Escalante 3 scored 23.8 HA which is exactly the same as the average of our lab-tested road running shoes. This is what natural feels like

The weight has increased slightly. The Escalante 3 weigh’s 263/219g for a men’s UK8/women’s UK5. The Escalante 2.5 was 241/196g. The increase in weight is mainly in the more padded, sturdy (and comfortable) upper. However, looking at the enormous square toebox, we can tell that there is significantly more room for toe splay in this Altra shoe compared to the average running shoe. David: The Altra Escalante is a low riding running shoe that has some cross over into daily wear as well. The shoe has a level 0mm drop platform with an ever so slight heel bevel and toe spring. For the most part this is a moderately flexible design that lets you do whatever you want with your mechanics. The shoe feels very similar to a traditional racing flat with a tad more cushion. The mechanics are very neutral throughout. From a "barefoot" mechanic standpoint, this is probably the closest option in the last year. Everything feels pretty natural throughout and there is a small bounce from the rigidity of the forefoot. The outsole traction is decent as well and you can take this on reasonably footed dirt and grass if you wanted to. The shoe has a light and nimble feel to it despite being 9.0 ounces. You definitely have to have some calf strength to be running in this shoe with a flat and low riding geometry. This is about as neutral as shoes come. Not a bad thing by any means, but something to keep in mind. The standard advice is to go with a softer foam if you tend to supinate (rolling outwards from the midpoint) because the amount of pronation will reduce and lessen the chance of rolling an ankle.We’ve just seen Altra release some new colors, so I’m hoping they’ll stay in the lineup for the foreseeable. Is this the first Altra with toe spring? What’s toe spring? It’s the ramping up of the shoe at the end, making your toes sit higher than the foot. That doesn’t sound zero-drop, does it? But with a stiff midsole like this, you inevitably require some toe spring. Imagine trying to run with a plank of wood on your foot. It’d be super unnatural because you’d have no toe-off; that’s what the toe-spring is trying to solve. Despite maintaining the key features that make the Escalante the Escalante (lively EGO midsole, FootShape toe box), there are a couple of points that differentiate the Escalante 3 from previous models.

The one downside that some runners note is that the knit upper feels a bit oppressive. It may not leave the foot feeling as airy and fresh as some more lightly stitched engineered mesh products. Cushioning

As can be seen in the pictures, the platform has become a bit wider, which is another stabilizing factor. If you've been paying close attention so far, you'll notice that the Escalante 3 has significantly more rubber material overall. As the heaviest material in a shoe obviously, this will affect the weight of a shoe. Weighing about 20 grams more than its predecessor, I wouldn't necessarily call our test object a lightweight anymore, but rather a middleweight.

The tongue is also quite padded, contributing to the shoe’s secure feel. And don’t forget the FootShape toe box for which Altra shoes are known, giving ample space for the toes to splay during runs. Runners have always felt like Altra shoes score high for durability, and the Escalante 3 is no exception.The Escalante 3 is the fifth version of the Escalante, as Altra go up in 0.5’s. In that time there have been a few changes but the essence of the shoe has remained. The Escalante 3 is still a Zero Drop shoe with a broad rounded toe box. The fit is very similar to the Escalante 2.5. There is a little bit more width and height in the toe box. The upper is still an engineered mesh, which has a lovely soft feel. This gives the Escalante it’s slipper type feel. Stability:B (Neutral, zero drop shoe with minimal stability features; nice improvement in upper stability due to overlays) These updates will appeal to a broader range of consumers, but did they alienate the Escalante super fans in the process? The results are somewhat mixed. On the downside, the toe box is not as wide, and extra cushioning in the midsole makes the shoe heavier and more narrow.