The Superior 5 is smaller fitting so we suggest trying half a size larger than you used in the Superior 4.5.

Dom: The biggest functional change to the upper is that the new heel is more substantial, with more padding around the heel collar, and a tangible heel counter. Personally, I’m ambivalent on this: I didn’t feel that there was much wrong with the old design. With the new design sporting tough protection from the heel and around the side of the shoe, and then a relatively firm toebox, your foot is fully protected from the trail elements. With this sturdy protection holding you in place, I don’t think they’ll be any worry of feet ripping out the side of shoes anymore. These are some extremely comfortable shoes, even right out of the box. They are so comfy that we often use them as our daily tennis shoes for wearing outside while gardening or when walking around town. The upper is very well constructed, and the burrito-style tongue, which is attached on one side and then wraps over the top of the foot, has no creases or weirdly sewn seams that can rub while running. It's honestly hard to imagine a more comfortable shoe. I think there’s a couple of reasons why. It is very light, very nice, and wide again; it is low profile and has a lower arch profile.The base of the Superior 5 is slightly broader as the midsole splays out. This makes them look wider than the Superior 4.5. The width of the shoes internally is the same. The broader base is designed to make the Superior a bit more stable. The ride of the shoe is slightly different to the previous version. It feels slightly less nimble and slightly softer. The Superior 4.5 was a popular shoe at Northern Runner. For those runners that like firmer more responsive feel to their shoes and a bit of feel for the ground. There isn’t that soft pillow-like cushioning that you sink into in the softer cushioned shoes. This makes the shoe feel faster and more responsive. The Superior 5 has the same midsole and outsole as the 4.5. So, it has an equally zippy feel.

Height of toe bumper has decreased, which -- coupled with fatter insole -- makes the toe box notably shallow. This could aggravate touchy toenails. The new upper is just a little bit better fit, not any little bunching here, just a little bit more opportunity for it to sort of fit and feel good around your shoe around your foot. Some runners prefer the narrower toe boxes of shoes like Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy. Lakota Gambill A Natural Take on Tech The design of the outsole differs from the Lone Peak, but again it falls short. The outsole on the Superior is still decent, but not outstanding. The MaxTrac rubber has held up “ok” to +300km of abuse, and the level of grip is good enough. Considering the Superior is not trying to win the award of the best grip on the trail running scene, I’m happy with where it’s at. The dynamic lace stays and super fat laces work well to cinch down the foot nicely. The tongue is integrated on one side and gusseted on the other providing a superlatively secure lace cage.The upper is made in the same pattern as the previous version. There is no plastic in the heel cup, so it can mould to the shape of your heel. The tongue is an integral part of the upper, burrito style, that wraps around the foot. This reduces the chance of any debris getting into the shoes and gives a really nice fit, making the shoes feel like an integral part of your foot rather than a bulky shoe that feels ‘strapped on’. The toe cap is a bit harder than on the Superior 5, which offers more protection. The tongue is solidly attached to one side of the upper and gusseted on the other. The combination results in a tongue that stays put the whole run. Well done Altra! The burrito wrap tongue is attached on one side, and wraps over the foot on the other. This design eliminates overlaps, creases, and seams, and is super comfortable. Just a little bit of update there I want to draw attention to again. It does not weigh anything. It will not hinder your run at all if you decide to put it in for your trail stuff. Quite honestly, I do not know why you would just not put it on all the time, but that is just me.

Anchor for gaiter has been removed from the front of shoe; velcro attachment at rear has been downsized. If you’re coming from a traditional shoe, you’ll likely not feel much difference here. But if you’ve been an Altra fan in the past, it’s something to take note of. SimilaritiesLaces a little long, and have tendency to come untied. (Stretchier laces would probably help in regard to latter, but would diminish the foot retention.) The Superior has never used the trusty Vibram rubber that other Altra’s have, and that’s a shame. Instead, the in-house MaxTrac rubber is used, and I’m expecting this to be the area that breaks down first.

The upper material has also changed. The new mesh is designed to be more resistant to abra sion f rom the trail and dry faster. There is no plastic in the heel cup, so the heel of the shoes takes the shape of your heel. As in the previous m odel, the tongue wraps around and reduces the chance of getting debris in the shoes and helps give a nice comfortable fit.It is the slimmest trail design that has largely stayed the same. The 5 (which actually has more than 5 iterations since Altra does half numbers on minor change models) has some noticeable changes too. Most of the focus was put on updating the upper and outsole. Not much more to say. Let’s get into it! Altra Lone Peak 7: If you want a shoe that offers a bit more underfoot for longer runs but, still has room for foot function then these would be an option: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-lone-peak-7-review-2/ Running across hills to test how the padding feels against the ankle bones, and to get a feel for stability. While it remains very flexible, this shoe is one of the most stable due to its wide platform, low to the ground ride, and zero drop. Whereas, the Superior took a few miles to break in. When I first pulled the shoe on, it was pretty solid and encouraged forward motion with every step. But after 20km, the midsole softened, to the point where it’s the shoe I reach for any technical terrain (I just ran a 50km in them). Volume, Width, and sizing