Thoughtful Updates Will Allow Altra Escalante 5 Fans to Breathe a Sigh of Relief. Not Much Has Changed.
- Altra releases the Escalante 5 after 2.5 years, maintaining its signature zero-drop, wide toebox, and responsive Ego foam midsole while adding improved outsole traction and enhanced comfort features.
- The brand prioritized thoughtful refinement over major overhauls, keeping the beloved knit upper and 24mm stack height that fans loved while upgrading materials like the strobel and sockliner for better comfort.
- The minimalist trainer delivers a responsive, ground-feel ride that feels dated by modern standards but appeals to Escalante loyalists and runners seeking simplicity without sacrificing protection on varied terrain.
Good things come to those who wait, and that wait has paid off: after two and a half years since the last iteration’s release, the Escalante 5 is finally out. When the first Escalante launched in 2017, it demonstrated how Altra—the brand known for pushing zero-drop and a wide toebox—could make a lightweight, responsive, comfy trainer with its new Altra Ego midsole foam.
Almost 10 years later, some things have changed with Altra (the intro of 4mm drop shoes for one thing), while other things have remained the same, like the ability to splay your toes in their shoes. The same goes with the Escalante 5: the shoe is still $130 and it still has that cozy knit upper and Ego foam. There are a few tweaks here and there that past Escalante fans will appreciate the brand for refining.
Altra Escalante 5
Pros
- New strobel and sockliner offer even more comfort on a low-profile trainer
- Ground feel, responsive ride
- Wide toebox
Cons
- Laces tend to untie
- Not bouncy like supercritical foam trainers
| Best for | Daily training, speedwork, walking |
| Weight | 9.7 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W) |
| Drop | 0 mm |
| Stack Height | 24 mm |
Worth the Wait
So what took Altra so long? In a past conversation with the co-founder, Brian Beckstead, he explained how the brand wanted to be authentic and thoughtful with each shoe release. It’s easy to fall into the habit of other major brands, releasing new models every year with updates no one wanted or subtle changes, like a knit instead of a mesh upper (these are my words, not Beckstead’s). If Altra was going to launch the next model, there would have to be significant changes.
But how can you change a legacy shoe that’s beloved by fans? The answer: don’t make any major changes, like a new midsole, last, or even upper, but make changes that warrant a new release.
What’s the same:
- The full-knit upper provides that same slipper-like fit all other Escalante versions had along with the Altra signature toebox
- It still has the Escalante 4’s 24 mm stack height
- The Altra Ego midsole foam, which provides a responsive ride with a low stack height for ground feel
The shoe has Altra’s CMEVA (compression-molded EVA) midsole, a foam that’s old by today’s standards (expect a less energetic bounce compared to shoes with TPEE and other supercritical foams). But here’s the thing: it’s what runners wanted. According to Altra’s reps, consumers wanted the brand’s feel-the-road shoe to stick with the past model’s midsole foam. And what the consumer wants, the consumer gets.
What’s changed:
- The outsole has improved traction with more rubber
- Like Altra’s other shoes, the strobel and sockliner are made of TPEE for even more comfort
The minimalist shoe allows you to feel the ground underfoot without causing injury. Despite the low stack height, my feet weren’t sore or felt punctured when I couldn’t avoid running over rocks or twigs. Also, I didn’t slip.
The Ride
Our team is still testing the shoe, but based on my runs so far I can take a guess at the future consensus. The shoe is comfy and accommodating; I don’t feel lace bite with the flat knit tongue and my toes are wiggling inside the shoes as I type this sentence.
The ride, on the other hand, will feel dated. That’s not a knock on the shoe; it’s a welcome change to all the super foams out there and tall stack heights. Past Escalante fans will be relieved the shoe feels the same. Altra and zero-drop newbs will need some more background on what to expect if they’re hopping out of a shoe like New Balance’s Ellipse.
The ride of the Escalante 5 is responsive but not bouncy, at least not by today’s standards. The level of cushioning is between everyday trainer for some and speedwork for others. The shoe is lightweight and lightly cushioned. But again, your feet won’t be harmed if you decide to go off road; 24 mm of foam provides a protective buffer. But stick with gravel, not Pennsylvania’s hellish jagged trails.
The zero drop will also take some learning if you’re new. I prefer the height of a slightly taller zero-drop, like the Torin 9, which is 28 mm, but the Escalante doesn’t cause me to scuff my toes as much as it does with the Escalante Racer (22 mm).
The One Thing I’d Like Altra to Change
Those shoelaces are a problem. Usually, I chafe at testers whose sole complaint is the shoelaces. Switch them out, I say. But who has time for that? With laces like the ones in the Escalante 5, it’s criminal they don’t already come with laces that stay tied!
Ah-hem… This ends my gear editor rant.
Who It’s For
What the Escalante 5 achieves is nostalgia. There’s a group of Altra Escalante diehards and runners who crave simpler times. The Escalante 5 caters to runners with wide feet and those who fancy a lightweight trainer for speedwork. This shoe may be minimalistic, but don’t be afraid to run hard.
Shop Men’s at altrarunning.com | Shop Women’s at altrarunning.com
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.