Altra Escalante Running Shoe Review

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Just when you think that you have run in every kind of shoe that is out there, Altra steps in and comes up with something to the likes that I have never donned on my feet before. Enter the Altra Escalante, this new Altra Ego equipped road runner is built with a sleek aesthetic, thanks to the sock-like fit and flexible construction of the engineered knit upper. It is built on Altra’s PFS performance last with the responsive Altra Ego mid-sole and decoupled heel, the Escalante is designed for a fast ride with energetic rebound and minimal ground contact.

First Look

Opening the box, the Escalante appear to be just another new running shoe from Altra. But once you pick them up you realize that the Escalante is going to be something totally different. Right off the bat you will notice the airy lightness of the shoe, coming in at a helium light 8.2 oz. The next thing that stands out is that the entire upper is for all intents and purposes, a one piece knit body, that is stretchy like a reinforced piece of well armored spandex. Lastly, the shoe is crazy flexible. I am pretty sure I could fold them in half and store them in my pockets.

Slipping on the Escalantes gives a feeling of putting on a favorite pair of slippers, beyond comfortable and feathery light. The cushioning gives you thoughts of standing on stacked marshmallows.

“Where is my pipe and newspaper, I think that I will sit by the fireplace and read awhile in my favorite pair of slippers.”

Slipper shoes are one thing, let’s take them to the road, test them out and see what they are made of.

Upper

The Escalante’s upper is a stretchy, richly colored sock-like engineered knit that delivers breathable support that molds to the shape of your foot. The stretchy knit material holds unrestrictedly to the mid-foot while maintaining the toe room that Altra’s shoes are known for. The heel collar and Achilles collar are well padded and provide the perfect amount of support.

While on the run, the upper hugs the foot nicely overall, however, there are the occasional fast sharp turns or evasive maneuvers that you will feel the exceptional stretchiness of the knit and wish that it wasn’t quite so stretchy.

The tongue is unique as it is constructed in a single piece that is basically an extension of the upper, which is comfortable and really, not noticeable when running.

The Escalante’s upper performed as good as it felt when I first stepped into the shoe.

Mid-Sole

The Escalante’s mid-sole is the Altra Ego. As Altra describes it on their website, “by using a secret blend of compounds, Altra EGO offers the holy grail of running shoe cushioning, comfortable and soft, yet lively and resilient. With increased responsiveness and thinner cushioning, Altra EGO combines a closer to ground feel with the comfort of a plush ride.”

The mid-sole is very lightweight and responsive. On the run the mid-sole is certainly soft, and comfortable without being energy draining. Altra EGO’s bouncy quality helped me maintain a quick turnover with a high cadence. The mid-sole allowed for good energy return with every stride.

Altra Ego Mid-Sole

The Altra Ego is designed for those who crave a plush ride but still want an energetic rebound in a moderately cushioned package.

Out-Sole