Altra Escalante 4 Review
By Andrea Myers
Altra Escalante 4Price: $130 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.5oz, 269g (men's size 9), 7.5oz, 212g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 24mm
Drop: 0mm
Shoe Purpose: Zero Drop Daily Trainer
Pros: An Escalante for narrow, low volume feet
Cons: Huge change in fit from previous versions due to low volume, narrow toe box
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Altra Escalante 4 is a zero drop, low stack, flexible daily trainer that provides a high amount of ground feel. Altra says the main changes are in the sockliner and rubber outsole, and that the shoe was designed to fit and feel more like the Escalante 1.5. Altra also says that v4 is lighter than v3, but the Altra website lists the weight at 9.5oz for v4 and 9.3oz for v3. I checked the weight of Escalante 1.5, and it was 7.9oz, so I am not sure what Altra is referring to when it says v4 is lighter. The Altra EGO midsole feels the same as previous versions, but the fit of the upper is markedly lower volume, particularly in the toe box. Version 4 may be a miss for runners who appreciated the Escalante for its roomy, comfortable toe box, but those who have typically found the Escalante too roomy may find a new minimal daily trainer to love.
SIMILAR SHOES: Topo Magnifly 5
PAST MODEL: Altra Escalante 3
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Andrea: I have always loved the fit of the Escalante line. It provides ample width and volume in the toe box and the upper material is comfortable and forgiving, while still providing solid lockdown. Unfortunately, the fit of the Escalante 4 is completely different than previous versions and did not work for me. Although Altra says that the Escalante 4 has its "Original" Footshape fit and the Escalante 3 has its "Standard" Footshape fit, the fit of the two shoes could not be more different. The volume of v4 is severely reduced, which resulted in pressure on the dorsum of my 4th and 5th toes. The lower volume also made the upper feel tight on my 1st and 5th MTPs, which again I have not experienced in any shoe besides the FWD Experience, which is labeled a "Standard" Footshape fit.
According to Altra's Footshape chart, the Original fit of the Escalante 4 is supposed to be the widest, with Standard (Escalante 3) being narrower, and Slim being the narrowest. This does not track with my experience in the two shoes. Comparing the fit of the Escalante 3 and 4 side by side makes the Escalante 4 look like a completely different shoe. Those who liked the fit of previous versions of the Escalante should definitely try before you buy with version 4. Besides the toe box issue, the midfoot and rearfoot are also extremely low volume, resulting in a fit more like a racing flat than a daily trainer. The upper material is soft and has a little bit of stretch to it, so those with narrow feet may find v4 quite comfortable. The heel counter is flexible and there is a small amount of internal padding. The thin tongue is not gusseted, but is held in place by a lace loop. It is perplexing to me why Altra, who built their brand around anatomical toe boxes, is now making shoes that fit like every other brand. As a longtime Escalante fan, the fit of v4 is a huge disappointment.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Yes
How Flexible is the Shoe: Highly
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: No
Recommended for Haglunds: Maybe
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Andrea: I will try to separate my extreme dislike for the fit of the shoe from its performance. The discomfort on the dorsum of my lateral toes limited me to runs of less than 30 minutes. I couldn't wait to get the shoes off my feet when I was done. Fit issues aside, the Escalante 4 feels a little more flexible in the forefoot and less protective as compared to v3, despite the stack height (24mm) and foam (Altra EGO) being the same. The difference may be due to the decreased outsole rubber coverage in v4. Otherwise, the shoe runs like a classic Escalante, which means high ground feel, decreased longitudinal bending stiffness, and an unquestionable zero drop feel.
This is a shoe that runners will need to ease into gradually if they have not been running in zero drop previously due to its higher flexibility. There is a late forefoot rocker and a mild amount of toe spring, neither of which are particularly noticeable when running. The higher forefoot flexibility certainly negates some of the benefit of the forefoot rocker and toe spring. The shoe felt comfortable for midfoot landings and transition to push off felt smooth and natural. This is a shoe that makes you do the work - there is no large rocker or bouncy midsole here. The shoe does not feel heavy on foot at 9.5 oz for a men's size 9 and 7.5oz for a women's size 8, but the lack of responsiveness of the midsole would keep me from using it as an uptempo shoe, which is how I felt about previous versions of the shoe.
The high amount of rubber coverage provided decent traction on wet roads. I have 20 miles on my pair and the exposed midsole shows mild wear and the rubber shows almost no wear, so I would expect average durability from the shoe.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Andrea: The Altra Escalante 4 is a neutral shoe with minimal guidance elements. Like previous Escalantes, version 4 requires sufficient mobility and strength, particularly in the ankles and 1st MTP. The late forefoot rocker and very mild toe spring are not particularly noticeable when running. The flex grooves contribute to the shoe's forefoot flexibility and require greater 1st MTP ROM and intrinsic foot strength. The one feature that may be better for runners with narrow feet is that the low volume upper will provide better lockdown. I am aware that a complaint some runners have with Altra is that the shoe are too high volume, and the Escalante 4 is definitely for those runners with narrower and lower volume feet.
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| Escalante 3 vs. 4 comparisons |
Thoughts as a DPT: Toe Box Fit and Minimalist Shoes
By Andrea Myers
I do not normally get personally offended by a change in fit of a particular model of shoe, but the change in toe box volume in the Escalante 4 feels particularly wrong to me. Altra has made their name on zero drop, wide toe box, high volume shoes. When I first came back to running after many years of bike racing, the Escalante 1.5 was one of the only shoes that did not give me blisters on the medial aspect of my big toe, thanks to the wide toe box and high volume, soft upper. I could also depend on the Timp 1.5 as a my trail runner to do the same thing. I have enjoyed running in the Escalante 2.5 and 3 for the same reasons.
Fast-forward to 2024 and the Escalante 4 is now a low volume shoe that is almost unrecognizable as compared to any of the previous versions. While a properly fitting upper is important for any running shoe, it is particularly important for a minimalist shoe because of the increased demands on the 1st MTP joint. A zero drop, low stack, minimally rockered, flexible shoe will require increased work done at the 1st MTP joint at push off. A shoe with a toe box that is too narrow or too low volume will potentially put pressure on the medial aspect of the 1st MTP joint, pushing the big toe towards the second toe. When the big toe is in this position, its ability to extend is limited, and the runner will use compensatory mechanisms to achieve push off, often with push off occurring at the 2nd MTP joint. Over time, this can result in injuries to the soft tissue or bones associated with the 2nd MTP joint. When the big toe is pushed toward the second toe, it also puts a muscle called the abductor hallucis under increased tension, which has been associated with decreased blood flow to the plantar fascia and possibly be involved in delayed healing of plantar fasciitis. I was clearly aware of tension in my abductor hallucis in addition to pressure on the dorsum of my 4th and 5th toes while running in the Escalante 4, which made the shoe very uncomfortable. I hope that Altra will make some changes to the fit of version 5 (or 4.5) to bring it back to the fit so many of us loved in the past.
Firminger, C. R., Fung, A., Loundagin, L. L., & Edwards, W. B. (2017). Effects of footwear and stride length on metatarsal strains and failure in running. Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 49, 8–15.
Jacobs, J.L., Ridge, S.T., Bruening, D.A. et al. Passive hallux adduction decreases lateral plantar artery blood flow: a preliminary study of the potential influence of narrow toe box shoes. J Foot Ankle Res 12, 50 (2019).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Andrea: When I got back into running after many years of focusing on cycling, the Escalante 1.5 was the first shoe that I found that was actually comfortable around my MTPs and felt natural for my midfoot strike pattern. I have enjoyed each of the following versions of the shoe, until version 4. I do not understand why Altra would change the fit of this shoe so drastically. I have two recommendations: change the volume and overall fit of the upper to be more similar to v3. My second recommendation is for Altra to clean up its nomenclature system for its Footshape types. The variation in fit of shoes within and between categories is nonsensical. The Escalante 4 and Via Olympus 2 are both labeled "Original", while the fit of the two shoes could not be more different. The Escalante 3 is labeled "Standard", which is supposed to be more snug than "Original," which again is completely untrue when comparing Escalante 3 and 4. I think Altra is being smart in making some shoes that will fit those with narrower feet, but they need to be labeled appropriately. The Vanish Carbon 2, which I greatly enjoyed testing and is labeled "Slim" fit, fit me more comfortably than the Escalante 4. The better your customers understand how a product is designed to fit, the more likely the right shoe will get to the right person.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Andrea: The Altra Escalante 4 is a zero drop, flexible, low volume daily trainer. The fit is drastically lower volume as compared to all previous versions of the Escalante, so those who enjoyed the older versions may not be happy with v4, as was my experience. If you have narrow, low volume feet and have found the Escalante to fit too wide/sloppy in the past, you may love v4. Like previous versions of the Escalante, this shoe will require sufficient ankle and foot range of motion and strength due to its zero drop, lower stack height, and flexible sole. At $130, it is competitively priced for a daily trainer.
GRADES
Andrea
Fit: D (Uncomfortable, low volume, narrow overall fit that is a complete change from previous versions of the shoe. Poor fit and resulting toe discomfort limited my runs in the shoe to <30 min.)
Performance: B (Fit issues aside, it runs like every other Escalante and is a nice daily training option for those prepared to run in zero drop shoes.)
Stability: [neutral] B (A neutral shoe that will provide stable lockdown for those with narrow feet.)
Value: A- (There aren't many daily trainers for $130 anymore. For the right person, this shoe will be a great value.)
Personal: D (Altra took the feature it is best known for (wide, high volume toe box) and threw it out the window, making this a miserable shoe to test due to pressure on my 4th and 5th toes. This shoe felt no different than the many other low volume, narrow toe box shoes that I can't stand.)
Overall Design: C
SHOP | SUPPORT DORAltra Escalante 4Price: $130 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
A lightweight, versatile trainer.
A high toe spring workout trainer.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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