Altra Escalante 3 Running Shoes - AW23

Product Information

The peak ground reaction force (GRF) was identical with the two Escalante’s. This means the forces exerted into the body at peak impact were the same, likely due to my biomechanics adjusting to the minor differences, which evened out the impact. Many hear about overpronation and expect that they need a well-structured shoe to “correct” pronation. Still, some amount of pronation is expected and even a benefit. You are utilizing your ankle to absorb some of the impact from the ground. As for the pronation question, In my opinion, this is mostly a marketing ploy from the shoe industry. Some pronation is natural, it allows our feet to absorb impact, and create forward propulsion. After wearing heavily structured shoe, or using orthotics for a long time, you feet become naturally weaker, causing higher levels of pronation which become problematic. Looking at our caliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's toebox comes in at 98.8 mm. This makes the Escalante 3 the same as the average.

Today, we have an absolute classic on tap for review: The Altra Escalante! As for the designation, you shouldn’t be confused by the "3". This is already the fifth version of the model that has stolen its way into the hearts of many runners since its introduction in 2017. When we look at the outsole of the Escalante 3, we notice that possibly the biggest change has taken place here. The new arrangement of rubber segments is strongly reminiscent of the outsole of the Torin. According to the manufacturer, the segmentation (Footpod TM ) maps the bones and tendons of the foot, which should lead to a more natural running motion. I am very impressed by the improvement in upper stability. There was no medial-lateral translation of my foot in the shoe, even when taking tight turns or running on grass. The outsole has almost full-coverage rubber and I had excellent traction, even on wet roads and grass. I have 40 miles on my pair and the outsole looks nearly new. I would expect greater than average durability out of these shoes. Another interesting pronation measurement is the speed at which pronation occurs. That’s how fast you move from the initial foot impact position to the final pronated position. Different shoe designs can have dramatic effects on both pronation angle and speed. ShoeThe knit material that distinguishes the Escalante from other Altra shoes has stayed with us in the fifth version. It is quite dense and not as elastic as its predecessors, providing better support than the early versions. In the heel and midfoot area, the upper is subtly reinforced and padded. Looking at the upper at the forefoot, it's again around the average (98.8mm vs 98.5mm). At the heel, it is much narrower: 66.6mm compared to 75.7mm.

ADRIENNE: It feels like we say it about a lot of brands, but Altra’s been on a roll of late. Between launching the Vanish Carbon and Calum Neff, Alexi Pappas, and company tearing across the desert to win the Speed Project, this (usually) niche brand is making some bold steps toward the mainstream. Steps in its own quirky way, obviously. Enter an update to one of Altra’s bread-and-butter staples, the Altra Escalante 3. The introduction of the Escalante was also the launch of the EGO TM midsole material, which boasted extra energy return and durability. Right from the start – and with almost every new release – this shoe has been the subject of much controversy. This probably stems from the fact that it has undergone extensive changes over the years. 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.Basically, what sets Escalante 3 apart from other shoes is a heel that is 9.1mm narrower in the upper than the average shoe out there! This might have attributed a lot to the overall stability feel. The Escalante 3.0 behaves more like a barefoot shoe than the 2.5. And I believe this is due to the firmer foam in the midsole. The outsole of the Altra Escalante 3 has undergone a significant transformation compared to its predecessor. The most noticeable change is the new arrangement of rubber segments, which strongly resembles the outsole of the Altra Torin. According to Altra, this Footpod segmentation maps the bones and tendons of the foot, promoting a more natural running motion. Furthermore, the platform has become slightly wider, adding stability to the shoe. Founded on a philosophy of promoting natural movement, Altra running shoes are distinct for what they don’t have–a lot of fancy features and technology promising to cure all of your running problems.