Altra Men's Superior 5 Sneaker, Medium

Product Information

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.

The toe box of the Superior 5 has less height. So, the Superior 4.5 felt more roomy initially and it felt like my toes where able to move more freely. The toe box of the Superior 5 doesn’t have the overlays that the Superior 4.5 has and there is a little bit of stretch in the mesh. Once running in the Superior 5 they felt plenty roomy and not at all restrictive in the toe box. Altra have dispensed with the retro-futuristic wireframe mountain graphic on the side of v4.5 and delivered a clean, sleek, modern vision with understated branding elements and a sublime colorway. Additionally (to my happy surprise) the upper fabrics do an impressive job of shedding mud and dust, and my sample pair look just as good after ~100 miles of running as they did out of the box. Dom: The upper of the Superior v 4.0 was a fresh new voice that stood out from a cookie-cutter field. It was a striking, soft, slipper-like feel. In version 5, Altra have made minor functional improvements -- and a significant cosmetic upgrade -- while retaining the flexible, slipper-like feel. For a trail running shoe, it is exceptionally light (8.8 oz/249g). Most trail shoes have an average weight of 10.4oz/296g.However, the shape, width and volume of Altra shoes does vary depending on the intended use of the shoes.

Over the past few years, shoemakers have poured resources into developing newer and better cushioning foams, and Altra is no exception. The company uses three main cushioning materials in its shoes: Ego, Ego Max, and Ego Pro. (Quantic, another cushioning material the brand developed, is being phased out.) For die-hard Altra fans, I don’t think the slight increase in toe box width will be noticeable, but for those that have never run in Altras, it may feel slightly clown-shoe-like. I truthfully have no qualms with the shoe, as I really feel it shines at what it does (fast running for sub-ultra trail distances with a protective-enough midsole). Shop Altra Superior 5 – Men Shop Altra Superior 5 – Women Altra Superior 5 Conclusion The sidewalls are made out of a flexible material that provides some water resistance. I liked that I could race through smaller puddles and dewy grass without getting super drenched. The sidewalls also did not compromise the ventilation of the shoe, which was nice. Height of toe bumper has decreased, which -- coupled with fatter insole -- makes the toe box notably shallow. This could aggravate touchy toenails.TAYLOR: The minimalist movement lives on through the Superior 5. If that was/is your jam, this shoe will be your defense against the tidal wave of HOKA-esque midsoles on the market. 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. Scott Kinabalu RC 2: A lightweight responsive shoe. Good grip and fast feel. Here is our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-rc-2-0-review The feel of this lightweight trail racer is beyond comparison. I found my first few runs with the shoe to be similar to the childlike fun of sprinting through the forest. The tongue of the Superior 5 is fairly unique Another small update is the removal of the gaiter attachment loop at the front of the shoe. In the past, this caused the shoe to pull up in a weird way so I was glad to see them do away with it.

ALEX: I really like the updates on Superior 5. While they are a little too light and flexible for my longer efforts, I will be reaching for these for my shorter runs up to 10 miles and my post-long run hikes. La Sportiva Cyclon: 8mm heel to forefoot. Longer lugs give better traction on soft ground. BOA fastening and built in gaiter stops debris from getting in the shoes. Not as natural or nimble. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-cyklon-review-boa-lacing-system/Scott Supertrac RC and Supertrac Amphib: A bit stiffer through the midfoot reduces some of the spring you’ll get from your feet. 4mm heel to forefoot. Longer lugs give much better traction in the mud. Like all Altra shoes, they are designed to allow your feet, ankles and lower legs to function more naturally. They are Zero Drop and have a broader, rounded toe box. This encourages you to land more on your midfoot and utilise your body’s natural cushioning from your feet, ankles and lower legs. If you are used to shoes with a pointier toe box and an elevated heel then it would be advisable to gradually increase the time you spend in Zero Drop running shoes. This way your feet and legs will get used to the extra movement and strengthen up gradually. The super grippy MaxTrac outsole provides great traction and grip on technical trail. This version has a better tread pattern with canted lugs that have been strategically placed and oriented to increase grip. Dom: The Superior is the lightest shoe in Altra’s trail shoe line-up. Its character remains fundamentally unchanged in the latest iteration. This is still a lightweight, soft, flexible shoe that prioritizes ground feel over protection and support. Consequently, it is not a shoe that will suit everyone.

Dom: Also of note: Altra have removed the front anchoring ring used for gaiter attachment, and the velcro flap at the rear is smaller. This seems a reasonable compromise, as gaiters are likely to see less use with this shoe than the beefier models in Altra’s lineup.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?

The Superior 4.5 have only made minor adjustments to the 4.0, making the upper slightly more durable. This is a supremely comfortable zero-drop shoe that is minimal in its feeling, allowing one to have an intimate relationship with the trail. It's also one of the more affordable choices on the market today, so presents pretty good value to those who like minimal and zero drop shoes. The soft flexible tongue is fully stitched on the medial side of the foot to keep debris out and tongue from sliding down. I am a big fan of this feature and wish more shoe brands would do this. The tongue also feels slightly more cushioned than the previous version. Today we’re going to look at two top trail shoes from Altra that have been the cornerstones of the trail running shoe lineup for nearly 10 years now. They both share similarities, but they target a slightly different terrain, and the fit can sometimes be the ultimate decider. 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.