Altra Escalante 5 Review
The Altra Escalante 5 is the latest version of Altra’s popular lightweight everyday road running shoe. In old money, the Altra Escalante 5 would be classed as a racer trainer as it is responsive enough to run fast in while still offering enough softness in the midsole foam for some easier miles too. It is a shoe that keeps it real. The 24mm stack height does not take away from the ground feel, so your feet can function and you can adjust your form and posture to improve your running. This is a complete contrast to the modern trend of running shoes with thick, soft midsoles and curved or rocker-shaped soles. In these modern shoes the runner is riding the curve of the shoe. This makes running easier and reduces some of the work that your feet, ankles and lower legs have to do to push you forwards. The Altra Escalante 5 allows the feet to function inside the shoes and the ankles and lower legs to work, giving them the stimulus required for your body to make them stronger the more you run. Initially this can feel more difficult, but once your feet and lower legs remember how to run you start to get the spring from your feet and your running action begins to feel more fluid.
Improvements in running shoes that initially fix an issue often end up causing another one as the ‘more is better’ theory of everything takes over. In this case running shoe companies made the heel-to-forefoot drop of running shoes higher so they could put more cushioning into the heel. This felt nice but also encouraged runners towards more of a heel landing and reduced how much the feet, ankles and lower legs had to do. The backlash to this was the barefoot running revolution and the book Born to Run, which re-educated runners about landing more towards the midfoot and allowing the feet to function. This initially felt great for a lot of runners, but weak feet and hard tarmac roads meant that many also ran into problems. Altra then came onto the scene offering running shoes with a broad, rounded toe box that gave the feet room to spread and function, together with a zero-drop or flat midsole that promoted a more natural position under the body. The Altra Escalante is the Altra running shoe with the most ground feel that is still suitable for everyday running. How far and how frequently you can run in the Escalante will depend on how light you are on your feet. Essentially, if you have good running form and good running economy then you will be able to use the Escalante for most of your running.
For most runners who are used to running shoes with rockers and soft midsoles, it would be best to alternate a shoe like the Altra Escalante with their usual running shoes. This gives the feet, ankles and lower legs the chance to strengthen without becoming overloaded. The Escalante is not necessarily a difficult shoe to run in, but it does ask more of the runner than a highly cushioned rocker-shaped shoe, particularly when you first start using it.
The Altra Escalante 5 differs from the previous version in a few different ways. The upper is that little bit softer to the touch and is made from a more breathable knitted mesh. The fit at the heel is snugger and pulls in more effectively around the heel of the foot when the laces are tied. The tongue is significantly softer, giving the Escalante 5 a more luxurious feel when you place your foot inside the shoes. The laces thread through a tab on the tongue to prevent it from slipping to one side when running, although the tongue is so pliable that it wraps around the foot well anyway and is less likely to move. There is an additional lace hole at the top which can be used to make the heel fit snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes. In previous versions I have used this extra lace hole initially until the midsole became a bit more flexible, as the shoes felt like they were slipping on my heel. In the Altra Escalante 5 I haven’t had this feeling and so haven’t needed to use the extra lace hole. This is partly because the heel fit is that bit snugger and partly because the midsole of the Escalante 5 is a bit more flexible out of the box. The Escalante therefore flexes from the first run rather than needing to be broken in.
The Altra Escalante is made on Altra’s Original FootShape last, which is the broadest and roomiest of the lasts Altra uses to make its running shoes. Despite this, the Altra Escalante 5 has a much neater fit than the Escalante 4. There is that bit less height in the toe box and the upper pulls in around my narrow feet more effectively. The Escalante 4 was a running shoe that I loved running in and used until the midsole was completely flattened and I had worn holes in the inside of the upper, so I was a bit concerned that the changes to the Escalante 5 would make it too different and that I wouldn’t enjoy running in it as much. The Escalante 5 is perhaps proof that your favourite running shoe can be improved upon. I have narrow feet and the Escalante 4 always felt like I had boats on my feet. However, I felt my form was better in them and once running in the shoes I felt good, as though everything was moving as it should. After running I also felt less tired and less stiff, even after hard sessions. The Escalante 5 seems to provide all of these things while fitting my feet better. There is still loads of room, but my feet are held more securely inside the shoes.
The Altra EGO midsole is softer than the previous version and has a bit more flex. This makes the Escalante 5 easier to run in from the box and makes the ride a little smoother, particularly at slower paces. The 24mm thick midsole has what Altra describes as a low level of cushioning, although this is very individual. If you are used to softly cushioned shoes then the ride is going to feel firmer and more responsive, and the Escalante 5 may be best kept as a shoe for your faster running while you get used to it. If you are into barefoot or minimal shoes then the 24mm midsole might feel considerably more forgiving than your everyday shoes, which could make the Escalante 5 more of an everyday running shoe for you.
The outsole is now made from a new Vibram rubber that has been specially designed for road running. It is designed to grip both wet and dry roads while being durable enough to cope with everyday use. There is also more rubber coverage than before, which should help with both increased durability and grip.
Altra running shoes are similar in length to Topo, Brooks, Saucony and 361. If you use Hoka, Karhu, New Balance, INOV8 or La Sportiva then we would suggest trying half a UK size smaller in Altra running shoes to get a similar length. For example, a UK 11 in Altra is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka or New Balance.
In summary, the Altra Escalante 5 improves upon the Escalante 4 with a softer and better-fitting upper together with a slightly softer and more flexible midsole. These changes do make a difference to the fit and feel of the Escalante 5, but they are only slight, so they haven’t changed the essence of the shoe. It still has the ground feel, roomy toe box and natural ride that made the Escalante 4 so good, but the Escalante 5 fits better and feels easier to run in from the first run.
Alternatives to Altra Escalante 5
Topo Magnifly 5: Another zero-drop option with a broad toe box, but with a little more cushioning underfoot for runners wanting a more forgiving everyday ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-magnifly-5-review/
Mount to Coast R1: A lightweight and responsive alternative with more cushioning than the Escalante, making it better suited to runners wanting one shoe to cover a wider range of training. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/mount-to-coast-r1-review/
Hoka Mach 7: A more cushioned, rocker-shaped alternative that still feels light and responsive, but takes more of the work away from the feet and lower legs. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mach-7-review/
Brooks Launch 12: A lightweight, traditional-feeling road shoe for runners who want a fast and responsive ride but don’t want to move to zero drop.
Topo Cyclone 3: A broad toe-boxed, lightweight alternative with a softer and bouncier feel, particularly suited to faster running. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-cyclone-3-review/
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