Altra Experience Flow Review
Today we have the second of three reviews across the Altra Experience family, in our Altra Experience Flow review.
Altra’s ‘Philosophy’
Altra running shoes are well known for being designed to allow your feet to function as nature intended. They have a broad and rounded toe box, allowing space for your feet to spread on impact and have an equal distance to the ground from heel to forefoot aka 0mm drop or (formerly a trademark) zero drop. Having no raise at the heel allowed your feet to land under your centre of gravity and the foot to be loaded correctly. This is so your foot can spread on impact, stretching out the planta fascia on the bottom of your foot like a big elastic band. The planta fascia then recoils and springs you into your next stride. Running in this way spreads the impact stress more evenly. Your feet function and ankles, knees, hips, lower back and stomach muscles flex together as more of a unit. You also feel lighter on your feet. The skill of running in this manner not only requires the correct footwear but also good posture. Unlike barefoot nations, our feet don’t get stronger as we grow, as the majority of shoes available restrict the natural movement of your feet with a narrow and pointed shape. For most runners looking to run in shoes that allow them to run in a more natural way, we recommend a slow transition. Gradually build up the time you spend in the shoes, alternating with your current running shoes. Build up the strength in your feet and lower legs without overloading them.
Broadening the Altra Audience
To welcome a broader base of runners, doing away with the transition phase needed to a 0mm drop running shoe, Altra has introduced running shoes into their running shoe range that ‘do some of the work’ for your feet and lower legs. The first shoe of this type was the Altra Forward Experience, which was introduced into the UK market back in October 2023. May 2024 has seen the launch of the Experience Family.
Altra Experience Flow – a neutral road running shoe that replaces the Altra Forward Experience.
Altra Experience Wild – a road to trail running shoe.
Altra Experience Form – a road running shoe designed to offer some pronation support.
Familiar Rocker + Cushion Platform
The Altra Experience Flow has a 4mm heel to forefoot drop (they are 4mm higher at the heel than the forefoot) and the midsole is curved, or ‘rocker’ shaped. What is a rocker? When your foot touches the floor, a rocker ‘keeps the shoe moving’. This helps reduce over-striding and increases cadence. This type of rocker or curved shape to the midsole is becoming the ‘norm’ in running shoes. The shape of the rocker differs from brand to brand along with the density of the midsole, which has a effect on the rocker. A lot of rockers just guide your foot backwards rather than encouraging you to pick up the heels of your feet. Good running form features lifting your heels up. This gives you a higher knee lift and a shift/lean/fall from the ankles, not the waist. The Altra Experience Flow encourages you to lift your heels up similar to Karhu and HyLo running shoes.
Altra Experience Flow vs. Altra Forward Experience
Altra claim that the rocker of the new Altra Experience Flow is the same as the Altra Forward Experience but this isn’t how they felt to us when clocking up a good amount of review miles. The rocker is a lot less noticeable in the Altra Experience Flow. I was only aware of the rocker ever-so-slightly at toe off.
I tend to land on my midfoot, so in the Altra Forward Experience it felt like I landed on the curve, which pushed me forwards quite aggressively. It’s a nice bit of propulsion, but reduced my control of the pace of my run. When I wanted to run slowly to recover from faster sessions, or have a longer slower run I felt as though I was being pushed on. It’s not ideal for every run. I have had no such issues with the new Altra Experience Flow and I really liked the more subtle feeling.
When first running in the Altra Experience Flow, I felt like the shoes were encouraging my heels to come up further, so naturally my hip flexors and glutes got more of a workout. This is something that I have perceived as helping me improve my running form. When I go back to running in zero heel to forefoot drop running shoes I found that I am lighter on my feet, my hips are higher and I feel more like I am ‘falling along’.
Footshape: Standard
The Altra Experience Flow is made on Altra’s Standard last. This has a broad rounded toe box but is snugger than the most volumous ‘Original’ Footshape. If you are used to wearing brands other than Altra or Topo Athletic that don’t have a broad rounded toe box then these will feel roomier than you are used to. If you have worn restrictive footwear for a long time, then you might find that your feet don’t spread as well on impact initially. However, if you keep running in a roomy toe box running shoe your feet will ‘remember’ how to work more naturally over time. To enjoy running in the Altra Experience Flow you don’t need to have the perfect form and feet that function. The curve to the midsole and soft compressed EVA midsole gives a smooth transition from heel to forefoot, and a nice cushioned ride.
Altra shoes are normally similar in length to brands like Brooks, Topo Athletic and Saucony but the Altra Experience Flow I used during my review were half a size larger to get the right size, so give that a go. I also do this with Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8 and La Sportiva for example.
Cushioning
The midsole is 30mm in the heel and 26mm in the forefoot of the women’s version and 32mm/28mm in the men’s version. The midsole is made from a compressed EVA that gives a soft cushioned ride without feeling ‘soggy’ and taking away the feel for the ground completely. Your feet are still stimulated to function inside the shoes. I found that the midsole broken in, getting a little softer and more flexible within about 50 miles or so. Then it stayed at this nice level. It remains soft, not too-soft though, and feels forgiving. You don’t sink into the midsole, which saps energy return and reduces the smoothness of the ride.
Despite the good level of cushion, the Altra Experience Flow is light for an everyday trainer. The women’s UK 6.5 weighs 204g and the men’s UK9.5 238g. The durability of the shoes doesn’t appear to have been compromised as there is a nice thick rubber outsole similar to that used on the Altra Torin, which is a very durable everyday training shoe. Together with the smoothness of the ride and the feeling that the shoes are working with the body makes them feel as if you have no shoes on your feet at all.
Upper & Lacing
As a shoe designed for everyday training, the Altra Experience Flow has a very soft feel to the knitted upper. The heel tab is high, but soft and curves away from the Achilles. There is no plastic in the heel cup, so it can take the shape of your heel when the shoes are laced up. There are two additional pieces of padding around the heel cup and the tongue is also nicely padded. The upper is a very closed knit. This might not be the most breathable on the hottest of days in the UK. Far this hasn’t been an issue but we haven’t had many days over 20 degree’s yet this summer!
The laces thread through the tongue to hold it in place and stop it slipping to the side when running in the shoes. There is an additional lace hole which you can thread the laces through to make the heel fit snugger or butterfly lace the shoes if you wish.
In One Sentence
The Altra Experience Flow is a well-cushioned everyday road running shoe versatile enough for easy runs, long runs and steady runs that will have similar characteristics as top sellers like a Hoka Clifton, but with more room in the toe box that’s great for multiple reasons.
Other Considerations
Hoka Clifton 9: A similar soft ride. The toe box is more pointed although the Hoka Clifton 9 is available in two width Women’s and two width Men’s. You are more aware of the stack height and the rocker although less controlling than previous models is more noticeable than the rocker of the Altra Experience Flow. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-clifton-9-review/
HyLo Impact: A much softer feel to the cushioning and more restrictive toe box. The rocker has a similar way of encouraging you to lift up your heels. Which makes you feel light on your feet. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hylo-impact-review/
Topo Phantom 3: 5mm heel to forefoot with a similar broad rounded toe box. The Phantom doesn’t have a rocker and is more flexible through the midfoot. Like Altra Topo running shoes are designed to have the space to allow your feet to function and to promote a natural movement. The ride is a little firmer and more responsive which is better for the type of shoe where you are doing more of the work as your foot gets the message it has touched the floor and reacts. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-phantom-3-review/
361 Centauri: A similar soft feel to the cushioning and a rocker gives these a nice smooth ride. They are available in two width men’s and two width women’s but don’t have a broad rounded toe box like Altra’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-centauri-review-361-centauri/
Karhu Ikoni 2.5: Karhi uses their Fulcrum rather than a rocker to help improve the runners gait and give some forward propulsion. The Fulcrum has the same effect as the rocker in the Hylo and Altra Experience shoes in that it encourages you to lift your heels up rather than ride the curve of the shoe. The toe box has a straight big toe line but isn’t as rounded or spacious as the Altra toe box. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-2-0-review/
New Balance 880v14: A versatile everyday trainer with an 8mm heel to forefoot. Flexible through the midfoot and responsive enough for some quicker running. The toe box is less pointed than previous versions but not as rounded as an Altra shoe. Available in two width women’s and three width men’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-880v14-review/
Brooks Ghost 15: 12mm heel to forefoot drop. A firmer ride than the Altra Experience shoes. Designed more for heel strikers. Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-ghost-15-review/
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