Altra Provision 8 Review
This week we’ve got a running specialist exclusive 0mm drop road shoe, in our Altra Provision 8 review. The Altra Provision is a mid-cushioned everyday training shoe for runners who need some pronation support. When your foot touches the floor, your arch compresses to absorb the shock. It should re-shape and you then push off from the end of your big toe. If your arch doesn’t re-shape quick enough, you will push off from the inside of your foot and your knee will roll inwards. Known as overpronation. As running is a repetitive action, the same happens over and over, leading to aches and pains in the ankles, shins, knee (usually Patella Tendon just below the kneecap), outside of the thigh and hips.
Altra running shoes are designed to allow for a more natural midfoot landing and promote natural foot function. The Provision 8 is zero drop from heel to forefoot, which means that it doesn’t have an elevated heel like a lot of other running shoes. This helps you land on your midfoot. It loads the foot to spread out and absorb the shock, stretching the planta fascia aka a big elastic band on the bottom of your foot. When you lift your foot up the planta fascia re-coils like a spring and pushes you along. If you have worn shoes that have a pointed toe box or are snug fitting then they will have prevented your feet from functioning. Initially your feet might not spread on impact when you are running in a shoe with enough space but this function does come back over time. Your feet will get stronger the more you run.
Support for Overpronation
It is usually heel strikers who have issues with overpronation. When you heel strike, you over stride the heel and hit the ground in front of the centre of gravity with a lot of impact force. As the heel is a hard bone, it doesn’t absorb any of the shock and there is a big breaking force, which compresses the arch. If the foot isn’t strong enough the arch doesn’t re-shape quick enough, and the runner pushes off from the inside of the foot. When you land midfoot your foot is usually nearer to your centre of gravity when it touches the floor. This means there is less force for your foot to deal with and your feet can spread to absorb the shock and stabilise you. The force is now loading the spring on the bottom of your foot (planta fascia). As the Altra Provision 8 is zero drop, it helps promote a more midfoot landing because there is no protruding higher heel to catch the ground. Plus the shoe isn’t stiff through the midfoot to promote a heel first landing. The midsole at the heel of the shoe also cradles the heel of your foot if you do still land towards the rear of your foot.
The Provision 8 has a guide rail that runs around the shoe just above the midsole. This is a firmer piece of EVA that doesn’t compress when the foot rolls against it. Crucially the Provision 8 is flexible through the midfoot with a broad rounded toe box to all the feet to spread on impact and function inside the shoes. This means that over time your feet will get stronger as they have been able to work while running.
Altra Ego Midsole
The midsole of the Altra Provision 8 has a 28mm stack height and is made from Altra Ego. This isn’t super-soft, so it doesn’t compress a lot when force is applied, which also reduces pronation and gives the foot more stimulation to function inside the shoes. This leads to a quicker cadence, reducing pronation and makes the runner lighter on their feet. This also promotes a more upright posture which helps you run using all the muscles of the body, spreading the impact stress and effort of running. Stiffer, narrower running shoes with a high heel to forefoot drop encourage runners to lean forward at the waist and push themselves forward rather than springing along.
Heel, Tongue & Upper
Whilst there is no plastic in the heel cup, it is still stiff and supportive, holding the foot. The cuff and heel cup are nicely padded with a smooth plush finish. This adds to the nice step-in feel of the Provision 8. The laces thread through a tab on the tongue to prevent the tongue from slipping to the side when running. The tongue itself has a nice level of padding. The laces also pass through tapes that are secured at the base of the shoe. When pulled the upper is then pulled around the foot to give a secure and comfortable fit. The toe box is nice and spacious with more width and volume than the Provision 7. It feels a lot more like one of the original Altra shoes in fit and feel. From personnel recollection I would say that the ride and flexibility of the Provision 8 make it feel very similar to the old Altra Instinct 3.
Roomy Foot Shape
Altra have three different lasts aka “a mechanical form shaped like a human foot”. The ‘Original’ used on the Lone Peak and Olympus has the most volume and width. The ‘Standard’ is not as roomy as ‘Original’ but would still feel roomy in comparison to a traditional pointed toe box brand. The ‘Slim’ last is narrower and very similar in width to other running shoe brands, but still has a more rounded toe box. The Altra Provision 8 is made on the Standard last but in my experience feels roomier than other on the same last. If you prefer shoes that use Altra’s Original last, these would still be worth a try.
The Provision 8 has Altra’s FootPod outsole. This is designed to put durable rubber where it is required but still allow the midsole to flex so that your foot can function. In my experience this gives you a great feel for your posture and pace.
The Women’s Provision 8 weights 234 grams in a women’s UK6.5 and 289g in a men’s UK9.5.
Neutral Yet Supportive?
As the Altra Provision 8 uses a GuideRail roll bar to provide anti-pronation support, they can actually be worn by runners who don’t need the support. This is because the support only helps you if you roll against it. I don’t need anti-pronation support and have loved running in these shoes. They have a very natural feel and you can feel your foot functioning in the shoes. It felt great in all my review miles and makes you want to wear them again the next day. It is worth noting that as Altra running shoes allow your feet, ankles and lower legs to function more than they would in stiffer, narrower running shoes or running shoes with a rocker or a high heel to forefoot drop it is best to gradually build up the time you spend in the shoes, alternating with your current shoes. This way you are less likely to overload muscles and tendons that haven’t been used for a while.
The natural way that you run in the Altra Provision 8 makes you more in control of your pace. You can run slowly as required for a recovery run and the shoes don’t push you forward or urge you to run faster like a rocker will do. At the same time, you can pick up the pace and the flex of the midsole and responsiveness of the foam allows you to effortlessly move quicker. The lack of heel (and potential breaking force) is particularly evident when running downhill. Your cadence naturally speeds up and I found myself flying down the hills in the same carefree way that I did as a kid! Although this feeling is still there in other Altra running shoes, if they have a thicker midsole then you don’t feel it as much. You don’t get the same spring from your feet.
Summary
If you like the Altra Lone Peak for example, you may really enjoy these on the road. The Altra Provision 8 is an everyday road running shoe that offers some overpronation support but can also be worn by neutral runners. The fit is very spacious with a broad rounded toe box and plenty of room for your feet to spread and wiggle in the shoes. The natural ride makes them versatile enough for slow and comfortable everyday running and yet felt great during faster runs. 0mm drop and the roomy toe box are fantastic at promoting foot function and better overall running form. You’ll only find the Provision 8 at certain specialists.
Other Considerations
Topo Ultrafly 4: A similar broad rounded toe box but not quite as much volume. Stiffer through the midfoot which gives it a more supportive feel to takes away some of the foot function and natural ride. 5mm heel to forefoot drop promotes a more midfoot landing. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-ultrafly-4-review/
Hoka Arahi 7: A much more pointed toe box and a narrower fit. Softer feel to the cushioning. Rocker rolls you forward. So, the ride isn’t as natural, and the shoe does some of the work for you. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-arahi-7-review/
Altra Paradigm 7: Feels more stable with a higher level of cushioning. The midsole isn’t as flexible which takes away some of the natural feel but the zero drop platform does allow you to run with good posture and your feet to function. Available in two widths in the men’s one width in the women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-paradigm-7-review/
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23: 12mm heel to forefoot makes these much more of a heel strikers’ shoe. Available in three width Men’s and two width Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-adrenaline-gts-23-review/
Karhu Ikoni: Slightly softer ride. Similarly flexible with a straight big toe line although not as much volume in the toe box. The Karhu Fulcrum provides some propulsion but encourages good form rather than a rocker that you tend to ‘ride’ rather than pick your feet up. https://www.northernrunner.com/karhu-m89#t245:sort4
New Balance 860v13 : 10 mm heel to forefoot available in three width men’s and three width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-860v12-review/
Comments are closed here.