On the run, this really hurt the snappiness of the shoe, hindering its full potential during faster efforts. People also like the comfortable fit and size, which make these shoes perfect for long walks, easy hikes, and short trips. Cheng: This is personal taste, but I would have liked the EGO foam to be tuned a slight bit softer. Nevertheless, I am quite content with how the firmness of the platform becomes lively and bouncy at faster paces. The biggest gripe, however, is in the fit. In pursuit of mainstream customers, Altra shrunk the toe box with a more aggressive lateral taper. The results are not the best. Jacob: Low heel collar (similar to the Escalante) may feel too open/loose for some runners (I like the soft, unobtrusive hold. I’ll echo Kurt’s concern about durability—I didn’t get much over 300mi in the Escalante 1.5 because of the upper tearing at the crease lines and could imagine that happening with the Rivera. Altra is known for the zero drop from heel to toe, and it uses 28mm of foam for all three of their regular neutral offerings. However, where they all differ is in the feel of the foam, and how much protection the outsole gives.

The Rivera 2's upper has some give and wraps around the foot quite comfortably and securely. To top it off (literally and figuratively), the tongue is very generously padded at 7.9 mm! Many people like the fit and size of these shoes, which make them great and comfortable for all-day runs. The midsole of Altra Rivera 2 is equipped with Neutral Innerflex technology and Altra EGO foam, which make shoes lightweight and provide balanced cushioning that can enhance foot alignment and form. Altra Rivera 3 has a minimalist design with layered upper mesh for increased airflow along the shoes and speed foam knit upper construction for enhanced support and secure fit. Looking at the lab measurement, we were astonished - the Rivetra 2 is 2x more flexible than the average shoe! We needed as little force as 13.6N to bend the shoe, while the average force needed is 29.5N.Brian: The Rivera fits true to size with a medium width in the heel and arch and just a touch more room in the forefoot. (It doesn’t feel nearly as roomy as most Altra shoes, but there is room for the toes to wiggle and splay.) The Rivera’s step-in feel is soft, smooth and comfortable, and it oozes a light and agile performance-oriented vibe the moment you start running in it. Kurt: This has the least "Altra" ride of any of their shoes I have run. You will still notice it is zero-drop, but there is none of the harshness that many of their shoes have had. I loved the Torin line, but it was rarely something I used beyond 13 miles as it just left my feet and legs feeling beat up. I would agree with Brian that it feels like the DNA of many popular trainers have come together in this shoe. It has an excellent "pop" to it that outshines many of the other standard trainers. It's not quite up to the level of the Saucony Endorphin Speed, but still tons of fun. Kurt: My only concern is durability. Altra has estimated an average life of around 500 kilometers/310 miles. That is right about where I retired my old Torin 4’s, but I am hopeful that I can come in close to the 500 mile mark thanks to the historically great durability of the EGO midsole material. As the other reviewers note, the mesh is breathable—even a bit too cold for me in 20 F / -7 C temps. I like the fit and foothold of the upper and it is simple and functional.

Whether you’re in marathon training or hitting the trails, these are the best Altra running shoes for your run:Upper is surprisingly supportive and for sure comfortable for such as light extremely pliable and soft mesh Kurt Huebner is a senior at Cornell University who spends far more time thinking about running than studying. He has mainly focused on ultramarathon training for the last two years, with a 8:00:00 50 mile PB. Kurt is also a competitive nordic skier and will put on a race bib for just about any endurance sport, from snowshoeing to marathon canoeing. On the side, Kurt works at a local run specialty store. He has been averaging about 45 miles a week this winter. Altra’s innovative running shoes are designed to promote your natural gait whether you are pounding the pavement or traversing the trails. For some customers, laces are slippery and loosen as Rivera 2 but overall the shoes are perfect for daily runs but not more than 250 miles. This is due, in part, to the more suppressed toe box with the other factor being the rather plush upper.

Our caliper shows an average measurement of 98.6 mm in the widest part of the forefoot. However, the overall toebox volume provided our toes with enough wiggle room. Now you have an idea about both shoes, their price, size, weight and materials used. It is the time to go through the main differences between these two shoes: 1) Comfort Jacob: versatile, comfortable and secure fit, easy to run fast, smooth ride, simple design and feelNow we have a solid pad with a new rounded wrap of the outsole around the heel and a more continuous crash pad groove.