My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Which model of Altra?
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Which model of Altra?
these guys
http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/mens-shoes/instinct-2
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Which model of Altra?
these guys
http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/mens-shoes/instinct-2
5mm drop difference is huge, especially if you’ve never run in a zero drop shoe. Are you simply buying shoes based on looks? Are you a forefoot runner? Did you just jump in to the altra without easing into a different type of shoes?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you probably need to take the shoes back and slap whomever sold them to you.
I use the Olympus and the Provision for pavement. The Lone Peak for trail running.
How would you describe your running style? (e.g., heel striker, mid-foot, fore foot)
If you are a mid-foot, fore foot striker, then the Altra should be an easier transition.
I have ran in Hokas too. The shoes were too narrow and feel less stable to me as compared to the Altras. Plus, I feel like the Hokas contributed to my PFPS in my right knee.
I don’t think I could ever go back to a “standard” toe box type shoe (it’s not just the width, but the shape of the Altra toe box).
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Which model of Altra?
these guys
http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/mens-shoes/instinct-2
5mm drop difference is huge, especially if you’ve never run in a zero drop shoe. Are you simply buying shoes based on looks? Are you a forefoot runner? Did you just jump in to the altra without easing into a different type of shoes?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you probably need to take the shoes back and slap whomever sold them to you.
Yes, I bought them because they were blue. I have been easing into them over a period of months, but mostly they sit in the closet because they bug my feet, so I used them for shorter runs or on the treadmill.
For me the attraction was the roomier forefoot area, overall they seem to have a nice flex and cushioning. I’m going to try using my hard orthotic with the factory insole just under the heel to shim them up a little and see how that feels for a while.
I use the Olympus and the Provision for pavement. The Lone Peak for trail running.
How would you describe your running style? (e.g., heel striker, mid-foot, fore foot)
If you are a mid-foot, fore foot striker, then the Altra should be an easier transition.
I have ran in Hokas too. The shoes were too narrow and feel less stable to me as compared to the Altras. Plus, I feel like the Hokas contributed to my PFPS in my right knee.
I don’t think I could ever go back to a “standard” toe box type shoe (it’s not just the width, but the shape of the Altra toe box).
I’m sort of a mid foot runner, but when the chips are down I go back to heel striking, according to my race pictures. I also have some of the very lightweight Altras that I bought for racing, but they are hibernating in the closet…
Hmmmm, sounds like you may want to check out some of the other brands that are dabbing a big toe in maximalist design and have wider sizes.
IMO, if you heel strike the Altra isn’t a good shoe for you.
Good Luck!
G
i want some flex, decent cushion and a wider toe box. I went to the running store and nothing really grabbed me, my arch is a bit fallen so my feet and kind of flattened out. I ran in those super duty Hokas for a while, but they seemed overly excessive.
I think mostly I heel strike when I’m tired, though my stride is nothing pretty going down the road either
The Altra Olympus checks the block with cushy factor and wide toe box. It’s designed as a trail shoe, though many including myself run it on pavement. Still zero drop, though.
Going from 5mm to 0mm drop is a significant change. Personally, I love the wide toebox of the Altras (never had problems with narrow toeboxes, but these just feel so much better) and tolerate the zero drop (6-8mm would be ideal for me). Try placing some gel heel wedges under the insole to create some drop and see if you like the shoes better.
Going from 5mm to 0mm drop is a significant change. Personally, I love the wide toebox of the Altras (never had problems with narrow toeboxes, but these just feel so much better) and tolerate the zero drop (6-8mm would be ideal for me). Try placing some gel heel wedges under the insole to create some drop and see if you like the shoes better.
i like that idea, thank you
I got a pair of Cliftons as a gift. Loved the idea and concept. Fit was terrible. Toebox is way too narrow. With slightly less cushion and a touch more offset, the Nike Lunar Glide fits perfect, wears well, and is cheaper. Very light too. The upper materials and finish on the Nike make HOKA and Altra look like amateurs. For the HOKA price you can get the Lunar Flyknit and get a shoe that’s lighter than the Clifton.
IMO. I think you might be asking the wrong question here. Rather than asking why this two minimalist shoes isnt working for you the way you would like, have you considered going back and reviewing your running history? If you were a Mizuno/asics/newbalance/etc user in the past that was wearing a heavy-weight shoe with a big drop- then you went to a low drop shoe in a short period of time, your body is likely not ready for the change. Some people aren’t candidates for a naturalist shoe, but even if you are a candidate- how long have you been subscribing to this idea?
I personally wear a low drop shoe, but I took 2 years to slowly adapt and I have seen faster/fitter/stronger runners that me take 3 years to adapt.
Sudden changes (that dont seem sudden- because many people think they can adapt in weeks) dont help more than hinder
-J
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Your feet hurt? Can you be a little more specific? Typically when someone moves to a zero drop shoe the calf muscles and achilles take a while to adapt so I am curious as to what discomfort you are experiencing.
i have problems with my one arch being fallen and the toe joint in pretty immobile, so perhaps this type of shoe just isn’t so good for me. I probobly ought not to be running on it so much either
i suspect you are right. I have been kind of half asses about how i phase them in, I’m not even sure if there is a benefit for me trying to run in the flat shoes. Mostly I wanted the wider toe box.
But why should 5mm be such a big deal, it’s like the thickness of an insole. I have the insole out of a shoe and stick in a hard half orthotic, that must jack up my heel by a lot more than a few mm, no?
I guess the inclination of a foot doctor is to say wrap the foot up in something very stiff to protect it, but then the shock has to get transmitted elsewhere, so over time I end up with other issues. Returing to running in my 50’s after 25 years of bike racing is a work in progress.
That doesn’t sound like so much of an issue with zero drop but maybe with the level of flexibility of the shoe (too much or too little) compared to other shoes you have tried. Altra does have a 30 day money back guarantee if it is not the right shoe for you.
The provision has more stability and arch than their other models which would be a good option. It sounds like it may be more of an arch issue and your toes getting used to the space. When I transitioned I pulled the entire insole out and replaced with some I found that had probably a 3-5mm drop with a bit of an arch. Worked great. I’ve worn just about all of their models but you really have to slowly break in your legs and feet. Typically your calves will tell you first if the zero drop is the issue. It is possible your toes are doing work now that they have room, getting a feel for the ground. When they are squashed they are squashed, now they can do what they were meant to do, work!
My feet are pretty messed up and I have been generally happy with the Hoka Clifton which has a 5mm drop. Only thing I don’t like is the forefoot is a little narrow.
So, I got a padded Altra shoe with 0 drop and it bugs that crap out of my feet. Is this just from the little 5mm difference? 5mm is not even an insole thickness.
I really want to like these shoes as they are nice and wide, but the just feel strange when I run in them, I can’t put my finger on it. Any insights?
Which model of Altra?
these guys
http://www.altrarunning.com/fitness/en/Altra/mens-shoes/instinct-2
See if you can try out the Asics 33-M. Has a 4mm drop and a wider toe box than Hoka. As for the flexible part…I think it’s more about what feels more fluid under your foot. My Conquests are the least flexible show I have when I run them through my flexometer (how easily the forefoot flexes in my hands), but they have the absolute smoothes transition through toe-off of all my shoes. Efficiency! I’m a lucky Conquest owner that doesn’t need the wider toe box and will even do my tempo intervals in Conquests over my Lunars now.