Summer Running Shoe Guide:
Must like the hydration gear from a previous post, these are shoes that I had bought to train in during the summer break and for the next couple of years. These are my opinions on the ride, durability, and the overall performance on the shoes that I have bought and used. Opposing viewpoints, please leave comments below. Like my opnions? Subscribe to my emails. One a month you will receive race reports, gear reviews, and other stories that relate to running at 36 with kids. (There are also chances to win things along the way.)
My shoe review is based on the ability to perform in the terrain it is meant to be in. Example: the King Mt. are shoes that should perform well in a trail setting, where the Solstice should be more of a street shoe. I have graded these shoes based on how I feel they have performed in these different locations, races I have used them in, and the comfort I felt during and after a race. These numbers are my personal opinion.
I will say, I am an Altra running fan and I have liked just about every shoe they have put out. When I buy new shoes I buy in bulk and one different shoe for the different terrains I will be running. I always keep three shoes on hand; one long distance for road, a speed shoe for road, and a durable trail shoe. Altra has every type of shoe you would need for whatever type of race you are doing. I am not affiliated with Altra in any way, I just really think they put out a great product. I am hoping in the upcoming years they continue to grow in all terrains and not just focus on their new connection with Spartan racing.
Altra Running Shoe:
Altra Solstice Orange 8/10
The Solstice is a shoe by Altra that is considered a zero drop shoe. The connection to the pavement is something you can feel almost right away. I bought these shoes for a multiple of different reasons; they were finally on sale, they are Altra which have that lovely wide toe box, and they are usually great for long distance running. The shoes are a very light weight and a great design for a distance shoe. The grip on the pavement is exceptional and just feels like a great running shoe as you are running in them.
I have put on many miles, close to 400 miles, on these shoes for the year. Throughout that time I have mainly used them on roads and neighborhoods. These look like an ordinary street shoe, but have the twist of that wide toe box. I realized last year I needed something more for my toes as I am a conventional toe runner, and I kept smashing my Greek toe in the front of the shoe. I tried Altras because of that reason to start with, but felt the connection to, not only the wide toe box, but the overall ride of the shoe.
These are minimal cushioning and zero drop, so there really isn’t a whole lot there to have on your feet. I have a barefoot running friend that has heard how Altra shoes really feel like barefoot running. Seeing how I am barefoot most of the time I thought I would give them a try. Their first big test was a ½ marathon in Delaware, an easy course with no off road running. I felt my feet start to ache around mile 11, but it wasn’t anything that was to concerning. When I finished the race I didn’t have that uncomfortable feeling that I needed these shoes off right away. In fact, I felt like I could keep running in these shoes. The zero drop felt great on the road, I felt every pebble but didn’t hurt.
The only downside of these shoes in a strap they put to hug your foot while running. They are a barefoot running shoe, but this band that hugs the side of your foot rubs you raw if you don’t wear socks. As a rule I don’t usually wear socks while running on the road. I find it more comfortable and easier to breath in the shoes. It took some time and a nice callus on my foot to be able to do that. Even now, when I am running with or without socks, I can feel the band pushing on the side of my foot. The ride of the shoe feels so much nicer when I am wearing socks than without. I have thought about cutting out that band, but I wouldn’t want to ruin the shoes I have grown to love.
The final test of these shoes came in the beginning of the summer. I ran my first marathon (I have done many ultras, so this is kind of a joke between my running friends) PennyPack park. I decided to run in these to see how they would feel in a longer race. Turns out, they were perfect. I loved the feel, I didn’t have an issue throughout the whole thing, but the second loop was painful in the sense that I felt every rock and at that time of the race, I really didn’t want to feel anything.
Pros:
Lightweight
A great ride for almost any length of race
Zero drop for speed and barefoot running
Wide toe box
Cons:
The foot band…I don’t know the technical term, but it hurts without socks
Know your feet…don’t overdo it with distance, the barefoot can start to hurt
Altra King Mt. Black/Red 7/10
I want to defend my rating of this shoe, as I know a lot of people really like this shoe. The King Mt. shoe is wonderful for trail running. I have used this shoe for 3 50ks and two shorter distance OCR’s. The rating would be much higher had I NOT used them for OCR racing. Let me explain.
This review will have two separate sections, the first for trail racing and the second for OCR racing. I bought the King Mt. shoes for trail racing this summer. My older ones were hurting my feet and just becoming very uncomfortable for the events I was doing. They even developed a small hole. It was time to get a new pair. With the Dirty German endurance fest in mind, I bought the King Mt. The ride of these shoes was perfect for the terrain of Penny Pack Park. Most of the race consists of trails in the woods with rocks, twigs, and mud. A really fun race! The Velcro on the top helps the top of the foot feel really secure and the nubs on the bottle help to grip the ground as you go. The added bonus of the gaiter grip on the front and the back helped all the mud and water basically stay out and my feet were dry. I have since used these shoes three more times and have loved my experiences with them. The wide toe box helped with toe nail loss and discomfort of my feet during and after the race. Simply put, if this is a shoe you were going to use just for trail racing, then I would say 10/10. In this instance, I am not just a trail runner, but also an OCR racer.
The second reason I bought the King Mt. was for OCR racing. I saw a few of the athletes using these shoes and saying how much they loved them. I took their word for it and bought them. I noticed the nubs on the bottom were a bit bigger than what I was used to, but I knew that would come in handy for regular trail racing. Altra had just been picked up by Spartan Racing, so I assumed the added bonus of being a racing shoe for OCR as well. My first test was the NJ ultra beast. 50k up and down the mountains of upstate NJ, what a way to test them out. The beginning of the first lap was fine as the terrain was not really destroyed with people yet, but as the day went along and the trails became more traveled, I could feel a difference. I had zero to no grip on some of the rocks on the ground, carrying heavy objects made it almost impossible to cross logs or not slipping on rocks, and the wood obstacles were almost impossible to have any grip on. Needless to say, I took them off for the second loop and fared much better. The second OCR event was just recently, a really nice and woodsy event in NY, the Viking. I wore the Kings for the same reason I wore them at NJ Ultra, OCR grip shoes in the woods. Big mistake! The obstacles were extremely slippery from the rain and the mud from other runners and as we continued through the course it became evident at the hazards of a second lap. A log traverse was up and my shoes couldn’t find any grip. I fell roughly 5 feet and smashed my rip cage onto the log, breaking the log. I am still out of commission. I don’t blame the shoes 100%, I do however blame the lack of grip on the surface, when they are toted as gripping shoes.
Due to both of these events, I will only wear them for trail running from this point farther on. I think they are a wonderful shoe, and they feel great while running in them, but just pick your shoes wisely when on different terrains.
Pros:
Great for trail racing
A nice tight grip on your sole of your shoe and wife toe box
The Velcro holds your foot in place
The nubs are perfect for ground grips on a trail
Gaiter gripper
Cons:
Not the best shoe for OCR racing
Impulse Flash medium cushion shoe 10/10
There is so much good about this shoe. I will be candid, I have not run a race in these shoes yet, but I have put at least 35 miles on them since getting them last week. The impulse is a mid cushioning shoe. It just feels great when running for long distances. As a person that doesn’t usually go for the whole over the top cushion on your feet while running, I took a chance. The impulse is a reflective shoe that has everything that an Altra should have. The wide toe box is sounded by what feels like clouds as you run. There is not much I can say about that feeling, except it feels like clouds.
I went on my first run with these on a treadmill. Yeah, sacrilege I know, but I had to test them out in a controlled location first as I wasn’t sold yet. I tossed my shirt on the mileage and speed and just ran. Every time I stepped it felt comfortable and easy to continue on. I set out to run three miles, but ended up doing five without really feeling anything. My next was a five mile run that turned into a nine mile run. There was no pain, there was no rush to get the shoes off, it was just nice. The rest of the week into the next I kept pushing the limits of the shoes and have become a believer. Mid cushioning shoes are where it’s at. These shoes have made me reconsider a mid cushion shoe for my first 50miler. If these feel this good on a the road, I can only imagine how they feel on trail!
The impulse has this really cool design that reflects the light in the dark. I find this extremely wonderful as I tend to run at night or early in the morning. It shines so bright and makes it easy for cars to see you. Some of the area where I run in on roads without sidewalks, I get nervous when cars come near, but I will feel a bit more confident when I wear the impulse.
Pros:
The Mid Cushion feel is wonderful
The ride of these shoes is second to none that I have ever worn
LONG distance shoe at its finest
Reflective tech for nighttime running
Cons:
None so far…
Comments