Whereas, the Superior took a few miles to break in. When I first pulled the shoe on, it was pretty solid and encouraged forward motion with every step. But after 20km, the midsole softened, to the point where it’s the shoe I reach for any technical terrain (I just ran a 50km in them). Volume, Width, and sizing Race day is out of the question for me in the Superior 6. Sure, I love a lightweight racing flat, but not if it’s going to leave my legs absolutely toasted after every steep, fast, downhill section. There’s gotta be a little give there, and the Superior 6 just doesn’t have it.

One of those changes– and a big one at that– is the range of Footshapes that debuted in 2022, essentially different fits for different shoe models. Marketing translation: legacy Altra shoes look like clown shoes made for GORPers and they needed to make these things look good on the feet so people outside of running will buy them. In the past, the outsole on the Superior 5 started to break down at around 400km for me. That’s just not good enough. And it’s never had the best grip in the world. For us, this is all a net-positive, but the changes have been a bit of a thorn in the side of hardcore Altra fans who have been collecting Kool-Aid cult points since the beginning. To which we say: even Bob Dylan went electric. In this post, I’ll dive into all the details on each expected Altra release for 2023, with release dates and prices.Over the past few years, shoemakers have poured resources into developing newer and better cushioning foams, and Altra is no exception. The company uses three main cushioning materials in its shoes: Ego, Ego Max, and Ego Pro. (Quantic, another cushioning material the brand developed, is being phased out.) If you’re coming from a traditional shoe, you’ll likely not feel much difference here. But if you’ve been an Altra fan in the past, it’s something to take note of. Similarities I suppose you might classify me as part of the Altra cult (Caltra). I’ve basically bought nothing about altras for the last 6 years that I’ve been running regularly. I’ve tried other brands (new balance, brooks, saucony, hoka) but nothing ever felt as great as Altras. I won’t lie and say that it was love at first sight with Altra. My first shoe was the provision 3.0 reccomended by a local running store after a gait analysis. It was the ugliest shoe that I had ever seen, the toes looked like a clown shoe and I had zero idea what zero drop even meant or why it mattered. Little did I know at that time that it was the magical formula that would keep me running in comfort for years. Shallower flex grooves create a stiffer shoe. In past iterations of the Rivera, deep flex grooves created a flexible shoe promoting good foot mechanics. In version 3, we’re seeing a reduction in flex groove depth, meaning it’s stiffer. I’m disappointed because it’s another step away from natural barefoot motion. Conclusion The protection offered by the Altra Superior 6 exceeded my expectations for a lightweight and minimally cushioned shoe. There are other trail shoes that will provide more protection to your feet, but none that I know of are as lightweight, comfortable, and responsive as the Superior 6.

I feel like the differences in foams are usually overhyped, but in these two cases, there’s still a difference to be felt. The mesh upper of the Superior 6 is reinforced around the toe cap and heel to provide a bit of extra protection where it’s often needed on the trail. Altra Lone Peak 7: If you want a shoe that offers a bit more underfoot for longer runs but, still has room for foot function then these would be an option: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-lone-peak-7-review-2/ Now we know where the shoes differ, let’s look at the similarities. Overall, I feel the shoes have the same DNA. And if you’re comfortable in one, then the other will “feel” like the same type of shoe, with a couple of unique features. Flexibility and Structure The upper is made in the same pattern as the previous version. There is no plastic in the heel cup, so it can mould to the shape of your heel. The tongue is an integral part of the upper, burrito style, that wraps around the foot. This reduces the chance of any debris getting into the shoes and gives a really nice fit, making the shoes feel like an integral part of your foot rather than a bulky shoe that feels ‘strapped on’. The toe cap is a bit harder than on the Superior 5, which offers more protection.We’ll see much of the same with the Superior 6, which is great! It’s a fantastic shoe for a barefoot runner looking for a race shoe or a little more cushion for descents. The Altra Superior 5 is a shoe best suited for runners who want a fast and light shoe that offers great traction and a strong sense of connection with the trail. Who should NOT buy the Superior 5 Both shoes fit similarly in length, with the Superior allowing a few extra mm at the toes, but the differences come down to the width and depth. Scott Supertrac RC 2: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-rc-2-0-review-trail-fell-running-shoes/