In summary the Superior 5 is as comfortable as the previous versions but, tweaked to make it better for longer runs than the previous version. Some runners prefer the narrower toe boxes of shoes like Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy. Lakota Gambill A Natural Take on Tech For a trail running shoe, it is exceptionally light (8.8 oz/249g). Most trail shoes have an average weight of 10.4oz/296g. ALEX: I have owned every version of the Altra Superior, and the improved fit and traction of this one takes it right to the top for me. It maintains the signature Superior attributes, including the FootShape comfort and 21 mm Balanced Cushioning platform. That’s it for the general factors of the Altra shoe line, so let’s break down the details of both the Altra Lone Peak and the Altra Superior.

The design of the outsole differs from the Lone Peak, but again it falls short. The outsole on the Superior is still decent, but not outstanding. The MaxTrac rubber has held up “ok” to +300km of abuse, and the level of grip is good enough. Considering the Superior is not trying to win the award of the best grip on the trail running scene, I’m happy with where it’s at.The tongue is solidly attached to one side of the upper and gusseted on the other. The combination results in a tongue that stays put the whole run. Well done Altra!

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 The feel of this lightweight trail racer is beyond comparison. I found my first few runs with the shoe to be similar to the childlike fun of sprinting through the forest. The tongue of the Superior 5 is fairly unique Dom: As ever, I feel obliged to caution that this is not a shoe for everyone. Altra may have made it more mainstream, but the Superior remains far from a mainstream shoe. It is light, soft, flexible, and provides only modest protection. The shoe is neutral and unsupportive. But in return you get a sublime trail feel and wonderful, natural running experience. Yes, it’s that good. Trista: "The upper is the first thing that I loved about the Superior 5. I have a high instep, and this shoe wraps perfectly around the top of my foot without any added pressure. It allows my foot to move freely while feeling secure and comfortably snug." As mentioned in our Superior 5 v Superior 4.5 comparison the Superior 5 has a broader base than the previous versions. This has changed the feel of the shoe. The Superior 5 feels less nimble than the Superior 4.5. The Superior 4.5 feel fast and ready to race. The Superior 5 is still a light responsive shoe but, it feels a little smoother and more cushioned. If I am doing hill reps, intervals or a tempo run then I find I am reaching for my Superior 4.5’s. If I am doing a longer run then the Superior 5 gives me the same level of foot function but, just feels that bit more comfortable after a few hours of running.Altra has three different fits. Original, Standard and Slim fit, with the original fit having the most width and volume. However, it’s worth trying different Altra styles in our experience because it’s not an exact science. For example, the Superior 6 is made in the Standard fit, the same as the previous versions, but in our experience it is as wide as the Lone Peak 7 on the Original fit. Brooks Catamount 2: Light and flexible for a Brooks shoe but, not as flexible as the Superior. So, you don’t get as much foot function. The feel for the ground is similar. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-catamount-2-review/ I think there’s a couple of reasons why. It is very light, very nice, and wide again; it is low profile and has a lower arch profile. Dom: The upper of the Superior v 4.0 was a fresh new voice that stood out from a cookie-cutter field. It was a striking, soft, slipper-like feel. In version 5, Altra have made minor functional improvements -- and a significant cosmetic upgrade -- while retaining the flexible, slipper-like feel.