ALTRA Men's Escalante 3 Road Running Shoe

I have back pain issues, but these shoes don't aggravate my back when walking. The flat sole makes you run a specific way, not landing on heal, but I'm trying to run that way more, so it's good for me.

I’ve been wearing Altra Escalante running shoes for several years now, and they’ve become my go-to choice for zero-drop shoes. I used to run in barefoot-style shoes like Vibrams but eventually wanted something with a bit more cushioning and support. The Escalantes strike a great balance—they’re lightweight, extremely comfortable, and they hold up well. I typically get around 400-500 miles out of each pair before needing a replacement.The only downside is that Altra releases a new version every year or two. While the updates are usually minor, I’ve liked each version so far. However, they can be pretty expensive, especially when the latest model comes out. Despite that, I keep coming back to them because they consistently deliver the comfort and performance I’m looking for.

Ugly laces. Going to put in the ones from my older ones. I hope they hold up. First ones ( version 2 I think) the cloth inside the heal wore and some of the colored sole inserts came lose while the cushioning and rest were still fine. Going to zero lift and wide toe was a life changer for me.

These are really great shoes. Comfortable. Wide toe box. Stylish. What more could you ask for.

Second pair of escalantes. These have a bit thicker upper than my first pair, same wide toe box. Low stack is nice and responsive but the material does well with shock. More cushion than expected for thickness.

I LOVE Altra’s!!! I have been a Brooks, Hoka, ASICS girl my whole life. Altra’s have changed that! I love the roomy toe box! They are comfortable, and my feet don’t hurt after being on them 12 hours at a time!

The Escalante 3 is a much superior running/racewalking shoe compared to the Escalante 4. I found three pair on sale online and bot them up as there will be no more 3’s. The 3 is a little lighter, has a smaller heel stack and much more support. I have 4’s nowbut won’t buy any more. love the 3’s!

After a few runs in these shoes, a small fiber poked up out of the sole. That tiny fiber now jabs into my foot with each step. This is a product defect. The shoes are useless, I can't even cut grass in them.(Yes, it did take me more than 30 days to do a few runs in these shoes.)I am outside of Amazon's return window, so they will not help me. I am within the warranty time window for Altra. BUT, the "Altra Store" on Amazon is an unauthorized Altra retailer. Altra denied my warranty claim for that reason.Each time I try to reach a person at Amazon, I can only get automated responses saying that I must resolve this directly with the manufacturer. Then Altra tells me the warranty is no good. In the words of Greg Focker, "Round and round we go, Jack!"If you are considering buying Altra shoes from this "official" Altra store on Amazon, beware that it is not official at all. You better try to break these shoes in the first 30 days if you want any hope of Amazon helping you.Amazon should make it more clear that this is not an authorized retailer page. I am disappointed in Amazon's customer service with this item. I can't even get a person to hear me out.