Altra Superior 6 Trail Running Shoes - AW23

Product Information

Neither of these are minimal shoes. They both hold far too much cushion to be given that name, but in many other aspects, they are close to a barefoot feel. 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. You need to be comfortable with your feet doing the work! If there is one thing we’re passionate about at Barefoot Run Review, it’s foot function. Most modern shoes don’t allow your foot to move, let alone contribute to the running gait. The Superior’s do allow your feet to work! The shoe is flexible enough to feel your foot engage on toe-off and minimal enough that your calves will get a good workout. 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.

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. 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. Some runners prefer the narrower toe boxes of shoes like Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy. Lakota Gambill A Natural Take on Tech 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. 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 5After identifying the differences between the shoes, let’s now focus on their similarities. In general, both shoes share a common theme. If you find one of them comfortable, the other will have a similar feel, with a few distinct characteristics. Flexibility and Structure That said, if you loved the Paradigm in the past for either running or walking, the updates here are enough to offer improvement without changing the overall nature of the shoe. So we expect Paradigm fans to be pretty happy with this version. ALTRA RIVERA 3 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. In this post, I’ll dive into all the details on each expected Altra release for 2023, with release dates and prices. I feel like the differences in foams are usually overhyped, but in these two cases, there’s still a difference to be felt.

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. Updated material choices, and maybe losing to bulk? We’ll have to wait for the official figures, but I think the Superior 6 will come in just a tad under the weight of the 5. The upper materials look a little less bulky around the medial side, but if lighter, it will be by only a tiny amount. Conclusion For a trail running shoe, it is exceptionally light (8.8 oz/249g). Most trail shoes have an average weight of 10.4oz/296g.NOTABLE FEATURES: The Torin has no doubt been one of our favorite shoes in the Altra family for some time. For awhile, it was a very confusing shoe, as there was a half-numbering system and a plush and non-plush version, whatever that meant. Altra also makes all of their shoes with plenty of room in the toe box. If you’ve never ventured into “foot-shaped” running shoes, you’re in for a freeing treat!

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. 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/ 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 sizingScott Supertrac RC 2: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-rc-2-0-review-trail-fell-running-shoes/ The dynamic lace stays and super fat laces work well to cinch down the foot nicely. The tongue is integrated on one side and gusseted on the other providing a superlatively secure lace cage. NOTABLE FEATURES: When people say “Keep it simple, stupid,” they’re actually talking about the Altra Rivera. This is the most basic model in the Altra lineup (aside from maybe the Escalante), so its features are minimal, but it’s a shoe that embraces the roots of the brand. Except for the Slim Footshape, that’s more of a newer thing.