Natural foot shape shoes

[dancelnow]

Does anyone run in Altra’s or similar natural foot shape shoes? How’s the fit? I’m trying some and while I think I like the toe room, I think I'm between sizes (11-12) and can't decide if that's the issue or the need to adjust to spread toe and zero drop. Any transition stories?

[sadlebred]

I've worn them in the past. They fit wide/wide toe box but true to size. I don't wear shoes with a lot of support (I prefer flat shoes with no support or minimalist shoes), so it was easy for me to get used to them. I used them for fitness walking, not running.

[theoriginalbean]

I run in altras because my toe area is wide. I really like them, but I had also been running in zero drop before I switched to them.

[oswin]

I'd never heard of Altras before. I am intrigued. I always have trouble finding running shoes that fit me well, because I have very wide feet. My current running shoes are Brooks Adrenaline in Men's 9.5 2E. All of the other shoes I tried on at the local running store felt too narrow all along the outside of my foot from the base of the metatarsal particularly. I never really know what people mean when they say the toe box is wide - does that include the base metatarsal area? I feel like usually not.

[theoriginalbean]

Mar 8, 2019 11:04:13 GMT -5 oswin said:

I'd never heard of Altras before. I am intrigued. I always have trouble finding running shoes that fit me well, because I have very wide feet. My current running shoes are Brooks Adrenaline in Men's 9.5 2E. All of the other shoes I tried on at the local running store felt too narrow all along the outside of my foot from the base of the metatarsal particularly. I never really know what people mean when they say the toe box is wide - does that include the base metatarsal area? I feel like usually not.

I *think* the answer to your question is yes. I don't know if this helps at all, but these are my CF shoes and my running shoes (altras). The entire shoe is wider from arch to toe. The indent isn't as pronounced, which is great for me, because my feet are just wide everywhere.

[oswin]

theoriginalbean, cool, thanks! I may try to buy some trail shoes soon, I'll be sure to at least try on some Altras (in Men's and Women's).

[labbie]

I run in Topo Athletic- Ultrafly for road and just bought Ultraventures for trail.
Find them to be much more comfortable on my wider forefoot while still hugging me in the midfoot where I need it.
I wear the same size as in other running shoes (1 size larger than my street shoe size).
They are not zero drop, I think they are about 5mm but they have literally changed my (running) life.
I was in about an 8mm drop stability shoe with a custom orthotic, now I run just in the insert that comes with the shoe.

I'm going to be wearing the Ultraventures as a backpacking shoe as well.
Transition-wise, I did take it slow while building up mileage in them, noticed a bit of tightness in my calves at first but it was fairly quick to go away.
I want to be a Topo ambassador, love them. Wish they made shoes I could wear to work!

[dancelnow]

Thanks y'all. I think I'll use the 11's as my everyday shoe and the 12 for running. I wish they had an 11.5 because the 12 feels a tad too but especially when I start out (I really notice the bend at my toes).

I had my FI try them and they aren't wide enough for him at the midfoot. May be that they were women's sized so narrower, but they are definitely not as wide overall as a wide shoe.

[fuckyourcouch]

Mar 8, 2019 18:03:46 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

Thanks y'all. I think I'll use the 11's as my everyday shoe and the 12 for running. I wish they had an 11.5 because the 12 feels a tad too but especially when I start out (I really notice the bend at my toes).

I had my FI try them and they aren't wide enough for him at the midfoot. May be that they were women's sized so narrower, but they are definitely not as wide overall as a wide shoe.

Altra makes women’s foot specific shoes. So they shouldn’t fit him well.
It also depends a lot on which model.
I have very narrow feet, but have a pair of Escalante 1.5 in my rotation and love them.

[itsme]

I have a pair of Altras I was running in until they died out on me and started hurting my shins. They were true to size but it took some getting used to running with zero drop and such a wide toe box. I want to say a good week or two of running before I was completely comfortable in them.

[jane6672]

I like Altras (don’t remember which pair I have), though they are personally too squishy for me for running. I like them for walking or when I have to be on my feet.

For running I wear Merrell Vapor Gloves.

The wide toe box does take getting used to. I described it to my sister as “it feels like your toes are freeballing” lol.