Altra Zero Drop footwear commercial
- Thread starter PatrickGSR94
- Start date
So I'm pretty stoked. Per my prior comment about their 'stability wedge,' my friendly neighborhood LRS guy has a pair of provisions and doesn't use them for running. He gave me his stability wedges to experiment with. It may make a great morton's toe/elevated first met solution (i'll post pics of it if I get un-lazy sometime soon).
I love that in this forum on this site people can be objective and understand things. Altra doesn't claim to be minimalist and they'd never go the "as good as barefoot" route. What they've striven for is what was said in this thread already. They want to offer the wide world of runners a more natural option without making them jump all the way down to nothing or next to nothing. The idea is to give them a flat platform and a foot shape toe box that allows the foot and lower leg to strengthen instead of being stuffed in a brace that looks like a shoe. It's not as good as going bare by any means in terms of strengthening but it is definitely something that the average runner will benefit from.
As for the stability, it was a tough pill for me to swallow, but they took a route to achieve it that no one else has and it's pretty cool. The wedge is soft and flexible instead of being a hard chunk of posting in the sole of the shoe. The idea is that it gives the foot a slight lift outward so it receives an early impact signal which causes the foot and lower leg to activate so they are more stable but are also developing the strength to stabilize on their own. The point of that shoe is to help people who are maybe too heavy or just too weak to control the joints through proper muscle stability so they can run and get better and eventually ditch the wedge. I've used this with some of my heavier runners and they have all either transitioned out of the wedge or are getting close to it. I hate stability but I am all for this shoe because it offers some help in order to get people to a place where they don't need it anymore. Also when you take the wedge out it's just a flat shoe.
Nick if you want a more minimal option Altra has those too. The Adam and Samson are the minimal shoes in their line up. Adam can go as thin as 3.4 mm and Samson bottoms out at 7mm thick. Both come with a 3mm insole. Also the Instinct is 22mm thick with the standard insole in so you are correct. It's 19mm with the flat strengthening insole and only about 16mm with none of the insoles in. It's kinda versatile that way.
As for the stability, it was a tough pill for me to swallow, but they took a route to achieve it that no one else has and it's pretty cool. The wedge is soft and flexible instead of being a hard chunk of posting in the sole of the shoe. The idea is that it gives the foot a slight lift outward so it receives an early impact signal which causes the foot and lower leg to activate so they are more stable but are also developing the strength to stabilize on their own. The point of that shoe is to help people who are maybe too heavy or just too weak to control the joints through proper muscle stability so they can run and get better and eventually ditch the wedge. I've used this with some of my heavier runners and they have all either transitioned out of the wedge or are getting close to it. I hate stability but I am all for this shoe because it offers some help in order to get people to a place where they don't need it anymore. Also when you take the wedge out it's just a flat shoe.
Nick if you want a more minimal option Altra has those too. The Adam and Samson are the minimal shoes in their line up. Adam can go as thin as 3.4 mm and Samson bottoms out at 7mm thick. Both come with a 3mm insole. Also the Instinct is 22mm thick with the standard insole in so you are correct. It's 19mm with the flat strengthening insole and only about 16mm with none of the insoles in. It's kinda versatile that way.
I don't have a knee-jerk reaction to it, but I think it is misleading at a minimum. I think the reason some people take offense to it, is because it diminishes what those of us that actually run skin to road/trail/whatever. It is like when someone would come up to me after finding out that I had been in the Marine Corps and tell me how they almost went in and actually went to a Delayed Entry Program event and that somehow put them on the same level of acheivement as myself. I don't need to flaunt my service and I don't need to flaunt my barefoot running, but I don't appreciate people comparing themselves to me when I have put a lot of hard work into something. Running minimal has challenges all its own. They should be embracing those. But enough of my ranting on that...
As for the shoes. Should I ever decide to get another pair, I might consider these. It is hard to believe...I honestly can't remember the last time I bought running shoes. I think it was almost two years ago now, but I'm not sure. I bought a pair of VFFs in April '10. I transitioned to BF in March '11. I think I bought my last pair of running shoes somewhere between those two dates. At any rate, I have a pair of Pearl Izumi Peak IIs that are in great shape...haha. I got them before I even knew what "minimalist" was. A coworker asked me shortly after I got them (while we were walking Sabino Canyon), "Are those your new shoes?" I replied they were. "Your ankles are seriously pronating in those." I told her that I knew that and that was why I got them. I was abandoning artificial support and allowing my body to do what it naturally should be doing. LOL. So believe it or not, I do read your guys' reviews of these things...haha.
As for the shoes. Should I ever decide to get another pair, I might consider these. It is hard to believe...I honestly can't remember the last time I bought running shoes. I think it was almost two years ago now, but I'm not sure. I bought a pair of VFFs in April '10. I transitioned to BF in March '11. I think I bought my last pair of running shoes somewhere between those two dates. At any rate, I have a pair of Pearl Izumi Peak IIs that are in great shape...haha. I got them before I even knew what "minimalist" was. A coworker asked me shortly after I got them (while we were walking Sabino Canyon), "Are those your new shoes?" I replied they were. "Your ankles are seriously pronating in those." I told her that I knew that and that was why I got them. I was abandoning artificial support and allowing my body to do what it naturally should be doing. LOL. So believe it or not, I do read your guys' reviews of these things...haha.
I was watching TV with my husband today, and this Altra commercial came on, and he told me "You should get some of those." After all my explaining of why I'm running barefoot and wearing huaraches and truly minimalist shoes (Soft Stars), I had hoped he'd have this figured out by now. 
Jimmy, since you're on this thread have a couple questions...In my Instinct 1.5's it looks to me like the strengthen footbed is actually thicker than the contoured footbed that was 'preloaded' in the shoe. Is this imagination playing tricks? I haven't found my calipers to nerd out on it yet.
Second, I've noticed a bit of a pressure point on the lateral side of the right shoe (no issue on the left). Any of your Altra runners mention such? I think it's a materials thing, where the liner stuff is getting bunched at a seam..
Second, I've noticed a bit of a pressure point on the lateral side of the right shoe (no issue on the left). Any of your Altra runners mention such? I think it's a materials thing, where the liner stuff is getting bunched at a seam..
The strengthen footbed is thinner. If yours is thicker then I'm very surprised. The appearance makes sense because the strengthen foot bed is flat with flat edges and the support foot bed is contoured and thinned at the edges. The lateral pain is not a common issue and I think if you're inner liner got bunched up then your pair has an issue there. The liner should be smooth and flat so you can comfortably go sock less.
Devilnuts I give all the respect in the world to your thoughts and I agree with you. The point of that statement in the commercial is explained by the info the lady gives directly after it which is that Altra gives you a responsive ride because we use a composite rubber called A-Bound in the mid-sole that does a great job of accepting your energy and not being springy while doing it. You aren't "feeling" the ground as if you are bare but you get a better impact response because of the A-Bound that you do in other shoes whose soles are just EVA and blown rubber outsole. I understand the issue with the statement but I also think it's being a bit misunderstood.
Devilnuts I give all the respect in the world to your thoughts and I agree with you. The point of that statement in the commercial is explained by the info the lady gives directly after it which is that Altra gives you a responsive ride because we use a composite rubber called A-Bound in the mid-sole that does a great job of accepting your energy and not being springy while doing it. You aren't "feeling" the ground as if you are bare but you get a better impact response because of the A-Bound that you do in other shoes whose soles are just EVA and blown rubber outsole. I understand the issue with the statement but I also think it's being a bit misunderstood.
Thanks Jimmy. I figured out the issue on my run today. I have a little too much room in the rear half of the shoe; I was 'floating' a bit and then shifting around through my gait. this was making me 'thump' the footbed a bit when I would get sloppy with my stride. smoother running and a thicker sock should help.
As to the 'ground feel-gate' I like the way you explained it Jimmy. It is decidedly better than any conventional running shoe, but makes no bones about being a full on shoe. I can feel exactly what you describe, and couldn't have put it better myself.
I am and remain an Altramaniac!
As to the 'ground feel-gate' I like the way you explained it Jimmy. It is decidedly better than any conventional running shoe, but makes no bones about being a full on shoe. I can feel exactly what you describe, and couldn't have put it better myself.
I am and remain an Altramaniac!
Lomad try a runner's loop to see if that helps with the slip in the rear of the shoe. The shoe is designed to pull the heel in and tighten it down through the tightness of the laces. The best way to snug up the heel without putting pressure on the top of the foot is to use the runner's loop, which is purpose driven design, on our shoes.
Hey Jimmy, is there a shortage of Altra footwear at the moment? No online retailer seems to have the Instinct 1.5 or original(black) in size 10.5
Any chance you could hook a fella from Australia up with a pair of each?
Any chance you could hook a fella from Australia up with a pair of each?
I use the ankle lock already and it helps some. It's not heel slip, I don't think. I noticed it yesterday because I had put my met dome back in my shoe, as I often do for runs over 5 miles to help my metatarsalgia-like achiness. That shoe didn't move around, but the other did. It's more in the rear part of the middle. I have duckfeet (wide at the forefoot and freakishly narrow at the heel) which makes for fit issues in every. shoe. I've ever worn and a big reason I went to barefoot in the first place. I have a firm molefoam like pad I use for taking up volume sometimes that I'll use to help out. I've figured it out with every other shoe i've worn, I was just hoping the Altras wouldn't need it. It is more noticeable in the Lone Peaks than the Instinct 1.5's, for sure.
Yes sir I can. I personally don't have those sitting around the house but check out my good friends at www.naturalrunningstore.com They have both options in stock and they ship international. I know we've been working on Australian distribution this year but have no idea where we are with it. Until then you can't go wrong with NRS.
Probably not going to be something any shoe company will fix for you for a couple of reasons. 1. nearly every shoe is made on a last to fit a man's heel. The average guy has a rectangular shape to his foot so heel cups are bigger. our women's shoes have a narrower heel because they are designed to fit the triangular shape of a woman's foot. 2. If the forefoot is made wider/foot shaped then the heel can't come in too much without making the shoe force the foot into a compromised position. I think the best fit we have come up with is on our performance line which currently is being represented by Superior.
Alas the NRS doesn't seem to have stock in 10.5 in either shoe right now. That's the main reason I posted here. They also don't seem keen to answer emails as I've emailed 3 times now asking when they might have them back in stock and received no reply.
As for Australian distribution, I refuse to support Australian importers that jack up the prices to ridiculous levels. If I can purchase a single pair, at full retail and have them posted to Australia for 2/3 the price the Australian importer charges when they are buying in bulk at wholesale prices, that tells me they are ripping us off just like they always seem to do. They have to learn the world is changing and Australians are no longer held hostage to their blatant greed.
/end rant!
For sure. I know I have an odd foot for a dude (Pirate inbound with a 'ladyfeet' comment in 3...2...1...) and don't expect mass manufacturers to adjust to me. I've gotten pretty good at assessing and adjusting shes to work for me, and the Altras offer so much more for my needs in too many other areas to get snippy over what is really a minor fit issue. I really have become a fan of the shoes and the company. I'll have to try the Superiors on for sure to see the fit difference. That performance fit sounds like the business for me!
That is crazy and I had no idea they jack you up that high. I'm shocked to hear that the NRS is both out and not answering emails. I know the people over there personally and they are usually really good at getting people taken care of. I did however just go to their site and it let me check out to purchase a pair of 1.5's in size 10.5. Maybe they got some in.
I've found them very good in the past myself so was a little amazed at the lack of response. Thanks for the info, I will go check them out again. Maybe it's something to do with being OS.
NickW
Guest
Tim and Jimmy, I just bought the Instinct 1.5's, and I L.O.V.E. them so far! They fit my wide flat feet great! They are thick and heavy, but I think they will be great every day wear kind of shoes and runs when my feet are tired or sore from running in sandals or barefoot. I won't run in them till Monday, but if they feel as good running as they did when running in the store then they will fit the bill perfectly for me. Tim, I would never have tried them on if it wasn't for you telling me how much you liked them, thank you! I had gone into Fit Right NW to try on the Skora Base (which felt extremely unstable) and came away with the Altra's. I love the blue and grey color of this pair, not so flashy and doesn't call attention to my feet.
Sweet! I really do like them, Nick. I haven't fallen in love with the Lone Peaks the way I have the Instinct 1.5's, that's for sure. I got the flashier red/orange ones, and I honestly wish they were brighter. I may have to add orange laces or something, 'cuz, damn, I love flashy shoes, lol! my few quibbles are the weight (would love a bit lighter, may look into minimus 0's for that since they fit my foot well), and a couple lumpy seams on the inside (but those are mushing down with wear and not much of a issue).
I should be fair to the 'Peaks, though. They did get me through the half with no issues; they just aren't as well fitted to me as the Instincts. I've been told the Superiors off a much more, er..superior fit*
*punny word choice could not be avoided.
I should be fair to the 'Peaks, though. They did get me through the half with no issues; they just aren't as well fitted to me as the Instincts. I've been told the Superiors off a much more, er..superior fit*
*punny word choice could not be avoided.
NickW
Guest
I also am not wild about the weight of these Tim, but they could definitely be worse. One thing I notice when walking and standing in these is that the feel like the have a toe-to-heel drop, or reverse heel drop. It's a weird feeling. Feels almost like my toes are higher up than my heel. I also notice that the heel is kinda loose unless I wear the shoes pretty tight, not a giant fan of that, but that's really a very minor thing. Wish that the heel stayed on my heel like my NB MR1400 instead of sliding up and down slightly. Looking forward to running in these tomorrow and testing them out. I will also be bringing my sandals just in case. I get nervous sometimes wearing new shoes on runs.
