The Racer 2 is a horrible update. The racer 1 was ok, I've ran thousands of kilometers in them. However it had one problem. It was a bit heavier than traditional lightweight trainers and way heavier than running flats. They were in fact the heaviest shoe in my rotation. They were heavier than my Asics Nooosa 14, which is ridiculous, given the noosa is a definitively non- minimalist shoe. However, the pros weighed out the cons. Zero drop and wide toe box, plus the flexibility was worth the extra weight. ....but here comes the racer 2. A slap in the face of all who loved the original racer. It is 249g in standard size. That is ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous

I usually wear pretty minamislist trainers but bought a pair of these for my longer road runs where I want a bit of cushioning. All the reviews said they fit true to size but I have the same issue with the mid and fore foot width. I find the outside of my foot spills over the side and my pinky toe gets cramped up against the upper too, which is the absolute worst thing for running long distance in. Really disappointed because I like everything else about the shoe. I considered buying another pair half a size up but over-long shoes is not ideal for running in. It's a shame that altra only offers the wider fit on a couple models, and even then there's rarely enough stock to service the demand for them. Back to vivo for me.

Just finished walking the Camino Norte and Primativo wearing Lone Peak 8s . Perfect for that job 850km no blister issues whatso ever. Comfortable and light. Using Merino socks.

They did change from the "standard" in the 3 back to the "original" last in the 4. Be aware though, the so called "original" is still nothing like what it was before the VFC acquisition. Just compare a 2.5 to the 4 and it will be obvious how much Altra changed. IMO the foot shaped thing is now mostly a gimmick. They don't offer any additional width or actual space for your toes than most other brands in a wide size. Before anyone responds, if your toes are even close to touching the front of your running shoes, then you are wearing a size that's much too small. And that's compared to Altra's widest late, which is the "original." It's the same as any other running shoe in 2E. I would say most NB have even more toe room in 2E than Altra does in their "original" last. If you are okay with an extra 2-3 mm of drop, which most folks literally won't even notice, I'd get a NB. It will likely cost less, last longer, fit better and be more comfortable. Sad but true. Topo is doing a much better job than Altra in this space these days. No doubt about it.

In terms of width how would you say this compares to Altra in the midfoot, specifically Originally shape or Wides (Torin/etc)

It's funny, because Altra claims that this is a return to the "Original" foot shape, but, especially given this different materials, it feels much tighter on my foot than the 2.5 or even the 3

I got the escalante 2.5 before and hated it because it felt too cushioned and unstable. Do you think this is more minimalist and firmer?

Love my Primus Trail SG’s!

I looked forward to receiving my Tolos but I now have a pair of shoes which are totally useless and will have to land in the trashcan. Customer service couldn't care less, so unprofessional, they even remove negative reviews from their website!!!

I don't care about the carbon plate, I just care if it fits. The regular Mont Blanc is too unstable and my foot rolls off the side easily, this looks like it might be better as it has the rubber around the toe box.

Thanks for the review. can't wait to see more.

Does the Racer 2 still have the same shape as the Racer 1 or did the toebox get more narrow?

What do they look like on feet?

Thanks for the review. I have 2 pairs of the Escalante 3s - those were the first Altras I owned. I actually enjoyed them.😅 I was considering getting the Racer 2, but based on this and your Escalante 4 reviews, I think I'll stick with 'real' minimal shoes. My current go-to is the Xero HFS II. I wear them for workouts, some easy runs and races. Ran my current HM PB on them. Any thoughts on which other Xero might make a good companion shoe? Also, requesting you to review some Xeros on your channel

Any thoughts on Escalante 4 vs Magnifly 5?

You listening to music while making this video? No? Then take the ear buds....

Très bonne revue , les miennes sont en commande... à suivre !

This shoe uses Altras OG last, which is their widest one. But here's the thing. take the insole out and compare it to any normal running shoe like a NB or even a Hoka. It's the same. it's no wider than a normal running in 2E. Nevermind that NB and some Hokas come in 4E which is clearly wider than any Altra in the toes. And they don't need that "foot shape" gimmick. And yes, Altras tend to run tighter in the heel but it's the midfoot that gives most folks issues with these poorly designed shoes. Almost everyone I've seen try on an Altra has the lateral side of their midfoot and going to the pinky toe hanging off the side of the shoe. Because they aren't designed right. the quality has also gone down big time since they got bought by VFC. I say all this as someone that owns 3 current generation Altra shoes. So just to be clear, Altra has 3 lasts. the OG which is used in this and the Via Olympus for road shoes. then they have "standard" which a bit more narrow that comes on shoes like the Torin, etc. Then they have another one that comes on the riveras, etc. that's even thinner still. "Foot shaped" is a lie and a gimmick, most folks feet don't fit well in any of their shoes. Running shoe brands LOVE marketing and gimmicks. You get all the clown shoe aesthetic with no extra benefit over any other running shoe with a low drop. That's just the truth. I will say that Altra does generally do a really good job of making stable shoes at least. better than many brands. But. they clearly don't have the talent or resources of other bigger brands and it shows with al ot of the very poor decision they make. The next version of this shoe will prob have 28 mm stack based on how it's going. Anyone remember like not that long when 28 mm stack was considered like.. not very minimal, more like maximal? idk what else to say. I would say, they need to fix their durability issues. quit skimping on materials VFC. Fix some of their silly design choices, stop radically changing everything all the time, constantly adding stack to every model, making every model the same shoe with a few differences, etc. make the shoes ACTUALLY shaped like a foot.

What Altra have been doing with toe box size is strange. The Lone Peak and the Olympus are super spacious to the point my foot can slip around in there. The recent models of the Superior are so shallow what my toes catch on the upper. The Timp was the only one with a sensible toe box volume, if they're changing that one too I can't understand what's Altra's audience anymore. Super-spacious shoes for hikers and super shallow shoes for short-distance runners.... where are the Ultra runners gonna go? Topo Athletic? Too bad, because I always wished for a Vibram Timp.

I love the Lone Peak 8 on the trails. For my road shoe, The Torin 7 is okay (had to go up half a size). But I really want to try out this shoe as a road running alternative. Keen to hear your review for the Altra Escalante Racer 2.

I just got those, but it looks like they are not wide enough for me. Also, from what i compared sizes 10 vs 11 they have the same insole width, so that's weird. Currently I'm waiting for the escalante racer 2, because according to runrepeat they should be wider. What is your experience? Also do you have any other WIDE recommendations?

What insole do you suggest to get some more depth? I tried these and my true to size felt a bit snug. I tried sizing up and then they were too long.

Great review! Compared to Rivera 4, what's the big difference above the more stack in Rivera? For style, in your opinion which is more suitable for everyday wear, Escalante 3, 4 or Rivera 4?

Just ran in them luv em , my knee which had been a bit sore was fine

i have printed out the template for the size 13 even though i am normally a mens 10.5 or 11, they are nowhere near as wide as I thought they would be

why did i just find this channel? Awesome reviews! I am very interested in this shoe but not sure what size to get for my 26.5 x 11.4 splay feet

Awesome review

It's unforgivable for the biggest barefoot company to make shoes that prevent outer toe splay. That should be the end of that discussion. It literally prevents you from having healthy feet. I get that they fit some people but most people struggle. Their shallow depth is also a problem. Why should so many people have to be forced to use them without the insole? Maybe you want it there, especially in the winter that you need to keep your feet warm. Plus it makes them duck beak shaped which looks goofy. They have the best designs and the best technologies, but the terrible last they use ruins both their looks and usability. But why even bother with those when the Mesa Trail is 100 times more comfortable, lighter, more flexible and cheaper.

So I printed out the size chart and size eu43 fit my forefoot and toes the best but it has 20mm extra in the front, do you think that is too much?

I tried these on today at REI. They feel better than my Olympus 5 Low Hike GTX. The toe box is higher, the cushion is perfect, the uppers are flexible and well ventilated. I mainly use Topo Athletics, but also have a few Altras. I'm thinking of adding a pair of these to my life. Thanx for the video my Brother 👍

The fact that it is so much cheaper than Vivobarefoot is reason enough to give them a try.

On feet footage??

I wear a vivo barefoot current in a size 40m which is quite a size down, and yet I still have about 1.5cm of room infront of my toes. I've gotten used to it at this point, but what size of these would you recommend in that case? Or any sizing for alternative versatile barefoot shoes

As someone who owned them before, this is a very good overview of the shoe. I would like to add that the crease at the flex point varies from shoe to shoe. In my first pair it was so painful I had to return them, but the replacement was good out of the box. Just something to keep in mind. Oh yeah and the glue they use is absolute shit. The sole separated from all my Vivo's pretty much immediately (only at the flex point). It doesn't impact the performance of the shoes but at that price point, it's a little disappointing.

Thanks, Nick! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the escalante 4 and racer 2.

TY so much for focusing on depth 😊

Shallow forefoot volume has always been a bugbear of mine with Altras, it forced me to wide fit HOKAs -Arahi & Bondi. They've fixed the volume with the later Olympus versions. Great review.

Great detailed review thanks

Can you use them just for walking/hiking on trails or do you think they're purely made for running? Thank you!

Mesa Trail 2 still a better trail shoe, in my opinion. I’ll always grab my Xero’s when doing harder trails, although the Vivo’s are still adequate.

I’ve the WP version of this shoe and wasn’t impressed at all - exceptionally stiff sole, the upper feels rigid and plasticky. Sizing was also way out - had to go up 2 whole sizes as it was so small. The only decent thing was the tread! I’ll stick to my Vivos and VFFs.

Amazing review. Barefoot trail shoe reviews are so rare, especially from people that actually use them in trails. So all that sole wear is from trails? That's crazy to me. Must be some very hard surfaces. If I didn't know any better I'd think it's a result of running on pavement.

Hi Nick ! thank you for this review, I actually have high rise foot and was worried about timp5 will be uncomfortable, where do you recommend to get 2mm insoles?

its narrow, my feet know

Great review.

So far, only got the Primus Lite III, but I am of the opinion that the durability makes them worth the price. I think they have some policy where you can return your worn out pair and get 20% of the cost back. I just ordered Ra III on revivo, which is where you can buy used and repaired ones for a lower price. I am expecting the leather Ra III to last a really long time, since I allready have wax to treat the leather every now and then to make sure it does not dry out.

Great video, thank you! Two things. 1. Would you recommend the Mesa Trail WP for muddy conditions? Have you ran in Mesa Trail WP? 2. Can you speak louder in your future videos? I could only hear you at max volume. Thank you

Man, I ordered a pair, tried them on and loved the feel! BUT they did rub against my ankle, due to my pronation I guess. Had to return them, what a bummer. Do not have this issue with my Superior 5, Escalante 2,5 or the Lone Peak 8.

The volume is so small especially on the midfoot. I have swapped the insole and it is still extremely tight.

What size are your feet?