Altra Superior Women’s Shoe Review

As a runner who has been using minimalist or “barefoot” shoes for the past 3 years, I’ve been on the hunt for a good trail shoe and an alternative to bulky hiking boots, so I was excited when I got the opportunity to test out the Altra Superior Women’s Trail Shoe with zero drop from Mountain Gear Plus.

Test #1: Olympic National Forest (27 miles)

We picked up the shoes on our way out of town, headed to the Olympic National Park for a 27 mile run/hike. My first impression of the shoe when I put it on the next day, was “wow, this is really comfortable.” For a girl who always has trouble finding shoes wide enough to fit, I was grateful of the extra roomy toe box that the Altra has to offer. We set off on our hike and I immediately noticed how light the Altra’s are, I’m used to hiking in Merrell boots, so the 7.9 oz of the Altra Superior Women’s shoe was a welcome change that allowed me to feel light and fast on my feet. However, about ten miles in I noticed that the shoe was rubbing on my heel. I think this was a combination of not breaking them in and not wearing the appropriate socks for the length of our trip.

Test #2: Wonderland Trail (93 miles)

The next test for the Altra’s came just last week, the plan was to do the Wonderland Trail (a 93 mile trail around Mt. Rainer with 22,000 feet of elevation gain) in three days. We set off on Thursday for 32 miles, and probably ended up running around 10 of those miles. The Altra’s felt wonderful on my feet, provided me with great traction, even on steep and dusty downhills. About halfway through the day it started raining, the shoes stayed dry for a while, but eventually I ended up with pretty wet feet. I was pleasantly surprised with how quick the shoes dried once I had them off my feet. I was able to use them again the next day and they were completely dried out! Even with all the elevation change, and pounding on my feet, I made it 85+ miles before my feet finally gave in and I got my first blister of the trip. Overall, I was really happy that I had the Altra’s with me on this adventure, I think the wide design of the shoe and the zero drop saved my feet from the wear and tear of 93 miles.

If you are a trail runner or just a hiker I would definitely recommend checking out a pair of the Altra Superior Women’s trail shoes. They are the perfect alternative to clunky hiking boots and a great shoe for anyone interested in minimalist trail footwear.

Guest Post by
-Emily Kramer

These shoes were given to AllAroundJoe.com for review, and if you decide to buy a pair please consider buying from www.MPGear.com. Thanks!