The Altra Torin is a road running shoe I’ve used off and on since 2021. The first Altra Torin I wore was the Torin 5 and I currently have the Altra Torin 7 in my shoe cycle.
I stumbled upon the Torin in one of the most unusual places – on a date. I went out on a couple of dates with a gal who loved Altra shoes. Her recommendations were so glowing that I decided to try out the Torin. Though nothing flourished with the gal, I did start a long relationship with the Altra Torin.
About Altra
Alta got up and running in 2009 with the soul (sole) purpose of building running zero drop shoes. The founder, Golden Harper, decided to test out zero drop shoes when he realized the physical and mechanical differences between barefoot runners and runners wearing shoes.
Though Altra has merged and been sold to other organizations since its inceptions, their purpose still rings true today.
Performance with Altra Torin
I have ran a few races with Torins, ranging from 5ks, a 10k a couple of 10 milers and a half-marathon. These races were held in East Tennessee, with the exception of the Atlanta 10 Miler Race. In my opinion, the shoe contains a perfect formula for optional running performance. I’ll dive into the formula in the pros and cons section, for now, I’ll keep it light.
Speaking of light, these shoes are really lightweight. My Torin 5s were the lightest shoes I owned until I purchased my Torin 7s. With some lightweight shoes, there’s a tradeoff with stability, but that’s not the case here. Both versions of my Altra Torin shoes provided stability when running on roads and sidewalks that weren’t very flat.
Altra Torin Pros and Cons
Nothing is perfect, so there are pluses and minuses about Torin shoes. Here’s the breakdown of the pros and cons uncovered in the 2 plus years of wearing these bad boys.
1st Pro: Zero Drop
Before I start let me drop this disclaimer –
By now you realize I’m not a scientist, nor a human anatomy expert, so this is only my experience and not a professional recommendation.
With that outta the way, running with a zero drop show does make me feel like I’m performing better when I run. I’m running with a more natural gait, and that has shown in my speed performance. I’ve noticed faster results to the finish line wearing these shoes compared to any other shoes I have previously worn and currently have in my running lineup.
2nd Pro: Wide Toe Box
I’ve got some wide feet, especially up front. There are some shoes I really like, but can’t fully love them because they’re a little too tight around my toes. That’s not the case with Torin. These guys give me enough room so my toes can naturally spread out and be free.
1st Con: Altra Torin Calf Struggles
This con has less to do with Altra Torin shoes and more about my dang calves. Calf issues have plagued me most of my life. As a child, shin splints would erupt while playing basketball. As an adult, I have had issues for various reasons. While writing this review, I’m currently recovering from calf problems. Due to my calf problems, I can’t always run in Torins due to their zero drop. I need my heel elevated to take pressure off body parts, like my Achilles tendon.
I tried to run with lifts in my Torins, but it felt like I was about to pop-out of them every time I stepped up. To read more about that trial and error process, check out this post about the training I went through for the Music & Miles Half-Marathon in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
2nd Con: Shoe Tongue (Now Fixed)
The only issue I had with the Altra Torin 5 was the shoe tongue. The shoe tongue was made from thin, tough material that could irritate my skin. I had to wear socks higher than the shoe tongue, otherwise the tongue would feel like it was cutting into my ankles with every step.
Fortunately, this issue was resolved by the time I purchased the Torin 7 shoes. Altra received enough feedback from the Torin that they added some material over the tongue that prevents any irritating rubbing.
Get Your Pair Now
If you’re looking for a light weight shoe that can help you run faster, than look no further than the Altra Torin. This zero drop shoe has helped me and I’m sure it can help you! To learn more, check out Altra’s website or select this link to view Torin purchasing options on Amazon.
Already running in Torin shoes? If so, comment below to give your thoughts and review.
Happy Running!