Altra - Experience Flow 2

Novablast 5 & Neo Zen. I like flexible & soft shoes for long runs. Been using Megablast lately, but the stiffness makes my legs have to work harder in them. Also my glute hurts in them towards the end. Just bought Altra Flow 2 & wore them for 1 run, but will likely use them to replace Megablast. They feel fantastic.

I love the Kinvara! I recently tried on the Altra Experience Flow 2, have you tried that? I ask because that shoe has 4mm drop, is lightweight like the Kinvara, but the midsole is significantly softer which gives the shoe a bit more protection for long runs imo than the Kinvara. 

The second version is way softer. The first version is fairly firm and has a pronounced forefoot rocker. The second feels much more plush and slightly more flexible on my foot. 

Two pairs of shoes. Altra Experience Flow 2s for road and Lone Peak 9s for trail

I have wide feet (10.7cm wide, 26cm length, 25.7cm girth). I just tried Altra FWD Via 2 and Experience Flow 2 in US 9 this morning, as well as Topo Phantom 4 in US 9, which felt better for me. But honestly they were pretty comparable and I think I'd be happy with either Altra or Topo. I think I liked the Phantom 4 better because it felt like it cushioned my feet more? I have very high volume and high arches. I definitely need it in Wide, though—as my feet swell on long runs, my feet will appreciate the extra room that the Wide offers. Since the FWD Via 2 and Phantom 4 felt similar for me, I'm curious if you have any thoughts, insights, comparisons between FWD Via vs. R1?

I just got the experience flow 2 last month and wore them for hyrox. Love them so far! (They did just start squeaking this week though ☹️)

I bought v4 because they were light, fit my feet, and were finally on sale a while back. I have over 200 miles on them and don't enjoy them. I think the foam just compresses too much. Works OK for workouts, weirdly, I think because my cadence overcomes the compliant foam. But they were just brutal for long runs not because they didn't have enough cushion but because it just feels like going uphill the whole time. Altra Experience Flow 2 are night and day a better shoe IMO.

My local running store recommended Altras to me when I told them my Brooks Ghost were too tight and rubbing my pinky toe raw when I ran. I love my Altra Experience Flow 2 they're super comfy. I even bought two other Altra models but experience flow are still my favs.

There aren't too many 4mm options that fit wide and run similar to Ghost. Altra features wide toe boxes. The Experience Flow 2 and FWD VIA are 4mm drop. New Balance are available in multiple widths. The More v5 features a 4mm drop and a very wide platform, but it's a max stacked and heavy shoe. 1080 v14 and 880 v15 are 6mm. The 1080 is cushy while the 880 has a firmer ride that is similar to Ghost. If you are ok running in a mild stability shoe, the Vongo v6 is lower stacked like Ghost. I personally love New Balance and each shoe I mentioned helps me to achieve a midfoot strike, especially the Vongo.

Maybe you could try an Altra shoe. All of their shoes have anatomical toe boxes, but there are different fits within their shoe lineup. The Via line has several shoes that I find very comfortable and cushioned, but not bulky or heavy—the Flow 2 and the FWD 2. A place to start?

Let me start by saying that any recommendations by anyone are because that’s what works for THEM. You need to find the thing that works for you. First of all try purchasing shoes from REI or Running Warehouse Because of Their Excellent Return Policies, so If a shoe Doesn’t Work for You You Can Send It Back. I love the Altra Experience Flow 2& 3 for my road shoe, but that’s just me. The 2 seemed to have held up well except for a little wear on the exposed foam on the sole.