I don't have neuropathy, but I switched from Adrenalines to Altra Torin 8s and have never looked back. I did the zero drop transition gradually as recommended, and I feel super comfortable in them. It's funny - I used to wear and run in shoes from 8mm drop to 10mm drop, and now I prefer 4mm drop or less for just about everything. I have narrow feet and I still love the wider toe box.
I’m flat footed and over pronate. Practiced so I mid foot strike and I used the altra torin 8s wide for my race. I use them for my long runs and the escalante 2s for short runs.
I don't even love the actual shoe but fitwise, Torin 8 is perfect for my generally a bit wide and def quite wide forefoot. I imagine Lone Peak and Paradigm would be the same but I personally dont need those shoe types. It's kinda frustrating Altra has such a limited selection of 2E. I enjoyed the feel of Experience Flow & Escalante Racer but had to return, just didn't work without the 2E
Topo has a nice wide, rounded toebox. But frustratingly there, a very narrow midfoot
If you wanna stick with a regular shoe brand, a lot of NB shoes are wider than average. I'm using Rebel v5 rn
Several Hoka models have tapered toeboxes. They're not the best for wide feet
I have full 2E feet. I happily use Altra Torin 8 and NB Rebel V5, both in wide, as the main part of my rotation
Altra's zero drop takes a little getting used to though. NB & Asics is prob your best for regular shoe brands for wide feet
Try 4E shoes perhaps. Model to model will differ but a brand like NB will generally be wider than like Hoka. I use a 2E Torin too rn along with 2E NB Rebel v5
It ain't the worst thing in the world. But I walked around....with just some very casual running in too narrow for me shoes (standard width) for years awhile back
Got into really running more, realized I did need to go wider. And that first week of stepping into and running in properly wide enough shoes was blissful freedom
Currently Altra Torins and Lone Peaks. Lone Peaks have been my go-to trail shoes for years, but my road favorites keep getting discontinued. The Torin 8s are fine, especially for long runs, but I wish I could find something a little lighter and closer to the ground for everything else. I've got my fingers crossed Saucony will start offering Kinvaras in wide again with future models. I have fond memories of my Kinvara 11s.
I have Altra Torin 8 in wide, and I really like them! They're one of the few non-barefoot shoes that are wide enough for both my midfoot and my forefoot.
FYI, Lone Peak 9 also comes in wide sizes and has similar side-to-side width (maybe a little less up/down volume?) to Torin 8 wide, so if Torin ends up working for you, it might be worth trying Lone Peak 9 in wide next time you need a trail shoe.
Altra Torin in wide is another option for roads, for those that need both a wide midfoot and a roomy toe box.
Saucony's wide size models are also pretty generous through the midfoot and less tapered in the toe box than New Balance, but not tapered than Altra.
I’ve learned a lot from other posts but next month I will start training a full marathon and need some help. I have gone to fleet feet but honestly I don’t get the recommendations. They recommended the Altra Torin 8, Altra Via Olympus 2, Brooks Glycerin 23, and the ASICS gel nimbus 27. Those are VERY different shoes.
I regular run in the Torin, Experience Flow and Via Olympus. I love them and have never had any calf/achilles issues over the last couple of years with them. Recently I’ve been having some hip flexor pain (I’m working on strengthening my glutes) but not sure if it’s because I only wear zero/low drop shoes. So I also bought the Gel nimbus 27 just to try something different and HATE them. They are so heavy and soft.
Backstory out of the way. I’m a 5’5 220 pound woman (I know I’m huge but hey I love running anyway) who has run 5 half’s. Back in 2022 in Gylcerins, 2024 in Ghost, 2024 Via Olympus 2, 2025 Experience flow, and last week in the Novablast 5
The novablast were a last minute purchase to try a more cushioned shoe because of the hip pain and the first time I wore them were on race day and I actually loved them.
Would the novablast be a solid shoe to use for race training. Obviously my “speed work” is still pretty slow so I don’t care about a having a fast shoe. I just want 2 pairs that I can rotate throughout training. I’ve heard the novablast don’t hold up long for heavy runners.
My thoughts are alternate the Novablast, Experience Flow, and Via Olympus until the EF die out. The 2s only lasted me 200 miles so I have maybe a month or so more with the current pair and won’t repurchase. My main concern is the Via Olympus has been discontinued. While I can still get it, who knows for how long.
I’m open to trying other brands, but I live in the middle of nowhere so I have to order them usually and unless it’s brooks or altras I’m stuck with them.
As I increase the mileage from my half marathon training to full what shoes for you recommend? I’m aware that at my size shoes don’t last nearly as long I’m okay with that but ideally I’d like them to last 250 miles. Less than 200 feels like I’m throwing money down the drain as I replace the shoes every 3 months even with the rotation.
TLDR: 220 pounds, starting marathon training, current running 30-35 MPW on the road only and increasing slowly. 12-13 minute pace on easy runs 9-11 minute for speed work if that matters. I wear a woman’s 10.5 but in the novablast I have a men’s 9 which is a wide woman’s shoe. I don’t usually need wide shoes but these fit well. Don’t really have a budget but obviously my big, slow self doesn’t need fancy super shoes lol.
What has worked: Glycerins(up to 21), Ghost (up to 16), Novablast 5, via Olympus 2, experience flow 2
What hasn’t worked: Gel nimbus27, Altra Flow Via, experience flow 3 (just okay. They work but I wouldn’t buy again)
Open to other brands
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SUPERBLAST 2
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Marathon workhorse, but loud and clunky at slow paces.
Aromatic-Mulberry596
