Altra - Superior 5
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 15, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
293
59
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"Even after mountain backpacking a dozen miles over very steep rocky trails my toes are never sore or cramped feeling."
22
4
"I did a drying test on both pair last year and found both dry quickly IF you remove the insole when it gets wet or keep them dry and remove them before making a water crossing. ... In the field, I walked through creeks and got my feet totally wet (not on purpose) in November with nighttime lows in the upper 20s. Shoes dried by morning and the insoles were still damp, but dried as I hiked."
"quick-drying shoes ... all the wetness will be wicked away ... When you get to camp, take out the insoles to dry the shoe."
"I really appreciated the Altra Lone Peak 4, 4.5, and 5 because they shedded the water with every step. ... Coupled with merino wool socks, on a warm day, I could wade across a river and within about 30 minutes have mostly dry feet."
113
6
"Very good on rocky, technical terrain. ... Use: any trail up to marathon distance."
"Got me through a week with everything Utah can throw at you - snow, mud, dirt, gravel, sand, slickrock, slot-canyon scooting, and the occasional stream crossing - and I never felt unsure of my footing."
"just for hiking and trail rubbing ... Personally I wore them for my ultra."
260
90
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"enough of a running shoe i have done ultras in them"
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
12
4
"These shoes started my zero drop adventure."
"The frequency of my ankle rolling went way down. ... I have been wearing altras as everyday wear for almost 3 years and have maybe rolled my ankles 3 times over that time frame."
"They have zero drop and a very generous, wide toe box that isn’t just simply wide but actually foot shaped."
Disliked most:
406
449
"About a year and the right bud would last about 15 minutes on a full charge."
"I've had them for a few years and now the battery doesn't last for more than 40 mins, so looking for a different model."
"And then during a race in September the mid sole of one pulled right off with less than 200 km on them."
55
27
"the change was very noticeable on trail running. ... Calf and Achilles soreness galore."
"Altra brand shoes are 'zero drop', so your calf muscles will need to stretch by a quarter inch or so. Do this WELL before your hike by putting 100 miles or so on them, or you will massively, tearfully regret it."
"Altra brand shoes are 'zero drop', so your calf muscles will need to stretch by a quarter inch or so. Do this WELL before your hike by putting 100 miles or so on them, or you will massively, tearfully regret it."
7
46
"except on sandy ground and worst of all on wet rocks and moss ... seriously my confidence level drops to 0 every time i encounter wet rocks wearing any Saucony models"
"2 pairs of the Superior 5, terrible traction when wet on limestone."
"outsole-sponsored athletes and professional reviewers claim the lug pattern and compound are great for dry stuff but not intended for wet or sloppy conditions. ... why use a more expensive compound with LESS durability if there is no meaningful gain in traction/grip on all conditions? ... so...$325 for a trail supershoe that only performs on bone dry conditions?"
0
3
"The new superiors are way too tight around the mid foot area. ... they are really uncomfortable because of how tight they made them."
"The new superiors are way too tight around the mid foot area. ... they are really uncomfortable because of how tight they made them."
"newer models got narrower"
1
2
"I've mostly used Altra Superiors in the past with pretty light cushioning ... Maybe best for day hikes or shorter trips and not 7-8 day backpacks."
"Superior is pretty firm"
"Superior is pretty firm"
I've put over 2000 miles into a couple pairs of Altra runners. I have boots I use for more rugged adventures with lots of ankle rolling risks, but for 90% of trails, runners are too comfortable and light to not wear.
r/hiking • Can trail runners really be used for hiking ->Go to REI and let them Guide you. I ended up with Altra trail runners. They’re great
r/hiking • What are some GOOD quality hiking shoes ->2 pairs of the Superior 5, terrible traction when wet on limestone. 1 pair of the Olympus 5, much better traction but the midsole packed out around 200 miles in and that’s probably because of the inner flex thing because there’s less foam there. I’ve got some topo pursuits with 400+ miles that are great and Nnormal tomirs with 400+ miles that’s are also still great. I just don’t think altra makes a great shoe for me, especially because I have a narrow foot and would lose multiple toenails after marathon+ distances.
r/trailrunning • Best shoes for grip/feedback ->I still swear by my Altra Superior 5’s
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->I ended up finding some 5s to try. Agree that the toebox is wider than the 6s. Overall width and length fit my hobbit feet better. I might be imagining things, but wearing them around the house, my feet feel hotter in the 5s. Wish the 5s had gaiter attachments.
r/trailrunning • Has anyone here tried the Altra Olympus 6 or the hiking version? I'm looking for new shoes with little heel drop, for wide feet ->I use Altra trail runners when traveling because they are light and comfortable and can double as normal shoes in a pinch, but for normal hiking close to home I stick to boots. Trail runners wear out too easy and are too expensive for the amount of hiking I do.
r/hiking • trail runners vs boots ->I do xero shoes for everything but backpacking. I've done trips in them for shorter times and have done okay but I'm also a fan of altras. JMT is longer so I wouldn't do xeros the whole time personally.
r/JMT • Shoes for the JMT for a minimalist, zero-drop shoe wearer ->Durability aside, try on both shoes. If you’re not thru-hiking then durability doesn’t matter much. Yeah, it’ll be annoying if they give out sooner than you expected, but the comfort can be worth the money. For me, Altras are the most comfortable by far. I wanted to switch to Topos due to the rave reviews and the vibram sole, but I had to immediately return them due to their pronounced arch support. My feet hated them and my altra trail runners and road shoes are the most comfortable shoes for my feet I’ve ever worn. I was late to the game so I’m sure I missed out on the glory days, but until another company comes out with a wide toe box and no arch support trail runner it’s altra all the way for me.
r/backpacking • What is the consensus of Altra trail runners? ->I personally wear non-waterproof Altra trail runners for hiking in the snow, with a pair of Kahtoola micro spikes for icy conditions. It’s been ages since I’ve been on to San Jacinto, so I can’t advise on that specifically.
r/socalhiking • First time snow hiking (?) ->Altra Superior and Lone Peak are even lower stack than the Timp.
r/trailrunning • Stability Trail shoes ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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