Altra Men's AL0A546V Solstice XT 2 Cross Training Shoe

Product Information

DENVER (Nov. 10, 2021)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Altra, a leading innovator in the performance footwear category, today debuts a new approach to cross-training with the launch of the Solstice XT 2, revamping the brand’s ‘gym and training’ category. So, if you’re a cross-fitter doing a lot of work on ropes or an OCR racer, then a shoe with a more robust upper might be preferable (see some ideas in “The Competition” section below). The only concern I have with this model and running is that if you train outdoors and you’re running through mud or wet surfaces, then be very conscious of this shoe’s midsole and outsole durability. The upper’s mesh is breathable to keep your feet from overheating, while the outsole is lined with grooves that allow the shoe to bend with your foot and provide excellent grip on indoor surfaces. The Solstice XT 2 is an updated lightweight cross-trainer ready for all-day action. Building on the comfort and style of the brand’s original Solstice and Solstice XT gym shoe models, the new Solstice XT 2 offers a firmer caged upper to promote toe protection and provide a secure feel. Like all Altra shoes, the Solstice XT 2 features a Balanced Cushioning™ platform to position the heel and forefoot at an equal distance from the ground, along with the brand’s signature FootShape™ toe box, allowing toes to spread naturally for maximum stability and power.

This category has a lot of subjectivity to it. By its nature, the XT is not going to have the same landing comfort as a big maximalist model or feel natural to everyone. We judge it to have a natural landing, which means there's less underfoot cushioning and fewer support structures inside to push and pull your feet around. Altra's FootShape toebox has annoyed us at times in other modules, but in the XT it seems to do a good job of accommodating a wider range of toe configuration. There is padding along the collar and upper, but it's lean. Again, we find this to improve the feel of the shoe, but it starts to become less of an ideal utilitarianism and more of a liability once you start putting in serious miles — anything over an hour. If you have additional Solstice XT 2 sizing questions, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally and we can work through what size would be best for you. Price Breakdown The first thing to like about the Altra Solstice XT 2 is their Footshape feature. Altra uses a proprietary feature in pretty much all of their running and training shoes called Footshape. Essentially, it’s a feature that replicates the anatomy of the foot to provide a more comfortable and seamless fit in shoes. The upper works well. It’s breathable and lightweight yet very supportive during dynamic cross-training movements.Compared to the running version of the Altra Solstice, the Solstice XT’s upper is relatively well-structured. It comes with plastic midfoot overlays and a heel collar for extra support during lateral movements, jumping, and rapid acceleration or deceleration. The closest competitor is probably the Inov-8 F-Lite 235, which used to be a zero-drop shoe, but went to a 4-mm drop in the most recent V3 update . However, if you’re a hardcore lifter, doing mostly running, or needing a lot of protection for rope climbing, then look for another shoe (see some suggestions in “the Competition” section below). The High Abrasion EVA midsole doesn't have the plushness of the standard model. You lose a little less energy with each foot strike. The tradeoff is that you have less cushion, but it's not a drastic difference.

Adidas’Dropset Trainer is promoted as a versatile training shoe for a variety of workouts, including strength training and cardio. The shoe has a dual-density EVA midsole that blends cushioning at the forefoot for comfort with firmer foam at the heel to bolster your lifts. Third, the wide “foot-shaped” toe box, as opposed to most training shoes , is extremely comfortable. However, it may feel loose or sloppy for those with narrow feet or those who enjoy foot bindings. That said, if none of those caveats apply to you, please keep reading. Those who are more weightlifting-oriented and less running-oriented will probably prefer a lower, firmer midsole to stabilize their feet while under heavy loads.The shoe features Altra’s signature FootShapethat promotes interior space for your foot to spread—which is ideal if you're in the wide foot camp. And, its Balanced Cushioning is positioned in such a way as to level your heel and forefront with the ground.

If you’re doing lighter lifts like kettlebell goblet squats, curls with barbells, or most weight machines, then you’ll be just fine.

Technologies

The last thing to like about this model — which I somewhat touched on above — is that this is a good cross-training shoe for HIIT workouts, classes, and shorter runs. If you like using your cross-training shoes for this style of training, then I think you’ll enjoy how these shoes feel as a whole.