Altra Men's AL0A546V Solstice XT 2 Cross Training Shoe

Product Information

As a general rule, Altra shoes have a wider and higher-volume fit than shoes from many other brands. While this can cause problems for some people with narrower feet, many runners love the comfort that Altra’s platform provides, particularly when it comes to letting your toes splay out. And several of their models still feature a pretty snug fit through the heel and midfoot, so that some runners with low-volume feet can still get along quite well with them. Nike’s React foam, Saucony’s EVERUN foam, Adidas’ Boost Foam, and many other specialty foams stand above regular EVA, which is why Altra isn’t tooting their horn that the Solstice has EVA foam.

There are multiple aspects to like about the Altra Solstice XT 2’s construction and performance in the gym and for various workouts. Since Altra wants to keep the Solstice lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture, they went the Nike Free route and left pretty much the entire outsole as exposed foam. My children, who have worn several Vivobarefoot models, call them "ninja shoes." That captures their appeal perfectly. Even if you're not a badass on the trails, you feel ready to be one. What We Like The Metcon and Nanos are both heavier than the Solstice XT and the F-Lite 235. They also both have really high heels and snug toe boxes that feel unnatural and obstruct lower leg biomechanics. Conclusion One of the main selling points of the Reebok Nano X3 is its versatility, and that comes courtesy of revolutionary midsole technology—coined the Lift and Run Chassis system—that delivers on two fronts. First, the dome-shaped heel offers rigid and sturdy support for lifts, which is a key component of CrossFit. And second, that same dome feature softens when you switch to cardio exercises, such as running and jumping, to absorb and reduce impact.To my knowledge, it is the only lightweight cross-trainer that provides both zero drop and wide toe box. If you need a shoe for a little bit of everything with a considerably wide toe box then the Altra Solstice XT 2 is a good option. This shoe is stable enough for strength work and responsive for HIIT, cross-training, and short runs. Altra’s aim is primarily to give runners a foot-shaped toe box. Sounds like an obvious goal that every shoe manufacturer should have, yet it’s surprisingly not done in almost every running shoe. 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. 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).

Maybe because these have their roots on river trips, they are also surprisingly tough and long-lasting, especially considering how light and flexible they are. In a pinch, you could also go for a run and/or lift in them (within reason). What We Like United Kingdom-based Vivobarefoot was one of the first companies to lean fully into barefoot shoes, and they continue to make innovative models for outdoor sports and hiking. The latest iteration of the Primus Trail line combines a tough-lugged outsole (which is also great for golf, FYI) with a lightweight, form-fitting upper and a focus on sustainable and vegan materials.If you’re doing lighter lifts like kettlebell goblet squats, curls with barbells, or most weight machines, then you’ll be just fine. This model has exposed midsole laters in the forefoot and midfoot, which isn’t a problem in most settings. However, on concrete and asphalt, if you’re cutting or digging your feet into the ground, then you may run into some issues with the outsole peeling away from the midsole in this model. Performance I like the Altra Solstice XT 2 for more versatile training and think they’re one of the best training shoes on the market for those with wider feet. This model’s Balanced Cushioning and Innerflex grooves help to give this shoe a really nice maneuverable feeling when jumping and doing multi-directional training. The reason is because we (anyone in a culture that’s grown up with shoes) got used to shoes that push all our toes together into a curved arc. Given how much I have already described the sole design in the intro paragraphs, I could possibly skip this sole section! But I won’t, since I actually have even more to say.

Of course, what constitutes the best barefoot shoe can be quite personal, and quite specific to your favorite activities. If you're a diehard lifter, for instance, the best hiking shoes or hiking boots won't do much for your workouts. So for this guide, here's the arbitrary line of what "barefoot" means: The Solstice XT has a very flat midsole and outsole to allow for good, balanced planting when performing static exercises. However, this feature makes for a slightly awkward and clunky toe-off when running. All of their women’s shoes also feature the brand’s “Fit4Her” design, which essentially means that they modify the fit of the shoe to accommodate the slightly different shape of women’s feet. I thought this feature was great for balance training and HIIT workouts because it helped increase this shoe’s stability while also keeping them cushioned enough to not beat the feet up. With their flatter construction and low cushion, you get a nice blend of stability and versatility for different styles of training. The shoe has a firmer caged upper than the first iteration of the Solstice, which makes for smoother and more supportive lateral and fast-paced movements. Additionally, the toe reinforcement provides another layer of protection when dealing with heavy weights.Some runners prefer the narrower toe boxes of shoes like Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy. Lakota Gambill A Natural Take on Tech This could be your favorite gym shoe right out of the box, but it's equally at home for daily wear, walking, and all manner of sports. It might be just the shoe to convince you that barefoot shoes are, in fact, real shoes—and ones that are really worth wearing day in and day out. What We Like They breathe well and are lightweight which also helps increase their ability to perform in HIIT, class, and running contexts. This is one of the better, if not the best, shoes on the market for this style of training for wider-footed athletes. These are also solid shoes for walking and standing for long periods of time. Altra Solstice XT 2 Cons