The Rivera is the slim child in the Altra road range. The one without the overly wide toe box that many hate but some love. The upper is made in the same pattern as the previous version. There is no plastic in the heel cup, so it can mould to the shape of your heel. The tongue is an integral part of the upper, burrito style, that wraps around the foot. This reduces the chance of any debris getting into the shoes and gives a really nice fit, making the shoes feel like an integral part of your foot rather than a bulky shoe that feels ‘strapped on’. The toe cap is a bit harder than on the Superior 5, which offers more protection. Lastly, both shoes have lost depth over the years, which is better for the mass market, but that’s hard to fathom for the die-hard fans. Over the past few years, shoemakers have poured resources into developing newer and better cushioning foams, and Altra is no exception. The company uses three main cushioning materials in its shoes: Ego, Ego Max, and Ego Pro. (Quantic, another cushioning material the brand developed, is being phased out.) NOTABLE FEATURES: When people say “Keep it simple, stupid,” they’re actually talking about the Altra Rivera. This is the most basic model in the Altra lineup (aside from maybe the Escalante), so its features are minimal, but it’s a shoe that embraces the roots of the brand. Except for the Slim Footshape, that’s more of a newer thing.

NOTABLE FEATURES: The Torin has no doubt been one of our favorite shoes in the Altra family for some time. For awhile, it was a very confusing shoe, as there was a half-numbering system and a plush and non-plush version, whatever that meant. The changes come in the upper, focusing on improved durability without sacrificing comfort or breathability. As with last year, this is a Slim Footshape design, so it’s definitely a more traditional fit, but still offers room for some toe splay.The formation of these individualized expectations prior to reviewing the shoe is pretty important; you wouldn’t judge a Waffle House t-bone using the same scrutiny with which you might judge a steakhouse ribeye. Sometimes, if the info is not clear or if the shoe is a new release, things get crazy, and we make up the expectations for ourselves. All that is to say, it’s important to consider a shoe’s scope in a review, and for some shoes, it’s more important than others. The Altra Superior 6 is one of those shoes. Scott Supertrac RC and Supertrac Amphib: A bit stiffer through the midfoot reduces some of the spring you’ll get from your feet. 4mm heel to forefoot. Longer lugs give much better traction in the mud. The Altra Superior 5 is a shoe best suited for runners who want a fast and light shoe that offers great traction and a strong sense of connection with the trail. Who should NOT buy the Superior 5 Some of the new Altra shoes coming in 2023 are due for an upgrade, and some need an update to fix issues from previous versions. We can only hope that new problems aren’t introduced! Altra also makes all of their shoes with plenty of room in the toe box. If you’ve never ventured into “foot-shaped” running shoes, you’re in for a freeing treat!

After identifying the differences between the shoes, let’s now focus on their similarities. In general, both shoes share a common theme. If you find one of them comfortable, the other will have a similar feel, with a few distinct characteristics. Flexibility and StructureSave this shoe for shorter runs, or if you just want an Altra walking shoe that’s simple and comfortable. If you’re new to Altra, it’s worth noting two specific (and unique) elements that set Altra apart from the other running shoes on the market. We’ll see much of the same with the Superior 6, which is great! It’s a fantastic shoe for a barefoot runner looking for a race shoe or a little more cushion for descents.

In this post, I’ll dive into all the details on each expected Altra release for 2023, with release dates and prices. The feel of this lightweight trail racer is beyond comparison. I found my first few runs with the shoe to be similar to the childlike fun of sprinting through the forest. The tongue of the Superior 5 is fairly unique An updated Maxtrac sole should perform better in the wet. Again like the Lone Peak, the Superior gains the new Maxtrac rubber! We can only hope for better performance. For us, this is all a net-positive, but the changes have been a bit of a thorn in the side of hardcore Altra fans who have been collecting Kool-Aid cult points since the beginning. To which we say: even Bob Dylan went electric. MICHAEL: One great aspect that first stood out with the Superior 6 is the overall build quality of the shoe, especially when compared to some Altra shoes I’ve reviewed in the past. I’ve put 95 and 70 miles, respectively, on the Lone Peak 7 and Timp 4 and have not been impressed with their longevity. Seriously, the Timp 4 is essentially ready to retire; I’ve got blowouts in the upper, the forefoot of the outsole has a significant loss of traction, and the midsole already feels dead. Such is not the case with the Superior 6. The midsole (though substantially firm out of the box) still feels new after 30 miles, and the upper feels strong yet breathable, with no signs of delamination.The design of the outsole differs from the Lone Peak, but again it falls short. The outsole on the Superior is still decent, but not outstanding. The MaxTrac rubber has held up “ok” to +300km of abuse, and the level of grip is good enough. Considering the Superior is not trying to win the award of the best grip on the trail running scene, I’m happy with where it’s at. I suppose you might classify me as part of the Altra cult (Caltra). I’ve basically bought nothing about altras for the last 6 years that I’ve been running regularly. I’ve tried other brands (new balance, brooks, saucony, hoka) but nothing ever felt as great as Altras. I won’t lie and say that it was love at first sight with Altra. My first shoe was the provision 3.0 reccomended by a local running store after a gait analysis. It was the ugliest shoe that I had ever seen, the toes looked like a clown shoe and I had zero idea what zero drop even meant or why it mattered. Little did I know at that time that it was the magical formula that would keep me running in comfort for years. The protection offered by the Altra Superior 6 exceeded my expectations for a lightweight and minimally cushioned shoe. There are other trail shoes that will provide more protection to your feet, but none that I know of are as lightweight, comfortable, and responsive as the Superior 6.