Road running is not really my thing. Don’t get me wrong I do it because I have to for training, and every now and then I enjoy it, so I was excited to be asked to test the new Altra Torin 7. To give some background I am a relatively new Altra user, although I have tried some of their trail shoes before for short periods.
I always run in cushioned shoes due to being a bigger build, and running longer distances and ultras. For that reason the Altra Torin 7 really appealed being advertised as a maximum cushioned shoe with a stack height of 30mm of Altra Ego Max foam and a fairly lightweight 265g (in mens size 9).
When I took them out of the box I was surprised at how light they were and the colour way which Altra seem to have improved on with all their shoes, making them much nicer to look at. Obviously being Altra they are 0 drop and foot shaped which is ideal for me as I have wide feet and struggle to find shoes that are comfy to wear for a long time.
The upper is an engineered mesh which is light and airy but with minimal stretch so holds the midfoot well with the aid of overlays but still allowing your toes to splay as they should.
The heel collar is of a moulded design and very comfortable, using a dovetail design similar to current Hoka’s – this helps to reduce rubbing on the achilles.
I found the upper amazingly comfortable all round, with great lockdown, a brilliant fit around the ankle and breathable.
Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the midsole. This could be down to me – using brands with softer cushioning and being used to what I know. These reviews are just personal experience and someone else could have a totally flipped view to me. However, when I put the Torin 7 on I found the midsole to be soft and comfortable, and very pleasant to walk around in and use in the gym, etc. However when it came to running it all seemed to go wrong.
As I started to run I felt as though the cushioning just disappeared, and the midsole was like a responsive race shoe with no real comfort or give. It was a very odd sensation and I put it down to the shoe needing some break in. This was not the case however, the midsole just didn’t seem to free up when I ran and I felt like my feet were taking a pounding. I also went to the local athletics track to see how they worked on a slightly softer surface, and they were slightly better but still not comfy.
I also felt like I had to try really hard to get some speed out of them, but again that could be due to my running form. The longest run I managed in the Altra Torin 7 was 14.5 miles which seemed to be a challenge and not as much fun to do.
The outsole was grippy. I had plenty of traction in wet and dry conditions, on road and pavements. I have covered about 80 miles in them and they are showing no signs of wear at all on the outsole which is good. I normally find the running shoes I wear will have some signs of use by this sort of mileage, so a good thumbs up for that.
“Durability wise – I would say these should last ultra runners a very good amount of time.”
They are showing no signs of wear at all to the upper or the midsole and outsole, apart from being a bit grubby from use. If you are an Altra fan and looking for a long-distance cushioned shoe then the Altra Torin 7 could be the ideal running shoe for you. Unfortunately they just didn’t work for me which I am genuinely disappointed about, but we can’t have it all our own way can we.
Review by Jim Painter
