Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
You may also enjoy
Altra FWD VIA 2 — Altra FWD VIA 2: 37 mm heel stack, 4 mm drop, 272 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Sizing note
Most of this lineup runs roomy in the forefoot — stay at your usual size.
Durability
Expect roughly 400 miles before the midsole flattens out.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Altra Escalante 4(2023) | Altra Escalante 5(2025) | Topo Athletic Magnifly 6 | Altra Torin 8(2024) | Altra Motiv FLX | Altra Torin ST | Altra Torin 9(2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 269 g / 9.5 oz | 275 g / 9.7 oz | 255 g / 9.0 oz | 287 g / 10.1 oz | 302 g / 10.7 oz | 294 g / 10.4 oz | 270 g / 9.5 oz |
| Drop | 0 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 4 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 26 mm | 24 mm | 26 mm | 30 mm | 28 mm | 28 mm | 32 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide |
| Plate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Intended pace | 7:30–10:30 /mi | 7:30–10:30 /mi | 8:30–11:00 /mi | 8:30–12:00 /mi | 9:00–12:00 /mi | 8:30–11:30 /mi | 8:30–11:30 /mi |
| Purpose | Daily, Tempo | Daily, Tempo | Daily | Daily, Long run | Daily | Daily, Long run | Daily, Long run |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~350 mi | ~350 mi | ~350 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~450 mi | ~450 mi |
| Price | $140 | $140 | $140 | $150 | $125 | $160 | $160 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.