Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Nothing further afield worth the detour from this lineup.
Sizing note
Golden Spike run snug — go up half a size, especially for long runs.
Durability
Expect roughly 283 miles before the midsole flattens out.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Altra Escalante Racer(2018) | Altra Vanish Pulse | Topo Athletic ST-6 | Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 6 | Altra Golden Spike | Saucony Kinvara 16 | Topo Athletic Cyclone 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 193 g / 6.8 oz | 215 g / 7.6 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 210 g / 7.4 oz | 155 g / 5.5 oz | 198 g / 7.0 oz | 205 g / 7.2 oz |
| Drop | 0 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 3 mm | 0 mm | 4 mm | 5 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 22 mm | 34 mm | 18 mm | 23 mm | 15 mm | 29 mm | 30 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Wide | Wide | Very wide | Very wide | Wide | Standard | Very wide |
| Plate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Intended pace | 6:00–8:15 /mi | 6:00–8:30 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 4:30–6:30 /mi | 6:30–8:30 /mi | 6:45–9:15 /mi |
| Purpose | Tempo, Race day | Tempo, Race day | Tempo, Daily | Tempo, Daily | Race day | Tempo, Daily | Tempo, Daily |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Size up ½ | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~300 mi | ~250 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~150 mi | ~400 mi | ~300 mi |
| Price | $150 | $180 | $125 | $110 | $100 | $140 | $155 |
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.