Discontinued · road · Long run / Race day · $130
High-stack zero-drop marathon racer before the super-shoe era.
Built for long run, race day, at a target pace of 6:45–9:00 /mi on road.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Altra Vanish Carbon 3.
Altra tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 31 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 0 mm drop is close to level. That loads the calf and Achilles more than most runners are used to, so ease into it. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 300 miles from the outsole, about $0.43 per mile at $130.
For the foams and plates Altra uses across its line, read the Altra brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
245 g / 8.6 oz
30 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
31 mm
5 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
0 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$130
30 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~300 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Altra line it is lighter than the brand's median (294 g / 10.4 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (30 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Altra Torin 9(2025)
270 g / 9.5 oz · 32 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $160
Zero-drop, foot-shaped daily with balanced cushioning.
Altra Torin 8(2024)
287 g / 10.1 oz · 30 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $150
Zero drop, foot-shaped last, real cushioning. The widest comfortable road trainer.
Altra Provision 8
289 g / 10.2 oz · 28 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $150
Altra's support trainer: zero drop, foot-shaped, with GuideRail stability.
Altra Experience Form
272 g / 9.6 oz · 30 mm · 4 mm drop · — · $150
Low-drop stability daily — Altra's on-ramp from traditional shoes.