In production · road · Race day · $100
Zero-drop track spike for middle- and long-distance racing.
Built for race day, at a target pace of 4:30–6:30 /mi on road.
Altra tuned this midsole very firm (1/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 15 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as snappy at 4/5 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 geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. 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 runs small; most runners size up a half. Expect roughly 150 miles from the outsole, about $0.67 per mile at $100.
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
155 g / 5.5 oz
120 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
15 mm
21 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
0 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$100
60 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
1 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~150 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Altra line it is lighter than the brand's median (294 g / 10.4 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (30 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Altra Vanish XC
150 g / 5.3 oz · 15 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $90
Minimal zero-drop cross-country racer for soft courses.
Topo Athletic ST-6
190 g / 6.7 oz · 18 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $125
Zero-drop, low-stack speed shoe for strides, track and gym work.
Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 6
210 g / 7.4 oz · 23 mm · 3 mm drop · — · $110
Low, nimble shoe balancing ground feel with a touch of cushion.
Nike Streakfly 2(2025)
144 g / 5.1 oz · 27 mm · 4 mm drop · Carbon · $170
Short-distance racer: featherweight, low and honest for 5K–10K.