First and foremost, they should feel ridiculously comfortable, like house slippers! They should fit like traditional athletic shoes from the heel to the ball of the foot, but your toes should feelfree/unrestricted/like they can move freely (this is a good thing). We like to say, “If they don’t feel too big in the toes at first, they’re too small!”

A FootShape™ toe box is just like it sounds: a toe box that is shaped like a foot. Since day one, we’ve focused on making functional, FootShapeTM footwear that allows your toes to spread out naturally and lets your big toe remain in a straight position. This encourages improved stability, power and most importantly, added comfort. Whether you’re on the trail, on the road or anywhere in between, FootShapeTM lets your feet be feet.

Every Altra shoe is built on a Balanced Cushioning™ platform that positions the heel and forefoot an equal distance from the ground. This natural foundation aids in optimal alignment, cultivates better form, and encourages a low impact landing.

Transitioning to Altra shoes is easy and will depend mostly on the cushion level you purchase. The more cushioning, the shorter the transition period. We recommend you wear your Altra shoes on easy efforts for week 1, moderate efforts on week 2, and go to long or hard efforts on week 3 unless you feel more adaptation time is needed.

Simply put, the more you use them, the more they will wear. Most of our shoes will last between 300 and 600 miles, depending on your chosen activity.

You bet. The Balanced Cushioning and FootShape™ design of Altra shoes work with the insoles by putting them on a stable and natural base. As a rule of thumb, insoles will work better with our higher volume shoes.

Our shoes are built to help people find their natural landing zone and avoid over-striding. For most people, their natural landing zone is close to midfoot or with their full foot hitting the ground when running barefoot on a natural surface.

Our shoes were originally created specifically to help runners learn to land more naturally and avoid injury. Simply putting the shoes on will improve your landing by moving your step forward a bit to a more natural, light heel touchdown.

We make two shoe models that specifically address arch support, the Paradigm and the Provision.  Putting your foot in its natural position with the heel level and the big toe extended locks the bones of the arch into place and allows your arch to strengthen and support itself.

Studies continue to show that higher cushioning levels primarily helps for the foot and lower leg ailments (below the knee). Simply put, if you have a foot ailment, additional cushioning can help protect the area. On the other hand, wearing shoes with lower cushioning levels can help alleviate joint pain in the knees and up.

We believe that using shoes with Balanced Cushioning can be a long-term solution to Achilles injuries. If you currently have an Achilles injury, we recommend following our transition guidelines and taking additional times as needed to help strengthen your Achilles. Remember, always listen to your body.

Low cushioning? Sure. Minimalist? Nope. (Yes, there is a difference.) Even our lowest cushioning shoes are not “minimalist” shoes. Most of our shoes have the same amount of cushioning (or more) than traditional athletic shoes. This allows our shoes to combine the cushioning and support of traditional shoes with many of the benefits and comfort of a natural foot placement.

Because your shoes have Balanced Cushioning. This means that your shoes are completely even from heel to forefoot to place your feet in a more natural position. This allows you to use your lower calf and foot muscles more dynamically than they are used to and could be the reason for the soreness. It isn’t a bad thing; your muscles are ultimately getting stronger and will adapt after a few runs.

Even wider feet are shaped like feet, so FootShape™ will fit most people. Because our shoes are foot-shaped and not technically “wide”, they are standard width at the ball of the foot. The main difference is that the toe box gives your toes room to spread out naturally. If you’re still looking for a little extra room, nearly all our shoes can be worn without the removable insole.

You bet. Even narrower feet are shaped like feet. While the FootShape™ toe box gives your toes plenty of room to spread, the rest of the shoe is standard width.

Each Altra shoe has its own unique characteristics and personality! Check out our Shoe Finder here to see which one is the best fit for your foot.

Just like in any sport, we believe that learning the fundamentals of good, natural running form will help runners perform better and stay injury free. Our FootShape™ toe box and Balanced Cushioning platform keep the foot in its natural position and encourage natural, low impact running technique. Learning good habits out of the gate can make running less painful, more enjoyable, and more sustainable.