Altra Superior 5 Review
Superior Comfort That Connects You to the Trail
Likes
- Out-of-the-box comfort
- Signature Altra fit
- Balanced and versatile underfoot cushioning
- Sticky traction
Dislikes
- Slight irritation from the sewn-in half tongue
- Runs slightly large
What's New
The Altra Superior 5 stays true to its nature, delivering the comfortable, connected-to-the-ground running experience that fans of the brand know and love. The upper is where the biggest updates have been made, as the Superior 5 boasts a new design that is softer, lighter and more durable than ever before. The MaxTrac rubber outsole also gets a facelift with a more aggressive multi-directional lug design, which delivers heightened levels of traction and control on various types of trails. To top things off, Altra has introduced a lightweight, removeable StoneGuard in the Superior 5, allowing runners to adjust their desired protection depending on the type of trail run scheduled for the day.
The Bottom Line
Altra has revamped the Superior 5 from top to bottom, but most of the changes are fairly minimal. These lightweight trail shoes are impressively well balanced, particularly for those who prefer a shoe that has a more connected to the ground feel. The Quantic midsole provides just enough cushion to soften the impact of the road while also delivering firm responsiveness to excel at a range of paces. Trail runners looking to set a PB on their next race should seek a more responsive shoe, and those who desire a maximally cushioned shoe may also want to search elsewhere. Still, for runners searching for a versatile trail trainer with plenty of comfort, the Superior 5 is a great choice. At only $219, the Altra Superior 5 is a high-value pick that runners can add to their lineup without any buyer's remorse.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Wide | Height: Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium to low |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 7.3 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 28 mm (Heel), 28 mm (Forefoot) |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
The Altra Superior 5 is surprisingly soft underfoot, especially considering the lower stack height. The midsole offers runners a nice balance of soft cushioning and firm responsiveness, making these lightweight trail shoes a comfortable match for a variety of trail runs.
Trista: "For a more minimalist shoe, the Superior 5 still feels like it has just enough cushion and softness. When I am hiking and tend to heel strike more, I never notice any discomfort."
Justin: "The Superior 5 manages to feel soft and cushioned despite being pretty low to the ground. It isn't overly soft (likely due to its low stack height), but it is plenty comfortable for kilometres on the trail."
Ride/Energy Returni
Compared to some other lightweight trail trainers on the market today (like the Skechers Razor TRL), the Superior 5 does not have a particularly bouncy ride, but still offers a decent energy return that feels nimble on the trails. The ride is fairly efficient as well, and runners will get back as much energy as they put into it. This makes the Superior 5 capable of performing well at a variety of paces and distances.
Trista: "I feel very in control while wearing the Superior 5. The energy I put into my stride is the same amount of energy I get returned to me at toe-off. I prefer this sort of underfoot experience in a trail shoe, but I usually like a slightly more responsive shoe for road runs."
Justin: "I do not feel like the Superior 5 provided a bouncy energy return through my stride, but it is not a sluggish shoe by any means. I think the low-to-the-ground design allowed for some firm responsiveness during my runs."
Underfoot Protectioni
These lightweight trainers are protective, but by no means do they offer the robust protection of more juggernaut-style trail shoes. The Altra Superior 5 has enough cushion to soften landings and prevent the body from taking a beating on harsh trails. The removeable rock plate offers additional protection from rocky terrain, even if you can feel the occasional stone or two underfoot. Traction is also a major highlight of the Superior 5's outsole, as the new MaxTrac design is outfitted with more lugs for a stickier grip and enhanced agility on the trail.
Trista: "I can feel a fair amount of the ground underfoot in these shoes, but this does not bother me. Rather it helps me be more aware of my footing while on the trails. Altra has included a removeable rock plate barrier that performs well on rocky terrain. I used the rock plate to avoid foot fatigue when I was running or hiking more than 16 kilometres."
Justin: "The Superior 5 has a solid balance of ground feel and cushion. Personally, it was just enough to avoid being harsh underfoot. I can definitely feel the rocks without the removeable rock plate in the shoe, and sometimes I can feel them even with the plate inserted."
Flexibilityi
The Superior 5 has a relatively elastic flex thanks to the gridlike InnerFlex grooves located in the midsole, which produces a natural heel-to-toe transition perfect for weaving through trails. The removeable rock plate adds protection and rigidity when runners want to take on technical terrain, but they can also leave it out when looking for smoother transitions on less aggressive trails. Regardless of how you like to roll, the Superior 5's natural flex will comfortably and enjoyably propel you along.
Trista: "The flex of the Superior 5 was perfect, in my opinion. These shoes have a great balance of structure and flexibility. I have had some issues with other Altra shoes digging into the bridge of my foot as the result of an overly flexible forefoot, but that was not a problem in the Superior 5."
Justin: "The Superior feels really natural moving through the gait cycle. I usually do a 'bend' inspection after running in the shoe that I am testing to see how flexible they truly are, but I had no need to perform this test after wearing the Superior 5 because of how natural they felt on foot during my run."
Upper Supporti
The signature FootShape design is always a highlight when wearing an Altra shoe, as it offers a roomy forefoot without compromising security. While runners with narrower feet may not appreciate this roomy feel, most trail runners will have no qualms with comfort when the Superior 5 is on foot. Our testers also noted that they experienced some heel slippage while running downhill, so runners should be aware that they may need to adjust the lacing for a more secure lockdown when running on technical trails.
Trista: "The upper is the first thing that I loved about the Superior 5. I have a high instep, and this shoe wraps perfectly around the top of my foot without any added pressure. It allows my foot to move freely while feeling secure and comfortably snug."
Justin: "The materials feel much better in the Superior 5 than the previous model that I ran in (about two or three models back at this point). The fit was a bit tricky for me, and I couldn't get the right lockdown at first. My foot slid around a bit on downhills, and I found my toes hitting the front of the shoe. I was able to remedy this a bit by using a different lacing system, but this did leave me wary of having to find an optimal lacing setup for each run."
Men's Altra Superior Running Shoes
Women's Altra Superior Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
I loved testing the Altra Superior 5. They fit my feet unbelievably well immediately out of the box and required no break-in period (always a bonus). The sewn-in half tongue design is not my favourite as it makes it more difficult for me to put the shoes on, which is a little annoying. As usual, the sizing also runs slightly large, and runners may want to go a half-size down. Besides those minor critiques, I couldn't find anything wrong with the Superior 5, which is especially true once I got them on the trails.
My first run in the Superior 5 was about 5 kilometres, and I was really pleased that I did not get any hot spots. Altra's signature toe box construction was roomy and really comfortable on all my testing runs. I also enjoyed the supportive heel counter, which was not too stiff or situated too high on the ankle and did not irritate me in the slightest. Overall, I think the Superior 5 delivers on almost everything it was designed for, providing a delightfully lightweight on-foot experience that also offers runners ample upper support, tacky outsole grip, and smooth flexibility.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Altra Superior 5 is a great blend of minimal feel and cushioning. I've run in several older models of the Superior, and I really enjoyed this more "modern" version. I will warn you that it does have a good amount of ground feel, so foot placement is key if you're sensitive to rocks underfoot. The rock plate didn't do much for me but add a little more protection. Also, the upper can be a bit tricky to get cinched right, so I'd spend a little time making sure you feel good with the fit ahead of hitting the trails.