Altra Vanish Carbon Review
Updated: May 26, 2022
Zero-Drop Hero
Altra brings super foam and carbon fiber to the zero-drop world
Likes
- Super efficient
- Bouncy midsole
- Comfortable
- Protective
Dislikes
- Heel fit
- Laces come loose
What's New
The Vanish Carbon is a high-performance, carbon-plated super shoe from Altra that's designed for long-distance racing. Featuring a three-pronged carbon fibre plate that runs the length of the shoe, the Vanish Carbon is built for snappy responsiveness that doesn't sacrifice a natural feeling ride. Surrounding the plate is Altra's new EGO PRO midsole foam which is the lightest and most responsive compound from Altra to date. As an Altra, the Vanish Carbon has a zero-drop midsole and a FootShape design, making it a unique offering in the growing world of super shoes. Overall, the Vanish Carbon is a great option for the runner looking for a high-performance racing shoe with an accommodating fit.
The Bottom Line
The Vanish Carbon is Altra's first foray into plated super shoes. Our testers found the Vanish Carbon to be a fresh take on what a high-level racing shoe can be. The testers appreciated the forgiving ride and comfortable fit, which many other racing shoes lack. Fans of Altra's signature wide toe box will love the fit of the Vanish Carbon, as it is much more accommodating than other carbon-plated racing shoes.
The testers were also impressed by the responsiveness of the midsole considering how soft and comfortable the initial step-in was. The carbon plate creates a rigid shoe, but it worked well with the midsole, crafting a smooth transition from heel-strike to toe-off. Overall, our testers agreed that the Vanish Carbon is a great racing shoe that offers advantages that are not available from any other carbon-plated shoes on the market. Runners looking for a racing shoe with an accommodating fit that is fast and efficient will enjoy the spirited ride of the Altra Vanish Carbon.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Medium to wide |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's 8.0 oz (Size 9) | Women's 6.9 oz (Size 8) |
| Stack Height | 34 mm (Heel), 34mm (Forefoot) | 0 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Kaleb: "The Altra EGO PRO midsole is very well balanced, offering a nice level of softness without sacrificing return. I was a little worried that the foam would be firm given how it felt in my hand out of the box, but once on foot, I was really impressed."
Risa: "The Vanish Carbon is a soft shoe that I found to be comfortable out of the box. I really enjoyed it on everything from tempo workouts to my long runs."
Ride/Energy Returni
Kaleb: "Again, the midsole was very well balanced. Soft enough to feel comfortable and protective, but bouncy enough to feel fast when it's time to gear up. The Vanish Carbon felt very efficient, and even though it is designed as a marathon racing shoe, I was confident wearing it for nearly any run. Tempo runs; no problem. Long slow day; check. The only thing I may not use the Vanish Carbon for is short, fast repeats on the track, but even then I could get away with it without difficulty thanks to the shoe's energy return."
Risa: "Along with being impressed with the softness right away, I loved how propulsive the Vanish Carbon's rocker design was. It felt like a shoe that wanted to go fast, and it made for some fun runs. If I didn't have any fit issues, I would reach for this shoe for race day."
Underfoot Protectioni
Kaleb: "This is another area where Vanish Carbon really excelled. I wore the Vanish Carbon on a multitude of longer distanced runs and never had an issue with sore, beat-up legs. I was surprised that even after 10-mile runs I had no lower-leg pain, even with the zero-drop platform. The rubber outsole provides solid grip and has not shown serious signs of wear through 45 miles, though I would love to see how it's doing at 125 to 150 miles."
Risa: "With a 34-mm stack, the Vanish Carbon has plenty of cushioning for long-distance racing. I felt that there was plenty of protection for even my longest runs without it feeling unstable."
Flexibilityi
Kaleb: "The high stack is combined with a carbon plate to produce a fairly rigid shoe. There is some flex, but it is certainly minimal. That said, the Vanish Carbon has a super smooth heel-to-toe transition, and the rigidity helps keep things efficient through the gait cycle."
Risa: "Given that the Vanish Carbon is a carbon-plated shoe, it is not very flexible. That said, it has a smooth ride and is not overly firm."
Upper Supporti
Kaleb: "Those with wider feet will appreciate how accommodating the fit of the Altra Carbon Vanish is in comparison to other super shoes. That said, I had a few issues with the upper. First, the fit around the heel was pretty baggy and did not provide the race-ready hold I was expecting from a marathon racing shoe. Secondly, the tongue design was also a letdown on the Vanish Carbon, as it consistently folded over when putting the shoe on. This was not a major issue, but it was annoying at times. While I had a couple of disappointments here, the overall fit was good and remained comfortable throughout all my runs. The upper also felt light on foot and had great breathability."
Risa: "I liked how lightweight and breathable the upper was. However, I did have a bit of an issue getting a solid lockdown, especially in the heel. Doing a runner's loop did help to make it feel more secure. The Vanish Carbon offers the slimmest fit available in Altra shoes, but as a woman with slightly narrow feet, I still wished the Vanish Carbon had a lower volume fit."
Men's Altra Vanish Running Shoes
Women's Altra Vanish
Individual Thoughts
KalebOverall Score: 9/10
Altra's first carbon-plated marathon racing shoe does not disappoint. The Altra EGO PRO foam and midsole geometry make for a special ride that hits the mark in nearly every category. The shoe is bouncy with a responsive midsole that is also comfortably soft. These marathoners are also very protective, and my legs had no issues crushing longer mileage runs. Though responsive, I think what impressed me most about the ride was how smooth and efficient it was. I never felt like I was leaking energy and had no difficulty pushing or holding faster tempos. Not everything was perfect, as I found a few issues with the upper, which lacked the locked-down feel I was looking for through the heel and had a frustrating tongue design that caused issues when putting the shoe on. I also have some slight concerns in regard to durability, but after roughly 45 to 50 miles in the shoe it has held up fairly well so far.
Before wrapping up, I would like to reiterate that the fit was uncharacteristic of an Altra shoe, and fans familiar with the brand should be prepared for the shoe's race-ready design (though I have not tried the Escalante or Escalante Racer and do not know if the Vanish Carbon's fit is more consistent with those models). Overall, while the Vanish Carbon is not quite on the level of Nike Vaporfly or adidas Adios Pro, it is firmly positioned among the chase pack, and I always respect a shoe company that stays true to their concept and builds shoes that incorporate modern technologies without changing who they are.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
RisaOverall Score: 8.5/10
The Vanish Carbon is an exciting new offering from Altra. There has been a lot of hype, as it's the first zero-drop, carbon-plated racer on the market. Personally, I don’t usually pick zero-drop shoes, but I feel like anyone who races or even does uptempo workouts could appreciate the Vanish Carbon. With the rocker and carbon plate, the shoe feels propulsive and fun to run in. Thanks to the shoe's 34-mm stack of cushioning, there is plenty of protection for long distances. I was a little worried that switching to a zero-drop shoe would cause me to be extra sore given the added muscle strain, but I thankfully didn't experience that. My only hang-up with this shoe was the fit. I got a blister between the ball of my foot and my arch, which I believe was caused by the shoe having too much volume, allowing my foot to slide around and create friction. I also thought the heel fit was sloppy, as I mentioned, but that was resolved with the runner's loop lacing technique. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy my time in the Vanish Carbon.
