Altra Experience Flow 2 Review
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Coming Soon |
| Stack Height | 4 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
The Altra Experience Flow 2 is for you if...
You want extra room in the toe box
You're looking for a shoe that does it all—a variety of runs, walking, cross-training—you name it!
You want lightweight and versatility in a daily trainer
What is the Altra Experience Flow 2 made for?
Altra got its start by being the go-to brand for zero-drop shoes. Their brand was built on shoes that followed a more natural fit: a roomy toe box, no height difference between the heel and forefoot stack (drop), and durability to last the distance.
In 2023, Altra made a statement by releasing the Experience Flow—the first shoe in their lineup without a zero drop. The shoe featured a 4mm drop, and while still considered very minimal as an industry standard, it was completely new for Altra. With the Experience Flow, Altra now had a daily trainer that was more in line with other daily trainers on the market, according to drop, but incorporated a roomier toe box and was lightweight for more versatile, efficient running.
With this latest update, the Experience Flow 2 has a refined upper and heel fit for comfort, and new Altra EGO™ P35 foam, making it lighter in weight. Overall, this shoe is a great choice as a daily trainer for those who want one shoe that can handle a lot of versatility, like extra room in the toe box, and who prefer a shoe with a lower drop.
Comfort
Altra Experience Flow 2’s comfort is just about what you’d expect from a daily trainer. The updated sandwich mesh upper is breathable and easy to secure a lockdown. The foam is a good balance between responsive and firm, leaning a bit more towards firm. And the outsole has a good amount of grip to handle pavement, gravel, or smooth fire roads.
It’s not the plushest shoe in the market—and that’s not what it’s trying to be. Experience Flow 2 is here for your weekly miles or your “just get out the door” runs. Lightweight, reliable, and ready to go when you are.
Performance
In an era where brands are continually being refined to be lighter, plusher, and more durable, you need a foam that will shape up or ship out. Altra has shaped up by updating the Experience Flow 2 with EGO™ P35 foam, which has helped shave a few ounces off the shoe. It has left the shoe feeling lighter yet more cushioned, making it an ideal choice for a versatile daily trainer.
This shoe performs really well for what it’s intended to do: be a shoe that can do it all. It is cushioned enough to handle weekly miles and long runs. It is light enough with a slight natural rocker to propel you forward, and it makes it easy to pick up the pace. It’s a shoe that will work really well for runners of all experience levels and foot shapes.
Fit
The Experience Flow 2 follows Altra’s Standard FootShape, meaning it features its signature wide toe box with a secure midfoot fit. This leaves plenty of room for the toes to spread while still having a secure lockdown thanks to the snug midfoot. Those with higher volume feet might notice the snugger midfoot fit, but it did not cause us any hot spots. While for most, the shoe fits true to size, if you are often between sizes, we recommend taking the size up for this shoe.
Individual Thoughts
The Altra Experience Flow 2 was designed to be an all-around shoe, and it truly does just that. Whether you’re just getting into running or you’re a seasoned runner, I think this shoe has a place in your shoe rotation. I truly appreciated the wide toe box (to my surprise!), which kept my toes comfortable while the low drop and gentle rocker naturally propels you forward, and supports a mid-foot strike. The EGO™ P35 foam does keep this shoe light, but I felt like it was slightly too firm for comfort over longer distances, and chose to keep these shoes for my shorter, under eight kilometre runs. I also found that the Experience Flow 2 is shorter in length than my other running shoes, and I would suggest potentially sizing up from your typical running shoes. Overall, I think these shoes do just what they are intended to do- keep up with your busy life as you run, walk, or hit the gym!
For its intended purpose, this shoe excels as a versatile and adaptable trainer. It provides sufficient cushioning for those relaxed recovery jogs, while still allowing freedom of a surprisingly lightweight design that won't weigh you down when you decide to pick up the pace. While the midsole may not boast groundbreaking technology, it achieves an enjoyable blend of responsiveness without sacrificing comfort. True to size with a generous FootShape Fit, it comfortably accommodates slightly wider feet, and despite a snug tongue that might be noticeable with a higher instep, it never caused any discomfort during runs.
