Altra Torin 7 Review
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.87 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.0 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 30 mm (Heel), 30mm (Forefoot) | 0 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to size |
Individual Thoughts
The Altra Torin is back, and it is the best version yet. I love the Standard Footshape design and all the space the Torin affords me in the toe box. The shoe's upper is also highly secure, holding the midfoot in place with a soft and breathable upper material. Overall, the shoe was very comfortable on foot.
The EGO MAX midsole performed incredibly well, delivering highly cushioned landings with a noticeable energy return to keep things fun at cruising paces. The Torin 7 is my go-to road shoe for daily runs at easier paces, and overall, version 7 is a fantastic update that has a lot to offer Altra fans and those looking to experience a zero-drop road shoe.
The Altra Torin 7 is a great update from the previous model. The rise in stack height gave me more protection underfoot which I always appreciate as an ultra runner who challenging weekly mileage goals. This is especially true for me when it comes to road shoes, which account for a smaller portion of my weekly mileage.
With Altra's trademark zero-drop construction and wide-toe box, these shoes have a unique feel that appeals to a specific customer, and the overall construction may not work for everyone. Also, it takes some getting used to if you do not have a lot of experience running in zero-drop shoes. That said, I felt right at home in the Altra Torin 7, logging a lot of comfortable miles throughout testing.
The new molded heel collar securely cradled my heels, and the upper comfortably hugged my foot through the midfoot. Together, this resulted in a highly secure hold that prevented my foot from slipping. Overall, I enjoyed the protective softness of the EGO MAX midsole, the secure hold in the heel, the breathability of the upper, and the durability of the outsole. If you are an ultra or trail runner looking for a more natural feel or are someone wanting to try Altra shoes for the first time, the Altra Torin 7 is a versatile, lightweight daily trainer ready to take on the miles.
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Michael: "The Altra Torin's upper is soft and breathable with a highly secure hold in the heel and midfoot. I had no trouble with irritation, and there were no points of friction. I liked that I could use both thin or thick socks and enjoy the same level of comfort."
Grace: "The engineered mesh upper on the Torin 7 is light and breathable, and the lockdown has significantly improved with the addition of an updated molded heel collar. The new plush tongue eliminated the rubbing I experienced in the previous version of the Torin. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the upper's secure lockdown and comfortably spacious toe box."
Midsole
Michael: "The added stack of Altra's EGO MAX foam compound is ultra smooth and very comfortable on the roads. It also produces a nice energy return that helps pop you into each stride. Regardless of the distance, easy miles felt fantastic in this shoe, and the midsole was excellent at protecting my legs from the impact of the roads. I said it before, and I will reiterate it, this update is excellent, and the refined midsole really elevated the running experience in the shoe."
Grace: "Altra updated the Torin's stack height from 28 mm to 30 mm and dropped the weight of the shoe, creating a lighter, more cushioned feel from the previous version.
The foam midsole foam does not have the same squish you get from a highly soft step in, but it does absorb the impact of footstrikes very well and provides enough protection for daily road mileage, always keeping my legs feeling fresh.
The Torin 7 has a good amount of flexibility for a very natural feeling ride, and I appreciated how lightweight they feel during high mileage runs. However, I am used to having at least a small heel-to-toe drop in my running shoes and a bit more arch support, but this did not lead to any noticeable discomfort, rather I noticed some slight effects in my gait. Because I don't usually wear zero-drop shoes, I was mindful of my gait throughout testing to avoid discomfort after my longest testing efforts."
Outsole
Michael: "The outsole on the Torin 7 is almost identical to its predecessor and provides very good traction on road surfaces, even in wet conditions. The rubber held up well throughout testing, but there are areas where the midsole is exposed, and the Torin has shown some minor signs of wear in these areas."
Grace: "The outsole has a good amount of durability and grip to it, and I had no issues with them grabbing onto different surfaces. I ran mostly on paved road surfaces but threw in a few fire roads as well, and I was pleasantly surprised with the sturdiness, versatility, and reliability of the Torin's outsole."
Comparable Models
Michael: "The Torin 7 is a mix of the HOKA Clifton and Brooks Ghost. All shoes offer good protection and are good options for long mileage runs at cruising paces. The Clifton is a bit more comfort-orientated, whereas the Torin's EGO MAX midsole is more responsive and peppy.
The big difference is the shoe's zero-drop construction, which may not work for every runner, but the Torin performed very well for someone like me with experience in zero-drop shoes, and I would prefer the Torin over the other two models mentioned here."
Grace: "In terms of overall feel, I would compare the Torin 7 to the HOKA Clifton 9. The cushioning is pretty similar, but I would say the Clifton is slightly on the softer side and affords runners a bit more protection, especially over longer distances.
The Torin is not quite as soft, having a more balanced midsole feel, and is more responsive, which allowed me to play with pace a bit more than I could have in the Clifton. Also, I appreciated that I could confidently take the Torin on a variety of different surfaces and the overall versatility it afforded me."
