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Product Description
On the heels of the award-winning Altra Superior 2.0, the Superior 3.0 has everything we loved about its predecessor, plus a few notable improvements. Elastic overlays increase durability in the upper and a subtle lateral flare on the outsole lugs maximizes grip Read More
Preface
I own a pair of Altra Superior 3.0's & a pair of Altra Torin 2.5's. Though the Superior 3.0's weren't my first trail running shoe, they were my first pair of Altras, (so sorry that I can't compare them to the Superior 2.0.) Some of these pros & cons led me to purchase a pair of Altra Torin 2.5's when they were available on Massdrop, and all the insights below are still fresh since this is my first pair of Altras, (with additional thoughts included below.)
Pros
The grip of the Trail Claws = excellent control in every step, so you'll feel grounded even on uneven surfaces
Toe-Box space = plenty of room for those who need it, (the front of my feet are wider, and kind of spill off to the sides. This is a perfect shoe for that.)
Cushioning & grip around the ankle = comfortably tight & reassuring, and it doesn't want to slip around and roll your ankles on a bad step when they're tied nicely.
Breathable materials = your feet won't get too hot even during long runs.
Cons
Zero drop = not friendly for all insoles. If you use Superfeet or an insole like it, let me warn you that it will reduce your control.
Wet feet = gross socks. They will get wet on a rainy day / running through puddles. I'm in Alaska, and I can never avoid lots of moisture, so keep that in mind - they WILL get wet inside.
Light padding = runners or hikers with tender feet be warned - if you transition onto pavement at all with these, your feet will feel the bottom of each notch pumped into the bottom of your foot. My feet were numb by the end of the first couple 5K's that had trail-to-pavement transitions because of the pavement pounding the notches of the TrailClaw into the bottom of my feet.
Additional notes 1st- You should try these on for a few before buying them if you can, (especially if you know your feet get sore easily.)
2nd - There are pros & cons to each Altra shoe, though each model runs and walks very well when they're used on the terrain they're made for.
3rd - The description is accurate when it says the padding is light. Stone-Guard doesn't have the level of softness like 'walking on clouds' as the Altra Torins do, but feel close to a pair of Superfeet.
4th - If you're a regular hiker, trail runner, or even a casual forest walker, you will need to know your preference for how much surface detail you'd like to feel in each stride. It's not like you'll feel akin to running in a pair of converse and having your feet screaming in pain, but as stated above about the 5k run - it wasn't fun to find out how much that felt once I transferred to the pavement.
djprHI DJ - Your feet will get wet.
If it helps you out, I added another response to the discussion with details from my experience owning these for the last 9 months. Water proofing is one of the points I touched on.