Altra Escalante 4 vs Torin 8 – Flexible vs. Stable?

The Altra Escalante 4 and the Altra Torin 8 are very different shoes. Yes, they’re both zero drop and have a fair amount of cushion, but the feeling during a run is drastically different. 

On top of that, the fit of the two shoes differs, which may mean you’ll be opting for one over the other –not because of the features– but because of the fit!

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In this review, I’ll take you through the key differences between the Esclante 4 and the Torin 8 and help you decide which shoe to opt for in your next purchase.

A running shoe must fit well for it to be even considered in the first place. 

If your toes are too scrunched, the shoes are not for you. 

If your heel slips, the shoe is a no-go.

And that’s why I always start my reviews with the fit sections. So how do the Escalante 4 and the Torin 8 differ?

Both shoes are similar in width from the midfoot to the toe box. The Escalante is wider than your average Joe, and with its flexible upper, it’s nicely accommodating. The Torin is similar, albeit with a thinner, flexible upper material. Both will do well for most foot types.

The Torin 8 comes in a wide and standard width. I tried the standard width, and it’s plenty wide enough for me, but there is even a wide-fitting option for even more room! This could be useful if you find shoes uncomfortable across the midfoot or toebox. This is not an option in the Escalante. 

You’ll feel more at home in the Escalante if you have a shallow, narrower foot. There’s not much internal height of the Escalante. In fact, there is so little height that I swap out the insoles for a thinner pair. But that works perfectly if you have a slender foot and you’re still looking for toe space. The Torin is more middle of the road regarding internal height, but it does take a little time to pack out, so give it 20-30km first. 

The heel cup on the Torin 8 is very stiff. Whereas the Escalante 4 has a much softer heel. If you like that tight, secure, locked-in feel on the heel, then Torin is for you. But that doesn’t always mean a better fit. I often find more flexible heels like the Escalante 4 works much better.

Now we come to the big differences!

How they feel out on the road.

There’s a 6mm stack height difference between the Torin and Escalante. With the new Torin coming in at 30mm and the Esclante at 24mm, but that’s not reflected in the feel. The Torin feels higher and more like a rocker of a conventional shoe, whereas the Escalante sways more minimal.

The type of foam in the midsole creates a bigger difference than the height. The Torin uses the EgoMax EVA foam, and the Escalante uses the standard Ego EVA foam. And while I don’t like to buy into the naming too much, the Escalante now feels more squishy and soft when compared to the Torin. 

Because of the Escalante 4’s lower stack height, your feet do more of the work. There’s a decent amount of flex in the Escalante for a higher stack height shoe. And while it’s not minimal, your feet will still get a good workout when compared with the Torin.

The Escalante 4 is lighter, but not by much! Even though the Escalante 4 is the little brother of the Torin, it’s only ~20g lighter than the Torin. Although going on feel, the Torin didn’t feel too much heavier, likely because the ride was so different!

There’s better lateral support in the Torin 8, which some people need. You could spin this as a good thing or a bad thing. If you are cornering at higher speeds, slipping off the base of your shoe is the worst thing! A solid upper can help keep your foot in place, as you’ll find in the Torin 7. But on the other hand, when the upper is thinner and more minimal, like the Escalante, it allows the foot to move and flex more naturally. 

It will be a close call on durability because both shoes have shared DNA. 

But some critical distinctions could see one go longer than the other. 

The outsole rubber used on both models is similar. Both models only cover the high wear areas of the outsole in a very similar pattern. Because of that I can’t say one would be better than the other.

The upper on the Escalante is more durable and resilient to scuffs and scraps. Not that I expect you’ll be on trails in the Escalante (although I have a friend that does this), but it’s worth noting that the loose, tough weave on the Escalante will go much further than the Torin. This may also mean it’s less likely that we’d see premature wear on the Escalante upper, making it last much longer. 

With the Torin using EgoMax foam and the Escalante using Ego foam, one must be better. And because the Torin 8 feels denser, I would expect it’ll last longer and not pack out as quickly. That said, even when the Escalante 4 flattens, it’s still runnable. It just won’t have that bounce anymore.

Although the outsole rubber appears to be ideal, it will likely be the first part to wear down on either model. 

Considering I’m a minimal runner most of the time, it’s surprising that I enjoyed running in the Torin just as much as the Escalante. 

And while I’d reach for the Escalante 9/10 because I believe it’s a more optimal shoe for our biomechanics, the Torin is still a great shoe to have in rotation for faster, and recovery runs. 

The choice comes down to 2 factors. 

Fit 

• Do you have a very wide foot?
  • Opt for the Torin in wide fit.
• Do you have shallow feet?
  • Choose the Escalante
• Average on both?
  • Either will work.

Feel

• Do you want more ground feel?
  • Choose the Escalante
• Are you looking for a long-distance “easy” shoe?
  • Choose the Torin
• Want a do it all shoe?
  • Choose the Escalate

And that’s it! Both are great shoes. And both are great running tools!

Check out the full reviews on both.