Altra Escalante 4 vs Torin 7 – Do you need all that cushion?

The Altra Escalante 4 and the Altra Torin 7 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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Altra Torin 7 Hero
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Torin 7

Type: Road

Width: Wide

Stack height: 30mm

Weight: 9.8oz / 278g

A maximalist shoe with barefoot roots. Great for those with wide feet. Read the Full Review

Escalante 4

Type: Road

Width: Wide

Stack height: 24mm

Weight: 8.25 oz / 234 g for men’s US9

Less stack height but still soft. Read the Full Review

Altra Escalante 3 Hero
Womens Prices

In this review, I’ll take you through the key differences between the Esclante 4 and the Torin 7 and help you decide which shoe to opt for in your next purchase.

Fit

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 7 differ?

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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 7 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. 

Altra Torin 7 Toe Box

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. 

The ankle collar sits higher and is stiffer on the Torin 7. Whereas the Escalante 4 has a much softer collar. If you’ve had issues with pressure on the ankle bones, the Escalante will be more accommodating and comfortable against the bone. 

torin halo

Torin 7

Feel

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, the ride is more cushy in the Torin. There’s still some “ground feel” in the Escalante, but I wouldn’t classify it as minimal. 

Altra Escalante 3 heel

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 Torin feels more squishy and soft when compared to the Escalante. 

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.

Altra Torin 7 toe

The Escalante 4 is lighter, but not by much! Even though the Escalante 4 is the little brother of the Torin, it’s only ~30g lighter than the Torin. Although going on feel, the Torin felt much heavier and more “clunky.” Either way, neither of these shoes would be classed as lightweight. 

There’s better lateral support in the Torin 7, 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. 

altra escalante 4 outline

Escalante 4

Durability

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. The Torin covers most of the underside with rubber, which likely contributes to the weight, whereas the Escalante 4 only covers the essential parts. Both work for me, and I don’t believe the exposed areas of the Escalante 4 poses a huge risk.

Altra Escalante 3 outsole rubber

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 for that, I’d opt for the Ego. It’s a little denser, meaning it won’t pack out as much as the EgoMax, and it’s been around for much longer, meaning it’s tried and tested. Some people report a “flat” feel from EgoMax soles after 100’s of miles. 

Although the outsole rubber seems to be ideal, it’ll likely be the first place to wear down on either model. 

altra escalante 4 outline

Escalante 4

Conclusion

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. 

Altra Escalante 3 toe

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.

Altra Torin 7 Hero
Shop Womens

Amazon.com – (free returns)

Torin 7

Type: Road

Width: Wide

Stack height: 30mm

Weight: 9.8oz / 278g

A maximalist shoe with barefoot roots. Great for those with wide feet. Read the Full Review

Escalante 4

Type: Road

Width: Wide

Stack height: 24mm

Weight: 8.25 oz / 234 g for men’s US9

Less stack height but still soft. Read the Full Review

Altra Escalante 3 Hero
Womens Prices
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Nick
Nick

Nick is a UESCA-certified ultramarathon coach and avid barefoot runner, having over 5 years of experience in barefoot training and has competed in multiple ultra marathons wearing barefoot shoes. Starting his journey in the running industry over 10 years ago in New Zealand, Nick evolved from a running shoe salesperson to a passionate advocate for the transformative power of barefoot running. He believes in its potential to enhance running experiences for all and combines his unique insights from both personal achievements and professional coaching to guide and inspire the running community."

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6 Comments

  1. Hey, I love tour reviews.

    I could use some help!

    I transitioned to minimalist shoes last year. Hfs 1 without an insole and vibram kso evos for all of my walking, light hiking etc. I’ve done core foot strength work and my feet have grown a ton! None of my old shoes fit.

    I realize I need SOME cushion for road. I can go 5k a few days a week with my kso evos, but no further. I now have hfs 2 but have not tried them yet. I’m thinking 10k?

    When the weather gets nice I’ll do my biggest miles on the trail, but I still want a good shoe for the road up to 40-50km.

    Because I have the xero hfs2. And that will be a fast shoe! (All body mechanics) I’m thinking torin 7’s foe the wide fit and more natural platform. (I run forefoot, so rocker is weird and puts added stress on my calves)

    What about the Escalante 3. If I have my xeros and torins, is there any point in having an escalante 3? And how would a size 13 fit in both?

    Trails easier.

    I have messa 2, scrambler low! And just got lone peaks (the cushion is hard to adjust to) but if I’m going ultra distances I realize I need some cushion.

    For trail, since I have the lonepeak 7, and below that the scrambler lows, would there be a point in having the superior 6?

    I tried a superior 6 in a size 12.5 and it’s to shallow and thin. A 13 may work (or I remove the footbed)

    A 13 lonepeak 7 fits good but the 13 messa 2 and scrambler low fits me the best!

    I guess for road my worry is if I don’t have an escalante I’d be using the torins for anything over 10k. Ot sure if that will be a set back. Then again a rocker shoe doesn’t work well for my forefoot strike.

    Should I have both. Torin 7 and escalante 3. Knowing that shorter runs i have my hfs 2 and vibram kso

    For trail, should I still have superior and lone peak given I have a mess 2 and scrambler low and my vibrams?
    Thanks for your help.

    • Hey! Thanks for reaching out!

      From what I read, you’ve got things pretty well worked out! Most of what you’re saying is the exact way I’d go.

      So here’s my advice:

      Trail – Stick with Meas Trail II and Scrambler’s. The Scrambler isn’t too different from the Superiors in terms of stack. Where they differ are the fit and the terrain they’re suited to (Superior for drier conditions and more “fitted”). If you want to try the Superior again, go for size 13, and switch the insole for something thinner. That’s what I do. I’d ditch the Lone Peaks unless you’ve got a very long day on the trails, and it’s not too technical.

      Road – HFS v1 are great! HFS v2 are a little more stacked, tighter, and stiff; if you have a chance, I’d suggest you swap them for the Speed Force II. That matches the HFS v1 much better.
      And for a cushioned option, I’d go for the Superior and do an insole switch again. They’re shallow, too (although not as shallow as a Superior). The Torins are just a little too stacked considering your progress. You’ll do better with Escalantes! Size 13 again.

      I hope I covered everything there!

  2. I been using Escalante 3 as transition to xero.
    On 10 plus miles I am thinking about torin 7.

    My experience with shoe sizing is different from review.
    I feel torin 7 wide is closer to my feel I get in escalante 3.
    Torin 7 standard is tight on upper and toe box is not a roomy as escalante 3 imo
    Having trouble deciding which Torin to keep. But Torin 7 wide is a closer feel to escalate to me.

  3. The Torin 7 is so cushy compared to Torin 5. Why is Altra trying to be Hoka? Just stay flat and minimal like the early versions of the Torin!! 🙁

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