Altra Superior 3.0

The American house Altra Running offers us in this 3.0 version of the "Superior" an agile Trailrunning shoe that combines lightness, exceptional grip and stability. Its 0 drop, a trademark of the company, is the expression of the "Zerodrop" and brings you closer to the ground. For those who want to start in the"natural running" the most comfortable of the options, since the absence of drop does not imply lack of comfort or cushioning. On the contrary, they are very comfortable and all their technologies help.

In the midsole we will find the "Abound" EVA compound (an exclusive EVA made with recycled materials) that uses the "Innerflex" technology (internal grooves incorporated in the midsole). In the toe box we have Altra's "toe box FootShape" which in their own words "allows the toes to relax and expand naturally, while keeping the thumb straight".

This improves stability and facilitates powerful toe-off, to maximize running performance. This leaves plenty of room in the toe box to move the toes freely and allows for greater adaptability to terrain imperfections.

21 mm midsole, 5 mm heel and 261 grams of weight, are the numbers by which Altra running bets on this versatile trailrunning flyer that after having rolled thoroughly I will tell you my feelings.

Upper

The upper of the Altra Superior 3.0 is composed of a quick-drying mesh made of a very resistant Nylon that will be able to withstand the most demanding terrain. It has shown no signs of wear and tear when hiking through brush. This great resistance to wear is one of its plus points, it lacks water resistance and what it offers is a good evacuation of it if we get into puddles and a quick drying that will keep our feet comfortable during the race.

The thermo glued bands in the same tone as the rest of the shoe contribute to shape the framework that will wrap our instep, although the extreme adjustment is achieved by the lacing. Playing with the tension of the laces we will be able to wear them literally glued to the foot and you will hardly notice that you are wearing them. At this end we must be careful not to overdo the tension, as an excess of it can cause the plastic strip that surrounds the eyelet to deform when bending the toes and bother us when doing this gesture.

Through the various tests that I have done I have managed to give the right tension to the laces to achieve a perfect balance between fit and comfort, something that is as personal as feet exist and everyone should adjust to their own.

The tongue, in a soft mesh that facilitates perspiration and manages to accommodate perfectly to our foot eliminating pressure from the laces at this point, is just the right length to protect without interfering with the natural tread that Altra proposes with this "Zerodrop" Trailera.

The entire toe is reinforced by a rubber band that comes to be inserted into the sides and will protect us from the kicks that we propinquish the stones that we can find on the road.

Heel, the internal buttress is marked by a band where the letters that make up the anagram of the brand are inserted and provides extra stability to the whole. They wrap your ankle but leaving play to make some lateral supports with total security.

In this heel Altra incorporates a curious technology that is called "Velcroc GaiterTrap" and consists of a Velcro that you can use to attach the gaiters that the brand itself offers in its catalog, while you do not use it will remain hidden by a tab of the same material.

Midsole

The midsole of the Altra Superior 3.0 is formed by 21 mm thick EVA Abound, made from recycled materials and intended to reduce the impact caused by hard surfaces. In turn lte help you recover the energy invested in each stride, according to Altra a layer of material that bounces between the asphalt and your feet. Well, the feeling is indeed responsive without losing comfort or cushioning. We are talking about a shoe with which we are going to run metatarsal except on steep descents where we can take advantage of the cushioning that exists in the heel to slow our descent.

Being as it is a shoe intended for Trailrunning and that wants to bring us closer to that natural way of running without getting into extreme minimalism, the midsole plays an important role in terms of absorbing the imperfections of the terrain. Rocks, potholes, branches and others will not be a problem and is able to absorb them perfectly protecting the foot against any of the most rugged terrain.

This will help us if we want it, the anti-rock plate (StoneGuard), which in this case is removable and in fact comes without inserting it into the shoe. It is placed under the insole if you need this extra protection, thanks to the micro perforations and attachment points. Once in place it does not move from its place and will go unnoticed except for that extra protection.

The Innerflex technology applied in the EVA Abound is formed by internal flex grooves that promote multidimensional flexibility, making the feet more responsive and reducing the weight of the shoe.

Outsole

For me one of its strong points, called "Trailclaw" and designed specifically for trail running, is composed of lugs that are located directly under the metatarsal and "claws" in the part of the toes, which will make us traction in an excellent way both in the ascent and descent.

They have behaved perfectly in all the terrains that I have tested them and they have not been few, from easy trails, scree, steep climbs and descents where you normally skid due to lack of traction. These Altra Superior 3.0 have responded to perfection, neither the mud nor the so feared wet rock have been an impediment to run with ease by them with the Altra shod. Even the stretches of asphalt that are usually run inevitably to link the tracks and trails are perfectly assumable by these shoes without fear of premature wear.

Conclusions

Surprisingly comfortable. Maximum traction. That would be my conclusion, a real trail flyer, for use in all types of terrain. In principle designed for short and medium distances but with the proper adaptation to the "Zerodrop" and refining the technique you will have no limits in terms of distance or terrain. The same applies to the approach to the "weight" of the runner. If you want to start in the "natural running" your weight will not be a handicap and these shoes will offer you the cushioning and comfort necessary to make a progressive and smooth adaptation whatever it is.

I have not had any problem to start running with them making a minimal adaptation and starting with short distances so that the muscles of the posterior chain do not suffer too much. Until I took them to the first race of the year to test them in competition, a Trail of 23km and little slope, but at night. I was able to test the perception of the terrain through the shoes and I have launched myself with confidence on the descents, offering me a very good result.

Altra Running offers us a gateway to a whole universe of natural running, standard bearers of the 0 drop but offering cushioning and comfort. They invite us to run in a more natural way, with their full range of shoes and brand philosophy.

PROs & CONs

PROs

• Traction capacity in all types of terrain.
• Comfort.
• Wide toe box.

Opportunities for improvement

• Upper flex line on toes can be annoying.

Runnea tester's rating

• Cushioning: 7
• Lightweight: 8.
• Flexibility: 7
• Responsiveness: 8.
• Stability: 7
• Grip: 9