Experience Flow 2 vs Torin 8

The Experience Flow 2 is Altra's answer to runners who love the brand's roomy, natural feel but want a bit more snap. It is a lightweight daily training shoe that trades Altra's signature zero drop for a low 4mm, which nudges you onto your forefoot and helps the ride feel quick. At 238g it is genuinely light for a cushioned trainer, so it handles easy miles and picks up the pace for a tempo or progression run without feeling like a chore. Think of it as a do-most-things road shoe rather than a specialist. It is not a max-cushion recovery slab and it is not a carbon racer, but for daily running, faster sessions and the odd 10k it hits a sweet spot. If you have been curious about Altra's foot-shaped fit but found true zero drop a step too far, this is the easiest way in. In our view it is one of the more versatile shoes in the range.

The Altra Torin 8 is a cushioned zero-drop daily training shoe built for runners who want a soft, roomy ride with their heel and forefoot sitting level at 0mm drop. This is Altra's classic everyday road runner, and the eighth version keeps the recipe honest: a natural foot-flat platform, a wide anatomical toe box and enough foam to soak up easy miles. At 278g it is not the lightest daily trainer around, and the zero-drop geometry asks more of your calves and achilles than a raised-heel shoe does, so it rewards runners who are already comfortable running flat. If you like the feel of the ground under a level foot but still want proper cushioning, this is one of the most complete zero-drop options on the market. Newer to Altra? The lighter Escalante 4 is a gentler place to start.