Torin 8 vs Torin 9

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.

Altra made the Torin lower and cheaper for version 9. It stands 25.8mm at the heel and 25.5mm at the forefoot, down from 30mm flat on the Torin 8, it weighs 264g against 278g, and the RRP has come down from £150 to £135. The result is a flatter, more planted zero-drop daily training shoe than the soft Torin that many Altra fans are used to. Reviewers agree the Vibram outsole grips very well on wet roads and that the shoe is steadier than before. How it feels underfoot splits them. Canadian Running found it soft and bouncy, while Run To The Finish called it much firmer than the Torin 8 and short on life, and lab testing measured very little energy return. We rate it a good road running shoe for easy miles if you're already used to zero drop. Try it on before you buy, though, because the toe box doesn't suit every Altra foot this time.