Photo shows one example colourway
Escalante 5
Low-stack near-zero-drop daily trainer with a roomy toebox.
Today's tracked prices
- 01Direct RunningLIVE£119.92£124.90−4%
Prices and sizes can change, so always check the latest availability at the retailer. Some links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Price history
Our verdict
The Escalante 5 is heavier than the shoe it replaces. Our spec sheet has it at 275g against 240g for the Escalante 4, with a touch more stack and a 2.2mm drop, which is still close to the zero-drop idea Altra builds everything around. In return you get a tougher outsole and a better-fitting knit upper, and most reviewers found the foam a little bouncier than before. It remains a low, flexible daily running shoe with a wide toe box, aimed at runners already used to zero or near-zero drop who want to feel the road and let their toes spread. The ride divides opinion. Run To The Finish liked the springy, grounded feel and rated it the best Escalante so far, while RTINGS found the cushioning harsh and too thin for long runs. We land in the middle. It's a good shoe for short and steady runs, but we wouldn't take it into marathon training, and if you've never run in low-drop trainers it's the wrong place to start.
Key features
- Near-level platform (2.2mm drop)Puts your heel and forefoot almost level, so you land and push off in a more natural position. Your calves and Achilles do more of the work, especially at first.
- Wide, foot-shaped toe boxGives your toes room to splay on every stride, which is the main reason wide-footed runners pick an Escalante.
- Low, flexible midsoleBends with your foot instead of rolling you forward, so you keep plenty of ground feel and control over your stride.
- Knit upperWraps your foot softly and breathes well, and reviewers found it comfortable enough for all-day wear as well as runs.
- More outsole rubberShould help it outlast earlier Escalantes, though it's part of why the shoe weighs more.
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Runners already used to zero-drop shoes who want a flexible daily trainer
- Wide-footed runners who want room to splay their toes
- Midfoot and forefoot strikers on easy and steady runs who like feeling the road
- Anyone wanting one low, comfortable shoe for short runs and everyday wear
Who should not buy it
- You've never run in low-drop shoes, because your calves need time to adapt
- You land on your heel and want a soft landing
- You need one shoe for half marathon and marathon long runs, as the cushioning runs out
- You run on wet roads a lot and want confident grip
- You overpronate and need stability support
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The reviews disagree on length. Two had it true to size, but a lab review measured it on the short side and suggests going up half a size, so if you're between sizes, take the bigger one. Width is simpler. The forefoot and toe box are wide, and wide-footed runners should be comfortable in their usual width. One reviewer found the toe box fairly shallow, though, so if your feet are high-volume across the top, try a pair on before you commit. The heel collar is soft, but the same lab review saw the heel padding wear early.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The ride is firm and low, and you feel the road through it. Most reviewers found it a little livelier than the Escalante 4, with a discreet bit of spring, but nobody calls it soft. It bends easily under the forefoot and there's hardly any rocker, so your feet do the work of rolling through each step. That suits midfoot and forefoot strikers at steady or quicker paces. Heel strikers get a sharper landing, and one lab test found the transitions abrupt for exactly that reason.
Cushioning
There isn't much of it, and that's deliberate. Our spec sheet has 25.9mm at the heel and 23.7mm at the forefoot: enough for an easy 5K or 10K, thin on longer efforts once your form starts to tire. If you like the Altra fit but want more under you, the Experience Flow 2 sits higher with a 4mm drop. The Torin 9 is a closer relative than its name suggests, since on paper its stack and weight are almost the same as this shoe's.
Stability
It's a neutral shoe with no guidance features, yet the low, broad platform feels steady because you sit close to the ground. Lab testing rated its stability highly. Nothing stops your foot rolling in, though, so overpronators who need support should look elsewhere.
Upper & comfort
The knit upper has improved the most. Reviewers found it breathable, quick to dry and comfortable enough to wear all day. The tongue sits higher and is easier to set, although it isn't gusseted and one lab review found it slid about during runs. One tester also had the laces come undone, so a double knot is worth the extra second.
Reviews
No reviews yet, be the first to review this shoe.
Sign in to write a review.
FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Daily |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 2.2mm |
| Heel Stack | 25.9mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 23.7mm |
| Weight | 275g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |