BirthdayShoesAltra Running is a new running shoe manufacturer that was built from the ground up on the concept of zero-drop, foot-minded running shoes. They have been making a splash in the minimalist/barefoot running shoe movement with their ultra-minimalist Altra Adam as well as their zero-drop options the Altra Instinct and Altra Lone Peak. You can find their web presence here: altrazerodrop.com and below is the official Altra story from their website!
The Altra Story
“Running technique has always been a big deal in my family. My dad blew out his knee playing college football and was told he would never run again. He learned to avoid heel striking and run with proper technique to pull the pressure off his knee. Reducing the cushioning and weight of the heels in his running shoes helped him maintain proper technique and stay injury free. Since then, he’s won major marathons, worked for running shoe companies and built our dream running store in the Rocky Mountains.”
“Nearly 20 years after starting the store, we still felt there was a large gap for truly biomechanically correct footwear. We believed that shoes shouldn’t encourage a heel strike; they should let the body move naturally.”
“For years, we had cut down the heels of regular running shoes to test our Zero Drop™ theory and had seen incredible results with our staff and customers. It eliminated injuries and helped people get back into running, just like my dad.”
“Working with engineers, designers, elite runners and biomechanical experts, we started making prototypes to bring Altra footwear to the masses. Our unique, Zero Drop™, foot-shaped, gender-specific design was exactly what we were looking for – a shoe to help everyone run naturally!”
“We’ve seen our footwear reduce injuries, improve running technique and change lives. We know it will help your customers run better and healthier. Life’s short, run naturally!”
-Golden
Founder, Altra Zero Drop™ Footwear
In short the Instinct 1.5 is a nice upgrade to the original Instinct. If you liked the original Instinct you’ll love the new 1.5 even more. The overall fit is superb and my toes have never been happier having plenty of room to splay!
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Not much of a fan of the…
Altra Footwear made a splash in 2011 as they brought to market a handful of shoes designed to accommodate a natural running style — shoes that were neutral from heel-to-toe (Altra coined the term “zero-drop”) with an anatomically correct design an…
Introducing the Altra Instinct, the first shoe to truly marry the form-improving benefits like a zero-drop sole of the minimalist/barefoot running shoe with the comfort, cushioning and support of a traditional running shoe.
Altra Running is a new zero-drop running manufacturer based out of Utah. It was born out of necessity: the founders, themselves long-time runners and owners of a running shoe store, had been chopping off the heels of running shoes effective…
I was fortunate enough to meet the guys from Altra at the 2011 CrossFit Games. They were very friendly, and very staunch advocates of a wide toe-box, and zero heel drop. All of their shoes, they explained, are built on variations on those two themes. Th…
“Blending cushioned protection with the benefits of barefoot freedom, Altra footwear is designed to reduce injury and promote proper technique for the most natural run. Every shoe features Zero Drop™ and a foot-shaped, gender-specific design so everyone…