ALTRA Paradigm Men's Road Running Shoe Review

In April I had surgery on a big toe on both sides. The operation on the right side was a complete failure! Since then I can no longer walk. I did a lot of research because I did NOT want re-operation and these shoes were highly rated for my condition. I just started running and it was AMAZING. I could run and hike. I still have pain and lack of coordination from the BAD surgery but now I can walk for an hour with minimal pain. DANCE OF JOY. UPDATE: I've been walking again for a few weeks with…

On your feet 8-10 hours a day, these shoes are like being on a cushion of air. They are very light and well padded to keep my feet from talking at the end of the shift.

I'm a Hoka guy but a close friend recommended these shoes to me. HE said they were better than Hokas. I'm older so I love the soft grip the hokas offer. They didn't get any of it, and I found every step incredibly painful. If cushioning isn't an issue they might be workable, but if you have knee pain they're no good.

The shoes are advertised as high quality sneakers with a large toe box in the shape of the foot. Well, not even close. Shoes are tight even after unlacing and trying to make room for feet. NONE. The heel rubs against the back, it's low and if I walked/run any distance at all I'd have heel bleeding on both sides. Toe box seems big, but why did both little fingers constantly feel friction? Simply poorly made Vietnamese sneakers of 2019. Some have complained that they "swim" in them. NOT me, too…

Great upgrade as my former Altra shoes have worn out and lost their cushioning. The wide leg box gives my joints enough space and the high pad prevents knee pain. The Zero Lift feature is helping this 66-year-old reduce lower back pain. As before, I bought 1/2 size up so there was plenty of room.

I already had a pair of Altrs, but with thinner soles. I was planning a trip with a lot of hiking so I was looking for a pair with maximum cushioning. Now that we're home, I use them for running outside. And they are awesome! I have arthritis in my big toes and this is really helping. Zero-drop is definitely my way. I love these shoes!

The Paradigm 4.5 is a shoe with good cushioning and support. The only negative experience is that the creases that form on the tips of my toes pinch my pinky toes on both feet. If not for that, the shoes would be perfect.

The shoes fit me well since I wear 9.5 in Escalante 2.0 and they fit me perfectly. My gripe with this shoe is that the ankle hole is too big and as a result I have to tighten the laces to keep myself from bouncing up and down the back of the shoe as I run. I was hoping they would ride the same as my Hoka Clifton 5 but they are more durable which makes them better for long distances. If you're hoping they'll be similar to the Hoka Clifton models, you'll be disappointed to find that they're much…

I like the big finger box. I use them to play tennis. Few tennis shoe manufacturers produce wide or extra wide shoes. They are lightweight, provide good support for my high arch and my toes feel GREAT.

Areas for improvement (out of the box): (a). Narrowing in the midfoot. (B). The toe area needs more room than stated. Overall: Satisfied with the comfort and quality of the product.

The edges of the rubber outsole begin to diverge after a few days of use, then the entire sole begins to fall off in pieces. Maybe the glue wasn't made for warm, humid climates. Also, the forefoot isn't as wide as the Paradigm 5, and the seam actually digs into the top of the foot's perimeter as you run. It has some merits, but what is a shoe without a sole? I recommend Altra to find out what type of glue Merrell uses for their sneakers as I have been riding them on terrains all over the world…

SO. Now I'm on the 3rd couple and missed the window to come back again. It's summer in Arizona and I'm wearing lighter running shoes/sandals --- I've noticed that this third pair is falling apart after a few days. If I were you, I would not buy advertising for this model. Sole/Heal begins to deteriorate almost the first day they are worn. When I get around to it, I'll post a photo or 2.

I love these shoes. I have physical issues with my feet that have led me to try shoe after shoe to find one that offers some sort of comfort. These shoes fit me perfectly, provide good support and now I only wear them. No pinched toes, no aching feet, just incredible comfort.

The problem is that with other shoes, my thumb snaps at the top. So far, so good. Light, comfortable. The wish is made in the US, but I had a need. Big toe box lots of space

I bought my first pair of Altrs about 5 years ago and fell in love with the company. I'm not sure what happened but the last 4 pairs of shoes I've bought from them have been terrible. I wanted to give them a few miles to run and maybe I would have liked them but that never happened and now I've only lost $100. I suggest looking for other more stable shoes until Altra puts them together.

This model is not as comfortable as others like Torin, Escalate or even the terrible duo. It's a very stable shoe, but apparently my foot wants the freedom to roll over the ankle every two miles.

I ordered and returned 7 more pairs of shoes in less than 90 days. These are the guards. They are lightweight and very comfortable with a wide toe box. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is that they are a bit shy in the heel support department, but I should be able to fix that with the right inserts. I found that almost every manufacturer I wore before made my shoes cheaper and narrower. They certainly no longer fit American feet. I firmly believe that shoes should never be broken in…

Can't say enough about how good these shoes are. Zero-drop construction with plenty of shock-absorbing padding and a roomy shoebox make these shoes essential for long runs. Highly recommended!

I was really excited about this shoe as I have problems with flat feet, plantar fasciitis and supination. The midsole of this shoe is so narrow that my feet hurt after 10 minutes of exercise. I took off my shoes and presented them. I like everything else about them but BEWARE of the very thin midsole.

This version of the Venerable Altra paradigm didn't fit well, looked bad, and was a huge disappointment. I would not buy this version again.