Review on ALTRA Womens ALW1855L Trail Running by Jesse Nguyen

I love Altras. I currently have 3 different types and have been using them for years. I live in Michigan and love to run in the winter, but hate getting my feet wet. Who does not know it? So based on the outsole description I decided to buy it. I bought 1/2 size larger (8.5) to accommodate thicker socks. The profile is slightly longer than regular Lone Peaks and they handle the snow well. However, if you have a mixture of snow and ice, you will slip. I ride dirt roads and they handle partially frozen roads well. The fit is typical of the Altra. Nice wide sock that I love. Good fit in the middle and back of the foot. I also really like the additional tongue strap. The way the tongue is sewn into the sides of the shoe limits the spatter generated when running in slush. Nice gesture. The outsole does exactly what it promises. It is made of a plastic-like material and protects your feet from snow, mud and rain as advertised. However (you knew this was going to happen) I don't know if it's because I ordered half a size up, but that plastic outsole crumples in a very odd spot on the top of my foot. This resulted in blisters on the top of the foot at the base of each toe. 5 fingers. 5 blisters. on both legs. Ouch. Thicker socks didn't help. I noticed that other reviewers said they wore them in the summer and their feet didn't get hot. This was not my experience. I ran 3 miles in my mid 20's and thought my feet would be on fire when I got home. The plastic outsole seems to keep you warm, which is great for some people. For me, that's not very good. Finally, a few reviewers mentioned an odd noise coming from the shoes. Oh yes, there is. I haven't figured out what it does yet. Could it be the outsole if it flexes? It didn't bother me, but if you're the kind of person who likes to get in touch with nature, the 'clap' might put you off. I would recommend buying the same size you usually wear. If your feet get hot in "regular" shoes, this may not be an option. The same applies to strange noises.