Altra Torin 7

• Posted on 2 June 2023
• By Running Lab Staff
• Posted in Altra, everyday, neutral, Road running, running, toebox, torin, trainer, wide toebox, zero drop
• 0

The Altra Torin 7 is a daily training shoe designed to give runners a more natural running experience thanks to the zero heel to toe drop and wide toebox. The midsole features Altra's EGO MAX foam which allows runners to experience a cushioned and comfortable ride without losing any responsiveness. 

Check out what our reviewers, Joe and Keith have to say about their experience wearing the new Altra Torin 7.

SUPPORT: Neutral
STACK HEIGHT: 30mm (heel), 30mm (forefoot)
HEEL TO TOE OFFSET: 0 mm
WEIGHT: 8 oz (227 g) women's /  9.8 oz (280 g) men's
USE: Everyday, running, walking
SURFACE: Road, lifestyle

ON THE RUN

Joe: I fell in love with the Altra Torin 7 from the moment I took it on its first run. The slight two millimeter increase in stackheight, combined with the lightweight nature of the EGO Max midsole, made the miles smoothly fly by on my first 7 miles in the shoe. I was able to easily shift gears, alternating my pacing throughout the run, and my legs have felt refreshed after each run in it. After the initial 7-miler, I’ve put runs of 4, 4, and 6 miles on the Torin 7 and the experience has remained the same. Even after a hot evening trail run, my sore legs quickly warmed up in the Torin 7 the next morning for an early shakeout, and I surprised myself at the overall pace of what was intended to be an easy recovery run. I am already thinking ahead of the next colorway I’ll be purchasing, as I see the Torin 7 as a regular in my daily trainer line up for the foreseeable future.

Keith: Light, natural, and bouncy with plenty of cushion. My runs in the Torin 7 feel easy and balanced. I really enjoy the feel of having ample cushion in a 0-drop shoe.

FIT

Joe: The tongue has been fixed! The biggest reason I have been hesitant to purchase the Altra Torin over the past couple of versions (ahem…Torin 5) was the poor construction of the tongue and the way it would cut into your leg over time. With the Torin 7, this issue has been remedied with a return to a plush tongue that rests comfortably at the top of the instep. Altra’s spacious Standard Footshape Fit provides ample room for your toes to splay out on both runs and walks. While the toebox did feel a little shallow wearing the shoe at work, I have not noticed any points of friction with the tops of my toes on any of my runs to date. The new molded heel collar securely locks in my heels, and I have no worries of heel slippage while in the Torin 7. The updated engineered mesh in the upper provides a soft, breathable, and secure fit all throughout the foot. I found the Altra Torin 7 to run true to size for me. In other Altra shoes, I have considered downsizing a half size, but for the Torin 7, the usual 12.5 D sizing I wear is the perfect length and width.

Keith: I'm a big fan of the wide toebox. It lets my toes move naturally and doesn't irritate some of my old soccer injuries. With some of Altra's models going slimmer, it was a good move on their part to leave the Torin 7's toebox close to its original shape. The midfoot fit and cushioning is done well. The improvement in the lacing gillies allows for a locked in fit and there is great cushion in the sweet spot under the ball of the foot. The heel stays put and cradles the back of the foot. I had no irritation or slip whatsoever. Now for one thing on every Torin fans mind; they did fix the tongue!! It is still pretty thin, but soft all the way through. There is no chance of it slicing you up anymore. The Upper is a super soft knit that feels very friendly. It is light, but could be more breathable. The overall fit is a vast improvement on recent trends with this shoe. It does run true to size. In a lot of standard toebox shoes, I wear an 11 so I can spread my toes. With the wider toebox I can snug it up to a 10.5 which allows for a better fit in my heel and midfoot. 

CUSHION

Joe: I am a big fan of the EGO Max midsole, and the additional two millimeters of stackheight, combined with Altra’s Balanced Cushioning platform provide individuals with a lightweight, cushioned daily trainer able to accommodate runs of any length. Compared to my Topo Magnifly, I appreciate the slight squish in the cushioning, and my legs have felt fresh during and after my runs in the Torin 7.

Keith: More cushion than any other Torin, ever!! The added 2mm of foam underfoot makes a big difference and puts the Torin firmly in the high cushion/plush category. It does feel like more shoe, but it is not overdone. 

STABILITY

Joe: The Torin 7 remains a true neutral shoe, and while Torin fans may notice the change in stackheight, the increased cushioning does not detract from the stable platform the shoe offers. As a neutral runner and walker, I have found the Torin 7 stable for both runs and wearing all day for work.

Keith: The 0-drop platform allows the foot to sit naturally, creating a very stable and connected ride. 

SPEED

Joe: The Torin 7 is a daily trainer that can handle all types of runs. The increased 30mm midsole offers that little bit of extra cushion for long runs. It is also light enough that you can easily shift gears and pick up the pace for tempo runs. I plan to use my Torin 7 for long runs, recovery runs, and longer distanced tempo runs as I train for my first 50K this summer.

Keith: The Torin 7's lightweight feel is going to make it a great go-to for daily training and the added cushion will cruise through long runs. 

COMPARISON

Joe: Altra’s zero-drop platform and Standard Footshape Fit make it difficult to directly compare to many shoes on the market, I believe the closest comparison would be the Topo Magnifly. Both offer a zero-drop platform, but the cushioning in the Topo Magnifly is more firm and not quite as responsive as the Torin 7. I would not want to push the Magnifly past an 8-10 mile run, while I don’t foresee any issues taking the Torin 7 out for double digit mile runs. I would place the Torin 7 in the same category for cushion and performance as the Hoka Clifton 9 and Saucony Endorphin Shift 3.

Keith: The Torin 7 compares well with the Topo Phantom 3, Hoka Clifton 9, Diadora Equipe Nucleo, On Cloudsurfer, New Balance 880v13. It's hard to say that it is very similar to these because it is a 0-drop shoe, but the cushion level is a good match. Anyone who runs in any of these and wants to feel a more natural foot position while running will enjoy the Torin 7, a lot!

PREVIOUS VERSIONS

Joe: This is my first time running in any version of the Torin family from Altra. After running in the Altra Escalante 2.5, I was looking forward to moving up in cushion to the Altra Torin as a daily trainer, but the tongue issues of the Torin 5 kept me away from the Torin until this most recent update.

Keith: The addition of 2mm more foam makes the shoe feel much more premium and plush under foot, but that is not even the most drastic improvement. The Torin 6 suffered from a rather poor attempt to fix the problem of the tongue being too stiff and edgy. It also had a problem with the outsole rubber delaminating (falling off) very prematurely. Both issues have been addressed in major ways in the 7. The tongue is now very soft against the skin and the outsole rubber is deeper set with improved adhesive and durability. 

WHAT WE THINK

Joe: The Altra Torin 7 is for anyone looking for a solid daily trainer capable of runs of varying distances and intensities. I would also recommend this shoe to individuals walking through foot issues such as bunions, Morton’s neuroma, and blisters between toes. The zero-drop platform and footshaped toebox can help alleviate these issues.

Keith: This shoe is going to be a home-run with Altra die-hard fans! It will also be a great introduction to the brand for anyone who is curious about a more natural feeling running shoe. I recommend that anyone who is interested in Altra to try this shoe. Whether it converts you to 0-drop running or not, it will be an enjoyable experience.

MEET YOUR REVIEWERS

Joe

34 years old
Wears men's size 12.5 D

I've been actively running over 15 years at a variety of levels. I typically log miles through the concrete jungle, but in 2023, I’ve committed to my big races being out in the trails, culminating in my first 50K this fall. I currently work at Running Lab and have worked there for just over 1.5 years. My favorite things about running are the ability to improve each time you lace up your shoes, and the opportunities it allows us to see the beautiful world that surrounds us as we meet incredible and inspiring people along the way.

Keith

39 year old
Wears men's size 10.5/11 

Running has always been a part of my life. When I was younger it was mainly a way to stay in shape for soccer; running track in the off-season was a way to train hard and stay competitive. I liked it, but it wasn't until my first marathon in my late 20's that I really fell in love with running. Since then I have completed 9 marathons, a 50-miler, and two 100-milers while also competing in countless 5k, 10k, and half-marathon races. I enjoy running just about anywhere except the treadmill. I prefer trails in the woods to the road and my favorite spot so far is Corsair Trail System in the Huron National Forest near East Tawas, MI. I also frequent the many trails we have in Southeast Michigan. I currently work at Running Lab and have worked there for a total of just over 5 years. My favorite thing about running is that it can be super competitive yet the running community is so supportive of each other.