Altra Torin 7 Review

Extremely low-drop shoes aren't for everyone. Most road shoes have at least 4 mm of drop, if not significantly more. The Torin 7 stands out in this regard as one of the few options out there. While it's advertised as “zero drop,” our lab testing found that it actually has 2 mm difference between the heel and forefoot thickness — though this still can fit Altra's definition of “zero-drop,” which is more about where your foot sits in relation to the ground, rather than the actual dimensions of the shoe. Regardless, if you're considering a switch to a low-drop shoe, we recommend slowly making the transition and building strength in your lower legs over time. As with most things in running, a significant change over a short period is a recipe for injury (which makes testing shoes interesting).

Performance Comparison

Landing Comfort

As we mentioned above, we measured the Torin at a whopping 2 mm of drop, and it's advertised as a zero-drop shoe. That means that running in it feels pretty different from running in more traditional trainers. There's less under the heel, so the muscles and tendons of the lower leg and foot are more engaged. This provides a very different sensation than most traditional running shoes. Once you get used to it, the cushioning of the shoe is very pleasant. The 29/27 mm (heel/toe) chunk of foam is by no means maximalist, but the 27 mm of foam in the forefoot is welcome. That's on par with many of the more cushioned traditional trainers in our lineup.

The foam composition of the Torin is almost bouncy, but not quite. Impacts feel smooth with linear energy return, but we didn't get the sensation of being propelled along that we do from other foams. Runners with a wider forefoot will appreciate the roomy toe-box, and the wider platform on the front of the shoe feels very stable on landing. This is a comfortable shoe with plenty of cushioning for daily training that doesn't feel unstable or squishy at faster paces.

Responsiveness

The Torin isn't quite as responsive as we expected it to be. The low drop geometry feels almost racy, but compared to other shoes with aggressive rockers and more energetic foams, it falls short. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Often, shoes that are highly responsive are less enjoyable on easy runs. We think the Torin strikes a good balance. While we would like to feel a snappier toe-off at 5K-10K paces, that would likely compromise this shoe on most other runs.

Stability

The Torin feels close to the ground with a wide forefoot. It gives an agile and stable feeling. We think the use of stiffer rubber along the outsole and aligned with the bones in the foot helps to provide added stability. That said, this isn't a shoe we would recommend for runners who need support. Often, bio-mechanical issues aided by a stability shoe result from muscle weakness somewhere in the lower leg or foot. The added stress of a zero-drop shoe on those muscles is unlikely to help.

Upper Comfort

The upper of the Torin 7 is well thought out, allowing good breathability and great lockdown. We found the toe box to be roomy but did not experience any rubbing or blistering. The midfoot lockdown was great, and the lightly padded tongue provided good protection from the laces. We do wish the tongue was gusseted.

Heel lockdown is also excellent, particularly important in a shoe with a low drop. However, the stiffer material along the heel cup rubbed our main tester's ankles on cambered roads. It wasn't enough to form a blister and was isolated to the outside of the ankle at any given time, but it is worth noting. It did seem to get better after roughly 40 miles of breaking these shoes in.

Weight

The Torin is a pretty lightweight shoe, especially considering how cushioned it feels on pavement. Weighing in at 9.61 ounces per men's size 10.5, this low weight was helpful when we increased our pace.

Traction

The traction on the Torin 7 is solid, with a rubber outsole that easily handles a range of paces.

Should You Buy the Altra Torin 7?

If you want a zero-drop shoe, this is a good choice. It's a shoe that can do most things well. It doesn't stand out in any particular area, but we'd be happy to use it at a range of paces and distances. This is the daily trainer we'd recommend if low drop is your genre of choice.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?