Altra Torin 8 Review

Comfort and Fit

The Torin 8 is a comfortably fitting shoe with a well-executed upper and natural foot shape design. The upper materials aren't plush or particularly soft, but we didn't experience rubbing during testing. Alta's anatomical fit is extremely comfortable for standing and walking, but we occasionally experienced some sliding in other Altras while running hard. This was never the case in the Torin 8, where lockdown was excellent, particularly through the midfoot.

The Torin runs true to size in length. The wide, natural shape of the toe box allows your feet to relax, which is especially nice when you wear the shoe for an extended period. The upper has plenty of room for runners with higher-volume feet, and we found that it cinched down easily. Though the midfoot, the fit is average. At the heel, we found the width to be slightly wider than average, but the supportive and semi-deep heel cup provided excellent retention. Our tester with a relatively narrow heel had no issues with heel lift.

Cushioning

The Torin, while moderately protective for a zero-drop, natural-feeling shoe, scores far below the best performers in this category. There is 28mm of Altra's Ego Max midsole underfoot. The foam is meant to be softer and slightly more energetic than a standard EVA, but it felt quite firm and lifeless underfoot.

On the run, we very clearly noticed the lack of cushioning compared to other, more traditional running shoes. Heel-strikers, in particular, are likely to find the shoe less than ideal for road running, especially if they're not accustomed to running in zero-drop shoes. Heel-cushioning is lacking. While the firm foam prevents bottoming out, the shoe rolls poorly through the midfoot. When landing at the rear of the foot, transitioning through your foot strike can feel “slappy,” similar to smacking your hand flat onto a hard surface. We don't recommend these shoes to runners who do a lot of mileage. There is protection, but it is lacking compared to most of the competition. Our lower legs definitely noticed the lower drop, and we experienced more soreness after long runs. There's nothing wrong with the Torin, but if you're used to running in a more traditional shoe, you should ease into running in this one.

Breathability

Breathability is mediocre in the Torin, with an engineered mesh upper that is perforated, but is not exceptionally lightweight. Most runners shouldn't have issues with hot feet, but those in particularly hot climates may find the shoes run warm.

Traction

Altra used a rubber outsole covering key contact patches on the heel area and the entire forefoot. It's grooved into segments under the forefoot, and these grooves act as lugs, increasing the flexibility of the shoe. We found the grooves to be rock magnets; smaller rocks would get stuck when running on crushed gravel paths. Cold, wet, and loose traction is above average in the Torin. We had no issues across a range of conditions.

Should You Buy the Altra Torin 8?

We think runners who enjoy a natural, zero-drop feel but prefer a little protection under their feet will love the Torin. The fit is accommodating and feels good all day, and while the cushioning lags behind some competitors, it's still a capable shoe for hammering out the miles. On the other hand, we think many runners are better served by a more traditional trainer that offers a little more support and protection underfoot. That said, we loved the Torin for walking, standing, and occasionally at the gym for circuit workouts.

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