Reviews You Can Rely On

Altra Vanish Tempo Review

A decent uptempo shoe for zero-drop fans
gearlab tested logo
Altra Vanish Tempo Review
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $170 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Altra
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
63
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 6.5
  • Responsiveness - 20% 7.3
  • Stability - 15% 6.3
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 5.0
  • Weight - 15% 6.2
  • Traction - 5.0% 6.5
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

For runners who seek out a shoe with zero-drop, the Altra Vanish Tempo fills a void as a decent uptempo trainer. Compared to more standard speed trainers, the Vanish Tempo isn't fast, but the Ego Pro midsole foam and rocker geometry provide enough bounce to make threshold work more fun while still fitting Altra's definition of a zero-drop shoe. It's the most responsive shoe in this niche that we've tried, and while the fit might be a bit narrower than Altra devotees are used to, it has plenty of space in the toe box while still providing good lockdown. We think there are better options for most runners, but if you prefer a low-to-no drop shoe and want something a little faster, this is a good choice.
REASONS TO BUY
Responsiveness in a zero-drop shoe
Comfortable toe-box
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff lacing
Rough upper mesh
Lacks top-end speed

Compare to Similar Products

 
altra vanish tempo
This Product
Altra Vanish Tempo
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Running Shoes for Uptempo Training
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Men's Running Shoes
Top Pick Award
Excellent Performance without a Plate
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Price $170 List
$135.50 at Amazon
$164.00 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$112.43 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$140.00 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers
$135 List
Check Price at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
63
73
72
71
70
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line A niche workout shoe for runners who prefer zero-dropAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Altra Vanish Tempo Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
6.5
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
7.3
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
6.3
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
5.0
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
6.2
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
6.5
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Altra Vanish Tempo Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 9.48 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 37 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 7 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 21.0 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 68.1% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole EGO PRO PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole Rubber Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type None None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 7-15 US, regular 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

Zero-drop shoes mostly lag behind the rest of the running shoe market in terms when it comes to performance. Altra set out to close that gap with the Vanish Tempo, and succeeded in creating a decent daily trainer for threshold workouts.

Performance Comparison


altra vanish tempo - the vanish tempo is the most versatile zero-drop shoe in our lineup.
The Vanish Tempo is the most versatile zero-drop shoe in our lineup.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


The Ego Pro midsole foam in the Vanish Tempo is comfortable, with decent bounce underfoot. Runners used to a more standard shoe will likely find the ride to be on the firmer side, though not unpleasant. We measured 37 mm of foam under the heel.

altra vanish tempo - there is a decent bit of foam under the heel in this shoe.
There is a decent bit of foam under the heel in this shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

That's plenty of foam to protect your legs on longer efforts, although if you're not used to zero-drop shoes, these may be a great entry pair. Altra markets these as having 0 mm of drop from heel to toe. When standing, that's exactly how your feet sit within these shoes, which is Altra's defining character of their zero-drop shoes. However, the forefoot stack is actually thinner than the heel stack — by 7mm, when measured according to World Athletics stack height standards. And so, by that definition, these “zero-drop” shoes actually run like a fairly average trainer with good rocker geometry.

altra vanish tempo - the zero-drop geometry isn't necessarily the right choice for all...
The zero-drop geometry isn't necessarily the right choice for all runners, and it should be built up to.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


The entire goal of the Vanish Tempo is to bring a more uptempo experience to a section of the running shoe market that doesn't have many options. Altra was reasonably successful in accomplishing that goal — this shoe is more responsive than the average daily trainer.

We still wouldn't really call it a speed trainer. We found it felt best at threshold or slower and struggled to handle faster intervals. It's better for the zero-drop enthusiast who wants a shoe for their tempos or for long runs with segments at marathon pace, but not for one who is regularly running faster sessions. Is it more responsive than the average zero-drop shoe? Absolutely. That's thanks largely to the Ego Pro foam, which has a decent bit of resilience, and the clever rocker geometry, which gives this shoe a much smoother roll and better push-off at pace than a shoe like the Altra Torin 7 or the Topo Magnifly 5.

altra vanish tempo - the ego pro foam has decent energy return and a comfortable ride.
The Ego Pro foam has decent energy return and a comfortable ride.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


The Vanish Tempo feels reasonably low to the ground when you run in it and has a wide forefoot base. Both those features give confidence when running on uneven ground. Additionally, Altra's outsole design aids forward direction.

altra vanish tempo - the cutouts in the outsole aid in directional movement.
The cutouts in the outsole aid in directional movement.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
While we don't recommend this shoe to runners with stability needs, we found it to be stable-neutral.


Upper Comfort


The upper of the Vanish Tempo is light and breathable but not the most comfortable in terms of abrasion prevention. The mesh is a little rough, and while we didn't get any rubbing, we wouldn't be surprised if other runners did. For Altra, the fit is somewhat narrow through the midfoot, but the toe box opens up and provides plenty of room for your toes to splay — a hallmark of most Altra shoes. We found the fit to be very comfortable and true to size.

altra vanish tempo - we found the mesh to be a bit rough and the lacing system to be...
We found the mesh to be a bit rough and the lacing system to be stiffer than it needed to be.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


This shoe is reasonably light for a speed trainer, coming in at 9.48 ounces per shoe (US men's size 10.5). However, that's still half an ounce heavier than our favorite speed trainer, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, and almost an ounce and a half heavier than another one of our favorites, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4. Both shoes offer more responsiveness and more cushioning in a lighter package.

altra vanish tempo - it's a lightweight shoe, but still lags behind our favorite speed...
It's a lightweight shoe, but still lags behind our favorite speed trainers.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


Traction is above average on this shoe, thanks to a tacky outsole, large yet subtle lugs, and lots of siping. We had no issues on loose gravel or wet roads. It's not the best, but we found the outsole to provide plenty of bite during workouts on crushed gravel paths — although picking small pieces of gravel out of the cutouts was annoying.

altra vanish tempo - the outsole of the vanish tempo does well on a range of surfaces.
The outsole of the Vanish Tempo does well on a range of surfaces.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Altra Vanish Tempo?


This shoe is meant for runners who want a low-to-no drop vibe without totally sacrificing responsiveness. If that's you, then this is a great option. It's one of the most versatile zero-drop shoes out there. On the other hand, if you're not entirely sure you want a zero-drop trainer, then we encourage you to look elsewhere. There are multiple daily trainers in our lineup that offer more comfort and performance for a similar price point.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


The Hoka Mach 6 is an extremely versatile daily trainer that has an average drop of 8 mm, and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 isn't far behind with 7 mm of drop. Both are more cushioned, more energetic, faster, and more durable. The Saucony Kinvara 15 also has a lower drop of just 5 mm and has less rocker than either of the two other options.

Nathaniel Bailey