REASONS TO BUY
Great landing comfort
Stable
Well-tractioned
Impressive stack-to-weight ratio
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the most responsive
Wide toe box doesn't feel fast
Altra Experience Flow - Women's Review
Thanks to its soft and efficient ride, this shoe is well-suited for mellow daily runs
Perfect for runs where the pace is consistent and the effort is mellow, the Experience Flow offers reliability and strong underfoot comfort.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
Standing just south of a maximally-cushioned shoe is the 30 mm high, 4 mm drop Altra Experience Flow. The compression-molded EVA foam midsole provides a soft underfoot feel and efficient ride that allows your body to connect with each footfall. The wide toe box offers space for toes to splay comfortably, complimenting the secure mid and rearfoot locks created by precisely padded components. Runners who want a daily shoe for mellow miles and are enticed by those with low drops will enjoy the ride of the Experience Flow. Runners who want an energetic bounce or tech-heavy shoe won't appreciate the steadfastness of this Altra road runner.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Altra Experience Flow - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Running Shoe |  Best Bang for your Buck | |||
| Price | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $120.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $70 List $54.95 at Amazon | $70 List $74.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Not the most dynamic shoe, this shoe is solid for runners who want to find their pace and stick to it | Even with a few minor updates, this shoe shines as one for runners seeking a do-it-all road running companion | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | This affordable, low-profile running shoe is a good choice for beginners, offering a moderate stack, traditional drop, and a touch of bounce | While not suited for specified running, this shoe offers versatility and reliability for daily activities and moderate workouts |
| Rating Categories | Altra Experience Fl... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Altra Experience Fl... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... |
| Sizes Available | 5.5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 30 mm | 40 mm | 27 mm | 30 mm | 26 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 4 mm | 9 mm | 3 mm | 9 mm | 8 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 26.5 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg | 28.0 deg | 26.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 58.1% | 61.9% | 64.7% | 58.7% | 54.5% |
| Measured Weight | 6.82 oz | 7.30 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.26 oz | 6.90 oz |
| Upper | Mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | Compression-molded EVA foam | FF BLAST MAX | PWRRUN | AMPLIFOAM+ | Fresh Foam |
| Outsole | Rubber | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Altra Experience Flow was formerly known as the AltraFWD Experience. Continuing its legacy, this 4 mm drop shoe encourages leg turnover at moderate speeds but lacks the dynamic nature of more uptempo kicks.
Performance Comparison
Recovery runs are made more enjoyable with a soft underfoot feel and moderately plush stack underfoot.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Landing Comfort
The Altra Experience Flow provides a natural underfoot feel, making it an excellent choice for long runs at moderate paces. Featuring a plush 30 mm heel stack of compression-molded EVA foam, it cushions landings of all kinds easily. The 4 mm drop leaves the forefoot to ride 26 mm above the pavement, striking an ideal balance for underfoot comfort. The shoe's overall underfoot experience serves as a gateway into maximalist shoes, offering ample cushioning and height without going overboard.
At 30 mm in the heel and 26 mm in the forefoot, the Experience Flow offers well-balanced landing comfort.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Responsiveness
I was let down by the lack of responsiveness of the Experience Flow's midsole. Not that I expected much more from a low-drop shoe, but its springy foam felt promising. The Experience Flow is a shoe that is best driven at a single speed; it'll bog you down if you try to hit the throttle. Even still, its rocker geometry encouraged one footfall to fold into the next. Angled at 26.5 degrees, the outsole generally pushes feet forward, lessening the strain on your body ever so slightly.
The midsole of the Experience Flow isn't the most impressive, but its rocker geometry makes for relatively easy striding.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The elements of the Experience Flow come together to create a stable shoe that isn't centered around stability. The wide toe box and secure midfoot help ensure that feet stay in place. The tapered nature of the heel collar further confirms this security. The security across the lace bed supports the lateral side walls, while the outsole flare creates a wide base of support for landing. All of this, combined with legitimate traction — which I will discuss in a bit — coalesces to create the kind of stability that you didn't even know you needed.
This shoe features a few pockets of added cushion that help create support where many runners need it most.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Upper Comfort
With its name change came an update to the upper textile of the Experience Flow. Now featuring a two-color mesh for breathability, the upper provides the airflow desired on long distance excursions. The tongue offers precisely-placed cushion for security and comfort. The clever tapering of the tongue removes the need for gussets, though I think the Experience Flow would feel even more secure with some stretchy bilateral gussets included. The extended heel pull atop the heel collar also features precise padding, further ensuring support around the Achilles. While the upper design isn't anything wildly fancy, its breathability and understated intelligence shine through.
The updated upper of the Experience Flow offers thoughtful design elements like the tapered tongue and extended heel pull that enhance support around the Achilles.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Weight
At 6.82 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Altra Experience Flow weighs notably less than most of the other shoes with equal landing comfort. Runners who want a noticeable amount of underfoot cushion but don't want to tote around a few extra moon boot-feeling ounces will be impressed by this shoe's impressive cushion-to-weight ratio.
Weighing just 6.82 ounces per shoe, the Altra Experience Flow offers great cushioning without the extra weight.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
Altra designs their outsoles after the natural movements of feet, including flex points. This design helps ensure that the traction pattern is the most varied (i.e., the most functional) at these flex points. The multiple layers and grooves help this shoe grip the ground and inspire confidence while in motion.
Layered and groovy, the outsole design ensure safe and comfortable running.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Altra Experience Flow?
Depending on your needs, the Experience Flow is a solid choice. It lacks the versatility that many runners seek when purchasing a single pair of road shoes. More casual runners who don't attempt to vary their paces will enjoy the reliability and steadfastness of this shoe. It is a plush option that doesn't feel sky-high; it offers cushion without swallowing feet. All in all, a worthy shoe to consider, though it won't be everyone's top choice.
The Experience Flow won't be every runner's favorite, but it offers many admirable qualities that are sure to delight runners who seek comfort and steadiness in their gaits.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
From a cushion-focused standpoint, my favorite recommendation is the New Balance Fresh Foam More V5. With a bit more stack underfoot and a surprising level of resilience, I consider the More V5 the queen of comfort. If you are looking to shell out a bit of cash for a slightly more responsive maximalist shoe, the Hoka Skyward X combines responsiveness, stability, and comfort in a single, vaulted package. Finally, the Asics Novablast 5 is a middle-of-the-road superstar that offers high performance across all of our testing metrics.
—Ally Arcuri
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