Altra Torin 7 - Women's Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Altra Torin 7 - Women's | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best Overall Running Shoe for Women | Best Value for a Women's Road Running Shoe | Most Versatile Road Running Shoe | Best Stability-Focused Road Running Shoe | |
Price | $135.00 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $140 List $139.95 at Amazon | $119.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $117.27 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | With great underfoot cushion and a zero drop profile, runners seeking this style of shoe will enjoy what it has to offer | This running shoe offers the performance technology and comfort needed to be your go-to shoe, no matter your running goals | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar | The structure and comfort of this shoe make it a highly recommended option for long distance runners who want a reliable road running steed |
Rating Categories | Altra Torin 7 - Wom... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's | Brooks Adrenaline G... |
Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
Stability (15%) | |||||
Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Traction (5%) | |||||
Specs | Altra Torin 7 - Wom... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's | Brooks Adrenaline G... |
Measured Weight | 7.23 oz | 7.36 oz | 5.44 oz | 6.27 oz | 8.21 oz |
Measured Heel Stack Height | 28 mm | 38 mm | 27 mm | 33 mm | 33 mm |
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 1 mm | 8 mm | 3 mm | 7 mm | 10 mm |
Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
Rocker Angle | 24.0 deg | 22.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 26.5 deg |
Rocker Apex Location | 71.2% | 69.5% | 64.7% | 65.4% | 71.4% |
Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered knit mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard | Engineered air mesh |
Midsole | AltraEgo Max | FF Blast Plus Eco | PWRRUN | Supercritical EVA | DNA Loft v2 |
Outsole | Rubber | AHAR outsole | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
Heel Tab Type | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | None | Extended heel pull | None |
Sizes Available | 5.5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide | 5 - 13 US, narrow, medium, wide & extra wide |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Altra Torin 7 has been slightly reconfigured and is, by and large, a comfortable choice for runners seeking a zero drop option (though we technically measured the drop at 1 mm in our lab).
Performance Comparison
Landing Comfort
The Torin 7 feels plush underfoot, though its insole isn't particularly fluffy. But the forgiving stack provides great cushion with a bit of pep. The standard-style insole also offers durability that many super-comfortable shoes lack internally. Even after our testing runs, the insole didn't pack out or show indentations where our feet were. Some runners like it when shoes conform to their feet, and others don't, which is why this element is important to note. Overall, the landing comfort and cushioning of the Torin is what we have grown to expect from Altra. It protects your joints well from impact, provides long-term comfort, and is plenty spacious so toes can splay.
Responsiveness
While the sole of the Torin has a nice bit of pep and rebound, it did not score especially high in this metric when placed next to its competitors. The midsole foam provides a semi-soft landing pad, which directly contrasts many of the super rigid midsoles among speed-focused shoes. The wide toe box shape, which Altra is known for, also cuts down on this shoe's responsiveness. The foot-shaped forefoot can feel slightly slappy and large, inhibiting speed. We don't recommend the Torin for speed workouts, but for slower runs in comfort, the mid and outsole materials will do the trick.
Stability
Zero-drop shoes allow your heel to lock in closer to the ground and provide fantastic stability, and the Torin is no exception. The snug heel cup combines well with the outsole design, including some additional lateral bumpers, which add further stability at the rear foot.
Upper Comfort
The upper mesh of the Torin 7 runs a bit hot due to its tightly wound fibers. The tongue is somewhat plush but feels a little flimsy and imbalanced, especially considering how comfortable the rest of the shoe is. The tongue is not adhered on either side, and our testers had comfort issues due to it wrinkling when putting the shoe on. To fix this, we needed to remove the shoe, loosen the laces, and hold the tongue flat as we put the shoe back on. From there, we tightened the laces and felt ready to run. The tongue is on the thinner side, standing at only 2 mm thick. This isn't a total dealbreaker, but it is a disappointment since the tongue was one of the elements that was redesigned for this iteration.
Weight
This isn't a heavy shoe, but it isn't the lightest one in our lineup, either. Each women's size 6.5 Torin shoe weighs 7.23 ounces, and the weight is well-distributed and feels comfortable during runs. Since the Torin is not a speed-focused shoe, we would have preferred the bit of additional weight be used on a more comfortable tongue and lace bed over its current configuration.
Traction
The Torin is a near-perfect road shoe when it comes to traction. Although the Footpod traction comes at the expense of a bit of weight, this is a shoe that we trust no matter the weather or ground beneath us. While not exactly recommended, we have bombed through some mild single-track trails in the Torin and found plenty of reasons to celebrate. We never lost our footing and instead found its lug depth and traction pattern to be profoundly functional.
Should You Buy the Altra Torin 7?
If you want a zero-drop shoe, the Torin is on the short list of options that our gear testers recommend in this category. With great underfoot cushion and strong stability, it is a reliable shoe that will stay strong throughout the course of training. For some runners, the toe box space is not negotiable, so if that is your stance, definitely check out what the Torin has to offer. If you are neutral toward the forefoot space and the Torin's zero drop profile, other shoes are more highly recommended.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
For strong stability, our go-to recommendation is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23. With built-in architecture for support and a traditional running shoe shape, the Adrenaline is a solid and comfortable shoe. For a plush ride, we recommend the Asics Gel Kayano 31 and the Hoka Clifton 9. Both options offer great underfoot cushion, comfortable uppers, and slightly stronger responsiveness than the Torin. If you are set on a zero-drop shoe, the Altra Via Olympus 2 is a lower-scoring alternative. The Olympus offers nearly the same amount of traction as the Torin, which is a welcome benefit for control during runs.