Men's AL0A4PE7 Solstice XT Cross Training Shoe

I've owned 3 pairs of the original Solstice, so that tells you how much I love that shoe. I was really excited to see a new version come out with the Solstice XT. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this as a replacement. Altra fans love Altra shoes because they fit so well due to the wide toe-box. Specifically with the original Solstice, they were lightweight, minimal, and very comfortable running shoes. The new Solstice XT is light, but less minimal and much less comfortable. The toe-box is smaller, more cramped. I ordered the same size as my other 3 Solstice pairs and it's not as roomy in there. The mid-foot area is tighter. The sole is thicker. It almost seems like they increased the thickness of the sole without thinking about any other area of the shoe, leaving my same foot less room in the shoe overall compared with the old version. I realize the original Solstice and this XT version are for slightly different purposes, with the XT being more of a cross training shoe, but on the Altra website description it says they built this shoe based on the original.All that being said, if you don't own the original Solstice and are comparing this shoe to Nike or other brands, it's worth a shot. It's certainly built well, has a wider toe-box than most other brands, and the style is great with a variety of colors to choose from. Unfortunately I have to give it only 3 stars because I'm already comparing this shoe to other Altra pairs I've owned over the years. It just seems like a step back for what many people buy Altra's for. The original Solstice is still available on Amazon so I highly recommend that as a much cheaper option.

While there are many reviews which identify these as needing more cushion, a more flexible sole, a larger stack height, not being comfortable for running, that is not what these are designed for.This is a responsive shoe that is ideal for gym workouts. If you are a person who works out and performs lifts but might also do sled pushes/pulls, box jumps, burpees, step-ups, that is what this is designed for. This definitely is not for the power lifter who needs something with an extremely firm sole for heavy squats/deadlifts and does not participate in those other activities in the same workout. This also is not the correct shoe if you want to go running multiple miles after your workout. Yes you can easily complete sprints or stair climbs in these but they would be my last choice for jumping on the treadmill. I would bring a pair of running shoes for that.From a fit perspective I find these to be the closest to my Escalante Racer. The back is tight against the heel and the achilles while the upper is very light and, I find, I do not have any hotspots. Of course that is specific to you and you might need to change your lacing strategy to alter that. I also found that the same size I wear in my Escalante and Escalante Racer were perfect for this shoe.

Get rid of the internal band at the forefoot and the shoe would be perfect. Major design flaw that constricts the spreading of the foot and goes against the whole design philosophy of Altra shoes. Loved the soles, density of the cushion stack, and the fit was perfect. But that internal band made the shoes unwearable for me.

It was a little rough in the beginning. I had to “break in” the shoes, then it felt really good. But some of the problems still persisted. First, it feels like the quality isn’t what I’m used to from altra. It felt off, like sometimes the tongue with bind, leaving a gap between the tongue and the shoe. Then a few days ago, the sole started separating from the shoe. To be clear: I did wear them everyday, but I work in an office, so I’m not putting excessive miles on these shoes. (I’m used to the trail shoes, those ones I would wear down the treads, no problem). I’m hoping these are anomalies, as I really like this brand. I tell all my friends/family about altras.I really wanted to love these shoes, but with the sole starting to separate, and it feels like there was a drop in the quality I’m used to from altras, I can only cautiously recommend this.

Overall I'm unimpressed. I don't hate them, but they have an oddly tight fit for Altra, which boasts their wide toe box. They don't seem particularly wide, and the plastic on the side and the seam inside make for an uncomfortable fit. I do like the more durable rubber bottom which should make them last longer and give more traction. But that's not enough for me. I would recommend other Altra brands, but not these.

After trying cross trainer shoes from various vendors, and being disappointed, I decided to give these a try. A friend recommended this brand, and after doing some research, I decided to give them a shot. Ive' been an athlete for two decades, and these are by far the best cross trainers I've ever worn. They are incredibly comfortable, but are still cool and breathable. They're a good shoe without feeling either too bulky or too thin.

I really like the idea of Altra shoes. They are by far the only company who sells shoes which are actually wide. Most companies offer wide shoes, but they're still too tight. I will continue buying Altra shoes just to keep supporting the company.Having said that, I am giving these shoes 4 stars because the sizing is all over the place. I've now had three pairs of their "Lone Peak" shoes. The first two were size 9, but now when I got the third pair, I had to exchange them because size 9 didn't fit, so I had to get 9.5, which were a little too tight as well. So I ordered a size 10 but they were too big, so I went back to 9.5 and after wearing them for a couple of months, they stretched a little and they're pretty okay now.This is the first time I'm getting Solstice shoes and I figured since my latest Lone Peaks are 9.5, I'll get these in 9.5 as well. They arrived and boy where they big. So I returned the Solstice 9.5 and got a pair in size 9. Size 9 fits.Anyway, the point of the review is Altra's sizes are all over the place, there is no consistency at all. If you want a pair of these, order yourself three different sizes to try them all and return the two that don't fit.

It fits a such that a size 12 with bigly toe box should fit. The soles a great stickyliness for court kind of stuff and well but at the same time one must be careful upon encountering any wetness upon a floor because thou shalt find it quite a slippery slope with this type of sole.