ALTRA Men's Impulse Flash Sneaker

I had a bunionectomy in February they left me with a very wide right foot. I got fitted for new running shoes at A Snail's Pace and got a pair of Altra's in men's because the width worked better for my surgical foot. Going out on a limb I purchased this pair (different style than my others) without trying them on in person...I love them! At first they were a little difficult to get used to because I found the arch area to be more narrow than my other pair however now I have no discomfort and find them quite comfortable. I wear them to work (i'm a nurse) and also to the gym. I love the reflective colors and get quite a few compliments on them. In light they reflect almost white which is great if you are running or walking at night. I haven't had any problems with the reflective covering peeling or cracking and I wear these daily so they are heavily used. The arch support is great and the shoes are super light. My feet don't sweat in them and I have plenty of room in the toe box to wiggle my little piggies around :)

So, I don't love the color although they have gotten me a few compliments but I knew when I ordered that the color would be my least favorite part. The iridescent color is more purple than anything else. That is really the color it should be listed as. That said, I've reached an age where color and look matter less than price and comfort so these are my new favorite shoes! I love that they have a wide toe area. I used to constantly deal with ingrown toe nails from shoes that fit tight around the toes. Since wearing these everyday, I haven't had an issue! The zero drop design also helps me not to have pain in my heel from planter fasciitis.

The toes splay out when standing/walking/running. Most Altra shoes have the "Footshape" toe box that has room for the toes to spread out. I've had a couple of pairs of oxfords for a long time with a "natural" toe box shape that are very comfortable. Now that I've found Altra, I will never go back to a narrower "normal" toe box in a casual or athletic shoe. I haven't had any problems adjusting to the "zero drop", but haven't noticed a benefit for walking. The reflective holographic cast of the Impulse Flash upper looks very cool. I used the Altra website shoe finder/size wizard to help find the right size. These Altra Impulse Flash street/running/crosstraining shoes and the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 trail runner/hiking shoes fit a little more snugly than similar New Balance athletic shoes with a slightly high instep, but sizing is the same for me. So far the arch support for me is OK.

Altra's design solved all of my leg issues. I was using a pair of Hoka Clifton 4's. I had pain in my right hip, my right glute, my right calf (gastrocnemius) and my right tibialis (anterior). I picked up the Altra's and my right leg pain started to subside almost immediately. After a month, the pain was gone. Altra's toebox is also very accommodating. These are great shoes, especially if you are running distance.

This is my first Altra pair so It's taken some growing pains to "re-educate" my feet for proper/better running mechanics. I've had various issues with lower leg discomfort/injuries. Figured I had begun to rely too much on the extra support of typical running shoes causing over heel striking. My first week was very interesting as I noticed how they really "encourage" low impact landing. I had begun to wonder if they were another "hit and miss" as I had been experimenting with different shoes, but much much better now. Glad I stuck it out.

I like the reflective fabric on the top! I keep glancing at my shoes and smiling. The neutral heel took some getting used to, but is fine now. Also like the ribbed, ridged laces, which hold very well. I use the shoes for dog walking and general walking, not running, but I do have to trot to keep up with my dog at timees and these are quite nice for that. one note: the thin fabric is NOT warm and in the cold Oregon winter/spring, is not very warm.

These are pretty cool shoes. I get several comments on them since they are quite unusual with the coloring, reflecting light, and asymmetrical shape. My toe nearly hits the end of the shoe and this is the only pair of several dozen's of shoes I've run through that do this. I run marathons and have tried nearly every brand available. Never had to go a size up. These were just a bit too snug, but they are useable at my standard 10.5 shoe size. If I bought them again I might go up a size.

For other shoes they would get 5 stars, but for what I expect from Altra, I give them 3. They are great looking and have the nice to box. Issue one is they squeak when you walk. Issue to is no support. I had to add my own support. Still I have a wide foot with a high instep and these fit me. Order at least 1/2 size up from your regular shoes to Altra. I go up one size.