Shoe Review: The Brand-New Altra Duo

A Fleet Feet Sports Exclusive
THE DEETS
- Weight (men’s size 9, women’s size 7) 7.9 oz.,5.3 oz.
- Heel to toe drop: 0mm
- MSRP: $130 (FREE shipping)
FIT
It’s best described as a natural running training and race shoe. It fits true to size with a super roomy toe box (in fact, it’s the roomiest of any Altra shoe to date) and a narrow-fitting heel.
A thin, airy mesh upper shaves weight and increases ventilation. Plus, well-placed overlays hug the midfoot in all the right places to create a sock-like feel.
RIDE
The Altra Duo is perhaps the most revolutionary shoe Altra has made so far (check out our interview with Altra founder Golden Harper to learn more). It’s a zero-drop shoe (which means no difference between the heel height and the forefoot height) with 31mm of bouncy, maximalist cushioning that, surprisingly, feels responsive whether you’re out for an easy recovery jaunt or a set of hard intervals.
According to one tester, “I was surprised that I could comfortably wear the Duo for pretty much every run. There aren’t a lot of shoes like that out there.”
CONCLUSION
The brand-new Altra Duo is a feather-light trainer and racer designed to perform well and keep your feet happy whether you’re racing a 5K or a 100-mile ultramarathon. If you’re new to zero-drop and interested in maximilism, the Duo might just be your new shoe.
