Price: $135
Weight: 9.8 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)
Type: Road
The right shoe for: Runners who want to try zero-drop shoes without sacrificing cushioning
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Updates to running shoes are often met with skepticism—why change something that’s already perfect? You might empathize with long-time Torin wearers when they learned the brand’s best-seller was getting a makeover. Rest assured that the Torin hasn’t undergone major changes with the exception of its exterior: a smooth engineered knit upper enhances the comfort of the fit. And the mesh Torin isn’t lost forever. Both the new Torin 3.5 Knit and the updated Torin 3.5 are available by Altra for the runner’s choosing.
Altra improved the 3.0 by adding more cushioning in the 3.5 Knit’s midsole for a springier, more responsive ride. The shoe is soft enough for long distance racing and light enough for speed workouts. The 3.5 Knit’s coziness also makes it a shoe you’ll want to stay in post-run.
Midsole
The zero-drop platform, which encourages natural foot positioning, is characteristic of Altra’s shoes. Compared to the 3.0, the 3.5 has slightly more cushioning in both the men’s and women’s versions according to tests at the Runner’s World Shoe Lab. For runners who have always wanted to give zero-drop shoes a go, the cushy Torin 3.5 Knit is the perfect shoe to make the transition. Altra uses A-Bound foam—cushioning that sits in between the runner’s foot and EVA midsole—for responsive ground contact and reduced impact. Measured softer in the front by our shoe lab, the Torin 3.5 Knit works well for forefoot strikers.
Outsole
The 3.5 Knit’s outsole is similar to the 3.0’s in its look and construction; our shoe lab shows consistency between both shoes’ profiles, as well. With no wide gaps or spaces, the shoe won’t collect debris underfoot. However, the Torin 3.5 Knit’s outsole ranked low in traction and durability among wear-testers, some even reporting wear along the toe area after only a couple weeks of use.
Upper
The most noticeable and obvious Torin 3.0 update is the engineered knit upper; this new feature gives the shoe a sock-like fit. A flat tongue, in contrast to the 3.0’s cushioned tongue, is also a part of the Torin’s makeover; wear-testers familiar with the predecessor cited this update is an improvement and stated the new tongue makes the lacing system non-restrictive.
One of the signatures of an Altra running shoe is the roomy toe box. The Torin 3.5 Knit doesn’t disappoint with its wide toe box for optimal toe movement yet snug fit all around the rest of the foot. One wear-tester even said the toe box accommodated her bunions.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- Weight: Moderate | 9.8 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Very Low | 1.1 mm
- Heel Height: Very Low | 27.2 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Moderate
- Forefoot Height: High | 26.2 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Stability Features: Moderate
- Energy Return: Moderate
Women’s
- Weight: Moderate | 7.9 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Very Low | 1.0 mm
- Heel Height: Very Low | 26.5 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
- Forefoot Height: Very High | 25.5 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Stability Features: Moderate
- Energy Return: Moderate
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to measuring a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
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Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
