Altra Torin 7 Introduction

The Altra Torin 7 is the newest version of Astra’s popular Torin road shoe.

The Torin 7s do a great job of threading the needle of being a highly cushioned road shoe that is also relatively lightweight (9.8 oz) and provides a good ground feel.

As such, this shoe can pretty much do it all on the roads; from short and fast to long and slow, the Torin 7 does the job.

Altra Torin 7 First Impressions

My first impression of the Altra Torin 7 was mostly positive. The shoes run true to size, are lightweight, and were quite comfortable right out of the box.

They did, however, feel a bit snug through the forefoot of the shoe compared to previous editions of the Torins that I’ve worn in the past.

Over the last few years, it seems to me that the foot-shaped toe box that has been an Altra staple since the company was founded has gotten narrower.

As a fan of a toe box with plenty of room in it, I was less than enthused to note this Altra trend continuing in the Torin 7s. To be clear, I wouldn’t call the Torin 7s tight in the forefoot, neither from my first impression nor after wearing them, but they are noticeably tighter than previous Torins that I’ve worn.

Altra Torin 7 Upper

The upper of the Altra Torin 7 is made of an engineered mesh that breathes well and is quite comfortable. Thanks in large part to the breathability of the mesh, as well as the mesh not being overly thick, the Torin 7s do dry quite quickly if/when they get a bit wet during a run.

I found the Altra Torin 7s to fit true to size, though as previously mentioned in this review the toe box felt a bit snug (for an Altra). I wouldn’t call the Torin 7s narrow by any means, especially compared to many other brands, but if you’re a fan of the traditional Altra foot-shaped toe box you may be disappointed.

A major update in the Altra Torin 7 compared to the last couple of iterations of the Torin is in the tongue of the shoe. This tongue isn’t as thin as it was on the Torin 5 or 6 and doesn’t rub/chafe at all (compared to the issues I experienced with those models).

Altra Torin 7 Sole Unit

The sole unit of the Altra Torin 7 is composed of Altra’s EGO Max foam in the midsole coupled with their FootPod outsole (30mm total stack height). This combination provides plenty of cushioning and ample ground feel while encouraging natural foot movement with every step.

The EGO Max foam of the midsole provides a soft feel and a little extra bounce, similar to the last couple of versions of the Torins. The EGO max foam is also quite durable, feeling just as plush after weeks of wear as it did when the shoes were new.

The FootPod outsole encourages the foot to move naturally. The tread of the Altra Torin 7 is designed in a way that will mimic the bones of the foot, so they will bend and flex with the foot instead of fighting that natural motion The outsole also provides ample grip/traction in both wet and dry conditions, and holds up quite well to the wear and tear of road running.

Altra Torin 7 Conclusions

Overall, I’m quite happy with the Altra Torin 7. I’ve worn this shoe for speed work, long runs, and shorter/easier runs, and the Torin 7s have done nothing but work well.

Whether you’re looking for a good shoe to log loads of training miles in or a shoe to wear for road racing, the Torin 7 is a good option to get the job done for you!