Altra Torin 4 Intro

The Altra Torin has been one of Altra’s most popular road shoe models over the years, and the Torin 4.0 is the latest iteration.

These shoes are able to be worn, and will perform well, in a variety of uses from track/speed work to long runs to road races of any distance.

That said, this model of the Torin is not for everyone. Altra has revamped the midsole of the Torin 4.0, and in so doing they have removed a small amount (~2mm) of cushioning.

The new midsole is less bouncy/springy than the Torin 3.0 and the 3.5 Mesh, which is great for speed and responsiveness. While I am a fan of this change, I can see how it may be unpopular in the eyes of some.

Altra Torin 4 First Impressions

Altra Torin 4 – Lateral Side

My first impressions of the Torin 4.0 were mostly positive.

While I like the aesthetics of the new design, what really matters to me about any pair of shoes is how it feels on my feet.

When I first put the Torin 4.0s on, I immediately noticed that they felt tighter around the mid foot area than pretty much any other Altra shoe I’ve ever worn.

The Torin 4.0s aren’t too tight, meaning no real pain or discomfort, but they were noticeably snug.

After the first run, however, any worries about the tightness of the shoe went away. The shoe felt great on the road, right out of the box.

My second time wearing them, I ran a marathon and had no issues with the Torin 4.0s at all.

Altra Torin 4 Sole Unit

Altra Torin 4 – Sole

I have zero complaint about the sole unit of the Altra Torin 4.0. The sole unit is comprised of a Altra’s new Quantic midsole and their FootPod outsole.

What does that mean, exactly?

As I mentioned earlier in this review, the sole unit of the Torin 4.0 is a big change from prior models. And the reason for that is the Quantic cushioning in the midsole.

This layer of cushioning is comfortable to the wearer but noticeably less squishy as previous Torins or the Escalantes.

The FootPod outsole allows the shoe to bend and flex in the same way that the foot bends and flexes with each stride.

The tread is made with a firm rubber that provides good traction and is showing no signs of wear after almost 70 miles on the road.

The Quantic midsole and the FootPod outsole combine to provide a firm, fast, and smooth ride.

The 26mm stack height allows you to be able to feel the ground beneath your feet with each stride, while still providing enough cushion and protection to keep your feet safe and happy while wearing this shoe.

And like all Altra models, the sole unit of the Torin 4.0 has a 0mm heel drop.

Altra Torin 4 Upper Unit

Altra Torin 4 – Toe

The upper of the Altra Torin 4.0 is predominately mesh, which allows for good breathability and comfort.

There is a small amount of cushioning around the opening of the Torin 4.0. The cushioning is the perfect amount to really help hold the heel in place while wearing this shoe.

As with any shoe with a mesh upper, the Torin 4.0 isn’t going to keep your feet dry in the rain or while running through a puddle.

If you’re running somewhere that is wet, your feet are going to get wet in these shoes. But the breathability of the knit upper will help the shoe dry out rather quickly.

The tongue of the Altra Torin 3.0 is attached to the sole along both sides by a slightly stretchy piece of material. This is also the are of the 4.0 that feels a bit more snug than in previous Torin iterations.

The material holding the tongue down does not cause a problem other than giving the Torin 4.0 a tighter feel when putting the shoe on, but once I start running I don’t notice the material or the tightness at all.

Overall, the shoe fits true to size and the foot-shaped toe box provides plenty of space in the forefoot of the Torin 4.0.

Altra Torin 4 Conclusion

Altra Torin 4 – Heel

All in all, I’m really happy with the Altra Torin 4.0!

I’ve run in Torins before, but never would have said that I was a big Torin fan. This shoe changes that for me—I’m a fan of the Altra Torin 4.0!

Light, fast, good ground feel. There’s not much more that I would want in a shoe! In a perfect world.

I’d love to see Altra trim a bit more of cushioning off of this shoe as I’m a fan of fairly minimal amounts of cushioning, but I really can’t complain about this shoe overall.

The Altra Torin 4.0 is a shoe that I’ll be logging quite a few miles wearing in the future.

We purchased a pair of Altra Torin 4 from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.