Altra Experience Flow Review

These shoes offer a supremely comfortable, natural feel with a midsole that absorbs impact. I was so shocked by the performance of these shoes that I wondered why I hadn't owned a pair sooner. The wide toe box allows for natural toe splay, and the minimal drop promotes a smooth, natural stride. I was able to wear these shoes all day without discomfort. The Experience Flow combines the comfort and stability of bulkier shoes in a more streamlined design.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Altra Experience Flow is a pleasure to wear and quickly became on of my favorites thanks to its thoughtful design and construction. Featuring Altra's signiture FootShape fit, it offers a spacious toe box and secure midfoot. These shoes were incredibly comfortable to wear for hours. The toe box offered ample room for my toes to wiggle and relax, while the snug heel cup provided a secure and supportive foundation. The shoes advertise a “zero-to-low drop” style with a four-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, which our lab was able to confirm after cutting them in half. These shoes provided a very natural and stable feel with a plush 31-millimeter heel stack and gentle rocker angle.

As I walked, my heel strike was soft, transitioning smoothly to the toes. The compression-molded midsole foam offers a cushioned yet responsive feel despite having one of the lower stack heights in the test group. The tongue padding is thin but dense and prevented the laces from digging into my instep. The heel collar is padded but has additional padding below the collar to fill in the void by the Achilles. That is the attention to detail that sets Altra apart.

The shoes fit true to size, and I found them very comfortable right out of the box. I did not notice any hotspots throughout my many 10,000-step walks, and they required no break-in. The mesh upper forms nicely to the foot and provides good ventilation and protection. When ascending and descending hills, there was no foot slide, and my heel remained stable. Designed as a mid-cushion neutral gait shoe, they would be best utilized by someone with a neutral or pronating gait who would benefit from the support.

Shoe Exterior Shoe Interior

With a traditional lacing system, the shoes aren't meant to be a hands-free design. The tongue and laces easily move out of the way so the foot slides in. They do require tying and untying for ease of use and good support, but you could lace them loosely and slide your foot in.

Support

A sole with rigidity means more support and the ability to resist unnatural flexion. During the testing process, the Experience Flow had some flexion towards the toe box, which is preferred, but remained stable throughout the rest of the sole. This type of flexion is ideal in a walking shoe to promote a natural gait and prevent stress and pain.

The sole is a little bit wider than the upper and creates a stable feeling without being bulky or clumsy. The shoe has a consistent feeling of stability and provides a supportive feel to the ankle and heel, which is appreciated with lateral movement. I did not feel unstable in the ankle on either the medial or lateral side or have any concerns about rolling an ankle.

The shoe has standard-style lacing with six eyelets and a seventh for additional snugness or heel lock. The eyelets are oval-shaped and, combined with the flat laces, give a nice, even tension through the instep without any discomfort. Once the laces are secured, the shoe feels very secure without gaps or looseness. The shoe fits well around the ankle, and the padding around the Achilles tendon fills the void without rubbing. Using the first six eyelets for tension, I felt no need to use the additional seventh as the shoe and heel were very secure. The lacing system didn't loosen with prolonged use or require any adjustment once set.

The twist test examines the shoe's ability to resist torsion and maintain support under pressure: the more it twists, the less support it provides. The ideal shoe offers just enough flexibility to avoid feeling rigid, but not so much that it twists like a dish rag. The Experience Flow performed well in this test with some twist toward the toe box with force, but the midfoot and heel area remained stable. The slight give with torsion means the sole will not be so rigid and uncomfortable but still prevents an unnatural gait. With the minimal drop barefoot feel and stable torsion, this shoe would be recommended for those with a neutral or pronating gait.

Traction

The Altra Experience Flow is made of a compression-molded EVA foam midsole with a rubber outsole. The tread pattern alternates directions through the shoe's regions to provide stable traction at each contact point. As I traversed various surfaces, including gravel, tile, and concrete, I was able to stay firmly planted on the ground.

During the testing process the Experience Flow demonstrated impressive traction on all surfaces. On surfaces like gravel or dirt, the shoes performed well and allowed us to walk through the park with sure footing. The channels on the bottom provide enough grip to dig in but don't pick up pebbles or sticks along the way. On indoor surfaces like tile, linoleum, and carpet the shoes gripped well and didn't slide or shift like we noticed with other shoes. Even wet tile didn't give a feeling of unstable traction or slipping. In the hospital we were able to transition from one type of surface like carpet to a freshly cleaned or waxed floor without worrying about sliding forward with that first step.

On dry pavement the shoe maintained significant traction and was not impacted when water was present. The various traction patterns and channels help to move water away from the sole with pressure and allows the rubber to grip. We liked that Altra decided to add a grip pattern to the sides of the sole along the entire shoe. When the shoe compresses on uneven surfaces, the side grip presses into the ground, improving traction and stability.

Weight

The weight category does not disappoint with the Altra Experience Flow. At 9.1 ounces per shoe for a men's size 10.5, these shoes were on the lighter end of our testing group. Typically, a shoe with good cushion and support weighs in on the heavier side, but Altra was able to shave some weight along the way. The mesh upper material is light and breathable, which helps eliminate unnecessary weight. On the sole we mentioned how the rubber is only used in high pressure areas, placing rubber on the heel and toe area is another weight saving characteristics that doesn't impact performance.

The Experience Flow is very enjoyable to wear for long periods of time and is hardly noticeable. The lightweight nature of the shoe prevents fatigue and allows for a natural motion without feeling bogged down or clunky. We didn't note any fatigue with prolonged use or additional stress on the muscles and joints.

Durability

The Experience Flow held up quite well to my months of testing, and I expect them to handle significantly more use. The upper material is a breathable mesh with reinforcement around the toe box and a lateral sole around the heel cup. The eyelets have extra reinforcement on the outside and the inside to prevent premature wear and tear. The mesh upper proved to hold its shape and didn't stretch or deform, and I didn't find any wear on the upper or toe box after significant use in indoor and outdoor settings.

The EVA foam midsole is raised in the back for additional protection in the heel cup. As aforementioned, a rubber sole covers the high-wear areas like the heel and forefoot and wraps forward to protect the toe. I didn't find any evidence of the foam midsole or rubber sole deteriorating with use, and the tread held up without smoothing out or tearing apart.

The overall craftmanship of the shoe is well made, with the different sections lining up nicely with even stitching and no loose ends. The materials hold up well to use and are evenly cut and bonded well without separation or uneven adherence.

To prolong the shoe's life and prevent the breakdown of materials, regular cleaning is necessary. The manufacturer recommends cleaning the shoes as soon as they become dirty by hand washing them with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Once the shoes have been cleaned, they can be air-dried out of direct sunlight. To prevent premature breakdown of the materials, they should not be put in a washing machine or dryer.

Should You Buy the Altra Experience Flow?

The Altra Experience Flow is a good option for those seeking a near-zero drop and natural feel while having comfort and support for long walks. With a wide toe box and just the right flexibility and stiffness, these shoes perform well, especially for a neutral to pronating gait and low to normal arch. We were impressed with the shoe's performance on various surfaces. However, those with a narrow foot might find the shoe too wide.

What Other Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

If you are searching for an easy-on shoe when you're on the go, the On Cloud 5 provides all-day comfort and support. The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is a durable and supportive choice that won't hurt the wallet, but isn't as natural feeling as the Experience Flow. The Hoka Transport provides versatility and comfort with significant traction and a very durable upper.