The North Face Altamesa 300. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Having liked The North Face path sneakers over the previous few years, I used to be excited to check The North Face Altamesa 300 ($130). This was particularly the case after having fun with the shoe’s extra cushioned sibling, The North Face Altamesa 500 (evaluation), rather more than anticipated. As a sleeker and lighter shoe, in principle, the Altamesa 300 appeared nearer to my supreme shoe.
In some ways, it is a middle-ground shoe. Its precise weight is 10.3 ounces (293 grams) for a U.S. males’s measurement 9, and it has a average 6-millimeter drop with full stack heights of 36 millimeters on the heel and 30 millimeters on the toe.
Whereas it’s proved to be an acceptable every day coach on smoother trails, it didn’t fairly reside as much as the lofty expectations I’d positioned on it when issues acquired extra technical. In the end, the shoe simply doesn’t make the minimize when issues get steeper and rougher. However, given its value level and talent to excel on sure sorts of terrain, it’s nicely price a glance. Learn on to seek out out why you continue to may discover the shoe a superb worth for its supposed use.
Store the Girls’s The North Face Altamesa 300Store the Males’s The North Face Altamesa 300
The North Face Altamesa 300 Higher
A lateral view of The North Face Altamesa 300.
The North Face Altamesa 300 higher is each sturdy and comfy. The toe cap gives additional safety towards rocks and will increase the higher’s longevity. Regardless of the lower cost level, the shoe is made with extremely high-quality and light-weight supplies. The seamless engineered mesh consists of 53% recycled supplies. This reduces its environmental affect with out compromising on the shoe’s breathability. The higher materials saved my ft cool and dry, even throughout prolonged put on.
The padded collar and heel cup present plush cushioning, minimizing the danger of chafing or discomfort and securing the heel for a cosy match. Whereas the shoe is designed with elevated area for the massive and pinky toes, I discovered the toebox to be noticeably narrower than that of the Altamesa 500. It wasn’t an issue for me, however notable in the event you’re somebody who needs more room up entrance.
The laces didn’t like to remain tied, and I like to recommend double knotting them to maintain them in place. With TPU-reinforced lace guides, you’ll be able to tighten the laces confidently, however I nonetheless struggled to really feel safe in these sneakers. I didn’t discover the interior stability wings on the third eyelet significantly efficient for midfoot lockdown. Throughout runs on technical trails, I skilled some instability, with my ft feeling a bit wobbly within the sneakers.
The North Face Altamesa 300 Midsole
A medial view of The North Face Altamesa 300.
The North Face Altamesa 300 midsole presents a compelling mix of options to ship consolation, stability, and sturdiness on the path. Opposite to its counterpart, the Altamesa 500, this shoe doesn’t incorporate The North Face’s Dream midsole foam. Nevertheless, it nonetheless performs. The heel boasts 25 millimeters of plush foam. The cushioning is certainly snug, and it affords fairly a little bit of rebound. Mixed with the slight rocker, I felt just like the shoe was responsive given its 36- and 30-millimeter stack heights on the heel and toe. The 6-millimeter drop is pretty middle-of-the-road for a path shoe.
The shoe has a dynamic stability zone on the forefoot and a bolstered inside heel counter for higher efficiency on technical trails, however I discovered that it didn’t fairly ship as anticipated. I skilled some instability throughout testing as I took the shoe on more and more technical trails. I’ll say that the broader footprint of the shoe affords a extra secure platform, albeit with a slight improve in bulkiness.
The North Face Altamesa 300 Outsole
The outsole of The North Face Altamesa 300.
The North Face Altamesa 300 has the model’s Skycore rock guard on the forefoot. This expertise affords mild and versatile safety from the bottom and creates a smoother journey. The rock guard, mixed with the 25 millimeters of froth plushness on the heel, gives ample cushioning and safety towards rocks. I didn’t expertise any foot soreness or ache from missteps on stabby rocks.
The outsole is engineered to sort out the varied challenges of path terrain with confidence and grip. That includes the model’s Floor Ctrl rubber, it affords distinctive traction on quite a lot of surfaces, from rocky trails to muddy paths. The grippy 4-millimeter lugs are strategically positioned to optimize traction and supply stability and management with each step. I ran on many sorts of surfaces whereas testing this shoe, together with muddy and grassy trails, roads, bike paths, slickrock, and dusty and dry trails. The shoe punches above its value level in its means to carry out on many several types of terrain. I used to be significantly impressed with how little mud caught to the underside of the shoe, although, to be truthful, I wasn’t in deep peanut butter mud — nevertheless it did a terrific job at shedding what I went by.
The North Face Altamesa 300 General Impressions
A prime view of The North Face Altamesa 300.
I received’t sugarcoat it, I’ve blended emotions about The North Face Altamesa 300, which is stunning. I assumed this could be my new go-to every day coach. However, let me clarify. At $130, this shoe looks like a discount. The North Face did a terrific job investing in sure vital areas of this shoe to maintain the standard excessive and the worth comparatively low. For me, the highlights of the shoe are the midsole cushion, the Floor Ctrl outsole rubber, and the general weight.
The large downside is how unstable the shoe felt on actually technical trails. I ended up strolling trails I usually run as a result of I used to be so anxious about twisting an ankle, which is an issue for path trainers. That stated, this shoe is nice for easy flowy trails, grime roads, gravel paths, and different non-technical surfaces. In these situations, its efficiency is phenomenal. I used to be significantly impressed by the shoe’s high quality and the midsole’s responsive rebound, which vastly enhanced my total expertise.
Store the Girls’s The North Face Altamesa 300Store the Males’s The North Face Altamesa 300
Name for Feedback
- Have you ever had an opportunity to run in The North Face Altamesa 300? What did you suppose?
- Do you suppose you’d want the extra cushioned The North Face Altamesa 500 to this shoe?
Our Favourite Path Operating Sneakers
Take a look at our Greatest Path Operating Sneakers article to study our present favourite path trainers!
