Altra Men's AL0A546V Solstice XT 2 Cross Training Shoe

Product Information

There is padding along the collar and upper, but it's lean. Again, we find this to improve the feel of the shoe, but it starts to become less of an ideal utilitarianism and more of a liability once you start putting in serious miles — anything over an hour. As the strongest material measured to date, graphene helps root your foot in place with superior grip, yet it's flexible enough to switch between static and dynamic movements while wrapping your feet in solid comfort from heel to toe. While the shoe is incredibly stable, it still features a degree of cushioning to improve comfort during cardio sessions, yet it doesn’t come at the expense of traditional explosive movements. That cushioning is paired with a textured overlay that’s tougher than its predecessor, the Metcon 7, to improve the shoe’s long-lasting performance.

Also, the Bare-XF has a tight toe box that scrunches up the toes and metatarsals, preventing natural foot motion and leaving the feet feeling like they’re wrapped up in a medical cast. The smooth, flat profile of the outsole gives a stable, level platform for lifting and balance exercises, unlike shoes with deeper lugs that feel off-balanced for such activities. For those who like having natural posture and good feet and ankle articulation, the Solstice XT beats others with its unique features — having a “foot-shaped” toe box and a zero drop .This category has a lot of subjectivity to it. By its nature, the XT is not going to have the same landing comfort as a big maximalist model or feel natural to everyone. We judge it to have a natural landing, which means there's less underfoot cushioning and fewer support structures inside to push and pull your feet around. Altra's FootShape toebox has annoyed us at times in other modules, but in the XT it seems to do a good job of accommodating a wider range of toe configuration. For shorter runs, the Altra Solstice XT 2 will work pretty well. I found this model to be comfortable for my running sessions that were under two miles and I think you get a nice amount of energy return in this model. The wide toe box also helps to contribute to why I like this shoe for pre and post-workout runs. The Solstice XT has a low-level midsole that provides a stable platform when lifting. It also allows a balanced foot position for dynamic movements that require a lot of coordination and precision foot placement.

If you need a shoe for a little bit of everything with a considerably wide toe box then the Altra Solstice XT 2 is a good option. This shoe is stable enough for strength work and responsive for HIIT, cross-training, and short runs. When it comes to CrossFit, the Altra Solstice XT 2 will be capped in two different areas. First, their durability isn’t the best for this style of training since they don’t have features to prevent breakdown from things like rope climbs. Second, as mentioned above, the stability in this model could be problematic for those that will be training heavily in their CrossFit sessions. Altra Solstice XT 2 for HIIT Workouts, Plyometrics, and Versatile Training Regarding the second limitation, if you’re looking for a genuine running shoe , keep shopping around. A soft and durable upper is made from Flexweave knitthat allows your foot to move and breathe when it needs to (toes included during flexing exercises), yet it remains solid during weight-centric movements. Plus, Floatride Energy Foam gives the shoe its lightness, but it also acts as a soft cushion for heavier landings, which means this shoe is suitable for short-distance runs.

The closest competitor is probably the Inov-8 F-Lite 235, which used to be a zero-drop shoe, but went to a 4-mm drop in the most recent V3 update . The Solstice XT 2 has a firm cage in the forefoot that supports dynamic moves and a reinforced toecap for increased protection. The midsole is a high abrasion EVA that cushions landings on runs and provides stability for gym workouts. The zero-drop platform keeps the heel and forefoot equal distance from the ground, encouraging better alignment and form. Designed around Altra's Original FootShape, the Solstice has a wider toe box than other cross-training shoes allowing for toe-splay and natural movement during activity. The Altra Solstice XT 2 delivers a natural experience for athletes looking for a do-it-all cross-trainer. Altra’s unique FootShape™ toe box and Balanced Cushioning™ platform create a natural fit that follows the shape of your foot, instead of squeezing your toes and raising your heel. Your toes have room to spread out and your foot remains in a flat, natural position. When fitting, be sure to allow a full thumb’s width in front of your toes. If your feet are used to cramped toe boxes, Altra shoes may feel a little big at first. Give your toes some time to get used to the newfound wiggle room. To my knowledge, it is the only lightweight cross-trainer that provides both zero drop and wide toe box. Reebok’s Nano X2 is a responsive shoe that will safely and easily transition from intense bouts of cardio to power lifts. And, given the Nano range is designed as a cross-training shoe, it shouldn’t be overlooked despite the fact that a newer model, the Nano X3, is on the market.

I thought this feature was great for balance training and HIIT workouts because it helped increase this shoe’s stability while also keeping them cushioned enough to not beat the feet up. With their flatter construction and low cushion, you get a nice blend of stability and versatility for different styles of training.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For an in-depth review of the upper, midsole, and outsole, continue reading each section below. Upper of the Altra Solstice XT

If you’re doing lighter lifts like kettlebell goblet squats, curls with barbells, or most weight machines, then you’ll be just fine. In the context of CrossFit, this shoe can technically work for some more casual CrossFit sessions, but as a whole, I think you’ll be capped with this shoe’s performance. Its durability isn’t going to be the best for things like rope climbs, and again, their stability may be an issue for this style of training.The Altra Solstice XT 2 is a cross-training focused update to the original Solstice. The shoe maintains its lightweight feel, zero drop midsole, and FootShape toe box that promotes natural foot movement. All told, the Solstice XT is a terrific generalist that you can comfortably use for kettlebell snatches, heavy bag work, hill sprints, and plyometric pushups. The F-Lite also has a firmer foam in its midsole, making it better for heavy lifting (although a little clunkier for running).