Altra

About Altra

Altra came to life over a decade ago thanks to a couple of high school cross-country buddies, Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper, who decided it was time for a change in how running shoes were made. Frustrated with the traditional designs that didn’t quite match how people naturally run, they took matters into their own hands—literally. Golden even went so far as to toss a pair of shoes in a toaster oven to soften and reshape the heel, creating a more level platform. That experiment sparked the idea for a whole new approach to running footwear.

Naturally built for your feet

At the core of Altra’s design philosophy is the idea of balance and natural movement. All Altra running shoes are built on a zero-drop platform—meaning the heel and forefoot are at the same height—which encourages a more natural stride and posture. That, paired with their roomy FootShape™ toe box, gives your toes the space to spread out as they’re meant to, improving stability and comfort (especially on longer runs or technical terrain).

Altra has options for every kind of runner. Their trail runners offer solid grip thanks to Vibram soles and are designed to stay responsive and supportive across rough ground. For road runners, lightweight and cushioned models help keep your stride smooth on pavement or the track. Whatever your pace or preference, there’s an Altra shoe ready to go the distance.

Running towards a smaller footprint

Altra isn’t just about building better shoes—they’re also working on building a better future. They aim to reduce the environmental impact of their products so we can keep running, hiking and exploring outdoors for years to come. That means rigorous chemical screening to keep harmful substances out of their supply chain, using fully recyclable shoe boxes made from post-consumer waste, and participating in the VF Corporation Sustainability program, which helps lead positive change across the industry.