ALTRA Men's Escalante 2 Road Running Shoe, Gray, 12 D(M) US

I have run in the Escalante 1 and 1.5. With the 2's I do like the new upper. It is still the soft knit, but more structured to hug your foot, especially when making turns. The heel padding is improved, substantial, but not bulbous as in most Altra models in the past few years. The design is also very sleek and could be worn casually. For the cushioning, it is very similar, but a little firmer. It is not as cushy and bouncy as the original. Not sure if they firmed up the midsole, but it is definitely not the plush feel of the Alter Ego that I was used to. The outsole seems to be made of a firmer rubber (which may be a factor in the firmer feel). The outsole rubber also has less flex grooves and is more flat. This may affect grip in wet conditions, not sure yet. All in all, I like the update. The biggest improvement is the upper and while the under-foot feel is not quite as springy, it is close enough to previous models. I know the 2.5 will only be an upper change, so maybe the 3 will be the perfect culmination of all of the models and just right. P.S. Love that you made an all white. A perfect canvas for painting/customizing your shoes.

After putting 350 miles on my Escalante 1.5's, I decided to try the 2.0's after receiving a gift card to a local running store. The 1.5's are the best shoe I've ever worn and felt like a glove from the first time I put them on. Echoing other reviewers thoughts, the 1.5 and 2.0 are very different shoes. The upper on the 2.0 has more fabric and is noticeably thicker and not as free moving. I wear a size 12.5 in the 1.5 but had to size up to a 13 in the 2.0 because of this. Upon first trying on the shoe, it is much stiffer that the 1.5 and also doesn't feel as "flat" if that makes sense. Maybe the 2.0 is a tad narrower than the 1.5? Also, the tongue is horrible and too short for the shoe. After my first run in the 2.0 (6 miles) I somewhat enjoyed the stiffness of the shoe and appreciate the new feel overall as it seems like a shoe that will hold up for many miles. The next day I ran in the 1.5's and there are MUCH softer and forgiving than the 2.0. Overall a more enjoyable shoe to run in. I'm hoping that the 2.0 will break in a soften up a bit. Time will tell.