Women's Running Shoes

The Altra running shoe concept was originally thought up to help aide injuries, a problem nearly all runners encounter at some point. The architects, Golden Harper and Brian Beckstead, weren't satisfied with traditional running shoes as they were constructed to have a narrow toe box and an elevated heel which they believed prevents runners feet and lower leg from functioning naturally, particularly restricting the foot, calf and Achilles tendon when they connect with the ground. To solve this problem they developed a shoe that was shaped like a foot and built this on a footbed that was flat from the toes through to the heel that enables the foot to land in a neutral position. The footshaped toe box created extra space to allow the toes to naturally splay as they would when you are barefoot. This concept proved to be a success within their small community of runners in Utah but soon the word spread, the brand grew and evolved into what we know Altra as today. A common question is 'are Altra shoes minimalist'? The short answer is no. Altra believe in the footshape design and balanced footbed but supported by varying levels of cushioning to create comfort and protection from the impact running has on the lower back and legs on hard and uneven surfaces. Another question we get asked is 'what does fit4her mean'? Altra make female specific lasts that have been moulded to fit the shape of women's feet. From research we know that women's feet are narrower in the heel and midfoot, have a higher instep and longer arch. So to avoid shrinking down the size of men's shoes, the Fit4her specific lasts create shoes that provide the ultimate fit and function which goes part of the way to achieving what the brand set out to do - keep runners running healthy.