The Altra Experience Wild. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
The Altra Experience Wild ($145) is the trail version of Altra’s new Experience Line, and the focus of this shoe review.
As a long-time Altra fan, I was wildly surprised to see the company “lift” its brand onto another level. I wasn’t filled with frustration as some purists may have felt initially, but rather with a touch of fascination for the new generation of Altra running shoes — The Experience line. Altra designed three models — the Altra Experience Flow; Altra Experience Form; and Experience Wild, the trail version.
The new line breaks with the original zero-drop mission, but maintains low drop and roomy appeal with their signature Footshape Fit. The Experience shoes also use a more rockered geometry than previous models in their repertoire.
In my experience of running in the Altra Experience Wild over the last couple of months, logging approximately 100 miles in the shoe, the specifications were ideal for ultrarunning racing and pacing responsibilities as well as recovery runs.
The claimed stack height is 32 millimeters at the heel, dropping four millimeters to 28 millimeters at the forefoot. The stack is slightly higher than what I can tolerate for my more structured training runs or on more demanding excursions but it felt decent for easy trail days that encompass mild to moderate terrain — or simply that go-to door-to-trail shoe. The Wild has an actual weight of 9.6 ounces (273 grams) for a U.S. men’s size 9, with a favorable rockered geometry, making it a smooth and relaxing ride.
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Altra Experience Wild Upper
A lateral view of the Altra Experience Wild.
The Altra Experience Wild’s signature Footshape Fit is standout. The toebox offers substantial volume, while the doubly padded heel and tongue provide a secure lockdown feel. The tongue isn’t gusseted, but its thickness in combination with the fortified lacing system keep it well in place.
These two attributes — volume and padding — facilitated continued and varied movement throughout the night and into the early morning, while I wore the shoes pacing fellow iRunFar reviewer Annie Behrend to second place at the 2024 Pine to Palm 100 Mile.
The majority of the upper consists of a soft mesh material, designed with angled mountain patterning. It is light and ideal for breathability. Instead of using full rubber or TPU materials for the toe bumper, and abrasion protection on the medial and lateral aspects, designers used small strips of rubber overlays to lightly protect the foot.
This decision was likely in response to extra weight elsewhere, such as in the heel area. And since the Wild isn’t an overly technical or mountain ridge climber, the simplicity works.
The heel upper, in contrast, has a tighter and thicker mesh, and extra padding for comfort, support, and stability. There is also a rubber heel counter with a modicum of malleability, but it comes equipped with a pull tab and gaiter attachment. There is a corresponding gaiter attachment at the base of the laces.
The medial heel is low-slung, and if you are prone to intrusive materials, gaiters may be a good idea for the Wild, unless the padding provides a decent unmovable fit, as in my situation.
Considerable midsole material climbs up the medial and lateral heels, making the shoe look bulkier than how it actually feels while in stride. It could be that I am not accustomed to higher stacked shoes, but the foam does give a wide heel base for a more secure landing and extra stability and rear foot protection.
Altra Experience Wild Midsole
A medial view of the Altra Experience Wild.
The underfoot feeling of the Altra Experience Wild is one of familiarity and instant comfort — it was the deepness that was new to me. The cushion is present, but not overwhelming like I have experienced in other Altra or Topo Athletic shoes. In stride, you can immediately tell that the midsole’s compression-molded EVA is light and soft, yet still firm and stable for long hauls.
The Wild’s midsole foam and platform were perfect for recovery days — a point I can’t state enough. They were key when I needed less immediate impact and more midsole foam tender loving care. The EVA is responsive, largely because of the outsole design, discussed below.
However, the stack — beyond 30 millimeters is beyond my usual running platform — thus, I experienced a slight ground feel disconnect. That took a mile or two to get used to, but on the other side, my feet received the cushion and soft pliability that lent itself to the TLC I was seeking.
Altra Experience Wild Outsole
The outsole of the Altra Experience Wild.
What I have come to expect and enjoy about Altra trail running shoes is the dependable MaxTrac outsole, which is present in the Altra Experience Wild. I run in an area that often dries out, resulting in slick granitic soils wherein the traction up and down the trails can be sometimes unreliable, and sometimes precarious. The MaxTrac rubber manages these summer conditions well, but it +really shines in the shoulder seasons, as experienced in both the Altra Lone Peak 8 and Altra Outroad 2.
I have written previously about the MaxTrac outsole’s ideal for seamless road-to-trail transitions, and this is notable in the Wild as well. One of the reasons the rubber also shines on the Wild is the underfoot design. The outsole rubber extends like narrow mountain ridges, from midfoot up to the toes, with hanging valleys of midsole between.
This allows for decent lateral flexibility at the forefoot and at the midfoot, where midsole rubber prevails. The heel has a solid landing platform, but again any excessive rigidity is cut by a stream of midsole. Overall, the low lug profile, rubber chemistry, and rockered platform keep the Wilds rolling.
Altra Experience Wild Overall Impressions
A top view of the Altra Experience Wild.
The Altra Experience Wild — one of three new low-drop Altra offerings in the Experience line — is a relaxed and versatile shoe. The rockered geometry helps keep the motion rolling forward out the door, to smooth terrain and beyond to moderately demanding trails.
It may appeal to runners residing in most geographies since it can be an easy-day shoe on rolling dirt roads or the workhorse you depend on to get through a long rolling endurance adventure. I have particularly enjoyed my experience with the Wilds during this year’s ultrarunning race season, namely for recovery days and for that enduring moment I got to spend with a great trail running friend doing what she does best — performing and smiling.
The Wild would also make an ideal fast hiker like the Altra Outroad — however, the stack and extra comfort of the Wilds may outcompete the sleeker and nimbler Outroad while on the trails. The Wild comes with a surprising and welcomed upper cushion, and all the necessities to excel across a rolling landscape. If you are a curious Altra runner, or a runner interested in the low-drop world, I encourage you to have an Experience.
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Call for Comments
- Have you tried the Altra Experience Wild? How did you find them?
- If you are a long-time Altra wearer, how did you feel about them deviating into the realm of low-drop shoes?
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